APRIL 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1281

Opening National Endowment Lands in Taranaki Land District for Selection.

ISLINGTON, Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred upon me by the Land Act, 1908, I, John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, do hereby declare that the national endowment lands described in the Schedule hereto shall be open for selection on renewable lease on Monday, the nineteenth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, at the rentals mentioned in the said Schedule; and I do also declare that the said lands shall be leased under and subject to the provisions of the said Act.

SCHEDULE.

TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.—WAITOMO COUNTY.—TOTORO SURVEY DISTRICT.

First-class Land.

Situated on the Kahuwera Road, close to its junction with Te Kuiti—Aria Road. Access is from Te Kuiti, which is about sixteen miles and a half distant by dray-road. It is proposed to deviate Auahi Road by taking it near the western boundary of this section. A bridge is to be erected over the Mokau River at the Kahuwera Road junction. The section comprises low easy slopes and spurs; nearly all ploughable. The soil varies from fair to inferior, and rests on a clay formation. The forest is very light, comprising fern, tutu, and manuka. The section is well watered. Elevation ranges from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level.

4 | III | 164 2 0 | 330 0 0 | 6 12 0

Situated on the Auahi Road. Access is from Te Kuiti, which is about eighteen miles and a half distant by dray-road along the Kahuwera Road, and thence via Auahi Road, now in course of construction. The section comprises low ridges and flats, covered with heavy and light manuka, tutu, and fern, and is nearly all ploughable, but is swampy in places. The soil varies from fair to inferior, and rests on a clay and limestone formation. The forest is very light, consisting of manuka and tutu. The section is well watered. Elevation ranges from 500 ft. to 600 ft. above sea-level.

2 | IV | 194 3 22 | 300 0 0 | 6 0 0

Situated on the Auahi Road. Access is from Te Kuiti, which is about eighteen miles distant by dray-road along the Kahuwera Road, and thence via Auahi Road, now in course of construction. A proposed deviation of Auahi Road will considerably lessen the distance from Piopio School and factory. The section comprises low undulating country, with no bush; fairly well watered. The soil is of fair quality, resting on a clay and limestone formation. Elevation ranges from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level.

8 | IV | 180 0 0 | 320 0 0 | 6 8 0

Situated on the Kahuwera Road. Access is from Te Kuiti, which is about seventeen miles and a half distant by dray-road. The section comprises low undulating country, with fern spurs and no bush; fairly well watered. The soil is of rather inferior quality, on a clay formation. Elevation ranges from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level.

9 | IV | 175 0 0 | 310 0 0 | 6 4 0

Situated on the Kahuwera Road. Access is from Te Kuiti, which is about eighteen miles distant by dray-road. The section comprises low ridges and easy slopes, with a considerable area of swamp and no bush. The soil is inferior on spurs, but better near the swamps, and rests on a clay formation. The section is well watered. Elevation ranges from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level.

As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this seventh day of April, one thousand nine hundred and eleven.

D. BUDDO,
Acting Minister of Lands.

Commission.

ISLINGTON, Governor.

To all to whom these presents shall come, and to WALTER EDWARD RAWSON, Esquire, Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand: Greeting.

WHEREAS the block of land, containing two thousand six hundred and forty acres, situated in the Provincial District of Canterbury, and known as the Kaiapoi Reserve, was in and after the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two, pursuant to the Acts in that behalf enabling, apportioned and granted to the aboriginal Natives entitled thereto: And whereas the Crown grants issued to such aboriginal Natives provided, inter alia, that no disposition of the land included in the grant by way of sale, mortgage, lease, or otherwise should be made without the consent in writing indorsed thereon of the Governor or of some person duly appointed by him or otherwise duly authorized by law in that behalf: And whereas the Native owners under such grants and their successors in title have at various times since the issue of such Crown grants as aforesaid made dispositions by will of the land so granted as aforesaid without such consent being indorsed thereon: And whereas the Supreme Court has decided that such dispositions by will are prohibited by the terms of the grants aforesaid, and are invalid in law; and by reason of such decision the validity of the titles of persons now in possession of such lands has been questioned, and actions have been commenced in the Supreme Court in respect thereof: And whereas it is expedient to appoint a Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, to inquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the dispositions by will of any such land and the expediency of validating all or any of such dispositions, and in the meantime to stay all actions and proceedings now commenced or threatened in respect thereof:

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in that behalf, I, John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby appoint you, the said WALTER EDWARD RAWSON,

to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the dispositions by will of any of the lands hereinbefore described and subsequent dealings therewith, and the expediency of validating all or any of such wills and all or any of the dispositions made thereby; and you are hereby enjoined to make such suggestions and recommendations as you may consider desirable or necessary with respect to the foregoing matters, and generally with respect to the necessity of legislation in the premises.

And for the better enabling you, the said Commission, to carry these presents into effect, you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such times and places in New Zealand as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise, as may be allowed by law, such person or persons as you think capable of affording you information in the premises; and you are also hereby empowered to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, plans, maps, or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject-matter of this inquiry, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all lawful ways and means whatsoever. And, using all diligence, you are required to transmit to me, under your hand and seal, your report and recommendations not later than the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and eleven. And you are directed to so frame your report as to facilitate prompt action being taken thereon. And it is hereby declared that these presents shall continue in full force and virtue although the inquiry may not be regularly continued from time to time or from place to place by adjournments. And, lastly, it is hereby further declared that these presents are issued under and subject to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908.

Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty’s Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven.

J. CARROLL.

Approved in Council.

J. F. ANDREWS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.