Nov. 17]

Royal Commission to Inquire Into and Report Upon Matters and Questions Relating to Certain Leases of Maori Lands Vested in Maori Land Boards

GEORGE THE SIXTH by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith:

To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor, SIR MICHAEL MYERS, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and to Our Trusty and Well-beloved subjects HUBERT MAXWELL CHRISTIE, of Wellington, Company Director, and RICHARD ORMSBY, of Te Kuiti, Farmer: GREETING:

WHEREAS in respect of divers tracts or portions of Maori land now vested in certain Maori Land Boards under and subject to the provisions of Part XIV and Part XV of the Maori Land Act, 1931 (hereinafter referred to as the vested lands), leases have heretofore been granted which, amongst other things, confer upon the respective lessees, on the termination, by effluxion of time, of the leases or of any renewals thereof, rights to compensation for certain improvements put upon the lands during the continuance of the respective terms and which are in existence or which are unexhausted on the termination thereof:

And whereas, many of the leases of the vested lands being about to expire, doubts have arisen touching the efficacy and justice of the existing provisions of law and the provisions of the leases aforesaid so far as they relate to the ascertainment of the amount of compensation payable to the lessees, the manner in which the liability for compensation shall be discharged, and otherwise:

And whereas the Government desires inquiry to be made into the matters and questions hereinafter set forth to the end that what is right, just, reasonable, and equitable shall be done as well to the beneficial owners of the vested lands as to the lessees thereof:

Now know ye that We, reposing trust and confidence in your impartiality, knowledge, and ability, do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint you, the said

Sir Michael Myers,
Hubert Maxwell Christie, and
Richard Ormsby
to be a Commission—

(1) To inquire and report whether there should be any modification of, or alteration in, the existing provisions of law or of the terms of the leases so far as they concern or relate to--
(a) The sort or character of the improvements in respect of which the lessees are entitled to compensation;
(b) The method of ascertaining the value of the improvements in respect of which the lessees are entitled to compensation; and
(c) The manner in which the liability for compensation for improvements shall be discharged:

(2) To inquire and report whether the incidence of the liability for compensation for improvements renders it necessary or desirable that the Maori Land Boards should be given, in respect of the vested lands, additional powers and authorities whether in relation to leasing or otherwise howsoever: and if it be reported that such additional powers and authorities should be so given, then to recommend, in detail, the nature and extent of such additional powers and authorities:

(3) Generally to inquire into and report upon such other matters arising out of the premises as may come to your notice in the course of your inquiries and which you consider should be investigated in connection therewith and upon any matters affecting the premises which you consider should be brought to the attention of the Government: and

(4) To make such proposals for the amendment of the law as you may think necessary or desirable for giving effect to any recommendations you may make on the matters and questions confided to you by these presents:

And We do hereby appoint you, the said Sir Michael Myers to be Chairman of the said Commission:

And for the better enabling you 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 as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and place to place as you think fit, and so that these presents shall continue in force, and the inquiry may at any time and place be resumed although not regularly adjourned from time to time or from place to place:

And you are hereby strictly charged and directed that you shall not at any time publish or otherwise disclose save to His Excellency the Governor-General, in pursuance of these presents or by His Excellency’s direction, the contents of any report so made or to be made by you or any evidence or information obtained by you in the exercise of the powers hereby conferred upon you except such evidence or information as is received in the course of a sitting open to the public:

And you are hereby authorized to report your proceedings and findings under this Our Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient so to do:

And, using all due diligence, you are required to report to His Excellency the Governor-General in writing under your hands not later than the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and fifty, your findings and opinions on the matters aforesaid, together with such recommendations as you think fit to make in respect thereof:

And, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are issued under the authority of the Letters Patent of His late Majesty dated

the eleventh day of May, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and under the authority of and subject to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the Dominion of New Zealand.

In witness whereof We have caused this Our Commission to be issued and the Seal of Our Dominion of New Zealand to be hereunto affixed at Wellington, this fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-nine, and in the thirteenth year of Our Reign.

Witness Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg, on whom has been conferred the Victoria Cross, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Companion of Our Distinguished Service Order, Lieutenant-General in Our Army, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion.

[L.S.]
B. C. FREYBERG, Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command—
P. FRASER, Minister of Maori Affairs.

Approved in Council—
T. J. SHERRARD,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

BANKRUPTCY NOTICES

In Bankruptcy

NOTICE is hereby given that a second and final dividend of 5s. in the pound (making in all 20s. in the pound) will be payable at my office, 4th Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland C. 1, on Wednesday, the 16th day of November, 1949, in the undermentioned estate, on all proved claims. Promissory notes, if any, to be produced prior to the receipt of dividend.

DYKE, ERNEST VINCENT, Great South Road, Otahuhu. Coal and Firewood Merchant.

8th November, 1949, 4th Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland C. 1.

V. R. CROWHURST, Official Assignee.

In Bankruptcy.—Supreme Court

MURRAY JAMES THOMPSON, of 49 Station Road, Penrose, Baker, was adjudged bankrupt on the 10th November, 1949. Creditors’ meeting will be held at my office on Monday, 21st November, 1949, at 10.30 a.m.

V. R. CROWHURST, Official Assignee.

4th Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland C. 1.

In Bankruptcy.—Supreme Court

JOHN CLAYTON STARKIE, of Tawa Flat, Builder, was adjudged bankrupt on 9th October, 1949. Creditors’ meeting will be held in my office on Wednesday, 23rd November, 1949, at 2.15 p.m.

F. B. JAMESON, Official Assignee.

Magistrate’s Court, Wellington.

In Bankruptcy.—Supreme Court

KENNETH NELSON DOBSON, of Christchurch, Cartage Contractor, was adjudged bankrupt on the 7th November, 1949. Creditors’ meeting will be held at my office, Malings Building, corner of Gloucester Street and Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, on Wednesday, the 16th day of November, 1949, at 2.15 p.m.

G. W. BROWN, Official Assignee.

CROWN LANDS NOTICES

An application having been lodged with me on behalf of the registered proprietor JOCK INNES FERGUSON, of Waipu, Farmer, to register the extinguishment of a right-of-way (created by the will of Robert Campbell, late of Waipu, Farmer), over 122 acres 2 roods 10 perches, being parts of Allotment 35, Parish of Waipu, being all the land in certificate of title, Vol. 570, folio 49, the grantee of the right-of-way being (now) ATHOL JOHN McLEAN of Waipu, Farmer, (certificates of title, Vol. 570, folios 47 and 48), notice is hereby given of my intention to exercise my powers under section 3 of the Land Transfer Amendment Act, 1939, and register the extinguishment of the right-of-way on the 19th December, 1949, unless good cause to the contrary be shown.

Dated this 10th day of November, 1949, at the Land Registry Office, Auckland.

G. H. SEDDON, District Land Registrar.