The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published, Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, April 1, 1890. THE NATIVE LAND COMMISSIONERS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 436, 1 April 1890, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published, Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, April 1, 1890. THE NATIVE LAND COMMISSIONERS.

Be just, and fear net; Let all the end* thou airn’at at be thy oountry’a, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

After considerable delay the Commissioners (His Honor Mr Justice Edwards and Mr John Ormsby) have been appointed, and have now promulgated a notice, which is the first step in their duties. This notice requires that all applications for enquiry by the Commissioners must be sent in to the Commissioners within six months after the publication of the notice (20th March, 1890). The rules which are to guide the Commissioners in their duties have also been published. These are too lengthy for us to reproduce in extenso, but a rough sketch of them may be of use to our readers. Each application is to be in English and Maori and is to be accompanied with copies of the memorial or certificate of title, the various documents in the Native Land Court which shbw the devolution of title and the deeds or documents under which the applicant claims. One copy is sent to the Commissioners, the other to the Clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Notice of the application is to be advertised in the Gazette, Kahiti, and a local paper, and must likewise be served on the parties whose interests are affected. Provision is made for the lodging and giving notice of objections, and also for hearing objections without notice. The procedure of the hearing of applications will be similar to that of the Supreme Court in civil actions. It will be seen that the Commissioners have not hesitated iu heaping further expense upon the poor native land buyer, and it will be only wealthy people who will be able to stand the strain of the legal and other expense* attendant upon going

before the Commissioners. The following are a few of the fees which the Commissioners have laid down On lodging the application .. .£lO On hearing, £1 per cent, on value of land or interest claimed, but in no case to be fess than ... ... .£2O For every day occupied in hearing, be yond the first three days ... £5 For certificate under section 27, £1 per cent, upon interest claimed, but in no case io be less than ... £5 Any man who can bring his matters before the Commission at a cost not exceeding will be particularly fortunate.