H.—l7

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

NAVAL AND MILITARY AND LOCAL FORCES LAND CLAIMS COMMISSION (REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Fxcellency.

Arthur Gordon, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Theodore Minet Haultain, James Fulton, and Henry Bunny. Whereas under divers Acts, Ordinances, regulations, or other laws now or in times past in force in the Colony of New Zealand or in some part thereof, divers persons being either officers, non-com-missioned officers, or private members of Her Majesty's naval and military forces, or in the Militia Force of the said colony, or in the Volunteer Forces of the said colony, or in some other military body or force enrolled in the said colony, have had or alleged that they have claims upon the Government of the said colony, or of some province thereof, to grants of land in the said colony, either for services rendered by them in such capacities in the said colony, or as having retired from such forces for the purpose of settling in New Zealand, or otherwise about or in connection with their being or having been such officers, non-commissioned officers, or private members as aforesaid : And whereas such claims are not now capable of being enforced in law, either owing to the same not having been presented within the time prescribed by law, or for other reasons of a technical character : And whereas from time to time petitions have been presented to the General Assembly, or to one House thereof, by certain of such officers, non-commissioned officers, or private members, or by the representatives or assigns of such, praying for relief in the premises: And whereas, in pursuance of a recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee of the House of Representatives, it is thought desirable to appoint a Commission for the purpose of inquiring fully into and reporting upon all such claims, and any others of a similar character: Now, therefore, know ye that I, Arthur Hamilton Gordon, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, having full trust and confidence in your impartiality, ability, and integrity, do hereby, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand, appoint you, the said Theodore Minet Haultain, James Fulton, and Henry Bunny, to be Commissioners for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, with the powers hereinafter set forth and subject thereto, to have and exercise the several duties and functions hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, — 1. To inquire into, examine, and report upon all claims to land which may be brought before you by persons who have been such officers, non-commissioned officers, or private members as aforesaid, or by the representatives or assigns of such officers, non-commissioned officers, or private members, all of whom are hereinafter referred to as claimants, which such claimants may claim to have had against the Government of the colony, or of some province thereof, of such a character as is hereinbefore recited. 2. You are authorized and empowered to make and to hold any inquiry under these presents at any place or places within the Colony of New Zealand-as you may think most convenient and adapted to elicit full information respecting the matters which you may be called upon to inquire into under these presents. 3. Before you commence any inquiry under these presents, you shall cause such notice or notices as you may deem necessary or expedient to be given, stating the day, time, and place or places on and at which you will be prepared to receive claims, and indicating in what form you wish such claims to be preferred, and also the day, time, and place when and where you will be prepared to receive and hear any evidence or information which any claimants may desire to offer or bring before you in support of their claims. 4. You shall cause every such notice to be given and published in such manner and form as you may from time to time prescribe, and at such place or places as you may deem best calculated to give effect to these presents. I—H. 17.