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1913. NEW ZEALAND

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON PARLIAMENTARY PAPER NO. 98 C, REGARDING THE SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION OF SECTION 20, BLOCK IX, CHEVIOT SURVEY DISTRICT, CONTAINING 8 ACRES 2 ROODS 12 PERCHES. (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Report brought up on the 22nd October, and, together with the minutes of proceedings and evidence, brought up on the 15th December, 1913, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 3rd Day op July, 1913. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Committee be appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading of all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of the Crown, or educational or other public reserves ; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to. report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; three to be a quorum; the Committee to oonsi-t of Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Coates, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. Noßworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Robertson, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Statbam, Mr. Witty, and the mover."— (Hon. Mr. Mabsey.) Thursday, the 15th day op July, 1913. Ordered, " That Paper No. 98 C, ' Correspondence relating to the Sile by Pulilic Auction of a Small Area of Land in the Cheviot District,' be referred to the Lauds Committee.''—(Hon. Mr. Massey.)

REPORT. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above-mentioned paper, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and during the course of the inquiry has examined the following witnesses : J. Strauchan, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands ; C. B. Pollen, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury District; J. Gibson, an ex-member of the Canterbury Laud Board ; T. Gee, member of the Canterbury Land Board; J. Bentoul, bee-farmer, Cheviot; E. B. Holton, sheep-farmer, Cheviot. That, having heard the evidence of the witnesses above mentioned, the Committee is of opinion that there is not the slightest evidence to support the suggestion that either the Minister of Lands or the Lands Department was actuated or influenced by political motives in deciding to offer the section by auction under the conditions of the Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893, and that the statement made by Mr. Gibson in his letter quoted by Mr. G. W. Forbes, M.P., which reads as follows —" Mr. Massey's supporters had approached him to allow the section to remain in possession of the previous tenant who farms the adjoining land " —was without foundation in fact. A copy of the minutes of proceedings and evidence taken is attached hereto. 22nd October, 1913. E. Newman, Chairman.

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