C—3.

1914. NEW ZEALAND.

HAURAKI MINING DISTRICT AND TE AROHA TOWNSHIP: REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE ADMINISTRATION AND DISPOSAL OF CROWN LAND, FORESTS, AND TIMBER IN HAURAKI MINING DISTRICT; ALSO LAND-TENURES IN TE AROHA TOWNSHIP: WITH MINORITY REPORT.

Presented to hnlh Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION. Liverpool, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to John Stranchon, Esq., 1.5.0., of Wellington, Surveyor; Major ' Daniel Henderson Lusk, of Auckland, Farmer ; and Albert Bruce, Esq., of Thames, Secretary of the Thames Harbour Board : Greeting. Whereas it is desirable to ascertain in what manner the land, forests, and timber belonging to the Crown situated within the Hauraki Mining District, in the Auckland Land District, should be dealt with, and whether the existing legislation and regulations dealing with the disposal of the land and timber are in the best interests of the State, and, if. not, how far existing methods of administration and disposal can be amended without detriment to mining interests : And whereas it is also desirable to ascertain whether the existing tenures under the Mining Act, 1908, under which land is at present held in Te Aroha Township are in the best interests of settlement, and whether it is desirable that holders of land under such tenures should be allowed to acquire the freehold of their holdings, and, if so, under what conditions : Now know ye that, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, I, Arthur William, de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Goyernor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by. and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council thereof, do hereby appoint you, the said John Strauchon, Daniel Henderson Lusk, and Albert Bruce, to be a Commission for the purposes of inquiring by all lawful means into the question of administration and disposal of the said land and timber, and for that purpose to inspect such portions, if any, of the land and forests belonging to the Crown situated within the Hauraki Mining District and Te Aroha Township as you may deem desirable, and to report — (1.) Whether the past administration of timber areas under the provisions of the Mining Act and the regulations thereunder have been in the best interests of the State.

I—C. 3.