C.-4,

1914. NEW ZEALAND.

MINING DISTRICTS IN NELSON, MARLBOROUGH, AND WESTLAND (REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE ADMINISTRATION AND DISPOSAL OF THE LAND, FORESTS, AND TIMBER BELONGING TO THE CROWN SITUATED WITHIN THE).

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

COMMISSION.

Liverpool, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to John Strauchon, Esq., 1.5.0 of Wellington, Surveyor ; Major Daniel Henderson Lusk, 'of Auckland' Farmer ; and John Allman Marchant, Esq., of Ruatapu, Sawmill-manager : Greeting. Whereas it is desirable to ascertain in what manner the land, forests, and timber belonging to the Crown situated within mining districts in the Nelson and Westland Land Districts 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 be amended without detriment to mining interest: Now know ye that, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commission 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, Governor 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 John Allman Marchant to be a Commission for the purpose 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 mining districts in the Nelson and Westland Land Districts 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 has been in the best interests of the State. (2.) Whether the existing control of the same by the Mining Wardens should be abolished, and whether the Land Board of the district should alone deal with all applications for the sale of timber. (3.) Whether it is desirable to continue the existing classification of timber areas as (a) Warden's timber areas, and (b) Land Board's timber areas.