Acts Affecting Native Lands, Etc. (In English and Maori), Passed by the General Assembly, Session 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898, 1899.
[24th September, 1892
Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
1. | The Short Title of this Act is "The West Coast Settlement short Title. Reserves Act, 1892."page 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. |
Interpretation.
In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context,— "Confiscated territory" means all that part of the Colony of New Zealand described in the schedule to "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881:" "Native" means aboriginal native of New Zealand, and includes all half-castes and their descendants: "The said Acts "mean" The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881," "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1884," "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1885," and "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Acts Amendment Act, 1887:" "Reserves" mean reserves made by the Governor in Council under "The West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880," and the said Acts, or by the said Acts, and includes all land within the confiscated territory given back to the Natives, or granted to them for their benefit, except lands given to them under awards of Compensation Courts, or by the Governor, in respect of special services rendered by such Natives previous to the passing of "The West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880:" "Reserve," or "each reserve," shall, primâ facie, mean the land comprised in one Crown grant, partition or subdivision order, or other foundation of title, but shall include any land being portions of reserves which the Governor may for the purposes of this Act declare to come or be within the meaning of this definition: "The Public Trustee" means the Public Trustee incorporated under "The Public Trust Office Act, 1872:" "The Native Land Court," or "Court," means the Native Land Court constituted under "The Native Land Court Act, 1886," and its amendments: "Improvements" and "substantial improvements" has the same meaning as the term "substantial improvements of a permanent character" in the third section of "The Land Act, 1885:" "Native owners" means the Natives or persons having shares or interests in the reserves under Crown grants, partition or subdivision orders, or other instruments of title: "Confirmed lease" means a lease confirmed by the Governor in Council under the provisions of the said Acts: "The Land Act, 1885," shall include all amendments thereof. |
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3. | Repeal. The said Acts are hereby repealed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. | Reserves vested in Public Trustee. From and after the coming into operation of this Act, reserves shall become by virtue of this Act vested in the Public Trustee in fee-simple, subject to all valid leases and contracts affecting the same, upon trust for the Native owners, but to be managed, dealt with, and disposed of under the provisions of this Act, and not otherwise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. |
Restrictions removed for certain purposes.
For the purpose of carrying into effect the powers of leasing and other the powers given by this Act, the restrictions, conditions, and limitations contained in the Crown grants of reserves shall not page 3be deemed to exist. Otherwise such restrictions, conditions, and limitations shall remain and continue. For the purpose of this section the expression "Crown grants" shall include partition and subdivision orders, and every instrument under which Native owners derive their title to reserves. |
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6. | Reserves may be leased by the Public Trustee, at his discretion, Public Trustee may grant perpetual leases of vaeant reserves. with the right of perpetual renewal, in the manner and under and subject to the provisions of this Act and those set forth in the Schedule hereto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7. | Leases heretofore granted by the Public Trustee (other than Validation of leases heretofore granted by Public Trustee(other than those granted pursuant to awards), and reduction of rent. leases which have been granted pursuant to awards made in substitution for leases confirmed under the said Acts) are hereby validated as from the dates of such leases respectively; and all reductions heretofore made by the Public Trustee in the rental payable under any such leasee shall to the extent and for the time for which such reductions were made be deemed to have been valid from the making of such reduction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. |
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9. | Upon surrender of lease and payment of rent and value of improvements lessee to receive perpetual lease. Any lessee who, under the provisions of section eight of this Act, shall become entitled to a new lease shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, upon the surrender of his original lease or confirmed lease, and on his executing the new lease in triplicate, and paying the value of improvements and rent, or other money as aforesaid, be entitled to receive a perpetual lease under the provisions of this Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10. |
Conditions under which new leases to be granted. No lease under this Act shall comprise more than six hundred and forty acres of land, nor shall any lessee have any right to acquire the freehold of the demised land.
No lessee or person, by himself or by or jointly with any other person on his behalf, shall hold at one time, whether as occupier, lessee, assignee, sub-lessee, or otherwise, more than six hundred and forty acres of land under this Act. Any occupation, lease, assignment, sub-lease, or other instrument in contravention of this section shall be illegal and void from the commencement: Provided always that this section shall not apply to any person who acquires an interest in any lease of a reserve by bankruptcy, or under an intestacy, or by virtue of a will. The term fixed by the lease shall be twenty-one years, to take effect in possession and not in reversion; but such lease shall be renewable as provided by this Act and the provisions of the Schedule hereto. Such lease shall contain such covenants, conditions, and agreements, not being inconsistent with this Act, or the regulations of the Governor made thereunder, or with the provisions contained in the Schedule hereto, as the Public Trustee may prescribe by regulations which he is hereby authorised to make, alter, amend, or revoke, and which may either be general or applicable to any particular case or class of cases. |
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11. | Provisions in Schedule to apply to leases to be granted under this Act. With respect to leases to be granted under this Act the provisions contained in the Schedule hereto shall apply and be deemed to be incorporated herein. With respect to leases to be granted under section eight of this Act, the provisions numbered fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four, and fifty-five of the Schedule hereto shall not apply, and the other provisions referred to in the said Schedule shall be so read as not to conflict with the said section eight but to give effect thereto; and, in so far as such provisions are inconsistent with section eight, they shall be read as subordinate thereto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Powers of Public Trustee. The Public Trustee, in addition to any other power, shall, as regards reserves, also have the following powers:—
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13. | All moneys which under the authority of this Act shall Investment of moneys received by the Public Trustee in payment for improvements or purchase-money.come to the hands of the Public Trustee as the value of any improvements paid for by say lessee shall be invested by the Public Trustee in the like securities as he is entitled under section ten of "The Public Trust Office Acts Amendment Act, 1891," to invest trust moneys upon, or upon the security of, any lease authorised to be granted under this Act; and the income thereof shall from time to time be paid to the Native owners entitled thereto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14. | The list of the Native owners of any reserve whose shares Persons appearing in list now in the hands of the Public Trustee of Native owners of a reserve whose shares have been definitely settled to be the persons entitled to the rents, &c., arising therefrom.of the rents of such reserve have been definitely settled, as provided by the fifteenth section of "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1884," with such additions as may from time to time be made therein, shall be the list of Native owners of the reserves, and the persons named in such list shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be the persons entitled to the rents, income, profits, and other moneys arising out of such reserves. With respect to reserves in which the respective shares of the Native owners therein shall not have been so settled, the Native Land Court or the Chief Judge thereof shall proceed Native Land Court otherwise to determine shares and prepare list of Native owners of reserves. List termed "the register."to determine the relative shares or interests of the Native owners entitled thereto, and shall cause a list showing the names of such Native owners and their shares or interests as determined to be filed in the office of the Public Trustee. Such lists shall be called "the register." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15. | The Native Land Court, or the Chief Judge thereof, shall Alterations in register.from time to time, at the request of the Public Trustee, make such alterations, in the register as may be necessary for the purpose of keeping such register accurate, and shall from time to time ascertain the names of the persons becoming entitled by succession or otherwise to the share and interest of any registered owner. The Native Land Court, or the Chief Judge thereof, shall have no power to alter or vary any settlement of the shares of grantees or persons heretofore made under the provisions of section fifteen of "The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1884."page 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16. | "The Native Land Court Act, 1886," to apply. "The Native Land Court Act, 1886," and its amendments, shall, so far as the same can be applied for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, and so far as the same are Proviso that no partition without authority of Governor.modified by this Act, be deemed to be incorporated herein: Provided always that the Native Land Court shall not have jurisdiction over reserves, save as provided by sections fourteen, fifteen, and seventeen hereof, unless the Governor in Council shall otherwise from time to time, at the request of the Public Trustee, direct such jurisdiction to be exercised. The Native Land Court shall not make partition of any reserve unless the Governor shall by warrant authorise such partition to be made. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17. | Appointment of person to receive moneys payable to Native owner, being minor or under coverture, lunatic, sick, or infirm. Application of moneys so received. If any Native owner of a reserve shall be a minor or lunatic, sick, or infirm, the Native Land Court, or the Chief Judge thereof, may from time to time, in a summary manner, appoint some person to receive the moneys payable to such Native owner, and may in like manner revoke such appointment; and the person so appointed shall apply such moneys in any manner he thinks fit for the maintenance, support, or education of such Native owner. Until such appointment the Public Trustee may exercise the powers which the person if appointed could or might exercise under this section. Any person so appointed shall be capable of voting and acting at the meetings referred to in section eight of this Act; and his acts shall bind the Native owners for whose benefit he has been appointed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18. | The Public Trustee not to be liable except for wilful neglect, default, or omission. The Public Trustee shall not be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him under the authority of this Act unless the Court in which the action or proceeding arises certifies that he has been guilty of wilful neglect, default, or omission. All costs and Expenses incurred to be borne by the reserves in respect of which they arise.expenses incurred by the Public Trustee in carrying into effect any of the powers or authorities given by this Act shall be deducted out of any moneys which shall come to his hands under the provisions of this Act, and arising out of the reserve with respect to which such costs and expenses shall have been incurred. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19. | No proceedings to be commenced against the Public Trustee in respect of past transactions. After this Act comes into operation no action for damages or for breach of trust shall be brought against the Public Trustee for granting any lease heretofore made of reserves, or in respect of any act or omission on the part of the Public Trustee to carry into effect any of the provisions of the said Acts, or any award purporting to be made thereunder, or for not enforcing or carrying out any contract, covenant, power, or provision with respect to reserves, or for any other act or omission on the part of the Public Trustee with respect to reserves; nor shall any action be brought to enforce an award Saving of remedies against third persons.purporting to be made under the authority of the said Acts. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to validate or invalidate any award purporting to be made under the authority of the said Acts, or any lease made in pursuance of any such award; and, as to any lease purporting to be made under the authority of an award, the validity of such lease and the rights of persons claiming thereunder may, notwithstanding the passing of this Act, be judicially determined whether in an action brought before or after this Act comes into operation; and, save as herein provided, all rights and remedies against other persons than the Public Trustee shall remain and continue.page 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20. | Except as by this Act provided, no Native owner shall Except by will in favour of a Native, no Native owner to alienate, &c.alienate, mortgage, charge, or otherwise dispose of his estate or interest in any reserve, or in the rents, income, profits, or other moneys arising thereout, except by will in favour of a Native; but no disposition by will shall be made if contrary to the conditions, restrictions, and limitations of any Crown grant, partition or subdivision order, or other instrument under which such Native owner derives title; nor shall the share and interest of any such Native owner in any such reserve, or in the rent, income, profits, or other moneys arising therefrom, be liable to be seized, sold, attached, or levied upon by any process whatever, or become assets in bankruptcy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21. | Every District Land Registrar under "The Land Transfer Registration of lease without production of Crown grant, &c.Act, 1885," shall, without the production of the Crown grant or instrument of title for the land comprised in any lease purporting to be made under this Act, register such lease. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22. | For the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of Public Trustee may survey reserves and lay off roads, and make advances.this Act, the Public Trustee, subject to the regulations of the Survey Department of the colony, may—
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23. | Any Native owner over sixteen years of age, whether under Native over sixteen years may give or authorise any other Native to give discharges for moneys.coverture or not, may give good and valid discharges for any moneys which he or she may be entitled to receive from the Public Trustee, or may by writing under his or her hand, attested by a Justice of the Peace, solicitor of the Supreme Court, or Postmaster, authorise any other of the Native owners, being an adult person, to receive and give discharges for any moneys payable to such Native owner and due when such authority is given; but no Native owner shall give any authority to receive any moneys to which such Native owner is entitled before such moneys are actually due and payable, and any authority so given shall be void. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24. | The Governor shall have power from time to time to make, Governor may make regulations.alter, and revoke regulations—
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25. | No dealings with reserves or moneys except as by this Act. Save as provided by this Act, reserves, or the rents, income, or profits thereof, or other moneys arising therefrom, shall not be capable of being dealt with or disposed of. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26. |
Order in Council may declare what provisions of Schedule shall not apply. The Governor may, by Order in Council, from time to time, declare that any one or more of the provisions set forth in the Schedule hereto shall not apply, or that the same shall only apply with such necessary modifications as shall be prescribed by such order:
Provided always that no Order in Council shall be made which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act; nor shall any lessee be authorised to purchase the freehold of any leased land. |
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27. | Governor may appoint officers, &c. The Governor may appoint such officers, servants, and agents as he thinks necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28. | Act not to subject reserves to tax or rates to which they were not previously liable. Nothing in this Act contained shall render reserves, or the rents, income, profits, or other moneys arising therefrom, or the persons entitled thereto, subject to any tax or rate to which the same or the person entitled was not subject at the time this Act comes into operation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29. | Licenses may be granted to Native owners to occupy reserves. The Public Trustee, in his discretion, may grant licenses to Native owners to occupy, for the purposes of cultivation or residence or occupation, portions of reserves, upon such terms and conditions as he thinks fit.page 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30. | Reserves or any part thereof may be taken for a public work Reserves may be taken under "The Public Works Act, 1882."and compensation paid therefor in the same manner as land is taken for a public work and compensation paid under the authority of "The Public Works Act, 1882," and for such purpose reserves shall be deemed to be land within the meaning of "The Public Works Act, 1882;" and when reserves or portions thereof shall require to be taken the Public Trustee shall be deemed, for the purpose of such taking and payment of compensation, to be the absolute owner in fee-simple of such reserves or portions thereof; and all acts and things required to be done or omitted by the owner of land under "The Public Works Act, 1882," may be done or omitted by the Public Trustee; and all notices to be given by or to the owner of land under "The Public Works Act, 1882," where land is taken, shall be given by or to the Public Trustee; and in all claims for compensation the Public Trustee shall be the claimant, and all moneys payable for compensation shall be payable to the Public Trustee. All compensation-moneys shall be held by the Public Trustee in trust for the Native owners of the reserves or portions thereof taken, and shall be invested upon such securities as are authorised by section ten of "The Public Trust Office Acts Amendment Act, 1891," and the income arising therefrom shall be applied in the same manner as the rents and income of the reserves or portions thereof taken could have been applied. "Public work," for the purposes of this section, has the meaning given to that expression by "The Public Works Act, 1882," and also includes public schools, public libraries, and public recreation-grounds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31. | Where, under the provisions of this Act, any Native owner When Native owners to be deemed over sixteen years of age.over the age of sixteen years is authorised to do any act or thing, then for the purposes of rendering such act or thing valid every Native owner doing such act or thing shall be, except in case of fraud, deemed to be over the age of sixteen years, although such Native owner shall be under that age, unless express notice in writing shall be given to the person who if it were not for the provisions of this section would be bound to inquire as to the age of such Native owner prior to the doing of such act or thing that such Native owner is not over the age of sixteen years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
32. | This Act, except as to the power to make regulations there-under, When Act to come into operation.and except as to sections fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, twenty-four, and twenty-six hereof, shall come into operation on the first day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two; and, as to the powers of making regulations and as to sections fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, twenty-four, and twenty-six hereof, and this section, this Act shall be deemed to be in force as from the date on which it receives the Governor's assent. |