163. Before any appraiser enters into the consideration of any matters referred to him under this Act, be shall in page 144 the presence of a Justice make and subscribe the following declaration, that is to say,—

I, A.B., do solemnly and sincerely declare that I have no interest either directly or indirectly in the matter of [Here state], and that I will faithfully and honestly and to the best of my skill and ability make the appraisement and valuation required under the provisions of "The Land Act, 1877," and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand intituled "The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866."

164. In cases in which there may be no convenient way of access to any portion of the Crown land, or in which any portion of the Crown lands may be insufficient in area for public sale, or in which a portion of Crown land may lie between land already granted and a street or road which forms or should form the way of approach to such granted land, or in any other cases of a like kind, the Board may sell such lands to the holder or holders of adjacent lands without competition, and at a price to be determined by an appraiser to be appointed by the Board: Provided always that no such land shall be sold at a less price than two pounds an acre.

165. If any person be found in unauthorised occupation of any Crown lands, or shall knowingly and willfully depasture, without authority in that behalf, any cattle or sheep on such land, be shall be liable on conviction thereof to the penalties following, that is to say, for the first offence, a sum not exceeding five pounds; for the second offence after an interval of fourteen days from the date of the previous conviction, a sum not exceeding twenty pounds; and for any subsequent offence after a like interval, a sum not exceeding fifty pounds. But no proceedings to recover any such penalty may be taken except by some person authorized in that behalf by the Governor or the Board.

166. If any person shall wilfully obliterate, remove, or deface any boundary mark which may have been made or erected by or under the direction of any authorized surveyor, or by any officer of any Land Board, or of any arbitrator as to boundaries, be shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

167. Notwithstanding anything in this Act contained, the Governor, if we shall think fit, may withdraw from sale, leasing, or licensing any land or allotment.

169. The Governor shall have power from time to time to make rules, regulations, and orders for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, to alter or rescind such rules, regulations, and orders, to provide for the mode by which any land or allotment shall be surveyed and boundaries adjusted, for prescribing the form of and the conditions and mode of applying for licenses and leases to be issued under this Act, and the conditions upon which the same shall be issued, for imposing any reasonable charge for surveys or fee for any document issued under the authority of this Act, for providing for all proceedings, forms of leases, licenses, and other instruments, and for the execution of all other matters and things arising under and consistent with this Act and not herein expressly provided for, and for the more fully carrying out the objects and purposes and guarding against evasions and violations of this Act; and all such regulations shall be signed by the Minister, and upon being published in the Gazette shall be valid in law, as if the same were enacted in this Act, and shall be judicially noticed; and all such rules, regulations, and orders shall be laid before both Houses of the Assembly within