CO129-300 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [7-9] — Page 230

EN CLOSURE

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26070

Real 29 AUG 00

Attorney General's Office.

July 25th.,1900.

REPORT ON ORDINANCE 18 OF 1900.

I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, en-

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An Ordinance to facilitate the hearing, deter-

mination, and settlement of land claims in the New Terri-

tories, to establish a Land Court, and for other purposes.'

and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not

contrary to the Governor's Instructions.

Ordinance 8 of 1900, providing for a Land Court for the purpose of hearing and determining claims in relation to laud in the New Territories, was assented to by the Governor on 28th March, 1900, It was duly submitted for Her Majesty's directions, and the Ordinance, generally, was approved; but the following amendments, on minor points, were suggested by the Secretary of State as desirable ---

(u.) The substitution, in section 18, of the words “by the Governor in Executive Council" for the words "by the Court," in relation to the fixing the rate of money rent in substitution of rent in produce. This is because the Court is not intended to be a perma neut institution.

(b.) Provision being made, in section 19, for allowing payment of an annual money rent as an alternative to the payment of a capital sum, in eases of the redemption of a produce vent payable in perpetuity, (e.) The addition of a section providing that the Court shall be brought to an end as soon as the work for which it is appointed has been performed. Ordinance 8 of 1900 is repealed by this Ordinance and ro-enneted with the amendments mentioned. One other amendment has been made, at the suggestion of the Mem- hers of the Land Court. They thought it desirable that the value of disputed claims, which might be dealt with by one member of the Court, should be raised, with a view to expediting the business of the Court. The maximum has, accordingly, been raised from two hundred to five hundred dollars. Appointments made under Ordinance 8 of 1900 have been continued as valid, and, in order to prevent any confusion in citing Ordinance 8 of 1900 and the present Ordinance by their short titles, the short title to the present Ordinance has been changed to "The New Territories Land Court Ordinance, 1900."

W. MEIGH GOODMAN, Attorney General.

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