1901_SQUATTER_ORDINANCE__1890 — Page 2

A.D. 1890.]

SQUATTERS.

[No. 5.

797

of the Supreme Court, the persons respectively filling the offices of Sur- claims by veyor General and Registrar General for the time being, and one other person to be from time to time appointed by the Governor.

matters to

lenses.

3. (1.) The Judge aforesaid shall be the Chairman of the Board. Chairman and and three members thereof shall form a quorum.`

(2.) In the case of an equal division of opinion the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

(3.) There shall be a Secretary to the Board, to be appointed by the Governor, whose duty it shall be to keep a record of all proceedings and decisions of the Board, to receive all elaims and communications to the Board, and to issue all orders and directions of the Board.

quorum of

Board.

4. The Board shall, for the purposes of this Ordinance, have the fol- Powers of lowing powers:-

(1.) to determine within what time claims to leases in any specified village or district shall be presented to the Board, and in what form and manner such claims are to be presented ;

(2.) to cause to be notified in any village or district in which land is occupied by squatters, and in such manner as the Board may di- rect, notice of the time within which claims to such land must be made, and the form and manner of making such claims; and (3.) to fix the dates and times and places for the hearing of such claims to leases, and to cause notice of such dates and times and places to be notified to claimants in such manner as the Board may direct.

Board.

claim by

5. If in any case it appears to the Surveyor General, before the hear- Report in ing, that a lease can be granted to any claimant without further investi- gation, he shall report the same to the Board accordingly, and in such case it shall not be necessary for the claimant or his witnesses to appear before the Board, unless the Board so orders.

✪.--(1,) For the purpose of the hearing of any claim to a lease, the Board shall have powers similar to those vested in the Supreme Court on the occasion of any action in respect of the following matters; namely,-

(a.) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them

upon cath, affirmation, or otherwise;

(b.) compelling the production of documents;

(c.) punishing persons guilty of contempt of the Beard or of any

order of the Board;

(d.) ordering inspection of property; and

(e) making and enforcing any order which may be necessary to the proper hearing and determination of any question before the Board.

The Beard may exercise all or any of such powers for the pur-

favour of surveyortien- hearing.

cral before

Further pow•

of card

of claims, for hearing

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