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Timber - Floating Act 1873 [1873] NZMaoriLLegMan 1 (22 September 1873)

Last Updated: 25 September 2020

Citation: 37 V. No 39

Repeal: Amendments:
Type of Legislation: Subject:

Date of Assent: 22 September, 1873 Commencement: Date of Assent

Repealed 1884, No 36

Public

Govt Admin with Direct Impact on Maori Lakes, Rivers, Beds, Foreshores etc.

69

Relevant Sections: s2: Governor may notify what rivers, streams etc. may be used under this Act.

• s3: Superintendent, after hearing objections from any owners or occupiers of land on the banks who may be affected, may grant license for use of the stream.
• s4: Lawful for owner of license to float timber etc. down the river or stream. Proviso that licensee shall permit as little damage as possible to the river banks. Proviso that shall not interfere with the ordinary navigation of the river.

Commentary: This Act permits those felling timber to remove it from the forests by floating it down streams as had been the common practice. The Act is partially in reaction to a Supreme Court case where a Thames Maori had stopped a settler using the river in this way because of damage to eel-weirs. Parata, Takamoana, and Ngatata spoke in the House of Representatives about the possible effects of this Act on Maori land and eel-weirs. There was also a petition before the Petitions Committee from Maori in protest at the Bill. However, the majority of the House and Select Committee were more concerned with avoiding possible damage to land while not harming a lucrative extractive industry for the colony.