The Short Title of this Act is “The Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Act, 1890.”

The Council of the County of Bruce is hereby authorised to undertake such works as may be necessary for the reclamation of the lands described in the Schedule hereto, and the drainage of the lakes Tuakitoto and Kaitangata respectively.

All such works shall be deemed to be included within the definition of a public work within the meaning of “The Public Works Act, 1882.”

The Council aforesaid, with the consent of the ratepayers of the County of Bruce, to be ascertained as provided in “The Counties Act, 1886,” in relation to a proposal to raise a special loan within the county, may raise a special loan for the purpose of the construction and completion of such work or any part thereof.

All reclamations of any such lands shall be made to the satisfaction of any engineer whom the Governor may from time to time appoint to certify that such work is satisfactorily done.

All the said lands when reclaimed shall be deemed to be Crown lands vested in Her Majesty; subject, however, to the special provisions of this Act.

The Council aforesaid may from time to time enter into provisional agreements with any person or persons for the reclamation of the whole or any portion of the lands described in the Schedule; subject, however, in every case to the approval of the Governor.

The said Council may from time to time dispose of any portion of such lands which the engineer aforesaid has certified to have been reclaimed in a satisfactory manner, by lease for any period not exceeding twenty-one years from the date of the passing of this Act, at such rent as they shall think fit, but without any covenant for renewal of any such lease, or any covenant for payment of compensation for improvements made during any period of the term of any such lease.

Every such lease shall be disposed of by public auction or public tender, and shall be subject to a right reserved to Her Majesty of re-entry upon the lands included in the lease for the purposes of the construction of railways or other public works; and subject also that the public shall have the right, at all times and seasons, without any let or hindrance whatsoever, to enter into or pass through or along the banks or borders of the Lakes Tuakitoto and Kaitangata, as existing from time to time; and also through or along the banks or borders of any streams or channels running into or from the said lakes or either of them, or connecting the said lakes with each other or with the Clutha River.

The rents arising from the said lands from time to time during twenty-one years after the passing of this Act shall be paid to the aforesaid Council, who shall apply the same in the first instance towards paying the cost of completing the reclamation of the said lands; secondly, in maintaining the reclamation works in proper condition; and any moneys then remaining from the said rents may thereafter be applied towards recouping the past cost incurred by such Council in reclaiming any portion of the said lands.

After the aforesaid period of twenty-one years from the date of the passing of this Act all outstanding rents in respect of such lands shall be paid to Her Majesty as revenue arising from the leasing of Crown lands, and such lands shall be dealt with as provided by any Act for the time being in force relating to the disposal of Crown lands.