This Act may be cited as the Hutt River Board Empowering Act, 1928.

In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context, “Board” means the Hutt River Board constituted under the River Boards Act, 1908.

In addition to the powers conferred by section seventy-four of the River Boards Act, 1908, the Board may, in lieu of paying compensation to the owners or occupiers of any land that may be damaged or is in danger of being or is injuriously affected by any works or operations undertaken or intended to be undertaken by the Board, purchase any such land.

If the owner or occupier of any such land and the Board cannot agree as to the price to be paid therefor the Board shall pay compensation, which shall be determined in the manner provided by Part III of the Public Works Act, 1908.

The Board shall have power to lease in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies’ Leases Act, 1908, or to sell and convey to any person whatsoever, whether for cash or upon terms, any lands vested in it and not required for any works or operations of the Board, or exchange such lands for any other lands:

Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall confer on the Board any power to sell or exchange the land known as Gear Island, as defined by the Hutt River Board (Gear Island) Empowering Act, 1927, or any portion thereof.

Any land purchased by the Board under any of the powers conferred on it may, with the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, be paid for by the Board by instalments extending over a period not exceeding twenty years.

Interest at such rate as the Minister approves may be paid by the Board in respect of the purchase-money of any such land that may for the time being remain unpaid.

The Board may, on any land vested in it, construct such roads, streets, drains, sewers, and watercourses as it may deem necessary, and, on such construction in compliance with the requirements of any local authority within whose jurisdiction such roads or streets may be situate, may dedicate such roads or streets as public roads or streets, and such roads or streets shall thereupon become roads or streets of the local authority in whose district they are situate.

No lands acquired by the River Board under the provisions of this Act shall be liable for payment of any rates whatever of any local authority so long as they remain the property of the Board and are not let or leased.

The Board may for the purpose of providing sports areas and pleasure-grounds set aside any portion of the lands vested in it, and develop, manage, and control such lands, and for that purpose shall have all the powers conferred on the Board by the Hutt River Board (Gear Island) Empowering Act, 1927, in relation to Gear Island.

The Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, and any other enactments relating to public reserves and domains shall not apply to the lands set aside for the above purpose.