The Short Title of this Act is “The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Act Amendment Act, 1895.”

Any Native over the age of sixteen years, whether under coverture or not, may from time to time give good and valid discharges for any moneys which he or she is entitled to receive from the Public Trustee under “The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Act, 1887” (hereinafter called “the principal Act”), or may, by writing under his or her hand, attested by a Justice of the Peace, solicitor of the Supreme Court, or Postmaster, authorise any other Native beneficiary under the principal Act to receive and give discharges for any such moneys if actually due and payable when such authority is given; but every such authority shall be absolutely void if it relates to moneys which are not actually due and payable at the time when the authority is given.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the principal Act, it is hereby declared that the Public Trustee may pay to the Natives for the benefit of whom be holds the Arahura Reserve a certain capital sum of one thousand five hundred and ninety-three pounds, recently received by him as compensation for actual and prospective damage to that reserve in consequence of the Arahura River having been declared a watercourse under “The Mining Act, 1886”:

Provided that the Public Trustee shall decide who are entitled to the moneys, and as to the amounts to be paid to each and every one of the Natives interested, and his decision shall be final; and provided further that, after having decided what amount of the moneys is due to the interested parties, the Public Trustee shall inquire as to the indebtedness or otherwise of the parties, and, out of the capital moneys held by him, arrange with the creditors, and pay any moneys coming to the parties to such creditors, and, where possible, such payment to be a final settlement of the accounts.