The Short Title of this Act is “The Admiralty House Act, 1898.”

The Auckland Harbour Board (hereinafter called “the Board”) is hereby empowered to provide a suitable site in or near to the City of Auckland, and thereon to erect, furnish, and maintain an Admiralty House and grounds as a residence for the Naval Commander-in-Chief of the Australasian Station and otherwise as hereinafter provided.

For the purposes of the last-preceding section hereof the Board may set aside as a site any land belonging to it, or acquire a site by purchase pr otherwise, and also may apply such portion of its general funds as it thinks necessary.

Upon such residence being duly completed to the satisfaction of the Governor the following provisions shall apply:—

The Colonial Treasurer shall, without further appropriation than this Act, pay to the Board out of the Consolidated Fund the sum of one thousand pounds.

The Governor shall, by notice in the Gazette, vest in the Board for an estate in fee-simple the site of the now existing Admiralty House and grounds (being the parcel of land described in the Schedule hereto), subject to but with the benefit and advantage of all leases or tenancies then affecting the same.

Upon such parcel of land being vested in the Board as aforesaid the following provisions shall apply:—

The District Land Registrar shall, without fee, duly record the Board’s title thereto, and issue a certificate of title in respect thereof.

The Board may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the land, and of the buildings thereon, as it thinks fit (subject to all such leases or tenancies as aforesaid), and all moneys arising therefrom shall become part of the general funds of the Board.

It shall be the duty of the Board out of its general funds to at all times furnish and maintain the aforesaid residence, to the satisfaction of the Governor, as an Admiralty House and grounds for the free use of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, or, in the event of its not being required by him, then for the free use of any other distinguished Imperial or colonial officer at whose disposal the Board thinks fit to place the same.

It shall not be lawful for the Board to sell, lease, encumber, or otherwise deal with the aforesaid residence or the furnishings thereof without the previous consent of the Governor in writing.

Such consent shall not be given unless and until—

The Governor is satisfied that the aforesaid residence is not required for the purposes of this Act; and

The Board makes satisfactory arrangements with the Colonial Treasurer whereby all moneys arising from any such dealing will be paid over to him on behalf of Her Majesty, nevertheless to the extent only of the grant made to the Board under section four hereof, plus the capital value of the said existing Admiralty House and grounds according to a valuation made under “The Government Valuation of Lands Act, 1896,” at the time when they are vested in the Board under the same section.