Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 26.djvu/1551

 1502 GENERAL Aer-sAMoAN ISLANDS. JUNE 14, mss. jrme by premip- SECTION 9. The undisputed possession and continuous cultivation "°“‘ of lands by aliens for ten ears or more, shall constitute a valid title by prescription to the lands so cultivated, and an order for the registration of the title thereto may be made. Q_?¤fg¤·g;¢i<»¤ of im- SEcT1oN 10. In cases where land acquired in good faith has been "° °° °*°‘ improved or cultivated u on a title which is found to be defective, the title may be confirmed) in whole or in part upon the payment by the occupant to the person or persons entitled thereto of an additional sum to be ascertained by the Commission and approved by the Court as equitable and just. ` cmmswberejecua SEoT1oN 11. All claims to land, or to any interest therein, shall be rejected and held invalid in the following cases : (ce) Claims based upon mere promises to sell, or options to buy. (b) Where the deed, mortgage or other conveyance contained at the time it was signed no description of the land conveyed sufficientl accurate to enable the Commission to define the boundaries thereof? (c) Where no consideration is expressed in the conveyance, or if expressed has not been paid in full to the grantor, or if the consideration at the time of the conveyance was manifestly inadequate and unreasonable. (d) Wl1ere the conveyance whether sale, mortgage or lease was made upon the consideration of a sale of fire arms or munitions of war, or upon the consideration of intoxicating liquors, contrary to the Samoan law of October 25, 1880, or contrary to the Municipal Rsggulations of January 1, 1880. · uépcipinuncpv cna- Ecrron 12. The Land Commission may at its discretion through mmm"' the Local Government of the District in which the disputed land is situated appoint a native Commission to determine the native granto1·’s right of ownership and sale ; and the result of that investi ation, together with all other facts pertinent to the question of validity of tit e, shall be laid before the Commission to be by them reported to the Court. Anmev. ARTICLE V. Declaration. A Declcimtion respecting the Jlunicipal District of Apia. providinga local adm inishution therejbr, and defining the jurisdiction of the Jlu n icipal JR: gisfra fe. }}¤*°*P•*'°*¤¤‘*¤¤°f Section 1. The Municipal District of Apia is defined as follows; isounumes. Beginning at Vailoa, the boundarv passes t ience westward along the coast to the mouth of the River Fuluasa ; thence following the course of the river upwards to the point at which the Alafuala road crosses said river ; thence following the line of said road to the point where it reaches the River Vaisinago ; and thence in a straight line to the point qt peginning at Vailoa—embracing also the waters of the Harour o - 1a. 0¤¤¤<=iL SECT1oNp2. Within the aforesaid District shall be established a,, Municipal Council, consisting of six members and a President of the Counci, who shall also have a vote. Each member of the Council shall be a resident of the said Dist·rict. and owner of real estate or conductor of a profession or business in said District which is subject to a rate or tax not less in amount than $51per ann. Eection ummm. or the purpose of the election of members of the Council, the said District shall be divided into two, or three, electoral districts from each of which an equal number of Councillors shall be elected b the taxpayers thereof qualified as aforesaid, and the members elected from each electoral district shall have resided therein for at least six months prior to their election. _ It shall be the duty of the Consular Representatives of the Three Treaty Powers to make the said division into electoral districts as