Section 40. Settlement-officer to invite claims to lands appearing to have no owner.

When any local area is under settlement, the Settlement-officer shall make lists of all lands in such area which appear to him to have no lawful owner, and shall thereupon issue a notification declaring his intention to demarcate such lands as the property of the Government and inviting every person having claims to or over them to present in his court, within three months from the date of the notification, a petition in writing setting forth such claims and the respective grounds thereof.