THE ORDINANCES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 385, 21 July 1849, Page 82

THE ORDINANCES.

EJECTMENT OF SQUATTERS' ORDINANCE. [Fatted the 16th day of June, 1849.] Title. — An Ordinance to provide a Cheap and Expeditious mode of Procedure against Persons occupying Land or Premises within the Pro* vince of New Munster, without Right, Title, or License. Preamble. — Whereas it is desirable to provide a cheap and expeditious mode of procedure against persons occupying lands or premises sitnate within the Province of New Munster, without any right, title, or license : 1. Penalty for occupying Land or Premises without Right, Title, or License. — Be it enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Munster, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, that from and after the passing of this ordinance, it shall be lawful for the Resident Magistrate of any district, upon the complaint of any person who 6hall show, to the satisfaction of such Resident Magistrate, that be is owner of, or agent for, any land or premises in the Province of New Munster, to summon before him and any other two Justices of the Peace, any person complained of as being in possession of, or as occupying, land or premises, without right, title, or interest; and if, at tbe hearing of the case, the defendant shall not produce or prove a title to, or license to occupy, such land or premises, to the satisfaction of the said Resident Magistrate and justices, he shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding £10. 2. Justices may assess Damages for Occupation after Notice has been given. — Bo it enacted, that whenever any defendant shall be so fined as aforesaid, upon whom a notice in writing to quit the land or premises so occupied by him 6hall have been previously served by, or by tbe direction of, the complainant, the said Resident Magistrate and justices may assess the amount of damages to be paid by the defendant to the complainant for such occupation as aforesaid from the time of the service of such notice, such damage for occupancy not to extend to any time previous to the passing of this act. 3. Additional Penalty for not quitting after Notice has been given. — Be it enacted, that whenever any. defendant shall continue to occupy tbe land or premises in respect of which he shall have been so fined as aforesaid, for two calendar months after the imposition of such fine, he shall be fined such, further sum of money, not exceeding the sum of £10, and shall pay to the complainant Buch further sum of money for damages for such continued occupation, as the said Resident Magistrate and justice shall, upon a like summons and hearing, direct. 4. Land- Orders and Copy of Register of Selection, to be deemed sufficient Title. — Be it enacted, that for the purposes of this ordinance, a land-order, issued by the New Zealand Company, with a copy of the register made in the books of the said Company of the section selected in rsspect of such land-order, or any title derived therefrom, shall be deemed and taken as a sufficient title. 5. In Cases of disputed Title, Justices may dismiss Complaint. — Be it enacted, that whenever any such defendant as aforesaid, shall, at the hearing of tbe case, shew, to ».he satisfaction of the said Resident Magistrate and justices, or any two of them, aprimafacie right or title in himself to such occupation, the complaint shall be dismissed. 6. Penalty for the Production of fictitious Title or License. — Be it enacted, that any such defendant who shall have been convicted before a competent Court, of having, at the hearing of the case by the parties as aforesaid, wilfully 6et forth] a fraudulent or fictitious title, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than £50. 7. Mode of enforcing Payment of Pines and Damage. — Be it enacted, that except, as hereinbefore is otherwise provided, proceedings under this Ordinance shall be regulated by Ordinance No. V., Session 2, for the regulation of summary proceedings before Justices of the Peace. 8. Commencement of Ordinance. — Be it enacted, that this Ordinance shall come into|operation from the day of the passing thereof.

The River Niu.— A very interesting journey has been undertaken by the Rev. Dr. Bialloblotsky, under the joint management of himself and Dr. C. T. Beke. The object of this journey is to trace the true sources and branches of the River Nile, in reference to which scientific gentlemen have differed much. The map of Ptolemy is said to vary greatly with the proper bearings of the river. Another object is to ascertain tbe state of slavery and that trade on the African coast. Tbe expense of this expedition is defrayed by subscriptions from scientific and other gentlemen interested, but we believe the list of subscribers is not too numerous. The East India Company have granted a free passage in their steamer. -The result of these researches it is expected, will add much useful information.