ARMS IMPORTATION BILL. PASSED, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13th, 1845.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 29, 20 December 1845, Page 3

ARMS IMPORTATION BILL. PASSED, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13th, 1845.

Whereas certain tribes of the native race of New Zealand have taken up arms against the Queen's sovereign authority :— And whereas for the purpose of effectually subduing the present insurrection, and preventing the recurrence of an armed lesistance to the authority of hei Majesty, and of securing the peace and good order of the colony, it is expedient that restrictions should on fitting occasions be placed on the importation and sale of Arms, Gunpowder, and other warlike stores, within the same Be it therfore enacted by the Lieutenanf-Gorernoi of New Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legislative j Council thereof as follows: (that is to say) — 1. It shall be lawful for his Excellency the Governor from time to time, as to him shall seem meet by proclamation, to prohibitthroughout the colony, or within any district thereof, (to be in such proclmation defined), the importation or sale, or both the importation and sale, of Arms, Gunpowder, and other warlike stores. 2. It shall also be lawful for his Excellency the Governoi from time to time, as to him shall seem meet by ptoclamation, to make provision for regulating and restricting throughout the colony, or within any district thereof, (to be in such Proclamation defined), the importation and sale, or both the importation ana sale, of arms, gunpowder, and other warlike stores. 3. Every Person who shall import or bring into the coli ny, any arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, (whether the owner thereof or not), and who shall wilfully and knowingly, and contrary to the provisions of any such Proclamation, as aforesaid, land, or dispose of, or cause or permit to be landed, or otherwise disposed of, such arms, gunpowder or other warlike stores, or any part thereof, shall for every such offence, forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding £500, to be recovered in a' summary way. And any arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, which shall have been imported and landed, or otherwise disposed of, contrary to the provisions of any such proclamation as aforesaid, shr 11 be forfeited to her Majesty, and may be seized by any Justice of the Peace, or Peace Officer, or by any officer of her Majesty's Customs, or by any persons duly authorised and appointed in writing by his Excellency the Governor. 4. The master or person commanding the ship or vessel in which such arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores i- hall have been imported, if he shall wilfully and knowingly, and contrary to the provisions of any such proclamation, as aforesaid, iand, or dispose of, or cau«e or permit to be lauded, or otherwise disposed of such arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, or any part thereof, shall also, for every such offence, forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding £500, to be recovered in a summary way. And upon the conviction of any such master or person, such ship or vessel, with all her furniture and apparel, shall be forfeited to her Majesty, aud may be seized by any Justice of the Peace, or Peace officer, or by any offi cer of her Majesty's Customs, or by any person duly authorised aud appointed by his Excellency the Governor. 5. Every person who shall wilfully and knowingly and contrary to the provisions of auy such proclamation as aforesaid, sell, or dispose of, any Arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, shall for every such offence, forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding £500, to be recovered "in a summary-way,; and all arms, gunpowder, and other warlike stores, so unlawfully sold or disposed of, shall be forfeited to her Majesty, and may be seized iv manner heieinbefurs provided. 6. It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace to enter and search, or to grant a warrant to any person or persons, to enter and search any house, place, ship or vessel, where such Justice shall, from information on oath, have reasonable ground to suspect any arms, i?uupowder, or other warlike stores, to be deposited for any purpose contrary to this ordinance. 7. In case of any conviction under the provisions o? this ordinance, where any person or persons shall appear to have been active in, or towards, the procuring of any such conviction, it shall be lawful for his Excellency the Governor to award to such person or persons, such portion of the penalty recovered upon such conviction, but nut exceeding in the whole one-half thereof, as to him shall seem meet. For the purposes of this Ordinauce the word " Governor," shall be taken to include the Lieutenant Governor, or the Officer administering the Government, of the colony for the time being; and the word " Vessel,'' shall be taken to include any Boat, barge, punt or canoe. GEORGE GREY, Lieutenant-Governor.