THE NATIVE RIGHTS ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 560, 29 August 1865, Page 5

THE NATIVE RIGHTS ACT.

The following Bill lias been read a first time and ordered to be rend a second time oil Tuesday Isat. An A<-t In declare that tho Maories shall be deemed to he natural-born subjects of Her Majesty and to declare that the jurisdiction of the Queen's Courts of Law extend over the persona and properties of all llcv Majesty's subjects within the Colnnv. Whereis doubts have been raised whether certain persons of the Maori race arc natural-bora subjects of Ilor Majesty ami whether Iter Majesty's Courts of Law within the Colony o!' Xnw Zealand have juriadietion in all eases touching the persons and property of the Maori people and it is expedient that all such doubts should he removed. Be it therefore declared and enacted by tho Conera Assembly of Kew Zealand in Parliament assembled j and by the author,ty thereof as follows — i 1. The t?hort Title of this Act shall be " The Native j Eights Act 1565." 1 2. Every person of tho Maori ra'e within the Colony of .New Zealand whether born before or sinco Xow Zealand became a dependency of Great Britain shall be taken and deemed to he a natural-bora ! subject of Her Majesty to all intents and purpose ■ whatsoever. 3. The Supiv-me Court and all other Courts of Law within the Colony ought to have and have the aime jurisdiction in all cases touching the persons and the ' propirtv whether real or person.il of »ho Maori people and touching the title to lands held under Maori custom and usas-e as they .have or niay hare under anv law for thr time being m force in all cases touch- : ing the persons and property ot natural born subjects. , | ofher Majesty.