ARMS IMPORTATION BILL.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 52, 25 February 1846, Page 3

ARMS IMPORTATION BILL.

[Passed, December 13, 1845.] Whereas certain tribee of the natire race of New Zealand hare taken up arms against the Queen's sovereign authority :—And whereas for the purpose of effectually subduing (he present insurrection, and preventing the recurrence of an armed resistance te the authority of her Mejesty, and of securing (ho peace and good order of the colony, it is expedient that restrictions should, on fitting Occasions, be placed on ihe importation and sale of arms, gunpowder, and other warlike stores, within the same. Be it therefore enacted by the Lieute'nant-GoverHor of New Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows (that is to say) :- 1. It shall be lawful for his Excellency the Go vernor from time to time, at to him shall seem meet

by proclamation, to prohibit throughout the colony ; or within any district thereof (to be in iucl» proclil mation defined,) tbe importation or sale, or both the importation aod Bale of arm?, gunpowder, and other warlike stores. 2. ti shall also be lawful for his Excellency the Governor from time to time, as to bim *hall peerri meet by proclamation, to make provision f>r regulating and restricting throughout the calony, or within any district thereof (to be in such proclamation defined,) the importation or sale, or both tie" importation and sale, of arms, gunpowder, and other warlike Stores. 3. Every person wHo ehall import or bring into the colony, any arms; gunpowder, or other warlike stores (whether the owner thereof or not,) and who ehall Willingly 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, euch arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, or aily part thereof, Ehall for tVery such offence, forfeit and p*y any sum not ex. ceedmg .£SOO, to be recover, d in a summary wa;; And any arms, gunpowder, or any other watlike stores, which sha 1 have been imported and landed or otherwise disposed of, cdntrary to the provisions of any such proclamation as aforesaid, shall be forfelted to her Majesty, end may be seized by any Justice of the Peace, or Peace Officer, or by sny officer of of her Majesty's Customs, or by any persons duly authorized and appointed in writing by his Excellency the Governor. 4; The master or person commanding the ship or vessel in which such armSj gunpowder, or other war; like stores shall have been imported, if he shall wilfully and knowingly, and contrary the provisions of any such proclamation, as aforesaid, land or dispose of, or cause or permit to be laoded, or other; wise disposed of, such arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, or any part thereof, shall also, for every such offencj, forfeit and pat any sum not txceeding £500, to be recovered in a gumma y way. And upon the conviction of any such master or peri eon, Ettch ship or vessel) with all her furniture and apparel, shall be forfeited to her Majesty, and may be seized by any Justice of the Peace Officer, or b» any officer of her Majesty's Customs, or any person duly authorized and appointed by his Excellency ths Governor. 6. Erery person who ehsli wilfully and and contrary to the provUions of any such proclamation, afureseid, sell, or dispose of, any arms, gunpowder; or dtaer warlike stores, shall for t very such offence, forfeit and pay any surri Hot exceeding £500, to be recovered in a summary way ; and all arms,' gunpowder, and other warlike stores, so unlawfully sold or disposed of, sball be forfeited to her Majesty, and maybemzed in manner hereinbefore provided; 6. It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace to enter and ifcarcb; or to grant a warrant to any person or persons, to enter and search auy home, piece, fhip or vessel, wheie such Justice shall, frora information upon oath, have reasonable ground to suspect any arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, to be deposited for any purpose contrary to this ordinance, 7. In case of any conviction under tbe provisions of this ordinance, where any person or persons shall appear to have been active in; or towards, the procuring any such conviction, it shall be lawful for his Excellency the Governor to award to such person or persons, such portion of the penalty re* covereoVupoa saA conviction, bat not exceeding in the whole one-half thereof as to hire shall seem meet. F,r the purpose of this ordinance the'word " Governor," shall be taken to iiclude the "LieutenantGovernor, 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, puut, or canoe. Gbobge Gret, , Lieutenant- Governor. Colonial Office, Auckland, 24th January, 1845. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor Las given directions for the publication of the following Despatch, with the question and opinion subjoined, for general information. By Command, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretaiy.