THE AMNESTY BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2620, 30 August 1882, Page 3

THE AMNESTY BILL.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.J WELLINGTON, August 29, The following are the chief provisions of the Amnesty Bill introduced by Mr Bryce. The preamble sets forth that on several occasions heretofore the aboriginal inhabitants of the colony of New Zealand have been_ in insurrection against her Majesty’s authority, and that offences of various kinds more or less of a political character have during such insurrections, or consequent thereon, been committed by Maoris, and disturbances of the public peace and breaches of the law of various kinds have recently taken place on the West Coast of the Nerth Island of the colony, but the _ state of the colony is now such as to justify an amnesty being proclaimed for such offences as aforesaid, aud it is expedient to do so. Therefore the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, may, by proclamation in the Government “ Gazette,” declare an amnesty for such offences. Such amnesty may bo extended to all offences and to all Maoris, or certain offences and certain Maoiis may bo excepted from the operation _ thereof. The effect of such proclamation shall be to exempt the Maoris not excepted from the operations of indictments, prosecutions, aud criminal proceedings whatsoever for or in relation to any such offences as aforesaid against the law committed during the continuance of any such insurrection, or on the West Coast as aforesaid, or connected therewith, or resulting therefrom. In order to prevent any doubts as to the effect of es y such proclamation in any particular case, it shall tie lawful for the Governor, by writing under his hand, to declare that any Maoii, or any offence, is excepted from or included within the operation of any such proclamation. This Act is not to affect the Peace Preservation Act, 1882,