TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 590, 30 June 1858, Page 4

TARANAKI.

We have received per "Mary Thompson" Tarattaki papers up to theothinst. The Native difficulties have not yet been anywise adjusted. The ' Taranaki Herald' of the above date giyes the address of Mr. Richmond, in the House'-of Representatives, on the 25th ult., introducing a bill to make better provision for the administration of justice in native districts. We give the following extract, which includes the most tfiaterial features of the bill. ■■ ....

By the ".Bill to -make better provision for the Administration of Justice in Native, Districts;"., we propose to vest all the summary jurisdiction, of Justices ana of the Itesident Magistrate in a Circuit Court, composed of Resident Magistrate and his Native Assessors, assisted by a Jury. The Court will have the same power td try and punish minor offenders, and to inquire into and commit for trial before the Supreme .Court oh ! charges of felony and other crimes, as justices of ■ the peace possess, but with this important difference.—By section 9, a Native Jury has a veto, on all their more important proceedings. No man can be punished by a fine exceeding £5 except 011 the verdict of a jury. No man can be committed for trial except on the presentment of a jury that there is reasonable ground of suspicion. This we think is calculated to give confidence to the Native people in the working of the Court, when they see the thing thus committed to themselves. Perhaps its greatest value is in the educational discipline it carries with it. So it is of trial by Jury. It is not because it is a very perfect instrument for determining the evidence, but because it induces a popular confidence In the administration of Justice, that it is so valuable. This is exactly the kind of confidence we want to induce in the case of the Native people. I will now enlarge on the civil jurisdiction proposed to be given. It is—with the exception of one class of cases—a jurisdiction in pure Native eases only. Mixed cases we leave to the Resident Magistrate as at present. It has been thought desirable to give independent jurisdiction to a small amount, and over Natives only, to the Native Assessor sitting alone—in civil cases to an amount of £5, and in criminal, to the extent of imposing a fine of 20s'. The Bill contains short clauses enabling the appointment of a Constabulary Force, and the establishment of Lock-up Houses. The Fees and Fines of the Courts are to be appropriated for any of the purposes of Government within the District, or otherwise for the common benefit of the inhabitants.

I find I am passing over one part of the Bill with which perhaps I should have be<nm, namely tue limits of its operation. The Bill is of course confined to Native Districts, though the fourth section-gives a large interpretation to the term so as to include, in certain cases, small tracts of land owned by Europeans— what may be looked cm as Oases in the Native desert. It is to be brought into operation in such Districts as may be appointed £or the purpose by the Governor in Council and every such appointment may be •revoked. The Resident Magistrate's consent is necessary to every important act of the Court. v«So nnT. T a Vet° °n Mm > bUt liehaß a veto on the^Jury.