AN ACT TO REGULATE THE LOCAL AFFAIRS OF NATIVE DISTRICTS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 15, 15 September 1858, Page 2

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE LOCAL AFFAIRS OF NATIVE DISTRICTS.

[4th August, 1858.] Whereas it is expedient, in order to promote the civilization of the Native Race, that the Governor in Council be enabled to make and put in force, within Districts over which the Native Title has not been extinguished, such regulations on matters of Local concernment, or relating to the Social Economy of tbe Native Race, as may appear adapted to the special wants of the inhabitants : all such Regulations beiog made, as far as possible, with the general assent of the persons affected thereby : Beit therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows: — I. It shall be lawful for the Governor in ■ Council, from lime to time to appoint Districts for the purposes of this Act, being Districts over which the Native Title shall not for the time being have been extinguished; and an\ such appointment to vary or revoke.

11. It shall bo lawful for the Governor in Council from time to lime, to make and put in force within any such district Regulations respecting ail or any of the matters following (that is to say)— 1. For the prevention of Ca» tie-Trespass, und of the wandering of Cattle at large for -defining and prescribing the rights, duties, and liabilities* in relation to damage done by Cattle-Trespass, and otherwise in relation thereto of all Owners and Occupiers of land, persons owning or having charge of Cattle, and other persons. 2. For the erection, maintenance, and regulation of Public Pounds, and for regulating the impounding of Cattle, and the levying of Pound fees and of other fees and charges in connection with the Impounding of Cattle. 3. For the erection and maintenance of Party and other boundary Fences, including Fences between lands over which the Native title has, and adjacent lands over which it has not -been extinguished), and for defining -and prescribing the rights, -duties, and liabilities of all Owners and Occupiers of land, and other persons, in relation to such erection and maintenance, and to the cost thereof, and in relation thereto. •4. For the Branding or Marking of Cattle in order to the proof of the Ownership thereof, and for the prevention of Fraud in relation to the Branding or Marking of Cattle, and for the prevention of Larceny of Cattle, or for the Flesh Hides or Skins thereof. 3. For the prevention of Contagious and Infectious Diseases, amongst Cattle, and for prohibiting or restricting the introduction, or removal from place to place, of Infected Cattle, and enforcing the Cure, Cleansing, or Destruction of Infected Cattle'. <6. For preventing the Growth and Spread of "Thistles and other Noxious Weeds. # 7. For ascertaining, prescribing, and providing for the observance and enforcement of the rights, duties, and liabilities, amongst themselves, of Tribes, Communities, or Individuals of the Native Race, in relation to the use, occupation, and receipt of the Profits of Lands and Hereditaments. 8. For the prevention of Bush and other Fires, and the restraint of persons

ilrtngbnsh, scrub, grass, rubbish, or other material, to the danger of life or properly. 0. For the suppression of the Nuisance of Dogs wandering at large, and for defining and prescribing the rights, duties, and liabilities <of the Owners of Dogs, and of all other persons in relation to Dogs wandering at large. 40. For enforcing the cleansing of bouses and other buildings in a dirty and un wholesome state. 11.- For the suppression of Common Nuisances. 12. For providing for the Health and Personal Convenience of the Inhabitants of any Native Village, Pah, or assemblage of Houses. • 13. For the protection of Public property and the Common property of Tribes or Communities. It* S or tD ® of Drunkenness. 157 For the Sale, Removal, and Disposal of Spirituous and Fermented Licjuors, and for the restriction of prohibition of such Sale, Removal, and Disposal. 10. For the suppression of injurious Native Customs; and for the substitution of remedies and punishments for injuries in cases in which compensation is now sought by means of such Customs. And all such Regulations shall have the force J?7 wiUlin sucn Districts, and may be varied or revoked from time to time by the Governor in Council; and, as respects the erection and maintenance of Fences between lands over which the Native Title has, and adjacent lands over which it has not been extinguished, all such Regulations shall be binding upon all owners aud Occupiers of such adjoining lands. 111. It shall be lawful by any such Regulato impose Penalties, not exceeding Fitfy pounds, for the breach or non-observance of any such Regulation. IV. Payment of all Penalties imposed by or by, virtue of any such Regulation, may be recovered and enforced by Justices of the specially authorised by the Governor in that behalf, iu a summary way, either within or without the limits of the Districts withIn which such Penalties may have been incurred, in the mode prescribed by the laws for the time being in force for regulating summary proceedings before Justices of the Peace. •n^riiL ßHchß^ Uonß * ball woirol and supersede, or preclude, the operation of all

fcaws or Ordinances in anywise repugnant thereto, or inconsistent therewith, which, before or aaer the date toereot; may have been or any be made or ordained by any Leg,slative Body within the Colony, other than the General Assembly, or by anv Superintendent and Provincial Council, VI. All such Regulations shall be made as lar aspossible wkh the general assent of the Native popalaiion atfecled thereby, to be ascertained in such manner as the Governor may deem fating: Provided that the issue of any Order in Council under this Act shall be conclusive proof of such geueral assent to any Regulation thereby made. Til. No order in Council for any of the purposes aforesaid shall come into operation unti at least fourteen days after the same shdl have been publisbeJ in the Maori Stetttnger in English and Maori. VIII. A copy of every Order in Council made under this Act shall be laid before both Housesrof the General Assembly, immediately upon the issue thereof, if the General Assembly be tfaea in Session, otherwise, within lea days from the commencement of the Session next following the issue thereof. IX. On IhenotiGcation in the New Zealand Gazette of the extinction of Native Title over lauds within any such District, all Regulations made under this Act shall thereupon cease to be in force within the boundary of such lands, nevertheless without prejudice to the enforcement of any penalty incurred, or to the completion of any proceeding commenced, under any such Regulation prior to such notification. * X. Lands granted by it)e Crown to any person of the Native Race, or to any person or Body Politic in trust for Religious, Educational, or Charitable purposes, or in respect or any purchase made prior to the Proclamation of the Queen's Sovereignty, or specially granted as homesteads to persons of European Race domiciled in Native Districts, shall, where the same respectively abut upon lands over which the Native Title has not been extinguished, be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be lands over which the Native iille has not been extinguished, and may accordingly be included within any such District as aforesaid. XI : Half-Castes and other persons of SI?. r??? e ,i%in * as members of any miive Inbs, and all Aboriginal Natives of any of the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, j

shall for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be persons of the Native Race. XII. In the interpretation of this Act the term "Cattle" shall include Horses, Sheep, Asses,"Mules, Goats, and Swine, as well as Neat Cattle, together with the young of the said several kinds. XIII. The Short Title of this Act shall be 4 'The Native Districts Kegulalio i Act,