BOARD AND LODGING. G. REYNOLDS, Mount Cottage, BOULCOTT STREET, Wellington Terrace. A separate parlour if required. MILITIA BILL.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 26, 5 April 1845, Page 1

BOARD AND LODGING. G. REYNOLDS, Mount Cottage, BOULCOTT STREET, Wellington Terrace. A separate parlour if required. MILITIA BILL.

The Preamble states, that it is expedient that the European population of New Zealand should he trained to the use of artris, so as to fdrm an "effective military force for the-defence of <the~ lives and • property of her Majesty's subjects ■within the colony. Clause 1. — Provides, that tile Governor shall have power to call together the Militia to be trained and exercised for any number of days, ! not exceeding 28, in any one year. I 2. — Provides, that the Governor shall appoint officers to train, discipline &c, according to re- ; gulations to be from time to time made, and also to appoint one proper person, who shall have served in some of the Queen's regular forces, to be Adjutant to such Militia raised in any settlement within the Colony, who shall be paid any sum not exceeding eight shillings per diem. 3. — Provides, that the Governor shall cause the Militia to be formed into regiments batta*lions, or other bodies, as it shall seem meet to him. 4. — Provides, that the Governor shall have power, from time to time, to make such regulations respecting the training and exercise, arms and accoutrements, clothing and equipment of such Militia, as may be required for the promoting of their efficiency as a military force. 5. — Provides, that in all cases of actual inva- , sion, or imminent danger thereof, rebellion or insurrection, or imminent danger to the safety of any settlement, the Governor or principal civil authority in any settlement, where Militia is raised, shall direct the officer commanding the Militia to draw out the Militia force, or such part thereof, as the Governor or such civil authority shall judge necessary, and in such manner as shall be best adapted to the circumstances of the danger, and to lead the said forces into any part of the district in which such Militia shall have been raised, provided always, that neither the whole, nor any part of the Militia, to be raised in any settlement in the Colony, \ shall on any account be carried or ordered to" go beyond the distance of 25 miles from the Police Office, of the district in which the Mililtia shall be raised. 6. — Provides, that all between the ageja of 18 and 60 years, being British subjects, and not aboriginal natives, shall be liable to serve in such Militia, Judges of the Supreme Court, all Clergymen, and members of the Legislative Council exempt. 7. —Provides, that the Police Magistrates of every district, with a European* population of 500 souls, shall as soon as convenient after the passing of this Bill, and in March every succeeding year, call a special meeting bf the Justices of the Peace, residing within 25 miles of the Police Office,, for the purpose of forming a Militia list. The Justices at such meeting, shaU prepare a list in Alphabetical order, of all men

residing within such limits who, shall he liahle to serve. The Police Magistrate shall fix such notice in conspicuous places in the district, and to such list shall subjoin a notice, that all objections shall be heard and determined by him , ■within 10 days a/ter elate of such notice. 8. — Provides, that the Police Magistrates after hearing such objections, shall have power to strike out of the list the names of all persons not liable to serve, and of such as are incapacitated by lunacy, deafness, blindness lameness, or any other disorder that may render them unfit for active service. 9. — Provides, that the list so corrected, shall be forwarded to the principal civil authority of the district. 10. — Provides, that notice of the times and places to be fifed by the Governor for training and exercising, shall be posted on the door of the Police Office, and other conspicuous places, 18 cleat days before the time so appointed, which shall be deemed sufficient notice to every Militia man ; and such Militia men shall attend accordingly v 11. — Provides, tti^t every Militia man (not laboiiringunder any infi*n>ity incapacitating him) who shall not appear at , the time and place appointed for his being excrojsed, (after notice being given) shall forfeit, and pay, any sum not exceeding £20, to be recovered in a summary way. 12. — Provides, that every Militia man, who having joined the. regiment.to which he belongs, shall desert or absent himself during thes time of any ,-Sush. exercise, shall forfeit £20. „13 > u^Eft>vides,ihat when the Militia shall be ordered out into active service, notice shall be giyen in writing, to the several Militia men or left at Ch"eir usuarplace "of abode, to attend at the time and place, mentioned in such order. 14. — Provides, that -if any Militia man so directed to be dr^twn out,. shaft not appear and march in pursuance of such direction, he shall be liable to be apprehended and punished as a deserter, according to the Act for punishing mutiny and desertion, and of the Articles of War made in pursuance of the same, 15.— Provides that if any person harbour or conceal any Militia man/ when directed to be drawn out, he shall forfeit £20. 16. — Provides, that every Militia man, at the 'time and place appointed for exercise, shall take an oath or affirmation of allegiance to' Her Majesty, to hd taken or made in the presence of the senior officer then present, if refused, such Militia man shall forfeit £20. 17, — Provides, that if any Militiaman shall sell, pawn, or lose any of his arms, clothes, accoutrements or ammunition, or neglect or refuse to return t hem in gopd order to his Captain, or if any person shall buy, take in exchange, conceal or receive any Militia arms, clothes, &c, delivered for the Militia, every such offender shall forfeit £10. 18. — Provides, that during the time the Militia are assembled for training and exercise, or for actual service, they shall be subject to the Act of Parliament for punishing mutiny and desertion, and the Articles of War made in pursuance of the same, in all cases whatsoever, but so that no punishment shall extend to life or limb. 19. — Provides,, that it shall be lawful for any officer commanding and present with any de v taclftnent of Militia, called out to exercise, or on actual service, not being under the rank of a Captain, to order when he shall think it necessary, a regimental Court Martial to be held for the trial of any offence committed by any sergeant, corporal, drummer or private under his command, and if a sufficient number of officers are not present to constitute such Court, the commanding officer of the regiment shall, upon the officer commanding such detachment, order a, sufficient number of officer? of proper rank, to attend and assist at such Court Martial. 20. — Provides, that the sentence of every such Court Martial, in every case, shall be submitted to the commandingofficer of the regiment to which such detachment shall belong for bis . approval thereof, and who shall cauge such sentence to be put in execution, mitigated .or remitted- as he shall, in his discretion think best for the service.