CONFISCATED LANDS INQUIRY AND MAORI PRISONERS’ TRIALS BILL.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 483, 10 December 1879, Page 2

CONFISCATED LANDS INQUIRY AND MAORI PRISONERS’ TRIALS BILL.

lion Mr Bryce. Whereas under the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly heretofore in force called “The New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863,” and of the Acts amending the same, certain lands belonging to the Abori-

ginal Natives on the West Coast of the North Island have ‘been taken :' And 'whercas some of such lands have been sold and disposed of 'and other part thereof remains in the possession of the Crown : And whereas it'hath been alleged by or on behalf of some of the said Natives that promises have'been made by or on behalf of the Government of the Colony m relation to the lands so taken, and that such promises have not been fulfilled : And ‘whereas the said natives have been for some time past and now are in a state of ’ discontents and disturbances of the public peace add Other offences have lately been committed by certain of Such Natives : And whereas it is alleged that such discontent may be removed by enquiry being made into the said alleged pro* 'inises and grievances, and it is expedient that a Cdnimission’be appointed for such •purpose-: And'whereas a large xiuuiber of •Aboriginal Natives have ‘been duly committed for trial ■at the Supreme Court at Wellington'anil elseWflere in respect of said offences, and are* nchv'confined in ; prison : And whereas ’it is also indispensable for the’perice and safety ofthe’Colony that the ordinary course of law 'shrink! be suspended, arid the tfials'of the s&id Natives place'under special legislation: Be re"m#efore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand 'in "Parliament Assembly, and by the authority of the t same, as follows : 1. The Short Title'of this Act is “ The Confiscated Ladds Inquiry and Maori ’Prisoners’ Trial Act, 1870.” 2. The Governor in 'Council may, by "Commission under the Seal of the Colony, appoint three persons to he Commissioners for the ‘purpose of inquiring into all promises or engagements that have been made 'by or on behalf of the Government of the Colony to'Or‘With anyiperson or persons in ‘respect of the matters herein before stated, or any of them, in so far as affects any lands ! er territory situated between the White'C'iffs and the Kiver Waitotara, on the West Coast of the North Island.

3. Every such Commission shall confer all the usual and necessary powers and authorities upon the Commissioners, or any two of them, and shall provide that such notices be given, and times and places appointed for enquiry, as may be necessary to give effect to this Act ; and shall require a report to be made within four mouths ‘after the date of the Commission, setting forth the opinions of such Commissioners in the premises. 4. The Commissioners shall be entitled to such reasonable remuneration for their services as the Governor may prescribe : Any member of the General Assembly accepting or receiving any sum of money by way of remuneration as aforesaid, shall not be deemed to have committed a breach of “ The Disqualification Act, 1878.” 5. The expenses of the Commissioners, : and all other expenses, whether for travelling allowances, clerical assistance, witnesses’ expenses, and all other expenses ■'incurred in giving effect to the preceding of this Act, shall be paid out of moneys appropriated for that purpose by the General Assembly. ' 6. In order that the peace of the colony may be preserved, the 6overnor-in-Council .may fix the date of the trial of the said •Natives so committed for trial as aforesaid, and may declare what number of them ’shall’be tried at any one sitting of the said ’Supreme Court, and any such Order may •alter’or‘vary as occasion shall require. •7. r lf it shall be made to appear to the f Governor-in-Council that, for any reason it is expedient that the place of trial of any ’of the said natives shall be changed, then, ’notwithstanding any such committal as ■aforesaid, the Governor-in-Council may ‘order that such -natives, or any of them, shall be tried in the Supreme Court at any other place in the colony where the Supreme 'Court sits.

8. The date and place Of the trial shall ! be set forth in the Order-in-Council, and the ‘Supreme Court at which any trial shall be ordered to take place under this •Act, and every Judge of such Court shall have the same powers) jurisdiction, and authority in respect of any such natives, or the trial to be had under this Act) as if ‘originally such natives had been committed for trial at the date and place named in the Order-in-Council. : 9. This Act. shall remain in force until ■thirty days after the opening of the next session of Parliament, and no longer.