West Coast Peace Bill.

Patea Mail, 31 May 1882, Page 3

West Coast Peace Bill.

i KEEPING TE WHITt, AWAY.

, The hill introduced by Mr Bryce abling Government to keep Te Whiti and 1 Tohu under arrest without trial, provides as,follows.; — , j 'detention in custody.'’ i That Te Whiti and Tohu shall not be tried for the offence of treason, but may be,!kept; in custody in such ..place as the Governor may order ; and he may release,"; or discharge them unconditionally, or on Condition to,-again, arrest rand keep them in custody; 1 ‘No Court or Judge is to have pbweri to' release' them during' thetinuance of this Statute and any 1 person• Who may do any; act tbi defeat this statute shall be liable to a penalty of £SOO.- . PREVENTING MEETINGS AT PARIHAKA. ‘‘ If -any Maoris exceeding twenty in number assemble in public meeting, and ? it shall appear to any Justice of the Peace that the proceedings thereat are calculated to create disaffection towards; the ment, ojr to lead, to breaches, of the law, or to disturbance of the public peace,, it shall be lawful for such Justice openly, and with a loud voice, to proclaim, or cause to

;be proclaimed to the Maoris so assembled, in their own language, to the following effect ;—‘All Maoris, now assembled are

hereby commanded to disperse, and peaceably depart to their own places of abode on pain of being apprehended and punished for disobedience to this command.’ If the Maoris assembled, or any ten or more of them, shall, after the above command has been given, continue together, or not disperse themselves as commanded, for one hour, they shall be deemed guilty of an offence, and it shall be lawful for any persons, who mny be called on, to assist to seize, and apprehend any Maoris'who. disobey such command, and, as 1 soon as convenient, take them before a Justice of ithe - Peacel Suclv Justice may forthwith ihear hnd 1 determine'the case, or may remand , the prisoners to be kept in’ custody hnd 1 brought > before himself or any other Justice or Justices of the Peace, on the same or any other day, to be tried in a summary way.” INDEMNITY BILL. Another bill provides for the indemnity from legal consequences of any person who acted under the authority of Government in, breaking' up the gathering of Natives at Parihaka. This bill is to cover all, excesses of legal power which may have been committed during the threatened ‘Native disturbance which Mr Bryce’s sensible action put down so quietly and effectually.