E—No. sa,

THE NATIVE OFFENDERS BILL, 1856.

Ayes, 2. Noes > 3 - Mr. Brown, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Sewell, Mr. Daldy, Mr. Henderson. Question put that Mr. Williamson's Resolution be adopted and reported to the House, with the evidence. „ Ayes, 3. 2 - Mr. Williamson, Mr - Sewell, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Brown, Mr. Daldy. Oflrricd Resolved that the Chairman do present the following Report to the House with the evidence. REPORT. That from the evidence which has been brought before them it appears to this Committee that but yerv few cases have occurred in the history of this Colony in which (in consequence of the refusal of Tribes or their Chiefs to surrender to the authorities Native Offenders against the law) any resort to such means as this Bill provides would have been needful to enable the Government to enforce the Law. That nevertheless a majority of the witnesses have recorded their opinion that in certain extreme and peculiar cases, recourse to some such means might be expedient, both as regards the vindication of the Law in those cases, and the prevention of recurrence of similar offences m future. That an extreme case of this nature has recently occurred, and now exists, in which it appears that certain Natives of the Manaia district (Coromandel) have stolen European property, that the Tribe refuse either to surrender the property, or to give up the offenders to be dealt with according to law. That the Committee therefore consider that it may be expedient to arm the Governor in this particular instance, with some such powers as are provided by this Bill (but in a modified form) so as to enable him with the advice of his Executive Council, to test the proposed plan of proscribing districts in which Native Offenders are harboured, but limiting such power to the particular instance referred to. The Committee then adjourned sine die. (Signed) Henry Sewell, Chairman.

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