A.—4

122

Vll.—New Caledonia.

mesure il lui serait possible de preter son concours aux vues indiquees par votre Excellence. M. l'Amiral Fourichon est dispose a prendro toutes les precautions afm d'evitor, autant qu'il dependra de lui, les fuissomonts dont voua m'avoz ontretenus. D'apres ce qu'il m'a ecrit, il se proposorait do recommander aux autorites de la Nouvelle Caledonie de veiller a ee quo les individus dont il s'agit soient prevenus a l'avance dos dispositions qu'ils sont exposes i\ rencontrer en Australie, de maniero a les detourner de se rendre dans ce pays. II est naturellemont impossible d'user de mesures de coercition pour determiner des persotmes devemies libres do leurs mouvements a prendre une direction autro que celle qui leur convient, mais du moins les autorites coloniares franeaises s'abstiendront Hoigneusement de faoiiitor aux individus vises par votre communication des embarqucmeats qui les conduiraient dans les ports australiens. Agreez, &o. Son Excellence Lord Lyons, &o. Dbcazes.

Its Convicts.

- <^> - Enclosure 3. A Bill to prevent the Influx of Foreign and other Criminals into Queensland. [Recommended by His Excellency the-Governor, 14th May, 1879. Introduced in Committee 20th May, 1879. Mr. Palmeil] * Proamble. Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and oonsent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows ;— Offenders illegally at large. 1. Tho following persons shall bo deemed to be offenders illegally at large within the meaning of this Act, that is to say:— Any person in Queensland who, having been found guilty of felony by a Court of competent jurisdiction in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or any British possession other than Queensland, shall have escaped from custody within three years of his arrival in > ;; aensTand : Any person in Queensland having boon found guilty as aforesaid whose sentence shall have expired within three years previous to his arrival in Queensland : Any person in Queensland who, having been transported or imprisoned under tho authority of any foreign State for any crime, shall have escaped from custody : ■• Any person who, having served a sentence of transportation or imprisonment under the authority of any foreign. State, shall come into Queensland within three years after the expiration of such sentence. Offenders -inay be arrested. 2. It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace or any constable at any time after tho passing of this Act, having reasonable cause to suspect that any person is an offender illegally at large within tho meaning of this Act, forthwith and without any warrant for such purpose to arrest or cause such suspected person to be apprehended and taken before any two Justices of the Peace, to be dealt With as hereinafter mentioned. It shall be lawful for any Justice to take bail for the appearance of any person charged with being an offender illegally at large, to answer the charge before two such Justices, in such sum and with or without such sureties as such Justice may deem expedient. Punishment of offenders illegally at largo. 3. It shall be lawful for any two Justices of the Peace before whom any person shall be brought .charged with being an offender illegally at large within the moaning of this Act to convict him thereof, and at their discretion cither — (1.) To take bail that such person shall leave tho colony within seven days after his conviction; or (2.) To cause such person to bo delivered up to any person duly authorized by the Government of the country or possession from whence he came, so as to be conveyed in custody to such country ; or (3.) To cause him to be put on board any ship of war belonging to such country, and in the meantime to detain him until he can be so conveyed, delivered up, or put on board a ship of war as aforesaid ; or (4.) To sentence such person, if a male, to be kept to hard labour on the roads or other public works of the colony for any period not exceeding three years ; or, if a female, to be imprisoned with or , without hard labour in any gaol for any jjcriod not exceeding one year. Forfeiture of proporty. i. All property found upon or in tho possession of any person arrested under tho authority of this Act shall, upon his apprehension, be seized and detained, and, in the event of his being convicted, may be forfeited and sold or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the country Justices. Punishment for offenders remaining alter expiration of sentence. 5. Any person sentenced as aforesaid to hard labour or imprisonment who shall remain in Queensland for three months after the termination of such sentence shall be liable to be again apprehended and sentenced, and so on from time to time as often as he shall so remain. Penalty for harbouring. 6. Any person who shall harbour or conceal any other person whom he shall know or believe to 4>o an offender illegally at large within the meaning of the Act shall be subject to a fine not exceeding one huns" wd pounds, or to bo. imprisoned in any gaol or house of correction in Queensland for any period not exceeding twelve months. Masters of ships liable if offenders introduced. 7. Any master mariner or other person commanding, navigating, or sailing any vessel for the trip or voyage when such vessel shall bring to any port or place in Queensland any such person as is mentioned in the first clause of this Act shall, upon conviction thereof before any two Justices of the Peace, for every such offence be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or to imprisonment for any time not exceeding six months, or to both, at the discretion of the said Justices. Search-warrants. 8. It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, having information on oath that any offender illegally at large is harboured in any house or other place, to grant a general search-warrant to any constable for such person, and it shall be lawful for any such constable, in virtue of such general search-warrant, to break, enter, and search by day or by nk'ht any dwelling-house, tenement, or other place wherein such person may be suspected to be concealed, and to apprehend any person whom such constable shall have reasonable cause for suspecting to have arrived or remained in Queensland contrary to tho provisions hereof, and also to apprehend all persons found in or about such dwelling-house tenement, or other place whom such constable shall have reasonable grounds for suspecting and believing to have' knowingly harboured and concealed such suspected person; and all persons found and apprehended as aforesaid shall be forthwith taken before any Justices of tho Peace to be dealt with as herein provided. Power oi search. 9. It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace or constable to enter on board any vessel, and, having reasonable cause to suspect that any such person as is mentioned in the first section is on board such vessel, to search any and every part thereof and apprehend, any such person found therein.