71

DECLARATION.
HER Majesty the Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
having been compelled to take up arms in
support of an Ally, is desirous of rendering
the war as little onerous as possible to the
Powers with whom she remains at peace,
To preserve the commerce of neutrals from
all unnecessary obstruction, Her Majesty is
willing, for the present, to waive a part of the
belligerent rights appertaining to Her by the
law of nations.

It is impossible for Her Majesty to forego
the exercise of her right of seizing articles
contraband of war, and of preventing neutrals
from bearing the enemy's despatches, and she
must maintain the right of a belligerent to
prevent neutrals from breaking any effective
blockade which may be established with
an adequate force against the enemy's forts,
harbours, or coasts.

But her Majesty will waive the right of
seizing enemy's property laden on board a
neutral vessel, unless it be contraband of war.

It is not Her Majesty's intention to claim
the confiscation of neutral property, not being
contraband of war, found on board enemy's
ships, and Her Majesty further declares, that
being anxious to lessen as much as possible
the evils of war, and to restrict its operations
to the regularly organized forces of the coun-
try, it is not her present intention to issue
letters of marque for the commissioning of
privateers.

Westminster, March 28, 1854.

Commissioner of Crown Lands' Office,
Auckland, 6th June, 1854.

I, FRANCIS DILLON BELL, a Commis-
sioner duly appointed by virtue of the
Ordinance No. 15, Session xi of the Legis-
lative Council of the Islands of New Zealand,
to hear and decide claims to land by persons
claiming title from, through, or under the
New Zealand Company, report that the claims
of the persons whose names appear in the
schedule hereunder having been duly referred
to me by the Governor, I do hereby decide
the said persons to be severally entitled to the
Land or Government Scrip set opposite their
respective names.

F. D. BELL,
Commissioner.

| No. of Re-
| port. | Name or Claimant | Commissioner's Decision. |
|---|---|---|
| 899 | William Mein Smith | Entitled to Government |
| | and Samuel Revans | Scrip to the amount |
| | | of Five Hundred and |
| | | Twenty Pounds stlg., |
| | | (£520.) |
| 900 | John Yule ........ | Entitled to Government |
| | | Scrip to the amount |
| | | of Two Hundred and |
| | | Fifty Pounds stlg., |
| | | (£250.) |

F. D. BELL,
Commissioner.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland,
5th July, 1854.

HIS Excellency the Officer Administering
the Government directs it to be notified
for general information that Writs for the
election of Members for the House of Repre-
sentatives for the undermentioned districts, in
the Province of Nelson, having been issued
in accordance with the provisions of an Act
to grant a Representative Constitution to the
Colony of New Zealand, the Returning
Officer for the said districts has returned the
said Writs, with certificates to the effect that
the undermentioned gentlemen have been
duly elected to serve as Members of the said
House of Representatives for the said dis-
tricts:-

For the Town of Nelson,
SAMUEL STEPHENS, Esq.;

For the Waimea District,
WILLIAM THOMAS LOCKE TRAVERS, Esq.;

By His Excellency's command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland,
5th July, 1854.

HIS Excellency the Officer Administering
the Government has been pleased to
direct that the name of the undermentioned
gentleman should be
Commission of the Peace for the Islands of
New Zealand,

CHARLES KNIGHT, Esq.,

By His Excellency's command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland,
11th July, 1854.

WHEREAS, by the Royal Instructions
bearing date the 13th day of Septem-
ber, 1852, certain persons therein expressly
designated are nominated and appointed to be
Members of the Executive Council, and such
other persons as the Governor may deem to be
qualified and capable to advise him, subject
to the proviso that any appointment to be
made by the Governor shall be provisional
only, and subject to be confirmed or disal-
lowed by Her Majesty. Now notice is hereby
given, that pursuant to the authority vested
in him as aforesaid, His Excellency the Offi-
cer Administering the Government has been
pleased to appoint

THOMAS HOUGHTON BARTLEY
to be a Member of the Executive Council of
New Zealand.

By His Excellency's command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.