348
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 15

The Colonial Council justly concluded that the protectorate of the Empire is to be looked upon as a sort of guardianship over the natives, who in their dealings with white men cannot be looked on as capable of trading. One of the first acts of the Government in the protectorates, therefore, has been the publication of decrees, whereby the validity of negotiations between the natives and white men with regard to the possession of land, mining rights, &c., are subjected to the approval of the Government.

It remained a question how to deal with such legal negotiations concluded prior to the declaration of the protectorate.

An attempt to decide this question was made in the agreement with England last year, whereby a difference was made between concessions having sovereign rights as their object and such as contain permission to carry on trade or mining operations.

Between Germany and England it was at that time decided that the exercise of sovereign rights should ever be dependent on the consent of the protecting Power.

A glance at these decisions enables one to note the bearing of the decisions of the Colonial Council on the second question.

The kernel of the decisions lies in this: that the Colonial Council sees, not only in the granting of exclusive rights and monopolies, but also in the giving over of the rights to the territory of the tribe or to improperly large or insufficiently bounded portions of territory, a renunciation of sovereign rights which the Government is not to look upon as valid.

In such instances, as a fact, the acquisition is tantamount to occupation of the district in question. It is self-evidently in opposition to the conception of the sovereign right of a State when, in the territory which is subject to its sovereign authority, the members of some other State possess rights of use and property which render entirely out of the question the economic expansion by private persons, and place the development of the country entirely in the hands of this proprietor.

He who has possession of the whole territory has also the sovereignty over its members, and determines their social, economic, and political development.

Should others than foreigners become the proprietors of such an extended possession, the objections to such a State are not so apparent, though actually the position is the same.

It thus appears that, with regard to the decisions under (d), the difference between the foreigners and non-foreigners only becomes evident when the Government is recommended, in those instances where, according to the circumstances of the case, it feels it incumbent on itself to recognise concessions of this character, to establish as a condition that the company to be formed to carry on the concession must be subject to German law.

We are unconsciously here reminded that the Government once refused to one of our colonial companies their consent to a by no means disadvantageous agreement for the handing over of the larger portion of their colonial possession, because those who would acquire it were foreigners.

The Colonial Council in its decisions has placed itself on the same footing.

Result of Poll for Proposed Loan, County of Stratford.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 12th February, 1892.

THE following notice, received from the Chairman of the Stratford County Council, is published in accordance with “The Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1886.”

P. A. BUCKLEY.

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

RESULT of poll taken on the 3rd February, 1892, upon the proposal to borrow £1,200 under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” to form, grade, bridge, and metal three miles of the Gordon Road, commencing at the East Road:—

Total number of ratepayers on roll, each exercising 1 vote, 18; number of ratepayers voting in favour of proposal, 7; number voting against, 1.

I therefore declare the proposal carried.

G. A. MARCHANT,
Chairman, Stratford County Council.

Stratford, 9th February, 1892.

Special Order made by the Upper Ashburton Road Board, County of Ashburton.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 15th February, 1892.

THE following special order, made by the Upper Ashburton Road Board, is published in accordance with “The Road Boards Act, 1882.”

P. A. BUCKLEY.

SPECIAL ORDER.

RESOLVED, That, by reason of the abolition of No. 5 Subdivision, and the constitution of two new subdivisions in lieu thereof, and in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it in that behalf by “The Road Boards Act, 1882,” this Board doth hereby order that the Upper Ashburton Road Board shall henceforth consist of six members, who shall be elected for the several subdivisions of the Upper Ashburton Road District in manner following: For No. 1 Subdivision, one member; No. 2 Subdivision, one member; No. 3 Subdivision, one member; No. 4 Subdivision, one member; No. 5, Allenton Subdivision, one member; No. 6, Dromore Subdivision, one member.

Resolved, further, That this special order shall take effect on or from the 31st day of March, 1892.

I hereby certify that the above special order has been duly passed by the Upper Ashburton Road Board.

As witness my hand, this 10th day of February, 1892.

JOHN DAVISON,
Clerk of Upper Ashburton Road Board.

Special Order made by Weber Road Board, County of Patangata.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 16th February, 1892.

THE following special order, made by the Weber Road Board, is published in accordance with “The Road Boards Act, 1882.”

P. A. BUCKLEY.

SPECIAL ORDER.

THAT it be a special order of this Board that, for the purpose of providing for the interest and sinking fund upon a loan of £6,000, to be raised by the Weber Road Board under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” and its amendments, there be levied a special annual-recurring rate of 1¾d. in the pound upon all rateable property in the district; and the said rate is hereby accordingly made and levied for and during the whole period required by the aforesaid Act for the continuance of such loan, such rate to be payable yearly on the 1st day of May in each year.

I hereby certify that the above special order was duly made by the Weber Road Board, in conformity with the provisions of “The Road Boards Act, 1882,” and “The Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1886.”

KENNETH F. CAMERON,
Chairman, Weber Road Board.

8th February, 1892.

Letters of Naturalisation issued.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 16th February, 1892.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to issue Letters of Naturalisation, under “The Aliens Act, 1880,” in favour of the under-mentioned persons:—

P. A. BUCKLEY.

Poisoning at Pahiatua.—Free Pardon.—£250 Reward.

Department of Justice,
Wellington, 16th February, 1892.

WHEREAS at separate inquests, held on the 21st January last, at Pahiatua, verdicts were returned to the effect that Peter Dickson and Joseph Moore came to their deaths by arsenical poison taken at the house of Edward Naylor, of Pahiatua, on the 28th December, 1891; but how the poison was administered, or by whom, there is no evidence to show: And whereas there is reason to believe that the said poison was wilfully administered:

This is to notify that His Excellency the Governor will grant a free pardon to any person, not being the principal offender, who will give such information as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons implicated; and a reward of £250 is offered to any person, not being the principal offender, who shall first give such information.

W. P. REEVES.