enquire, by whomsoever and after what manner soever in the said Province done or perpetrated, or which shall happen to be there done or attempted.

And also, of all those who in the aforesaid Province in companies against our Peace, in the disturbance of our people, with armed force, have gone or rode, or hereafter shall presume to go or ride; and also, of all those who have there lain in wait, or hereafter shall presume to lie in wait, to maim or cut, or kill our people.

And also, of all victuallers, and all and singular other persons, who in the abuse of weights or measures, or in selling victuals, against the form of the ordinances and statutes, or any one of them therefore made or in force for the common benefit of the said Province and our people thereof, have offended, or attempted, or hereafter shall presume in the said Province to offend or attempt.

And also, of all sheriffs, constables, keepers of gaols, and other officers, who in the execution of their offices about the premises, or any of them, have unduly behaved themselves, or hereafter shall presume to behave themselves unduly, or have been or shall happen to be careless, remiss, or negligent in the aforesaid Province.

And of all and singular articles and circumstances, and all other things whatsoever that concern the premises, or any of them, by whomsoever, and after what manner soever, in the aforesaid Province done or perpetrated, or which hereafter shall there happen to be done or attempted in what manner soever.

And to inspect all Indictments whatsoever ever so before you, or any of you, taken or to be taken, or before others late our Justices of the Peace in the aforesaid Province made or taken, and not yet determined: And to make and continue processes thereupon against all and singular the persons so indicted, or who before you hereafter shall happen to be indicted, until they can be taken, surrender themselves, or be outlawed.

And to hear and determine all and singular the felonies, misdemeanors and trespasses, unlawful assemblies, indictments aforesaid, and all and singular other the premises according to the laws and statutes of the said Province as in the like case it has been accustomed or ought to be done. And the same offenders and every of them for their offences by fines, ransoms, amerciaments, forfeitures, and other means as according to the laws and customs of the said Province and form of the ordinances and statutes aforesaid it has been accustomed or ought to be done to chastise and punish.

Provided always, that if a case of difficulty upon the determination of any of the premises before you, or any two or more of you shall happen to arise, then let judgment in no wise be given thereon before you, or any two or more of you, unless in the presence of one of our Justices of the Supreme Court of our said Colony.

And therefore, We command you, and every of you, that to keeping the Peace, ordinances, statutes, and all and singular other the premises, you diligently apply yourselves, and that at certain days and places which you, or any such two or more of you as is aforesaid, shall appoint for these purposes, into the premises ye make enquiries, and all and singular the premises hear and determine, and perform and fulfil them in the aforesaid form, doing therein what to justice appertains, according to the law and custom of the said Province, saving to us the amerciaments and other things to us therefrom belonging.

And we command by the tenor of these presents, our Sheriffs in the said Province severally that at certain days and places which you or any such two or more of you as is aforesaid, shall make known to them respectively, they cause to come before you, or such two or more of you as aforesaid so many and such good and lawful men of their respective Bailiwicks by whom the truth of the matter in the premises shall be the better known and enquired into.

In witness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of Our said Colony, to be hereunto affixed.

Witness our trusty and well-beloved Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at Government House, at Auckland, this twentieth day of December, in the twentieth year of our Reign, and in the Year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

Thomas Gore Browne,
Governor.

By His Excellency’s command,
E. W. Stafford.

God save the Queen!