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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Rare Volume

(I.) Page 21. — Proclamation of Martial Law

(I.) Page 21.

Proclamation of Martial Law.

Literal translation of the Proclamation of Martial Law from the version published in Maori :—

Proclamation.

By the Governor, Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, Principal Chief, C.B., &c., &c., this Proclamation is by the Governor of this Colony of New Zealand.

Because soon will be commenced the work of the soldiers of the Queen against the natives at Taranaki, who are naughty page 41 (rebellious,) fighting against the authority of the Queen. Now, I, the Governor do openly publish and proclaim this word, that the fighting law [ture wawhai,] will extend at this time to Taranaki as a fixed law until the time when it shall be revoked by Proclamation.

Given by my hand, under the great seal of the Colony of New Zealand, at Auckland, this day the twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty.

Thomas Gore Browne,

Governor.

By order of the Governor,

E. W. Stafford,

Secretary of the Colony.

God Save the Queen.

This is clearly open to the double misconstruction pointed out in the text, being capable of being understood as a declaration of war; and as being directed, not against the followers of Kingi only, but against all the natives of Taranaki whom it may be taken as predicating to be naughty and fighting against the Queen. No other translation has been put forth by the Government, who, however, assert that it is not quoted by the natives now in arms as a justification of their conduct, or as containing a fair challenge to fight. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Stafford, is reported to have said, "If the Proclamation were re-translated into English, it might be made to bear any construction." (Speech, Aug. 7.) Surely the most scrupulous care ought to have been taken that it could admit of but one construction, whether to the native reader or to the English translator.