200 APPENDIX. 



the master and crew of any British ship or vessel, or by any British 

 subject hving there ; and all persons convicted of such offences may. 

 be punished as if the offence had been committed in England. The 

 law having thus given the court the power to hear and determine 

 offences, it follows, as a necessary incident, that it has the power of 

 bringing before it any person against whom any indictment should be 

 found, or information filed, for any offences within its jurisdiction. 



I would here observe, that I can propose no other means by which 

 you can secure the offender, than the procuring his apprehension and 

 deUvery on board some British ship, for conveyance to this country, 

 by means of the native chiefs with whom you shall be in communi- 

 cation. It is weU known, that amongst those Europeans who are lead- 

 ing a wandering and irregular life at New Zealand, are to be found 

 transported felons, and offenders, escaped from this colony and Van 

 Diemen's Land. It is desirable that opportunities for the apprehen- 

 sion and transmission of those convicts to either colony should be 

 promptly embraced. 



The chiefs are, it is said, well acquainted with the descriptions of 

 the different Europeans residing in their country, and wiU be found 

 able and wilhng to point cut and secure, at a convenient time, those 

 whom they know to be fugitives from the Austrahan colonies. You 

 will be furnished from the office of the principal superintendant, with 

 the names and descriptions of those convicts from New South Wales 

 who are known or suspected to be concealed in the islands of New 

 Zealand ; and you wiU use your discretion as to the fittest time for 

 causing their apprehension, and removal of such as may be within your 

 reach, or are guilty of any offence against the peace and tranquillity 

 of the coimtry. You vidll, of course, take every precaution to avoid 

 the apprehension of a free person in mistake for a convict, as an 

 action for damages would probably follow the commission of such an 

 eiTor. 



This government vsdll indeed be disposed to save you harmless in 

 all such cases, where becoming circumspection has been used. 



When any of his Majesty's ships are off the coast, you will request 

 the commander to receive the convict, or other person, arrested by 

 your means, for conveyance to tliis place. 



I would further observe, that, by means of the information which 

 you are likely to receive from the chiefs, you may become acquainted 



