Legal Info - Ordinances 1850s

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A chronological list of Ordinances and Acts relevant to the Courts in New Zealand during the 1850s



Please note that this list does not contain individual Provincial Ordinances post 1853



An Ordinance to provide for the arrest of Debtors Escaping from the Islands of New Zealand, 20 June 1851 (15 Vic. No.1)

An Ordinance to provide for the establishment of Provincial Legislative Councils, and for the Election, &c., of Members to serve therein, 9 July 1851, superceded by the Constitution Act (15 Vic. No.6)

An Ordinance to amend an Ordinance for regulating Marriages in the Colony of New Zealand, 15 July 1851, disallowed in 1853 (15 Vic. No.7)

An Ordinance to amend "The Crown Lands Ordinance" (No.1, Session X) and to extend the operation thereof to the islands of New Zealand, 28 July 1851, repealed in 1862 (15 Vic. No.10)

An Ordinance to ascertain the Contacts and Engagements entered into by the New Zealand Company for the disposal of certain lands in the Islands of New Zealand, and to provide for the completion of such contracts and engagements by the Colonial Government, 2 August 1851, No.2 repealed in 1855, No.10 repealed in 1861 (15 Vic. No.15)

An ordinance to provide for the admission of Barristers, Attorneys and Protectors to practice in the Supreme Court other than those admissible under 'The Supreme Court Ordinance', Session 3, No.1, 4 January 1853 (16 Vic. No.5)

An Act for bringing into operation in the Colony certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament, 14 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.1)

An Act to amend the Law relating to Dower, 14 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.3) (Note for the Imperial Act refered to in this Ordinance see the section entitled Imperial Acts)

An Act for regulating the Disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown of New Zealand, 14 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.6)

An Act for regulating the Management of certain Lands reserved for Public Purpose in the several Provinces of New Zealand, 14 September 1854 (18 Vict. 7)

An Act to enable Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court to act as general Legal Practitioners, 14 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.8)

An Act to abolish the Punishment of Transportation and to substitute Penal Servitude within the Colony in lieu thereof, 16 September 1864 (18 Vic. No.9)

An Act to regulate Marriage in the Colony of New Zealand, 16 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.12)

An Act to authorize the General Assembly to empower the Provincial Councils to enact Laws for regulating the Sale Letting Disposal and Occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown, 16 September 1854 (18 Vic. No.13)

An Act to amend "The New Zealand Company's Land Claimants Ordinance", Session XI, No.15, 15 September 1854 (19 Vic. No.2)

An Act for bringing into operation within the Colony certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament, 15 September 1855 (19 Vic. No.3)

An Act for the Amendment of the Law of Evidence, and of the Law of Debtor and Creditor, 7 July 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.3)

An Act for bringing into operation within the Colony certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament, 7 July 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.6)

An Act for preventing Frauds upon Creditors by Secret Bills of Sale of Personal Chattels, 29 July 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.8)

An Act for the management of Lands set apart for the benefit of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand, 6 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.10)

An Act to remove doubts respecting the Validity of the Appointment of certain Justices of the Peace, 29 July 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.11)

An Act to Amend 'The Marriage Act 1854', 29 July 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.12)
An Act for regulating the Procedure of the Supreme Court Act, 7 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.15)

An Act to amend 'An Ordinance to provide for the establishment of Resident Magistrates Courts and to make special provision for the Administration of Justice in certain cases' passed by the General Legislative Council of New Zealand, Session 7, No.16, 15 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.20)

An Act to empower the Superintendents and Provincial Councils to enact Laws for regulating the Sale Letting Disposal and Occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown, 16 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.22)

An Act to declare certain Privileges of Legislative Bodies and Officers of the Government of the Colony and Provinces of New Zealand, to confer certain Powers on the said Legislative Bodies, and to give Protection to Persons employed in the Publication of Papers under the authority of the same, 14 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.24)

An Act to extend the Jurisdiction of Resident Magistrates' Courts in Civil Cases, 15 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.29)

An Act to provide for the final Settlement of Claims arising out of dealings with the Aborigines of New Zealand, 16 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.32)

An Act to enable Persons qualified to Practice in the Sheriff Courts of Scotland to be admitted to Practice in the Supreme Court, 16 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.33)

An Act to give validity of Acts of the General Assembly to certain Laws made by the Superintendents and Provincial Councils of the several Provinces of New Zealand, 16 August 1856 (19 and 20 Vic. No.35)

An Act for the Interpretation of Acts of the General Assembly of New Zealand, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.1)

An Act to declare the Laws of England, so far as applicable to the circumstances of the Colony, to have been in force therein on and after the Fourteenth day of January, One Thousand eight hundred and forty, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.2)

An Act to provide for the Payment of Costs in Proceedings instituted on behalf of the Crown, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.3)

An Act to provide for the Service of the Process of the Supreme Court of New Zealand upon Defendants absent from the Colony, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.4)

An Act to render the Property in New Zealand of Debtors absent from the Colony available for the Payment of their Debts, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.5)

An Act to regulate the Appointment and Duties of Coroners in the Colony of New Zealand, 28 May 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.7)

An Act to regulate the Execution of Criminals, 3 June 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.10)

An Act for preventing Desertion and other Misconduct of Seamen belonging to Foreign Ships, 26 June 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.14)

An Act to provide for ascertaining and defining the Boundaries of the several Provinces of New Zealand, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.19)

An Act to give further Remedies to Creditors against Debtors removing from any other of the Australasian Colonies to the Colony of New Zealand, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. no.21)

An Act to regulate the Appointment and Tenure of Office of the Judges of the Supreme Court, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.22)

An Act to enable Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court to act as General Law Practitioners, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.23)

An Act to regulate the Appointment and Duties of Sheriffs, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.24)

An Act to amend the Law relating to the Appointment of Goalers and the Custody of Imprisoned Debtors and Criminals, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.25)

An Act to provide for the holding of Petty Sessions of the Peace in the Colony of New Zealand, 3 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.26)

An Act to bring into operation within the Colony certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament relating to Justices of the Peace, 8 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.27)

An Act for the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages in New Zealand, 8 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.28)

An Act to repeal certain sections of 'The Marriage Act 1854' and to repeal the 'The Marriage Act Amendment Act 1856' and to make other provisions in lieu thereof, 8 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.29)

An Act to establish District Courts in the Colony of New Zealand, 16 July 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.30)

An Act to make further provisions for the Administration of Justice in Resident Magistrates' Courts in the Colony of New Zealand, 4 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.35)

An Act to give validity to Crown Grants made in Fulfilment of certain Land Orders issued by the Canterbury Association, 4 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.36)

An Act to enable the Governor to define and designate Counties and certain other places in the Colony of New Zealand, 4 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vict. No.37)

An Act to regulate the Local Affairs of Native Districts, 4 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vict. No.41)

An Act to make better provision for the Administration of Justice in Native Districts, 4 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.42)

An Act to enable the Governor to cause certain Errors in Crown Grants to be amended, 10 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.46)

An Act to enable Commissioners of Native Reserves to Sue and be Sued, 10 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.47)

An Act to amend An Ordinance to make provision for the Safe Custody of and Prevention of Offences of Persons dangerously Insane, and for the Care and Maintenance of Persons of Unsound Mind, 19 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.61)

An Act to provide for the Establishment of New Provinces in New Zealand, 21 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vict. No.70)

An Act to make provision for the Management of Gold Fields in the Colony of New Zealand, 19 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vic. No.74)

An Act to make further provision for the settlement of Land Claims, 19 August 1858(21 and 22 Vict. No.76)

An Act to amend the Law defining and settling the Rights of Holders of Land Orders and Land Scrip, 21 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vict. No.77)

An Act to enable the Native Tribes of New Zealand to have their Territorial Rights ascertained. and to authorize the Issue in certain cases of Crown Grants to Natives, 21 August 1858 (21 and 22 Vict. No.80)