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Arms Regulation 1884

UNITED KINGDOM

ARMS REGULATION 1884

NO. 1 OF 1884

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c., &c.

A REGULATION

(Made in the name and on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty by Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, under the provisions of the Western Pacific Order in Council of 1879.)

TO PROHIBIT THE SUPPLY OF ARMS, AMMUNITION, AND EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES TO NATIVES OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC ISLANDS.

[L.S.]

G. WILLIAM DES VCEUX,

H.B.M. High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.

5th April, 1884.

1. In this Regulation the expression "Western Pacific Islands" means and includes any of the following islands or places, namely:-

(1.) The part of the Island of New Guinea, eastward of the 143rd meridian of longitude.

(2.) The Islands or Archipelago of New Britain and New Ireland.

(3.) The Louisiada Archipelago.

(4.) The Groups of Islands known as -

The Friendly Islands,
The Navigators Islands,
The Union Islands,
The Phoenix Islands,
The Ellice Islands,
The Gilbert Islands,
The Marshall Islands or Archipelago,
The Caroline Islands,
The Solomon Islands,
The Santa Cruz Islands.

(5.) All other islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, not being within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Queensland, or New South Wales, and not being within the jurisdiction of any civilised power.

The expression, "the waters of the Western Pacific Islands," means the waters within 3 miles of any of the islands or places included in the Western Pacific Islands.

The word "arm" means every kind of firearms and any part or parts of firearms.

The word "ammunition" means every kind of ammunition for firearms and any material for the preparation thereof.

The expression, "explosive substance," means gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, blasting powder, and every other substance used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion.

2. British vessels within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands shall not carry arms or ammunition. But this prohibition shall not be held to prevent or forbid the carriage by any such vessel for the protection of the same and of the person therein, and otherwise for the ordinary lawful purposes of such vessel, of arms and ammunition, in quantities not exceeding those herein specified, viz.:-

One rifle or shot gun, and one pistol for every member of the crew of such vessel, whose name shall be on the articles.

One hundred rounds of ammunition for every such rifle, shot gun, or pistol on board.

Cannons or swivel guns forming part of the ordinary equipment of any such vessel, together with one hundred rounds of ammunition for every such gun.

3. British subjects, within the Western Pacific Islands, shall not give, sell, or otherwise supply any arms, ammunition, or explosive substance, to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands.

4. Any British subject who shall carry, or aid, or abet the carriage of any arms or ammunition in any British vessel within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands, except as permitted by this Regulation, shall be guilty of an offence against this Regulation.

5. Any British subject within the Western Pacific Islands who shall give, sell, or otherwise supply, or aid or assist in supplying any arms, or any single firearm, or any ammunition or explosive substance, to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands, shall be guilty of an offence against this Regulation.

6. Any person guilty of an offence against this Regulation, shall, on conviction thereof, be liable to punishment as follows:-

(1.) Imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, with or without hard labour, and with or without a fine not exceeding £10; or,

(2.) A fine alone, not exceeding £10, without any imprisonment.

7. This Regulation shall come into force on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, and may be cited as the "Arms Regulation, 1884."

By Command,

JOHN B. THURSTON,

Secretary to the High Commissioner.

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