The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Animals Importation Prohibition Act, 1876.”

The Governor in Council may from time to time make alter or vary, and may revoke, such Orders as may seem to be necessary * for the purpose of absolutely prohibiting the introduction into New Zealand from any country or colony, or part of a country or colony, of all cattle sheep horses swine goats or other animals of the same or any other kind or kinds whatsoever, or of meat skins hides horns hoofs or other parts of any animal, or of hay straw fodder or other articles which the Governor in Council may deem likely to propagate amongst men or animals any infectious or contagious disease whatsoever.

Proviso.

Every Order in Council shall fix a time within which the same shall come into force, and may also prescribe a period during which the same shall be and remain in force.

If any period shall be so prescribed, such Order in Council shall cease to have any effect after the expiration thereof, and it shall not in such case be necessary expressly to revoke any such Order in Council.

Any Order in Council may declare that the provisions thereof shall only apply to one or more of the kinds of animals hereinbefore mentioned, and not to any other kinds of animals, and may also declare that the provisions of any such Order in Council shall apply to the whole colony, or only to such part or parts thereof as the Governor in Council shall direct or appoint.

All Orders in Council shall have the like force and effect as if the same had been inserted in this Act, and all persons offending against any such Order in Council shall for each and every offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, or such smaller sum as by such Order may be provided.

All penalties prescribed by this Act or by any Order in Council made under this Act shall and may be recovered in a summary way in the manner provided by “The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866,” and shall go to and form part, of the Consolidated Revenue of the colony.

Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to interfere with restrict or abridge the operation of any Act of the General Assembly which now is or hereafter may be in force restricting the importation of cattle or other animals in certain cases.