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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

LETTERS PATENT, INSTRUCTIONS, AND COMMISSION OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COPY OF LETTERS PATENT PASSED UNDER THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSTITUTING THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND AND ITS DEPENDENCIES (Letters Patent, dated 21st February, 1879.) Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India : To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. 1. Whereas We did, by certain Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the sixth day of November, one thousand ° J eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth year of Our Reign, constitute and appoint Our Right Trusty and Entirely-beloved Cousin and Councillor George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, Knight Commander of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (now Knight Grand Cross of Our said Most Distinguished Order), to be, for and during Our Will and Pleasure, Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies : And whereas We are desirous of making permanent provision for the Office of Governor and Commander-rn-Chief in and over Our said Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies without making new Letters Patent on each demise of the said Office : Now know ye that We do, by these presents, revoke and determine the said recited Letters Patent, and everything therein contained: And further know ye that We, of Our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, do by these presents constitute, order, and declare that there shall be a Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies (which said Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies are hereinafter called " the Colony"), and that appointments to the said Office, when vacant, shall be made by Commission under Our Sign-Manual and Signet. 2. We do hereby authorize, empower, and command Our said Governor and Commander-in-Chief (hereinafter called "the Governor") to do and execute all things that belong to his said Office, according to the tenor of these Our Letters Patent and of such Commission as may be issued to him under Our Sign-Manual and Signet, and according to such Instructions as may from time to time be given to him under Our Sign-Manual and Signet, or by Our Order in Our Privy Council, or by Us, through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and to such Laws as are now or shall hereafter be in force in the Colony. 3. We do also by these Our Letters Patent declare Our will and pleasure as follows: — 4. Every person appointed to fill the Office of Governor shall, with all due solemnity, before entering on any of the duties of his Office, cause the Commission appointing him to be Governor to be read and published at the seat of Government, in the presence of the Chief Justice, or some other Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony, and of the Members of the Executive Council thereof, which being done, he shall then and there take before them the Oath of Allegiance, in the form provided by an Act passed in the Session holden in the Thirty-first and Thirty-second years of Our I—A. 1.

Preamble. Eeeites Governor the Marquis of Normanby's, dXdßthNoveniher, 1874. Revocation of G.v^ rnor 8 Com" Office of tuted Governor's P0^ 1"8 »n" Publication of veraor'9 ComOaths to be taken b 7 Governor.