G.—6,

2

and empower you to have before you and examine all books, papers, maps, plans, documents, and writings whatsoever which you shall judge necessary or expedient relating to the subject matter of this inquiry or any part thereof, and also to have before you, and examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law, all witnesses or other person or persons (whether claimants or not) whom you shall judge capable of affording you any information touching or concerning the said inquiry or any part thereof: Provided always that nothing herein contained, or in the exercise of the powers hereby conferred, shall be deemed or construed to call into question the validity or due execution of any deed or instrument whereby any of the lands herein referred to were surrendered or ceded to Her Majesty And Ido further require you within two years from the date of these presents, or as much sooner as the same can conveniently be done (using all diligence), and thereafter from time to time as you shall think fit, to certify to me under your hands and seals your several proceedings and your opinion touching the premises, and that you do also report to me in the same manner what you deem to be the true and just condition of each case hereby referred to you for inquiry as aforesaid. And Ido hereby declare that this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that, subject to these presents, you, the said Commissioners, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof at such place or places and at such time or times as aforesaid as you shall judge convenient. And I do hereby further direct that, in any case where you shall differ in opinion in relation to any matter the subject of inquiry before you, or as to the course to be pursued in connection therewith in any way, then and in every such case you are hereby required to make a special report thereon to me, stating in such report the opinion which each of you has severally formed thereupon, together with the grounds and reasons of such opinion. And, lastly, Ido hereby declare that this Commission is and is intended to be issued subject to the provisions of " The Commissioners' Powers Act, 1867," and " The Commissioners' Powers Act Amendment Act, 1872." Given under the hand of His Excellency the Most Honorable George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, Earl of Mulgrave, Viscount Normanby, and Baron Mulgrave of Mulgrave, all in the County of York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; and Baron Mulgrave of New Ross, in the County of Wexford, in the Peerage of Ireland; a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council; (1.5.) Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same ; and issued under the Seal of the said Colony, at Wellington, this fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. John Sheehan Approved in Council. Foster Goring, Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 2. The Middle Island Commissioners to the Hon. the Native Minister. Middle Island Native Land Purchases Commission, Sir,— Auckland, 31st January, 1881 We have the honor to transmit through you the accompanying report, with enclosure, addressed to His Excellency the Governor on the subject of the Commission held by us. We have, &c, Thos. H. Smith, F E. Nairn, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commissioners. Enclosure in No. 2. To.His Excellency the Honorable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, K.G.C.M.G., Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, G-overnor of New Zealand, &c, &c. May it please your Excellency, We, holding Her Majesty's Commission to inquire into and report upon certain matters connected with the purchase of land in the Middle Island of New Zealand, have the honor to address your Excellency upon the subject thereof. Your Excellency is doubtless cognizant of the fact that m February, 1879, a Commission under the hand of His Excellency the Marquis of Normauby and the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand was issued, by which we were commanded to inquire into, and, within two years from the date thereof, to report upon certain matters connected with the purchase of land in the Middle Island of New Zealand from the aboriginal owners.