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whom you may be better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration; and also to call for and examine all such records, accounts, books, documents, and papers as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this our Commission, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And our further will and pleasure is that you do report to Us, under your hands and seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the duties hereby imposed upon you), your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify to Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do. And We do further declare that this our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you, our said Commissioners, shall and may, from time to time, proceed with the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment. And We also appoint you, the said James Prendergast, to be Chairman of our said Commission, and to convene meetings thereof by writing under your hand at such time and place as may be judged convenient; and, in case of your absence or inability to act as such Chairman on any occasion, or at any place, then that the Commissioners present at any meeting, and capable of acting, may elect a Chairman for that occasion, and so from time to time as may be necessary: And also that any three of you, the said Commissioners (inclusive of the Chairman), shall be a quorum, and that all or any of the powers and authorities hereby vested in you, the said Commissioners, may be exercised by any such quorum sitting and acting together. And lastly, for your assistance in the premises, We do hereby appoint Martin Chapman, Esquire, a Barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, to be Secretary to this our Commission, and to hold office during our will and pleasure. In testimony whereof We have caused these our letters to be made patent, and the seal of our said colony to be hereunto affixed. Witness the hand of our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Hercules George Eobert Robinson, Knight Grand Cross of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over our colony of New Zealand and • its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same ; and issued under the seal of our said colony, at Wellington, this seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and in the forty-fourth year of our reign. Hebcttles Robinson. Approved in Council. EoKSTER GOBING, Clerk of the Executive Council.

FINAL REPORT. To His Excellency the Governor. We, your Excellency's Commissioners to inquire into the constitution, practice, and procedure of the Supreme Court and other Courts of the colony, and to ascertain by what means the administration of justice therein may be rendered more speedy and efficacious, and generally for the purposes in the said Commission set forth, have, in continuation of the report forwarded to your Excellency in June last, to report as follows :— The Commission met on the 18th November, and continued to further revise the draft code of procedure already forwarded to your Excellency, and to make necessary amendments. The sittings of the Commission ended on the 25th day of November, 1881. In order that the code of procedure in the Supreme Court might be speedily brought into operation, your Commissioners have thought it expedient to revise the draft Bills submitted to them by the Law Officers consolidating and amending the law relating to the constitution and jurisdiction of the Supreme and Appeal Courts, and other matters connected with these Courts. The mode of constituting local Courts has been duly considered by your Commissioners, and resolutions have been passed to guide the Law Officers of the Crown in framing a Bill to consolidate and amend the existing statutes relating to the District and Magistrates' Courts. A draft code of procedure for local Courts has, moreover, been prepared. Your Commissioners would suggest that it be passed as a schedule to the Local Courts Bill. Your Commissioners have prepared rules for the divorce and matrimonial jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and they are placed in the code. Your Excellency will observe that your Commissioners have attempted to make- uniform all the proceedings in the Supreme Court.