D.—2

III

COMMISSION. Victoria., by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith : To our trusty and loving subjects, James Fulton, of'Dunedin, in the Colony of New Zealand, Esquire, M.H.E.; the Honourable Daniel Pollen, of Auckland, in the said colony, Esquire, M.L.C.; John Turnbull Thomson, of Inver-cargi.il, in the said colony, Esquire. Whereas the Administrator of the Government of our said colony hath, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council thereof, deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith be issued for the purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth : Now, therefore, know ye that we, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, knowledge, and ability, do by these presents constitute and appoint you, the said James Fulton, Daniel Pollkn, and John Turnbull Thomson, to be our Commissioners for the purpose of making inquiry into the probable cost and economical value of the several lines proposed for the extension of the main trunk line through the Middle Island northwards from Canterbury, and also to inquire further whether any other line would be less costly and more advantageous to the colony than anyone of the lines-hereinbefore proposed, it being the intention of these presents that you shall make investigation and inquiry in the most ample and complete manner into all the facts and circumstances necessary or proper to be considered in determining the best line for the completion of the main trunk railway through the Middle Island. And, for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect, we do authorize and empower you, or any two of you, to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such place or places in the said colony as you may deem expedient, and to call before you such persons or person as you may judge necessary, by whom you may be better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration ; and also to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, maps, plans, accounts, or records 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, or any two of 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 unto us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient to 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, or any two of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent, and the seal of the said colony to be hereunto affixed. Witness our trusty and well-beloved Sir James Prendergast, Administrator of the Government in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, and issued under the seal of the said colony at Wellington, this twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two. (1.5.) James Peendergast. Issued in Executive Council. FORSTER GORING, Clerk of the Executive Council.