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such manner as you may judge desirable for the purpose of giving full effect to the said inquiry. And I hereby empower you to call before you and examine on oath, or otherwise as may be allowed by law, all such person or persons as you may think capable of affording you information in the premises, and that all such evidence shall be fully and fairly taken down and transcribed in writing, and shall be signed by the person or persons giving such evidence. And I declare that this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and you, the said Commissioners, may from time to time ; and at any place or places in Otago aforesaid, proceed in the execution thereof, although the inquiry be not regularly continued from time to time by adjournment; and, further, that all the powers, duties, and authorities by these presents vested in you, the said Commissioners, may be exercised and performed by any two of you sitting and acting together. And Ido hereby require you, or any two of you, with as little delay as possible, and not later than the first day of March next ensuing, to report to me, under your hands and seals, your opinion resulting from the said inquiry in respect of the several matters and things inquired into by you under or by virtue of these presents, and that you shall state in your report aforesaid what measures you would recommend for adoption in order to place the building herein referred to, or any part thereof, in a satisfactory condition, and to prevent further damage occurring to it. 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 my hand as such Deputy-Governor as aforesaid, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, at the Government House, at Wellington, this thirty-first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight. (1.5.) William F. D. Jeevois, Governor, Approved in Council. By his Deputy, James Peendeegast. Foestee Goeing, Clerk of the Executive Council.

Extension of Time for Eepoeting. To Haeby Pasley Higginson, Esq., M.lnst.C.E., William Heney Skinnee, Esq., and Benjamin Woolfield Mountfoet, Esq. Wheebas by a certain instrument in writing, or Commission, bearing date the thirty-first day of January, 1888, you, the said Harry Pasley Higginson, William Henry Skinner, and Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort, were appointed to be Commissioners for the purposes and with the powers and authorities in the said Commission more particularly mentioned : And whereas by the said Commission you were directed and required to report to the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand your proceedings and your opinion touching the matter mentioned therein on or before the first day of March, 1888 : And whereas it is expedient that the said period should be extended as hereinafter provided ; Now, therefore, I, William Francis Drummond Jervois, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, and in exercise and pursuance of every power and authority enabling me in this behalf, do hereby extend the period within which you shall (using all diligence) report to me, as by the said Commission provided, to the fifteenth day of March, 1888; and, with the like advice and consent, and in further pursuance and exercise of the said power, I do hereby confirm the said Commission, except as altered by these presents. Given under my hand, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, at the Government House, at Wellington, this second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight. (1.5.) Wm. F. Dbummoi-jd Jeevois, Governor. Approved in Council. Foestee Goeing, Clerk of the Executive Council.

Bepoet of Commission. To His Excellency Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, K.G.C.M.G., C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same. May it please youb Excellency,— We, the undersigned, appointed by a Commission dated the thirty-first day of January, 1888, under the hand of the Governor, and sealed with the Public Seal of the Colony, to inquire into the condition of the Seachff Lunatic Asylum building and all the facts and circumstances connected therewith, respectfully submit for your Excellency's consideration the following report of our proceedings, and of the opinions we have formed in respect of the several matters and things inquired into by us under virtue of the said Commission. Twenty witnesses have given evidence on oath, which evidence has been taken down, transcribed in writing, signed by such witnesses, and accompanies this report. At the commencement of the inquiry the Architect (Mr. R. A. Lawson) and the Contractor (Mr. James Gore) suggested that the inquiry should be adjourned until the arrival of the Inspector (Mr. Brindley), who was on his way from Sydney. The Commissioners, however, decided not to delay the proceedings, but undertook to see that Mr. Brindley should be made thoroughly acquainted with the evidence that might have been taken prior to his arrival. 1. The Commissioners find that the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum building is in an unsatisfactory condition, partly owing to neglect in draining the site, both before and after the commencement of its erection, and partly owing to certain defects in its construction to be hereafter detailed.