III

H.—3

COMMISSION.

To all to whom these presents shall come, and to the Hon. William Jambs Mudie Laenach, of Dunedin, in the Colony of New Zealand, a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; Andebw Lougheey, of Christchurch, in the said colony, Esquire, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the said colony; and Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, of Wellington, in the said colony, Esquire, a Member of the House of Representatives thereof; greeting : — Wheeeas the Public Trust Office of the Colony of New Zealand, as constituted under " The Public Trust Office Act, 1872," and its amendments, has grown to be a department of public importance, and the business thereof has greatly increased, and, in order that the constitution and working of the said office may be improved and made more suitable to the public needs, it is expedient that a Commission should issue for the purpose of making full inquiry into the several matters and things hereinafter mentioned : Now, therefore, know ye that I, William Hillier, Earl of Onslow, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, reposing trust in your knowledge, integrity, and ability, and in pursuance and exercise of every power and authority enabling me in this behalf, and by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said William James Mudie Laenach, Andbew Lougheey, and Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, to be Commissioners for the purpose of making inquiry into the constitution, working, and management of the Public Trust Office of the Colony of New Zealand hereinbefore mentioned, and for this purpose do hereby empower and require you with all convenient speed to make full inquiry as to the following matters and things, viz : — 1. The mode of conducting the business of the Public Trust Office in its several branches, and whether at Wellington or elsewhere, by means of the permanent staff of the said office, or by agents or otherwise. 2. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the Public Trustee and of the officers and agents of the said Public Trust Office; the mode of keeping, rendering, and auditing the . accounts of the said office, or the estates or business therein; the charges made by the said office for business done by it or its officers or agents thereof; the means adopted to avoid inconvenience or delay in winding up, dealing with, or managing . estates or property placed in or managed by the said office, or in satisfying the claims of beneficiaries, creditors, or persons entitled thereto or interested therein. 3. The investment of trust and other funds by the said office, whether under deed, will, or other instrument, or in any other manner authorised by law, general or particular, and the class, terms, and mode of investment in all or any of such cases. 4. In what respects (if any) the scope of the powers and duties of the Public Trustee could be enlarged, or whether any class or classes of property now administered by the said office or its agents should cease to be so administered. 5. How the law affecting all or any of the several matters aforesaid could or might be amended, altered, re-enacted, or regulated, and by what means and in what manner and form the same should be done. 6. And, generally, into all or any matters or things incident to or arising out of your inquiries into the matters aforesaid; the intent and object hereof being that full inquiry shall be made into all the business and operations of the said office. And for all or any of the purposes aforesaid you are hereby empowered to call before you and examine on oath, or otherwise as may be allowed by law, or as you in your discretion may think necessary, all such person or persons as you may think capable of affording you information in the premises or any part thereof, including the Public Trustee and all or any of the officers of his department, and all or any of the agents of the Public Trust Office or otherwise howsoever : And also to have before you and examine all deeds, writings, documents, accounts, books, papers, maps, plans, or evidence of a like kind relating to the subject-matter of this inquiry: And you are directed and required to have all such evidence duly taken down in writing and recorded in such manner as you shall deem expedient: Provided, however, that if any such evidence (whether oral or documentary) relates to the trusts of, or dealings with, private estates placed in or under the control or management of the said Public Trust Office, the same shall be so recorded as not to disclose the names of persons interested or concerned in such estates, or the locality or amount of the trust estate; but such evidence shall and may be referred to in such manner as you, the said Commissioners, think fit in order to avoid publicity of confidential matters. ii—H. 3.