H.—2l

2

COMMISSION.

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, and so forth: To Our trusty and loving subjects, the Honourable Alfred Domett, Member of the Legislative Council, and Secretary for Crown Lands ; Francis Dillon Bell, Esquire, Member of the House of Representatives; George Sisson Cooper, Esquire, Native Under-Secretary ; and Robert Hart, Esquire,—Greeting : Whereas the Governor of Our Colony of New Zealand, with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, has deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into and report upon the condition and nature of Educational and other Trust Estates held directly under Grant from the Crown upon special Trust for Religious, Educational, or Charitable purposes, and particularly to inquire into the extent and application of the Endowments, Funds, and Revenues belonging to or received by the Trustees of all such Estates in respect of the same : Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorized and appointed, and by these presents do authorize and appoint you, Alfred Domett, Francis Dillon Bell, George Sisson Cooper, Robert Hart, to be during our pleasure, Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid; and, for the better effecting the purpose of this Commission, we do give and grant you, or each of you, power and authority to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the subject of this Commission, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful means and ways whatsoever: And this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and you the said Commissioners, or any one of you, may from time to time, and at any place or places, proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein, contained, although the inquiry be not regularly continued from time to time by adjournment; and also, that the before-named Alfred Domett be the Chairman of you the said Commissioners : And lastly, that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, your opinion, resulting from the said inquiry, of the matter and things set forth in this Our Commission. 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 Our trusty and well-beloved Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, and issued at Wellington, in New Zealand aforesaid, on the third day of February, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, and in the thirty-second year of Our reign. G. F. Bowen. Issued by the Governor in Council. Forster Goring, Clerk of Executive Council.