H.-34

8

The Commission has decided that in order to obtain all the information necessary to complete its report it wili require to have short sittings in each of the towns of Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland. To carry out this work thoroughly will probably occupy the Commission until Monday, the 29th instant, by which date it should arrive back in Wellington. After that the preparation of the report will be taken in hand, and will probably take until about the middle of August, by which date the Commission hopes to finish its labours and present its report. To carry out this programme, however, will require an extension of time, as the time that has been granted the Commission expires on the 25th instant. I have therefore to respectfully ask whether Your Excellency can kindly extend the period by one month, until the 26th August proximo. I have much pleasure in informing Your Excellency that the Commission has received every possible assistance from the officers of all grades in the various Departments of the Public Service, and that all information and assistance that it has reqiured has been furnished promptly and fully. I have, &o, W. D. Hunt, His Excellency the Governor, Wellington. Chairman.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION : FURTHEII EXTENDING PERIOD WITHIN WHICH COMMISSIONERS SHALL REPORT.

Islington, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to William Duffus Hunt, Esquire, James Macintosh, Esquire, and Peter Barr, Esquire. Whereas by Warrants dated the twenty-third day of May, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, and the seventh day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, William Duffus Hunt, James Macintosh, and Peter Barr were appointed to be a Commission, under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, for the purposes set out in the said Warrants : And whereas by a Warrant dated the twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, the said period was extended, and you were required to report to me not later than the twenty-fifth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and twelve : And whereas it is expedient that the said period should be extended as hereinafter provided: Now, therefore, 1, John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in pursuance of the powers vested in me by the said Act, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby extend the period within which you shall report to me as by the said Commission provided to the twentysixth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and twelve. And in further pursuance of the powers vested in me by the said Act, and with the like advice and consent, I do hereby confirm the said Commission except as altered by these presents. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs. Approved in Executive Council. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council.