A.—No. 5,

COMMISSION OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR G. F. BOWEN, G.C.M.G.

Commission passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom appointing Sir Geobge Febguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., to bo Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of New Zealand. Victoeia, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Groat Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, to Our Trusty and Well Beloved Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Greeting. 1. Whereas We did by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the Twelfth Day of August, 1861, in the Twenty-fifth Year of Our Eeign, Constitute and appoint Our Trusty and Well-Beloved Sir Q-eorge Grey, Knight Commander of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, as upon relation being had to the said recited Letters Patent will more fully and at large appear. Now know you that We have Revoked and Determined, and by these presents do Revoke and Determine the said recited Letters Patent, and every Clause, Article, and Thing therein contained. And further know you that We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in the Prudence, Courage, and Loyalty of you the said Sir George Ferguson Bowen, of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, have thought fit to Constitute and Appoint, and by these Presents do Constitute and Appoint you to be Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of New Zealand for and during Our Will and Pleasure. And We do hereby Authorize and Command you to Do and Execute all Things in due manner that shall belong to your said Command, and the Trust We have reposed in you, according to and in pursuance of an Act of the Session holden in the Ffteenth and Sixteenth Tears of Our Eeign, intituled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," and according to the several Powers and Directions granted or appointed you by this Our present Commission and the Instructions and Authorities herewith given you, or by such further Powers, Instructions, and Authorities as shall at any time hereafter be granted or appointed you under Our Sign Manual and Signet, or by our Order in Our Privy Council, or by Us through One of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and according to such Laws as are now or shall hereafter be in force in Oar said Colony. 2. And Whereas it is expedient that an Executive Council should be appointed to advise and assist you in the Administration of the Government of our said Colony: Now We do Declare Our Pleasure to be that there shall be an Executive Council for our said Colony, and that the said Council shall consist of such Persons as you shall, by Instruments to be passed under the Public Seal of Our said Colony in Our Name and on Our Behalf, from time to time Nominate and Appoint to be Members of the same. 3. And We do hereby Authorize and Empower you to Keep and Use the Public Seal for Sealing all things whatsoever that shall nass the Seal of Our said Colony. 4. And We do hereby Authorize and Empower you to Make and Execute in Our Name 'and on Our Behalf, under the Public Seal of Our said Colony, Grants and Dispositions of any Lands which may be lawfully granted and disposed of by Us within Our said Colony. 5. And we do further Authorize and Empower you to Constitute and Appoint Judges, and in cases requisite, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer, Justices of the Peace, and other necessary Officers and Ministers of Our said Colony of New Zealand, for the due and impartial Administration of Justice, and for putting the Laws into execution. 6. And We do hereby Authorize and Empower you as you shall see occasion, in Our name and on Our Behalf, to grant to any Offender convicted of any Crime in any Court, or before any Judge, Justice, or Magistrate within Our said Colony, a Pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions, or any Respite of the Execution of the sentence of any such Offender for such period as to you may seem fit; and to remit any Fines, Penalties, or Forfeitures which may become due and payable to Us. 7. And we hereby Authorize and Empower Tou, so far as We lawfully may, upon sufficient cause to you appearing, to Remove from his Office, or to suspend from the exercise of the same, any Person exercising any such Office or Place within Our said Colony, under or by virtue of any Commission or Warrant granted or which may be granted by us in Our Name, or by Our Authority. 8. And Whereas it has been represented to Us, that the Necessities of Our Service in Our said Colony occasionally require that you should Absent yourself from the Seat of Government in the Province of Wellington, whereby the Affairs of the said Province might be exposed to detriment if there were no Person in the place who should be Authorized to exercise the Powers and Authorities which We have by this Our present Commission given and granted to you, Our Governor : Now We do hereby Authorize and Empower you, from time to time, as occasion shall require, by an instrument under the Public Seal of Our said Colony, to Assign, Constitute, and Appoint any Person to be your Deputy in the said Province of Wellington, and in that capacity to Exercise, Perform, and Execute during your Pleasure, but no longer, all such Powers, Directions, and Authorities as are vested in you by this Our Commission and the Instructions under Our Sign Manual and Signet herein referred to. Provided Nevertheless, that by the appointment of a Deputy, as aforesaid, your Power and Authority as Governor of Our said Colony, shall not be abridged, altered, or in any way affected, otherwise than We may at any time hereafter think proper to Direct.

Letters-Patent, Dated 14th November, 1807.

Governor Sir George (srev's Commission, 12th August, 1861, cited.

Revocation of Governor Sir George. Grey's Commission, 12th August, 1861.

Act 15 and 16 Victoria cited.

Executive Council, Constitution of.

Public Seal.

Grants of Land.

Appointment of J u<U;esand Justices, &c.

Grant of pardons and remission of fines.

Suspension or removal from office.

Governor may appoint a Deputy during his temporary absence from 8 eat of Government.