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pletion of the title of the said Joshua Jones to the lease aforesaid has not arisen from his own dilatoriness, or the unwillingness of the Native owners to complete the same, or from any other cause beyond the proper control of the Government: And whereas it is expedient that all the circumstances connected with the proceedings of the said Joshua Jones in reference to the said lease, and also of such other persons, whether officers of the Government or otherwise, who have been engaged or concerned in transactions in relation thereto, should be fully inquired into and reported on: Now, therefore, know ye that I, Sir William Erancis Drummond Jervois, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, having confidence in your knowledge, ability, and integrity, and in pursuance and exercise of the power and authority conferred upon me, do hereby appoint you, the said Geobge Boutflowee Davy, John Mackintosh Bobeets, and Hamubea Mahupuku, to be Commissioners for the aforementioned purposes, and generally in the premises to make all such inquiries and investigations as may be necessary to give full effect to the object and intent of this Commission; and for the purposes of this Commission you are hereby empowered to call before you and examine all papers or any person or persons, by oath or otherwise, as you may think able to afford you any information in relation to the premises; and you are hereby required to report your opinion on the same. And I do hereby, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, require you within two months after the date of this Commission, or as much sooner as the same can conveniently be done, using all diligence, certify to me, under your hand and seal, your several proceedings, and your opinion touching the premises: and, with the like advice and consent, I do hereby declare that this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you, the said Commissioners, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment. Given under the hand of His Excellency Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander.in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same ; and issued under the Seal of the said Colony, at the Government House, at Wellington, this twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,373 copies,) £2 la.]

Authority : George Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBS.