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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

FEDERATION COMMISSION (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, EVIDENCE, AND APPENDICES

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION. Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith. To our trusty and loving subjects, Harold Beauchamp, Esquire, the Honourable Charles Christopher Bowen, Thomson Wilson Leys, Esquire, Charles Manley Luke, Esquire, John Andrew Millar, Esquire, William Eussell Eussell, Esquire, John Roberts, Esquire, Walter Scott Reid, Esquire, the Honourable Colonel Albert Pitt, and the Honourable Major William Jukes Steward, all of our Colony of New Zealand : Greeting. Whereas the Governor of our said Colony hath, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council thereof, and on the request of the House of Representatives thereof, as testified by a resolution of the said House dated the eighteenth day of October, one thousand nine hundred, deemed it expedient that a Commission should be forthwith issued for the purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth: Now, therefore, know ye that we, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, knowledge, and ability, do by these presents constitute and appoint you, the said Harold Beauchamp, Charles Christopher Bowen, Thomson Wilson Leys, Charles Manley Luke, John Andrew Millar, William Hussell Russell, John Roberts, Walker Scott Reid, Albert Pitt, and William Jukes 2 Steward, to be our Commissioners, and you, the said Albert Pitt, to be Chairman of our said Commission, for the purpose of inquiring as to the desirability or otherwise of our said colony federating with the Commonwealth of Australia, and becoming a State under the Imperial Act known as " The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act," special regard being had in such inquiry to the agricultural, commercial, and industrial interests of our said colony; to the question of the defence thereof; to matters of a judicatory nature; to matters affecting the Customs, railways, and postal arrangements of our said colony; to matters affecting the public indebtedness of our said colony, the public indebtedness of the colonies under the Commonwealth; and in respect to the social and political