Third Day of January, in the Year
of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-four.

R. H. WYNYARD,

Chief Officer in Command of Her Majesty’s Military Forces within the Colony of New Zealand.

By His Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

PROCLAMATION.

By Lieutenant-Colonel ROBERT HENRY WYNYARD, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and Chief Officer in Command of Her Majesty’s Military Forces within the Colony of New Zealand, &c., &c., &c.

WHEREAS, by certain Letters Patent, bearing date the 13th day of September, 1852, Her Majesty did constitute and appoint Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, to be Her Majesty’s Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, with all and singular the powers, authorities, privileges, and duties to the said Letters Patent mentioned or referred to: And whereas, by the said Letters Patent, Her Majesty did will and ordain that in the event of the absence of the said Sir George Grey from the said Islands of New Zealand, any person being within the said Islands, and holding a commission from Her Majesty to be Lieutenant-Governor of the said Islands, should, upon the occurrence of the absence of the said Sir George Grey, and during the continuance of such absence, or until Her Majesty’s pleasure should be known, discharge all the powers, authorities, privileges, and duties of Her Majesty’s said Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, as fully as if Her Majesty’s Commission for the exercise of that office during such period had been addressed to him. But that if there should not be within the said Islands during the continuance of such absence, any person holding Her Majesty’s Commission as such Lieutenant-Governor, then, during the continuance of such absence, or until Her Majesty’s pleasure should be known, the exercise of the said office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief should be assumed by the Chief Officer for the time being in command of Her Majesty’s Military Forces within the said Colony. And whereas the said Sir George Grey, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, sailed for England on the 31st December, 1853, and is now absent from the said Islands of New Zealand: Now, therefore, I, the said Robert Henry Wynyard, the Chief Officer in command of Her Majesty’s Military Forces within the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby proclaim and declare that I have this day taken the prescribed oaths, and assumed the exercise of the offices of Her Majesty’s said Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand. And I hereby call upon all Officers and Ministers, Civil and Military, and all other the Inhabitants of the said Islands, to be aiding and assisting me herein.

Given under my hand, and issued under the Public Seal of the Islands of New Zealand, at Auckland, this

Third Day of January, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-four.

R. H. WYNYARD.

By His Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

NOTICE.

Colonial Secretary’s Office, Auckland,
3rd January, 1854.

WHEREAS, by the Royal Commission bearing date the 13th day of September, 1852, addressed to Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and constituting and appointing the said Sir George Grey Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, and reciting that it was expedient that an Executive Council should be appointed to advise and assist the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in the administration of the government of the said Islands, Her Majesty did authorize the said Governor and Commander-in-Chief to summon as an Executive Council such persons as might from time to time be named or designated by Her Majesty in any instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet addressed to him in that behalf. And whereas, by instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet bearing date the 13th day of September, 1852, and addressed to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, Her Majesty did nominate and appoint the undermentioned persons to be his Members of the said Executive Council, that is to say, the senior Military Officer for the time being in command of Her Majesty’s Land Forces within the said Islands, the Colonial Secretary of and for the said Islands, or the person for the time being lawfully acting in that capacity—the Attorney General of and for the said Islands, acting in that capacity—the Treasurer of and for the said Islands, or the person for the time being lawfully acting in that capacity, and such other persons as the said Governor should deem to be qualified and capable to advise him. Now therefore, His Excellency the Officer administering the Government directs it to be notified that the undermentioned Officers have this day taken and subscribed the proper Oaths as Members of the said Executive Council:

The Honorable Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.
The Honorable William Swainson, Attorney-General.
The Honorable Alexander Shepherd, Colonial Treasurer.

By His Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.