THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 391

Government of New Zealand, in Cook's Strait; a
subject which was submitted for our consideration in
the Commission with which your Excellency honored
us, on the 29th of July last.

We have the honor to be,
Sir,

Your most obedient servants,
FRANS. MURPHY,
JOSEPH DOCKER,
RONALD C. GUNN,
Commissioners for selecting a site for
the Seat of Government.

His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.С.В.,
&c., &c., &c.

By His Excellency Sir GEORGE GREY, Knight
Commander of the Most Honorable 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, &c., &c., &c.

TO the most honorable Joseph Docker, member
of the Legislative Council of the Colony of
New South Wales ; the honorable Sir Francis
Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the
Colony of Victoria ; and Ronald Campbell Gunn,
Esquire :

Whereas, on the Thirtieth day of November, One
Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-three, the
honorable the Legislative Council of New Zealand in
Parliament assembled, did resolve that the address
hereafter set forth should be presented to me, and
the same was accordingly presented, that is to say:

"May it please your Excellency,--

"We, the Legislative Council of New Zealand in
Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to express
to your Excellency our strong conviction that the
time has arrived when it has become imperatively
necessary for the good government of the whole
Colony, and for the maintenance of its unity, that
the permanent position of the Seat of Government
should now be settled.

"We are of opinion that the just claims and
various necessities of all parts of the Colony require
that the Seat of Government should be placed in a
central position, that is to say somewhere on the
shores of Cook's Straits.

"We desire that the actual site of the Capital
should be submitted to some independent tribunal,
by which the interests of the whole Colony may be
impartially considered, apart from those local claims
which are sure to be asserted by the several settle-
ments of Cook's Straits in the discussion of a ques-
tion so important to their respective interests.

"Such a tribunal would in our opinion be best
formed by commissioners having no interest in or
relation with any part of the colony, and whose high
social and intellectual standing should guarantee a
full enquiry and an impartial decision founded solely
upon a consideration of the advantages which the
ministration of the Government of the whole Colony.

"We venture to think that the Governors of the
neighbouring Colonies would, if moved thereto by
your Excellency, readily lend their aid in the selec-
tion of such Commissioners. We therefore respect-
fully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to
request their Excellencies the Governors of New
South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, each to
appoint one Commissioner, of the character and for
the purpose herein referred to; and that your
Excellency will be pleased to submit for the consi-
deration of the Commissioners so appointed, the
question as to the best site for the Seat of Govern-
ment within Cook's Straits.

"Impressed with the conviction that continued
delay in the settlement of this question will only
tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jeal-
ousy between different parts of the Colony, which
seriously impede the action of Responsible Govern-
ment, and which threaten, at no distant period, the
dismemberment of the Colony, we respectfully but
earnestly pray that your Excellency will cause no
time to be lost in giving effect to the foregoing
Resolutions in such manner as to your Excellency
may seem expedient."

And whereas on the Twenty-fifth day of Novem-
ber, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-three,
the House of Representatives of New Zealand in
Parliament assembled, did resolve that the Address
hereafter set forth should be presented to me, and
the same was accordingly presented, that is to say:-

"May it please your Excellency,

"We, the Commons of New Zealand, in
Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to express
to your Excellency our strong conviction that the
time has arrived when it has become impera-
tively necessary for the good Government of the
whole Colony, and for the maintenance of its unity,
that the permanent position of the Seat of Govern-
ment should now be finally settled:

"We are of opinion that the just claims and
varied necessities of all parts of the Colony require
that the seat of Government should be placed in a
central position, that is to say somewhere upon the
Shores of Cook's Strait. We desire that the actual
site of the capital should be submitted to some inde-
pendent tribunal by which the interests of the whole
Colony may be impartially considered apart from
those local claims which are sure to be asserted by
the several Settlements of Cook's Straits in the dis-
cussion of a question so important their respective
interests.

"Such a tribunal would in our opinion be best
formed by commissioners having no interest in or
relation with any part of the colony, and whose high
social and intellectual standing should guarantee a
full enquiry and an impartial decision founded solely
upon a consideration of the advantages which the
ministration of the Government of the whole Colony.

"We venture to think that the Governors of the
neighbouring Colonies would, if moved thereto by
your Excellency, readily lend their aid in the selec-
tion of such Commissioners. We therefore respect-
fully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to
request their Excellencies the Governors of New
South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, each to
appoint one Commissioner, of the character and for
the purpose herein referred to; and that your
Excellency will be pleased to submit for the consi-
deration of the Commissioners so appointed, the
question as to the best site for the Seat of Govern-
ment within Cook's Straits.

"Impressed with the conviction that continued
delay in the settlement of this question will only
tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jeal-
ousy between different parts of the Colony, which
seriously impede the action of Responsible Govern-
ment, and which threaten, at no distant period, the
dismemberment of the Colony, we respectfully but
earnestly pray that your Excellency will cause no
time to be lost in carrying into effect the measures
now submitted."

And whereas their Excellencies the Governors of
New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania aforesaid,
have, in pursuance of the aforesaid Resolutions,
respectively appointed—

The Honorable JOSEPH DOCKER
Member of the Legislative Council of New South
Wales

The Honorable SIR FRANCIS MURPHY,
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of
Victoria; and

RONALD CAMPBELL GUNN, Esq.,
to be such Commissioners as aforesaid;

And whereas it is expedient to confirm such ap-
pointment under the hand of the Governor and the
seal of the said Colony of New Zealand:

Now know ye, that I, reposing special trust and
confidence in your knowledge, ability, and discretion,
and in exercise of all powers and authorities in this
behalf enabling me, do by these Presents constitute,
appoint, and confirm you, the said

Honorable JOSEPH DOCKER,
Honorable Sir FRANCIS MURPHY,
And
RONALD CAMPBELL GUNN, Esquire,

to be the Commissioners described or referred to in
the said Resolutions, to have and to exercise all the
powers, privileges, and authorities, and to discharge
all the duties therein severally set forth.