Jumb. 33.
227

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1866.

G. GREY, Governor.
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Defender of the Faith, and so forth:
To our trusty and well-beloved Charles
Knight, Esquire, Auditor of Public
Accounts for New Zealand, William
Gisborne, Esquire, Under Secretary of
New Zealand, William Seed, Esquire,
Collector of our Customs at the Port of
Wellington in New Zealand aforesaid,
and James Major Spence, Esquire, of
the Civil Service of the Colony of
Victoria.

WHEREAS the Governor of our Colony of New
Zealand, with the advice of the Executive
Council thereof, has deemed it expedient that a
Commission should forthwith issue To inquire
generally into the clerical strength and efficiency of
the several departments of the Public Service: And
especially as to the numbers, age of admission, rules
of advancement and promotion, and remuneration of
the several Clerks and higher Officers of the said
departments: And to report such improvements in
the organization of the same, by way of consolidation
or otherwise, as may, in the opinion of you, the
Commissioners hereinafter named, promote efficiency
and economy: Also to inquire and report on the
subject of retiring and other allowances and pensions:
And especially whether the same should be provided
by a contribution from the Clerks in the nature of a
Benefit Society; and if so, whether the said contribu-
tions should be compulsory, and therefore general, or
only voluntary: Also to inquire and report as to the
manner in which an Income Tax might be raised,
and the most effective and economical mode of
raising the same, and especially what proportion the
cost of collection would probably bear to the gross
amount of Tax collected:

Now know ye that we, reposing great trust and
confidence in your knowledge and ability, have
authorized and appointed, and by these Presents do
authorize and appoint you

CHARLES KNIGHT,
WILLIAM GISBORNE,
WILLIAM SEED, and
JAMES MAJOR SPENCE,
to be Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid: And
for the better effecting the purpose of this Commis-
sion, we do give and grant you power and authority
to call before you such persons as you shall judge
likely to afford you any information upon the subject
of this Commission, and to inquire of and concerning
the premises by all other lawful means and ways
whatsoever: And this Commission shall continue in
full force and virtue, and you the said Commissioners
may, from time to time, and at any place or places,
proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter
and thing thereof contained, although the inquiry be
not regularly continued from time to time by
adjournment, and also that the before-named Charles
Knight be the Chairman of you the said Commis-
sioners: And lastly, that you do, with as little delay
as possible, report to us, under your hands and seals,
your opinion, resulting from the said inquiry, of the
matter and things set forth in this our Commission.

In testimony whereof we have caused these our
letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of our said
Colony to be hereunto affixed.

Witness our trusty and well-beloved Sir
George Grey, Knight Commander of the
Most Honorable Order of the Bath,
our Governor and Commander-in-Chief
in and over our Colony of New Zealand
and its Dependencies, at the Govern-
ment House, at Wellington, in New
Zealand aforesaid, on the twenty-third
day of May, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six,
and in the twenty-ninth year of our
Reign.

(L.S.)
By command,

E. W. STAFFORD.