on Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five.

2. Special meetings may be convened by the Chairman, or by any two members of the Board, provided that two days' notice of such meeting be given to each member, specifying the business to be transacted at such special meeting, and no other business than that so specified shall be transacted at such meeting.

3. Any three of the said Board shall form a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time.

4. The members of the Board shall, at their first meeting, and thereafter at an annual meeting to be held on the fourth Thursday in January in every succeeding year thereafter, elect one of themselves to be Chairman, who may join in the discussion, and shall have an original as well as a casting vote. The Chairman shall hold office until the election of his successor.

5. If at any meeting the Chairman is not present at the time appointed for holding the same, the members present shall choose some one of their number to be Chairman of such meeting.

6. If, by resignation, death, or incapacity, or otherwise, the office of Chairman shall be or become vacant, the members may at any monthly or special meeting appoint a Chairman.

7. All questions shall be determined by the majority of votes of the members of the Board present at a meeting.

FORSTER GORING,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Commissioner appointed to investigate Titles, &c., to certain Lands on the West Coast, North Island.

Wm. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS,
Governor.

To ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, AND TO THOMAS MACKAY, ESQUIRE, GREETING:

WHEREAS the Commissioner appointed under "The West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880" (hereinafter termed "the said Act"), did, in his report bearing date the third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, recommend, among other things, that certain reserves should thereafter be made and granted within the confiscated territory, as the same is defined by the said Act: And whereas a memorial has been presented to the Honourable the Minister for Native Affairs, by certain lessees of land already granted within the said confiscated territory, praying that the interests or titles of the said lessees in or to the said lands under the said leases and otherwise may be investigated by a Commissioner: And whereas leases of lands, being reserves or portions of a reserve or reserves within the said territory, were made by certain Natives prior to the date of the passing of the said Act, and are still outstanding and unconfirmed by the Governor in Council: And whereas, with a view to carrying out the recommendation aforesaid, and to investigate the said titles and otherwise, it is expedient that a Commission should issue, and that some fit and proper person should be appointed a Commissioner, with the powers and authorities hereinafter particularly set forth:

Now, therefore, know ye that I, William Francis Drummond Jervois, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, having full confidence in your knowledge, ability, and integrity, do hereby, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, appoint you, the said Thomas Mackay, to be a Commissioner for the purposes and with the several powers and authorities hereinafter mentioned, namely,--

1. To ascertain to whom and in what manner, in the opinion of you, the said Commissioner, the several reserves recommended to be granted as aforesaid (which said reserves are specified in Schedule C to the report hereinbefore recited) should severally be made and granted.

2. To investigate into the several matters of fact set forth in the memorial aforesaid, and in particular into the title or alleged title or right of each lessee of the lands referred to in the said memorial.

3. To ascertain, as nearly as may be, particulars of every lease of lands within the territory aforesaid which now remains unconfirmed by the Governor in Council, including in such investigation leases which may have been granted since the passing of the said Act.

4. To investigate into and ascertain the right of succession to any lands within the said territory the property of deceased Natives, whether Crown grants shall have been issued in respect of such lands or not, and, in cases where no grants have as yet been issued, to recommend to whom grants of such lands should respectively be made.

5. And, where lands are proposed to be vested in Trustees on behalf of any tribe or subdivision thereof, that you distinctly ascertain and name the persons who are to be Trustees or to whom any grant of such land is or is requested to

be made, and the trusts to which the same ought to be subject, or any conditions or limitations which ought to be provided for to render such grant effectual.

6. And generally in the premises you are hereby empowered to make all such inquiries and investigations, and to hear and determine all such questions, as may be necessary to give full effect to this Commission.

7. And for the purposes of this Commission you are hereby empowered to call before you, and examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law, all such person or persons as you may think able to afford you any information in relation to the premises, and also to require any person or persons to bring before you and produce in evidence (saving all just exceptions) any books, papers, deeds, plans, or documents of which any Court of law might compel the production.

8. You shall also have full power and authority to employ such surveyors, clerks, interpreters, and other persons as you may deem necessary for your assistance in the premises.

9. And you are hereby required from time to time to report to me, in writing under your hand, the several acts and proceedings done and taken by you under the authority of these presents.

10. And, lastly, it is hereby declared that this Commission shall continue in force for the period of twelve calendar months from the date hereof (unless the same shall be previously determined by the disposal of the matters herein intrusted to you, or by the revocation of these presents), and that you may proceed in the execution of this Commission at any place or places in the colony, and although any inquiry or investigation be not regularly 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 Christchurch, this twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five.

J. BALLANCE.

Approved in Council, 24th January, 1885.

FORSTER GORING,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Fixing Sittings of the District Court of Western Otago.

Wm. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS,
Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the power and authority in this behalf enabling me, I, William Francis Drummond Jervois, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby fix and appoint that sittings of the District Court of Western Otago shall be held as follows, in lieu of those previously fixed and appointed:--

In the Courthouse at Invercargill, for civil business, on the twenty-fifth day of every month, and, for criminal business, on the twenty-fifth day of February, June, and October in every year.

Provided that, in case any of the days so fixed as aforesaid shall happen to be a Sunday or holiday, then the Court appointed for that day shall be holden on the first day thereafter not being a Sunday or a holiday.

As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this ninth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five.

Jos. A. TOLE.

Fixing Sitting of District Court at Westport.

Wm. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS,
Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the power and authority in that behalf enabling me, I, William Francis Drummond Jervois, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby fix and appoint that a sitting of the District Court of Westland shall be held as follows:--

In the Courthouse at Westport, for the despatch of civil and criminal business, on Friday, the twenty-seventh day of February instant.

As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five.

Jos. A. TOLE.