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We venture to think that the Governors of the neighbouring colonies would happily enter into your Excellency’s really kind views in the selection of such Commissioners. We, therefore, respectfully 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 to be of the character required, and for the purpose herein referred to; and that your Excellency will be pleased to submit for the consideration of the Commissioners so appointed the question as to the best site for the seat of Government within Cook’s Straits.

We are impressed with the conviction that, continued delay in the settlement of this question will only tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jealousy between different parts of the colony which seriously impede the action of responsible Government, 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.”

Whereas their Excellencies the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania aforesaid, have, in pursuance of the aforesaid representation, been pleased to appoint the Hon. Joseph Docker, Joseph Anderson, Esq., Couper of New South Wales; the Hon. 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 appointment under the hand of the Governor and the seal of the said colony of New Zealand:

Now, know ye, that 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 Hon. Joseph Docker, Hon. Sir Francis Murphy, and Ronald Campbell Gunn, Esq., 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.

Given under my hand, at the Government House at Auckland, and issued under the seal of the colony of New Zealand, this 29th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.

By His Excellency’s command,
W. FOX.

Government Buildings,
Nelson, October 3, 1864.

The Commissioners, acting under the above recited instruments, have agreed to the following report:

In order to gather a full inquiry and an impartial decision, founded solely upon a consideration of the advantages which the different sites in Cook’s Strait present for the administration of the Government of the whole colony, the Commissioners determined to lay down a principle of inquiry which should be rigidly applicable to their investigation. This principle comprised inquiries into—

1st. The central position of the site. Its accessibility either by land or sea from the adjoining provinces of New Zealand, from the various British settlements in the southern hemisphere, and from Europe and America, and the existing and projected means of communication therewith.

2nd. The water capabilities, comprising—characters of the harbour, the approaches; depth of water on the approaches; depth of anchorage-ground; protection from prevailing winds, waves, and swell; tides; currents, their direction and velocity; dangers, whether hidden or visible.

3rd. Land capabilities, comprising—the extent of unappropriated site; natural formation of the land; water supply; facilities for drainage and sewerage; facilities for the construction of wharves and piers; the sanitary condition of the site and neighbourhood.

4th. The resources of the surrounding country, character and quality of available land (whether alienated or unalienated) for pastoral or agricultural purposes; its timber for building purposes and fuel; other building materials; mineral products; roads and facilities of communication with the proposed capital.

5th. Capabilities of defence; from attack by land, from attack by sea.

6th. Natural disadvantages, whether capable of removal from the appliances of science; whether beyond control or removal.

The Commissioners commenced their labours at Wellington, on the southern coast of the North Island. They collected all the information that could be laid before them on the several heads of inquiry, and tested the information so obtained by personal examination wherever such a course was practicable.

The Commissioners then proceeded along the eastern coast to Wanganui, and personally examined the harbour and the surrounding country.

The Commissioners then passed to the opposite shore of the Strait, and directed their attention to Picton, in the Province of Marlborough, and minutely examined Queen Charlotte Sound and the Tory Channel. They then proceeded inland to Blenheim, and thence, by the Wairau River, made a personal inspection of Port Underwood, represented to be a natural harbour of this district. They also examined the sites of potential districts lying to the South and East of the Wairau Valley.

Leaving Picton, the Commissioners examined carefully the Pelorus Sound, and the town of Havelock in the same province, and from thence proceeded through the French Pass to Nelson. They made a personal inspection of Blind Bay with its various harbours, including Croiselles on the east shore, and Massacre Bay, and Astrolabe Roadstead upon the west, and visited portions of the interior of the country.

Having thus made themselves acquainted, so far as was practicable, with the character and capabilities of both shores of Cook’s Straits, the Commissioners have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that Wellington, in Port Nicholson, is the site upon the shores of Cook’s Strait which presents the greatest advantages for the administration of the Government of the colony.

The Commissioners cannot conclude the important mission which has been entrusted to them without recording their high sense of the valuable assistance afforded to them in pursuing their investigation by the authorities and private individuals and the impartiality with which the information they required was furnished.

FRANCIS MURPHY,
JOSEPH DOCKER,
RONALD C. GUNN.

Printed under the Authority of the Government of the Province of Wellington, by Joseph Bull,
Printer for the time being to such Government.