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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

Enclosure

page 89

Enclosure.

His Excellency Sir George Grey, K night Commander 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, &c:

To the Honourable Joseph Docker, Member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New South Wales; the Honourable 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 Honourable 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 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 on the shores of Cook 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 settlements of Cook Straits in the discussion of a question so important to their respective interests. 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 giving effect to the foregoing resolutions in such manner as to your Excellency may seem expedient:"

And whereas on the twenty-fifth day of November, 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 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 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 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 settlements of Cook Straits in the discussion of a question 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 inquiry and an impartial decision, founded solely upon a consideration of the advantages which the different sites in Cook Straits present for the administration 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 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 of the character 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 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 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 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 Honourable Joseph Docker, Member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New South Wales; the Honourable Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Victoria; and Ronald Campbell Gunn, Esquire, 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 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
  • Honourable Joseph Docker,
  • Honourable 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.

Given under my hand at the Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.

By His Excellency's command.

William Fox. G. Grey.