By his Excellency Sir George Gipps, Knight, Captain-general and Governor-in-chief in and over her Majesty's Territory of New South Wales and its Dependencies, and Vice-admiral of the same.

Whereas her Majesty was graciously pleased, by certain letters patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the 5th day of October, in the year 1837, to constitute and appoint me, Sir George Gipps, Knight, Captain-general and Governor-in-chief, in and over her Majesty's territory of New South Wales, comprised within the limits therein mentioned; and whereas her Majesty, by certain other letters patent under the Great Seal of the said United Kingdom, bearing date the 15th day of June in the year 1839, was pleased to revoke so much of the said first-recited letters patent as describes the limits of her Majesty's said territory of New South Wales, and to further extend the limits thereof, so as to include any territory which is or may be acquired in Sovereignty by her Majesty, her heirs and successors, within that group of islands lying between the latitude of 34 degrees 30 minutes and 47 degrees 10 minutes south, and 166 degrees 5 minutes and 179 degrees east longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich. And whereas her Majesty, reposing especial trust and confidence in the prudence, courage, and loyalty of William Hobson, Esq., captain of her Majesty's navy, has been pleased, by a commission under the Royal Signet and Sign Manual, bearing date the 30th day of July in the year 1839, to constitute and appoint the said William Hobson, Esq., to be her Majesty's Lieutenant-governor in and over that part of her Majesty's territory so described as aforesaid in the said last-recited letters patent, which is or may be acquired in Sovereignty by her Majesty, her heir or successors, within that group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, commonly called New Zealand, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said office of Lieutenant-governor during her Majesty's pleasure; and whereas her Majesty was pleased to command that, in the execution of such, his office, he, the said Lieutenant-governor, should obey all such lawful instructions as might be from time to time addressed to him by me, the said Captain-general and Governor-in-chief, or in the event of my death, or absence from the limits of my government and command, by the officer for the time being administering the government of the said territory and its dependencies: Now, I, the Captain-general and Governor-in-chief aforesaid, do hereby proclaim and declare that I have this day administered the prescribed oaths to the said William Hobson, Esq., as Lieutenant-governor as aforesaid; and I hereby call upon all British subjects to be aiding and assisting the said William Hobson, Esq., in the execution of his said office:—Given under my hand and seal, at Government House, Sydney, this 14th day of January, 1840, and in the third year of her Majesty's reign.