The Point Resolution Land Purchase Royal Commission.

This Commission, consisting of Dr. Giles, R.M., and Lieut.-Col Roberts, sat at Auckland from 5th to 15th October, 1888, to enquire into the circumstances under which acres of land at Point Resolution, Auckland, were conveyed to Mrs. G. S. Kissling under the Special Powers and Contracts Act 1886. The land was originally owned by Trustees for the benefit of neglected and destitute children of both races, and Mrs. Kissling's husband was the lessee. In 1885 the Government required a portion of the land for a fortification, and instead of taking only the area they required, they by arrangement with Mr. Kissling took the whole of the property nominally for defence purposes. They afterwards conveyed the portion they did not require, about 3½ acres, to Mrs. Kissling and paid her in addition £1118, the Trustees getting £632. A Bill was brought into and passed by the House of Representatives in 1888 to set aside the transaction, but was rejected by the Legislative Council Thereupon Sir George Grey, K.C.B., the original grantor of the land, urged the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the matter, which the Government consented to do.

Mr. Napier was retained by Sir George Grey to represent at the Commission the orphans and others interested in the conservation of the Trust.