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You will not be required to report in any other way, unless directed by the Commissioners, front whom you will take your instructions on all subjects. I have, &c, William Seeb. F. J. Eaton, Esq., Secretary to the Seat of Government Commissioners, Auckland.

No. 26. Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 10th October, 1864. gjH On the 3rd instant the accompanying packet was placed in my care by the " Seat of Government Commissioners." with a request that I would take the earliest opportunity, by post or otherwise, to forward it to His Excellency the Governor. The present being the first opportunity that has offered. I have now the honor to forward it t» you, and to request that you will be good enough to lay the same before His Excellency. I have, &c, S. P. Robinson, Superintendent. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 27. Government Buildings, Nelson, 3rd October, 1864. Sir,— We have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a report upon the site for the Seat of Government of* New Zealand in Cook's Straits, a subject which was submitted for our consideration in the commission with which your Excellency honored us on the 29th of July last. We have, &c. ; Francis Murphy, Joseph Docker, Ronald C. Gunn, Commissioners for selecting a Site for the Seat of Government. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.CB., &c., &c, &c. Auckland. Government Buildings, Nelson, October 3rd, 1864. The Commissioners, acting under the above recited instrument, have agreed to the following Report :— In order to guarantee a full enquiry and an impartial decision, founded solely upon a consideratio* of the advantages which the different sites in Cook's Straits present for the administration of the Government of the whole Colony, the Commissioners determined to lay down a principle of enquiry which should be rigidly applicable in the examination of every site submitted to their investigation. Thii principle comprised enquiries into :— Ist. 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 also the existing and projected means of communication. 2nd- The Water Capabilities—comprising : Character of the Harbour The approaches Depth of Water Nature of anchorage ground Protection from prevailing winds Rise and fall of tides Currents, their direction and velocity Dangers, whether hidden or visible.

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