Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback New Zealand Constitutional Law Resources

Additional Instructions 1848 (from Queen Victoria to Governor Grey) [1848] NZConLRes 3 (13 March 1848)

Last Updated: 21 August 2017

VICTORIA R.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, under the Royal Sign-Manual and Signet, to the Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand, authorizing Exchanges of Lands: bearing date at Buckingham Palace, the 13th day of March, 1848.

Whereas, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament made and enacted in the ninth and tenth years of our reign, intituled "An Act to make further Provision for the Government of the New Zealand Islands," we did, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of our United Kingdom, dated the 23rd December, 1846, in the tenth year of our reign, execute, certain of the said powers in us by the said Act vested: And whereas, in exercise of all the powers in us vested, we did issue instructions approved in Privy Council: And whereas it is directed by the 30th section of the 13th chapter of the said Instructions, being chapter intituled "On the Settlement of the Waste Lands of the Crown," that no land belonging to us in New Zealand shall, by us, our heirs, &c., or by any Governor-in-Chief or other person on our behalf, be alienated, either in perpetuity or for any definite time, either by way of grant, lease, license of occupation, or otherwise, gratuitously, nor except upon, under, and subject to regulations thereinafter prescribed: And whereas by the said recited Act it shall be lawful for us from time to time to amend, and for that purpose to add to or, if necessary, to repeal any such instructions as aforesaid: And whereas it hath appeared expedient to us to amend and add to our said instructions so, far as they prohibit, or may be construed to prohibit, the alienation of lands by any such Governor, or other person, on our behalf as aforesaid, in exchange for other lands, or in satisfaction of equitable claims:

Now, therefore, by virtue of the power in us by the said Act vested, we do hereby declare our will and pleasure that it shall be competent to any such Governor-in-Chief, or other person, on our behalf and in our authority, in the execution of any directions which he may receive from us, through one of our. Principal Secretaries of State in that behalf, to alienate land or lands, either in perpetuity or for any definite time, either by way of grant, lease, or license of occupation, or otherwise, in exchange for other land or lands, or in satisfaction of any equitable claim to land.