1576 PREROGATIVE INSTRUMENTS 
Right Trusty and Well-beloved Frederic John Napier, Baron 
Chelmsford, Knight Commander of Our Most Distinguished Order 
of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor of Our State of New 
South Wales, or to Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Gerald 
Strickland, Count della Catena, Knight Commander of Our said 
Most Distinguished Order, Governor of Our State of Western 
Australia, Greeting. 
WE do, by this Our Commission under Our Sign Manual and 
Signet, appoint you, the said Frederic John Napier, Baron Chelmsford, 
luring Our pleasure, to administer the Government of Our Common- 
wealth of Australia, with all the powers, rights, privileges, and advan- 
tages to the said Office belonging or appertaining, m the event of 
the death, incapacity, removal, or absence of Our Governor-General 
and Commander-in-Chief for the time being, and of Our Lieutenant- 
Governor (if any). 
II. And in case of the death or incapacity of you the said Frederic 
John Napier, Baron Chelmsford, or of your absence from the Common- 
wealth, then We do appoint you the said Sir Gerald Strickland, 
during Our pleasure, to administer the Government of Our said 
Commonwealth of Australia in the events herein specified. 
III. And We do hereby authorize, empower, and command you 
bo exercise and perform all and singular the powers and authorities 
contained in certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Our 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at 
Westminster the Twenty-ninth day of October 1900, constituting the 
Office of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over 
Our Commonwealth of Australia, or in any other Letters Patent 
adding to, amending, or substituted for the same, and according to 
such Instructions as Our said Governor-General and Commander.in- 
Chief for the time being may have received, or may hereafter receive 
{rom Us, or through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and 
according to such Laws as are now or shall hereafter be in force in 
Dur said Commonwealth. 
IV. And We do hereby further direct and appoint that so soon as 
you the said Frederic John Napier, Baron Chelmsford, shall have 
taken the prescribed oaths and have entered upon the duties of your 
Office of administering the Government of Our Commonwealth of 
Australia under and by virtue of this Our present Commission, the 
Lieutenant-Governor of Our State of New South Wales, or any other 
person appointed by Commission under Our Sign Manual and Signet 
bo administer the Government thereof, shall therevpon administer 
the Government of Our said State in like manner as if vou were absent 
from Our said State. 
V. And We do hereby further direct and appoint that if you the 
said Sir Gerald Strickland shall at any time in the events herein 
specified administer the Government of Our said Commonwealth of 
Australia, then We do hereby direct and appoint that so soon as you 
the said Sir Gerald Strickland shall have faken the prescribed oaths