1594 PREROGATIVE INSTRUMENTS
February 1879, appointing the Chief Justice or the Senior Judge for
the time being of the Colony of New Zealand, to be administrator
thereof, in the events therein specified.
And We do hereby command all and singular Our Officers, Ministers,
and loving subjects in Our said Dominion, and all others whom it may
concern, to take due notice hereof, and to give their ready obedience
accordingly.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's this eighteenth day of
December 1907, in the Seventh year of Qur Reign.
Bv His Majesty’s Command.
ELGIN.
THE AUSTRALIAN STATES
The Australian States all possess permanent letters patent
and instructions issued on October 29, 1900, in view of
federation. These instruments are alterations of the instru-
ments existing at that date to meet the new circumstances
arising out of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution
Act. There are also in each case a Commission to the
Governor and a Dormant Commission to the Chief Justice
or Senior Judge. Besides these there are Commissions
appointing Lieutenant-Governors, issued to the Chief Justices
as a mark of distinction in New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia, and Tasmania, to the President of the Legislative
Council in Queensland, and to an ex-Chief Justice in Western
Australia. Under these commissions the holders assume
the office of Governor in the absence, &c., of the Governor.
If there is no Lieutenant-Governor, the dormant commission
comes into operation.
LETTERS PATENT passed under the Great Seal of the
United Kingdom, constituting the Office of Governor of
the State of New South Wales and its Dependencies, in
the Commonwealth of Australia.
Letters Patent, Dated October 29, 1900.
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of
[ndia : To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
WHEREAS?! by certain Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of
Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at
* In each case the preamble cites the former letters patent and the operative
clause revokes them and defines the boundaries and constitutes the office. In
the case of Western Australia the first clause is split into two.
