iii WARRANT APPOINTING THE ROYAL COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO THE SUBJECT OF MINING ROYALTIES. Whitehall, August 19, 1889. THE Queen has been pleased to issue a Commission under Her Majesty's Royal Sign Manual to the following effect : VICTORIA R. Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith. To Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Thomas George, Earl of Northbrook, Knight Grand Commander of Our most Exalted Order of the Star of India; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Edward Baron Macnaghten; Our trusty and well-beloved Sir William Thomas Lewis, Knight; William Abraham ; Alfred Barnes; Thomas Burt; David Dale; George Baker Forster; Henry Hucks Gibbs; Archibald Hood, President of the Mining Association of Great Britain; George Auldjo Jamieson; William Kenrick; John Knowles; Joseph Edwin Crawfurd Munro, Doctor of Laws, Professor of Law and Political Economy at the Owens College, Manchester; William Cole Pendarves; Christopher Talbot Redington; Frederick Parker Rhodes; Robert Chisholm Robertson; Josiah Thomas; Charles Algernon Whitmore; and Nicholas Wood, Esquires, greeting. Whereas We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into the amounts paid as royalties, dead-rents, and way-leaves on coal, ironstone, iron-ore, shale, and the metals of mines subject to the Metalliferous Mines Act, 1872, worked in the United Kingdom, and the terms and conditions under which those payments are made, and into the economic operation thereof upon the mining industries of the country; and, further, to inquire into the terms and conditions under which mining enterprise is conducted in India, the Colonies, and Foreign Countries by the system of concession or otherwise, and the economical operation thereof. Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and appoint you the said Thomas George, Earl of Northbrook; Edward, Baron Macnaghten; Sir William Thomas Lewis; William Abraham; Alfred Barnes; Thomas Burt; David Dale; George Baker Forster; Henry Hucks Gibbs: Archibald Hood; George Auldjo Jamieson; William Kenrick; John Knowles; Joseph Edwin Crawford Munro; William Cole Pendarves; Christopher Talbot Redington; Frederick Parker Rhodes; Robert Chisholm Robertson; Josiah Thomas; Charles Algernon Whitmore; and Nicholas Wood, to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry. And for the better effecting the purposes of this Our Commission, We do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any five or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the subject of this Our Commission; and also to call for, have access to, and examine all such books, documents, registers, and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject; and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And We do further by these presents authorise and empower you, or any five or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such places as you may deem expedient for the more effectual carrying out of the purposes aforesaid. I 76259. Wt. 26610. a 2 And We do by these presents will and ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you Our said Commissioners, or any five or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment. And We do further ordain that you, or any five or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this Our Commission from time to time, if judge it expedient so to do. you shall And Our further will and pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any five or more of you, your opinion upon the several matters herein submitted for your consideration. Given at Our Court at St. James's, the fourteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, in the fifty-third year of Our Reign. Whitehall, August 19, 1889. By Her Majesty's Command. HENRY MATTHEWS. |