IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT- // ^^ >.<1^4fe. 1.0 1.1 l^|28 [50 '"^~ KS 112 tii m Hi 120 18 • . . ' 1.25 M 16 ^ 6" ► ^ ^ ^ y] ^y^ V '^' 7] / /A Phctogmphic Sciences Corporaiion 23 WIST MAIN STREeT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ •s? \\ 4r ■I CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical l\/licroreproduction8 / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques i Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur D D D D D D D D D Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur r^^ Pages damaged/ I I Pages endommag6es I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur6es et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages d^tach^es QShowthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality in^gale de I'impression I I Includes supplementary material/ D D Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmdes d nouveau de faqon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. to T^ PC of fll Oi bi th til of fir •i( or sh Ti wl M dl •r bfl rll re 13 Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires: Title page appears on verso of last page of the work. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26>t 30X / 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy film«d hara has b««n raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia L'axamplaira fllmi f ut raproduit grica A la g*n4rosit4 da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara the bast quality possible consldaring tha condition and lagiblllty of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spaciflcations. Las imagas suivantas ont 4t* raproduitas avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da l'axamplaira fiimi. at an conformit* avac las conditions du contrat da fiimaga. Original copies in oriiitad paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplairas originaux dont ia couverture en papier est imprimis sont filmAs en commen^ant par ia premier plat at en terminant soit par ia darniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iliustration, soit par la second plat, salon le cas. Tous las autras exemplairas originaux sont fiimis an commen9ant par ia premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iilustration at en terminant par la darniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"). whichever applies. Un des symboies suivants apparaitra sur le darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols —^ signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Meps. plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atra fiimis A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clichi, il est filmi it partir de i'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 54 Li'>t^ • 1 ^ 0^ ri } m& MESSAGE. LISGAR. . The Governor General transmits for the information of tlio Honso of Connnons the accompanying papers relative toth'e proposed union of BFitish Columbia with the Dominion of Canada. Government House, Ottawa, 27th Febniaiy, 1871 . The Secretary of Stale/or the Colouus to the O'oceruur Cciieral. (Copy.— Canada, No. 2.) ])o\VMX(i yTRKKT. onl Jiiuuiiry, 1.S70. SiK, — Governor Miistrnive iutbniis nm that lie ]\as {'(jrw.-ifdcd to yon .-t co]»y of Iiis Despatcli of tlie .'JOth Oi-toln'v last. No. I'J, in :ins\\\'i- to niino of llic 14t]i Angu.st, with, reference to the union of British (J(,'hiuil)ia with the Dominion. I enclose for your information, a co})y of my reply to ]\lr. Musgrave. I have, ic, (Signetl,) Ghanville. Governor General, The Kight Hon. Hir John Young, G.C.13., G.O.M.G. Earl Granville to Governor Mustjrave, (Copy — British Columbia — No. ll.j.) - ■ • DowxiNo Street, ;Ust Beoenibcr, 18()9, Sir, — I have to iicRii^M'leilge the receijit of your Despatch of the oOtli October last, No. 19, in au,swor to niiheJbQhe l-tth of August. N«- 84, with reference to the Union of British Columbia with the Dominion of Cair.ida;aey?opy of vhich, for the reason you have stated, you thought it beat at once to make public. I approve of your having published uiy Despatch, and I uhonld ^\isjl you to use your own judgment respecting tlic^ mode and tinie of bringing thefpiestiou before yoilr Council, and not to suppose youiself bound to bring forwa.d any formal proposal unless you think /that, by so doing you will promote the accentaiice of the union. • I have forwarded a copy of this DesjMVWf'o iSir John Young, for liis ini'-^iinatiou. .*« I have, «kc., (Signed,) ' Giunville. Governor Musgi-avp, ic, &c., itc. . .^jl£$ 18-1 '^^. m ,.,» Governor Musgrace to the Governor General. (Copy— No. 11.) Government Hocse, British Columbia, 20tli February, 1870. Sir, — I have the honor to forvrarcl to Your Excellency a copy of the Message with which I cau.sed the Legislative Council to be opened on the 15th instant, and of a Resolution wliich the Governnieut will introduce, embodying the terms on which it i.s recommended that this Colony should propose to join tlie Dominion of Canada. 2. The Resolution will be i)assecl, as it will Ije pressed as a measure of tlie Govern- ment. This coui-so is necessary to obtain a basis for negociation, for without the aid of the official vote, opinion is so much divided among the unofficial members of the Legisla tive Council, that the residt of any action on the subject would otherwise be very doubtful. The question of Union has never hitherto been brought before the connnunity in definite form. The chief advocates are so much at variance among themselves, that I have found it desirable to reduce the proi)Osition into some tangible shape, which exhibits the advantages which may be derived from Confederation. 3. The characteristics of this Colony are so unlike those of the Eastern Provinces, that it is necessary to adjust the proposed arrangements upon a basis different from that {idopted in their cases. The true number of the pojjulation is not known, and it includes a large 'uimber of Indians, who are to a great extent consumers. The white inhabitiints are chiefly male adults of wasteful and exi)eni5ive habits. The production of the Colony is very small, except of gold. The consequence is large importation of duty paying goods, yielding revenue from Customs far greater in propoi-tion to our estimated poj)ulation, than that obtained from Customs diities for the same nuniber in any part of the Dominion. 4. It is proposed, therefore, that for the purpc^ses of an aiTangement with Canada, our population should be estimated from the amoinit of revenue contributed to the general fund of the Dominion, from the sources which would be transferred. On a moderate computation, the Customs and Excise Duties are estimated for this year at $850,000. This sum is more than is raised from 120,000 of the population of Canada, the rate there being, aa I am informed, §2.75 jxa- head. British Columbia claims accordingly to come into the Union with the jjrivileges, as she relinquishes the revenue, of 120,000 of the population of the Dominion. This point being conceded, the rest of the financial arrangement ])rocceds upon the same principles which have been admitted and acted upon in the cases of the Eastern Provinces. And upon due consideration, I do not think the plan proposed will be found to be unfair. 5. The feature, to my mind, presenting the greatest difficulty in the terms, is con- tained in the 8th Article, i-elating to the conatniction of a railway and wagon road. But, whatever may bo eventually iigrecd upon, or found impossiljle, with respect to these mattei-s, so much importance is attached to the opening of communication, that it would not have been politic to omit this ijrojiosal in any terms now brought forward. Indeed, effective means of communicatio\i through British Territory must sooner or later Ije found to be essential to any real connection of this Province with the Dominion, and, perhaps, it is iis well at once to confront this diflifcJty. 6. In some of the other terms pl^osed, this Colony may bo thought by your Goveniment to aak too nuich. But they must be pi-epared to be liberal, if they desire the Union. Great local impoi-tauce is attached to such a matter a.s the Graving Dock, at Esquimalt, which go far to obtain the sufl'rages of the commercial community of Victoi-ia. The Imperial Govei-nment lately expressed readiiMgito aid in procuruig the accomplishment of such a work. And tlie stipulations roquired^jjmching the Penitentiary, Marine Hospital, and Lunatic Asylum, will be regarded here as strong inducements. It will be iiecessaiy, if Union is to bo real and entered upon cordially, that present visible advantage and local improvement should spring from the measiuc. ';- I •• i^L^ I /. I 7. I believe tliat assent to the scheme submitted will be given cheerfully by a large majority of the coinmtniity. The i)ublic generally have received it v/ith much satisfaction. But it is doubtful whether any important modification would obtain ac(iuiescence. I propose, however, that a delegation from the (council should proceed to Ottawa, after the termination of the session, for the purpose of discussing the subject with your Croveru- ment, and it is not impossible that I may be able to confer witli you personally, as I have asked for leave to go to New York in the early summer, on private afiairs, and if it should be desirable I could visit Ottawa at that tiTne. 8. I should add, that the Financial Statement which accompanietl the Resolution has been made up from the actual figures of our estimates for the current year, for the pur- pose of illustrating the effect of the arrangement. With the exception of the tei'ins relating to the Railway and Wagon Road, the agreement proposed does not involve so much pecuniary concession as has already been made to other Provinces. 9. In Lord Granville's Despatch, No. 84, of 14th August, which was communicated to Your Excellency, he mentioned tiie condition uf tlie luilian tribes as among some cpiestions upon which the constitution of British Columbia will oblige the Governor to enter personally. I liave, purposely, omitted any reference to this subject in the terms l)roposed to the Legislative Council. Any arrangements which may be regarded as proper by Her Majesty's Go\'ernuieiit can, I think, best be settled by the Secretary of State, or by me, tmder his direction, with the Government of Canada. But " Indians," and " Lanils reserved for Indians," form the twenty-fourth of the classes of subjects named in the 71st Section of the Union, which are expressly reserved to the Legislative authority of thu Parliament of the Dominion. I have, (kc, (Sign«d,) A. MuSGRAVE. His Excellency Sir John Young, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., &c. (Message No. I.) Opening of the Legislative Council. Victoria, B. C, February 15 th, 1870. A. MUSGRAVE. r Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council : — An untoward accident has depri\ed me of the pleasure which I had anticipated from meeting you in person, on the first occasion of your assembling since 1 entered upon the administration of this Government. I desired the opportunity to assure you of my keen sense of the important trust which devolves u])on me under the form of Constitution now prevailing in the Colony, and my earnest desire to discharge it with diligence and fidelity to the Community. I cannot delegate to others the authority and the duties which are confided to me. Complicated questions, conflicting Interests, and divergent political opinions, all demand consideration, and practically upon them, in many respects, the decision must be mine. I assure you, Gentlemen, that the labor is not light, nor can I easily acquit myself of the obligations incumbent upon me. But I believe that I may rely with confidence upon your loyal assistance in the performance of my duty. I couni upon your co-operation in laboring for the attainment of our common object — the promo- tion of the prosi>erity of the Commimity with the protection of whose interest we are chargetl. Soon after my arrival I was able to visit some of the most distant parts of the Goverament, including the principal mining district. The observation of an impaitial U, ie38a2 v>ii^ .jM^iit.. ^.- str;mL,'ci- viewin;^ Hrcucs iiml olijo-jls ii'W to I'im. is ol'ti".! of ^'I'ciitcr valiif than tlic ciD-elosH notice (tf ijci'sniis to wlioiii tlicv arc more fanii'.iar. T!ic imjircNsiuu wliicli I received of tho conilitiou aiil jirosp'^ct.H of the (Jolniiy was iivjiv favoialile than I had Keen led to iinticipiit,'. 'I'd me tlie ijiilications o!" ccrniiii [jruicrcss and ;;r:i\vtli of )iros})crity seemed iiiauifest. I saw Aciili jilcasure tiie appli atioii of sciciicc to the devcio]niiciit of tlie gold mines of Carilioo. Witli ('(iUal S'\iisfaction 1 witnes.scd tho extending a;,'ricn!iure, and Hsccrlaincd tlio siicco.s of stock raisin;^ within our owji liordcrs. J']x|K)rtation of coal and liinibov is incveasiii!,'. While tJui inf<.rniati(ni Avhicli I gatliei'cd went to show that tlio fipirit of excltenu'UL and sjn'cuhitimi, whicli is only too apt to I'O prevalent in <,'old pro- ducing countric;-;, lias gi'adually sulisi(l"d, lea\ing in its place a heallliier tone of feeling Jind sounder Im.s.is for coniniercial transact ii. us. Since my visit to the ^fainlani!, recent discoveries of frosh gold iields liav(! Ijecn I'eported. whicli, if tli(>y prove to l;e inipoitaiit. v.ill tend to infuse new s[iirit into enter- prise of idl kinds, and will doubtless stimulate both trade and jiroduction. T have coniidenco in the future of British Columbia, if only her afiairs are conducted Avitli discretion ; anil at tho baso of all superstructure must lie the linancial arrangements. T shall lay bcl'ore you at once tlie Mstiniiitcs which havi^ been prepared for the CiUTC-nt year. The details will 1m> ex|ilainc(l liy the oiiicei's of the (ioveriiment to who.se. Departments the several lieails oi' ;iji|))'0priation rclatt!. They contain few besides the usual provisions. The most important addition is a pi'oposod sulisidy of (."-■■ 4, "ilM')) luiur thousand live hundred Dollars, to the Western Union Telegraph (./'oni[)any, to assisi: in the maintenance of telcgi'ajihic conumnucation with Portland, a.nd iiiiough Portland with tlu? I'cst of the world. It was represented to me, upon evi'ience mIucIi I had Jio i-eason to doubt, that without this aid tlu; connnunication would cease, and I have tlien-^ht that under all the circumstances it may be with propriety afforded. At the .sauu! time that application Avas made on this matter, the Telegra[ih Company cjffered to transfei- to \hv ( J()^ einment their jirojierty in the liiu^ bet wee u Swimtmish and (((ucfiielmouth as it stands, provided that the Covernment would undertake to repair, maintain, and work it. I cavised careful enipiiry to be made asto the jmiliable cost to the Colony of such an undertaking, and found that it would amount to .*8,000 for this year, in exce.ss of any receipts which can be exjiected. I Jiave not thought myself justified in incurring this outlay, in view of our iinancia! ])osition, unless special provision can be made for it. I have not, therefore, jilaced it on the Estimates, but 1 will lay papers I'olating to the matter before you. 1 have, however, inelnded an appro])riation of .^0,000 for the promotion of immigra- tion, to ]iro'. ide for a coutiiir.ation of ihe i-.xperiment which has been maile to assist tho introiiriciion of female immigrants, and in the hope that we may be able to oi'ganizo the commoncement of some practical arrtingement to aid the immigration of agricultural settlors. Interest is manifested in England on the suliject of Emigration, and I will endeavor to use means for ditViising a knowledge of our resources. ^ Tho usual votes which you will 1k< asked to grant are comi)uted with strict regard to economy. They contemplate augmerited expenditure for roads ; but it has been found impoisilile to include provision ft)r some matters, to which I would gladly give attention. I desii'e to avoid Supjilemontary J'^stimat's >;o i'ar as it is practicable to do .so, and not to exceed the provision authoiizod iiy you unless ibrced by great emergency. Thft year closed witli a balance against the pulilic at the Bank of Briti.sh Cohmibia, aniuunting to $27,000. I sli dl cause you to be furnished with Wchedules of the Assets and fjialiilities of the Colony on the 'list December last, which show a floating debt of large amount, for the ropayunMit of v.-hich no fitting provision has been m.ide. Until satisfactory arrangements are adjusted in respect of these liabilities, it behoves us to be circumspect in sanctioning fresli disbiu'sements. I will submit to you a ]>ill, to give authority for tha consolidation of this debt, by the issue of fresh Debenture-, at six ])er cent., and to ))roYide for its liquidation by a Sinking Fund. I am aware that the complicatioiis arising fidiii tlio oxistiMicc of (liUV-rciit Siiiircino Courts in the two sections of otir I7niti'il Colony, have Ihkmi the eaiise ot niiuli protest and discussion, yon will, tlu-refure, In- ghul to l f!iiief .lust lee of Vancouvei- Ishiml to anothei' np])uintni(!nt. Uy th^^ operation of tlie (Ordinance, passed by you during the last Session, to regulate tlie Supreme Courts — to whieh the Queen's assent lias lieen given— a .single jurisdietion is now I'stalilislied for the Avliole Colony, which will lie udnunistered by tlu! Chief .lustice of British Cohunbia, with the assistance of a Puisne .Judge. I know that strong reiiresentaiions have hei'u made as to the importance of i)roviding a local Court of Ai)peal, by the ajipointment of a third judge, but I think it may be well llrst to note th',> working of the present alteration in the judicial arrangements iiefoie deciding to inciu' the increased expense which woe.ld be necessary for that pnrjiose. In fact, tliis, as well as many other (|U(stions, is to some extent dependent upon the greater one of the expediency of Union with the Dominion of Canada which it is my duty to bring befoi'o you. The Community is already acquainted with the Desi)atch whieh T have I'ccently received from Her Majiisty's Secretary of State on this subject; and the careful con- sideration of it cannot longer lie deferred with coui'tesy to Her Majesty's GoveriimtMit, or advantage to the Colony, f conunend it to your eai'nest thought. For my own part, I am convinced that on certain terms, which 1 believe it would not be ditficult to arrange, this Colony may derive substantial benefit from such an Ihiicm. But the only manner in which it can be ascertained whether Canada will agree to such arrangements as will suit ns, is to propose sneh as we would be reaily to accei)t. AVith the assistance of my Council, I have pre[)ar(Hl a, scheme which I shall causi- to be laid before you. Besolutions framed upon that basis will enabljj me to eonununicate with the Covei-nnient of Canada, and ascertain whether they will be willing to accede to our propositions. While the views of ITer ^Majesty's Goveinment have beiai clearly and forci))ly expressed upon this ([uc^stion, 1 am sure thei'e is no desii-e to urge the Union, exce[)t in accordance with its geneiul acceptance by British subjects in the Colony. 1 do not, therefore, propose that any terms agreed upon by the Government of Canada shoidd bo finally acce^jted, until ratitied by the general vcnlict of the Connuunity, so fai- as that can be iiscevtained through another Council, of which the unutllclal memliei's slutll have lieen re-elected. The form of the local Constitution nnist be to some extent moditied in (Confederation with the other Provinces ; and even in anticiiiation of that event, I think that an enlarged application of the principle of Ptepresentative Government to the composition of your Honorable House woidd bo expedient. I ha\e already, by Her Majesty's jiermission, I'e-constitiited the Exccutivt; ('ouncil by the addition of two miofficial members, rejiresent- ing po[iulous districts, from whose advice 1. receive valuable assistance. 1 shall ijo further in the same direction, and on tins same i>rincl]>le. i shall ask for authority so to re-con- stitute the Legislative Council, as to allow the majority of its niembei's to be formally returned for Electoral Districts. And to a (."oinicil so re-constructed, 1 should look for a final decision upon any terms to which the Government of <'anada may ex|)ress readiness to agree. Further than this, T frankly admit thai I do not think it wonhi be wise to go. I have had experience of severtd formsof Colonial < iovornment, and I have no liesitntion in stating my o])inion that rhe foi-m connnonly called " Pvcspon.silde Govei'iiment," Avonld not be found at present suited to a cunnnnnity ;;o young and so constituted as this. It is not known in any of the neighbouring States or Territories. Exjierience has sliown that the sy.stem is expensi\'e in its results, and its oneration is not successful (>xcept in more advanced comuuinltles, with jxipulation of more homogeneous character than ours. But it will, of course, aft<>r TTnion. be open U) the Locai Legislature, with the concurrence of the Government of the Dominion of Canada, to adopt what moditication it shall choose of the existing Clonstitntion. I have declared my o]»inion to you with candor. I think that you will appreciate my motive, f w ish to aul only in what T believe will conduce to the welfare and prosj^iority of the Colony. I am gliul to coininimicati) to yen tlmt 1 Inive Ik'cu iicqiiiiinted, by Lord Granville' with tlie iv:i(liii;'';s of tlio (!-.jv.»!'iiiiifMit of tjic United States to outer into a postal conven- tion with Britisli (Johiniiii;i, wliieli will he niiicli nioio conveuieat to Ijotii jiarties con- cerned than tiio existing; ananijenientf). It is proposed that the single rate of International ])')stage on letters fxelian?^'ed in either direction, shall he six cents, if paid in advance, and t»Mi e-nts if iin[>aid, and tiiat each ollice .shouM retain all postage collected. This nnderst lading will eltl;ct niaeh sini])Iiiicatioa of the iJi'c.i'.'ab Postal flegnlations, and I have pr.)iioserl llivit it shil! ciiae ia(') dueratioa at the heginning of the next Quarter of the year. Nearly all the Ordinances a^sente(l to l>y my predecessor, during last Session, have received Her Majesty's sanction. The ])ill to incorporate the IMenihers of St. Andrew's Church has, however, been disallow. 'd, svitli tlu? concui'i-eace of (he Colonial (Joniniittce of the Church of Scotland, to whom the nic;'.sure was refcri'cd liy the S.'cretary of State. And I have not yet I'eceived Her ^Majesty's decision upon the School Ordinance. I shall lay "before you a Despat-h, with its enclosures, from the Secretary of State, on the suhjo:;t of the J')r,iwl)acks Oulinanee of 18(i0. Pending your consideration of the inform:\'i'iu a!i")rd(;d hy the Hoard of 'i'rade and C-'umniissioners of Customs, assent to this Bill is witliheld. The operation of the Savings Dank Ordinance appears up to this time to he satisfactory. Some amendments may hereafti-r lie reijuired to facilitate the working of the law, hut so little time has been afl'orded foi- observing its effect, that it seems unnecessary as yet to nuxlify its ju'ovisious. So many subjects of public interest are more or less affected by the larger question of the expediency of Union with the Dominion, that some can .scarcely be dealt with advaatageoasly (Uitil considei'ation has been aftorded to that pi'ojjosed nu>asure. Among these is the [)ropriety of altering tin; Tariii'. ^ly predeces.sor referi'ed this (ptestion for the consideration of a C/'onimission appointed for the purpose. The ]Mend)ers have not agreed in oj)inion as to the course to be pursued, tjnder such circumstances, I think that it would bo undesirable to make any changes at present. It has been found from experience in other places of Commercial importance, that frequent alterations in the Tarill' aie injurious tf) trade. Certain Ililis will, however, b'.; submitted to you, chie^y having for their object the consolidation and assimilation of the J/iws now in force in tlie tv»'o sections of the Colony relating to land, and the registration of titles. Yon have before you. Gentlemen, most imjjortant subjects for your deliberation, and I will not detain you longer from the discharge of your duties. T fervently hope that the IMessing of the Almighty Euler of events may attend our labors, and direct our effcn'ts for the good of the peo})le of this community, .and crown them with results promoting peace, justice, and pi'osperity. Government House, 15th February, 1870. I Proposed Terms of Co)ij''(lf.ratioii with the Dominion of Canada, arranged hj the Goccrnor of lirilisJi Columh'm in Cou)iciL liesolveJ, That it is expedient that the Colony (>f British Columbia should be Con- federated witJi Canada, on tiie foUowbi;,' Terms and Conditions, that is to sny : — 1. Canada, sliall he liaole for the Debts and Liabilities of British Columbia existing at the time of Union. '1. The popuhit'on of British (J.)lumhia shall for the pur[>ose of financial arrangements be e3timat;Hl at 120,t)()i). British Columbia not hiving incurred debts equal t» those of other Provinces now constituting the Dominion, shall be entitled to receive, l>y half-yearly payments in advance from the General Government, interest at the rate of 5 per centum per annum on the dilFerenca between the actual amount of its indebtedness at the date •anville' coiiven- ies con- liite of , if i)iii(l loUocted. ons, ami uivter of [nu, have ver, been Scotland, not yet of Slate, on of tho nt to thin this tinio c working it seems r question lealt with Among iiestion for 4 have not OS, I think found from ons in the • object tho the Colony iration, and attend our and crown (.1 hy the lid be Con- bia existing rraugements t» those of y half-yearly per centum at the date U- of Union and tho proportion of the i'liblic Debt of ('amula fur 12n,0(iO nf tlic iiopulation of Canada at the time of Union. 3. Tho following sums shall Ik; annually paid liy Cana«Ia to British Columbia for tho support of the Local Covernnicnt and Jjc^islaMir(', to wit :-- An Annual Crant of 8''3o,O0(l, and a further sum ('(lual to fl(t cents ahead per annum of tho popidation ; both jiayilile hnlf-voarly in athaucc. the jpojudation of l!ritish ('olumbia Ixung estimated as aforesaid at 120,0(1(1. Sucli .','rant (Mpial i" SW ccut.s a liead to lie augmented in proportion to tlic iucre.ise of population, when such may be shewn, until the population amounts to 400,000, at which rate such grant shall thereafter reuuiin. 4. The Dominion shall guarantee interest at the rate of "> per centum pei' anunm on such sum, not exceeding £ loo, 0(l(t. as luay b" n'tpiired t'^r the cunstruetiini of a lirst class Graving Dock at Ks(piimault. 5. In addition to the other imjvisinns of this resolution, Canada shall assiuue and defray the charges of the following Services ;— ■ a. Salary and Allowances of the Lieutenant (Governor ; b. Salaries and allowances of the Judges and Ollicers of tla.' Supremo ( 'ourt and of County Courts ; c. The charges in respect of the Department of Customs ; (1. Tlie I'ostal Department ; e. Lighthouses, Buoys, Beacons, and Lightshij), iuid such fuither charges as may be incident to and connected with the Services which by "The British North America Act, 18G7," apjiertain to the General Government, and as are or may bu allowed to the other Provinces. G. Suitable jieusions, such as shall be approved of by Her JMajesty's Government, shall be provided by the Governmeiit of the Dominion for those of ITer Majesty's servants in the Colony, whose position and emoluments dei'ivtd thei'cfrom would be atiectcd by political changes on the ailmission of this Colony into tho Dominion of (.'anada. 7. The Dominion Government shall supply an cllicient and regularly fortnightly Steam Comminiication between Victoria and San Francisco by ste.anu-rs adapted and giving facilities for the conveyance of passengers and cargo. 8. Inasmuch as no real IJnion can subsist brtwoen this Colouy and Canada without the speedy establishment of communication acro.ss th« Uocky jNIomitains by Coach Road and Railway, the Dominion shall within three years from the date of Union, oon.struct and open for traffic such Coach lioad from some jioint on the line f)f the Main Trunk lload of this Colony to Fort Garry, of similar character to the said Main Trunk Road ; and shall further engage to \ise all means in her power to complete such Railway com- munication .'it the earliest practicable date, and that Surveys to determine the ]>roper line for such Railway shall be at once commenced ; and that a sum of not less than One Million Dollars shall be ex])ended in every year, from ami after three years from the date of Union, in actually constructing the initial sections of sucli Railway from the Seaboard of British Columbia, to connect witli the Railway system of Canada. 9. The Dominion shall erect and maintain, at Victoria, a Mariiu; H(.'3])itai, and a Lunatic Asylum, either attached to the Hospital or separate, as may be considered most convenient. The Dominion shall also erect and maintain a Penitentiary, or other Principal Prison, at such place in the Colony as she may consider most suitable for that purpose. 10. Efficient Coast Mail Steam Service, in connection with the. Port Office, shall bo established and maintained by the Government of the Dominion, between Victoria and New Westminster, Nanaimo, and such other places as may require such Servicus. 11. Whatever encouragement, advantages, and protection are afforded by the Dominion Government to the Fisheries of iiny of its Provinces, shall bo extended in similar proportion to Biitish Columbia, according to its recpiirements for the time being. 12. British Columbia shall participate, in fair proportion, in any measures which may be adopted, and Funds which may be appropriated by tlie Dominion for the en- coui'agement of Immigi-ation. 8 13. Hiitisli fV)lui»il)ia sLsill l)i' endtlod to 1)o roim'scntfil in the Senato by Four Moml)oi-.s, iUitl hy Ki^lit MciuIhts in t'lc Ifoiisi- of (-'onnnons, until the year 18 , and (hereafter tiic, Ucjinisentation in t\u' Sniatt^ ami tlie lionsc of Cuninions Hliall be increased, Hulijeet to tlie )iro\isions of " 'I'lie Jlv'tisli Nortii Anicricu Act," IHIJT. 14. Tiic Union shall take efl'ect on snch day us Her ^lajesty hy Order in Douncil (on an Address to tiiat etl'cet, in terms of the 1 Kith Section of " Tiie British North Anieriea AeL, 18n7,") may direct; and iJritish Cohnnltia may, in.siieii Address, spt-cify the Districts, Counties, or Divisions, if any. for which any of the Four Henators to whom the Colony shall Ite entitled shall he !i:>nic-d — ,tlie K'ectoral Districts for which — and the time within which the first Klectiou of Memhers to serve in the J louse of Commons shall take place. l-"), The (Jonstitulion of the Kxecuti\(' authority and of the Lej^'islatnre uf J^ritish Columhia shall, sultject to the jtrovisions of " Tha Ihitish Nortli America Act, 18(i7," continue as exi.stin}^ at the time of I'nion, until altered under tlie authority of the said Act. lli. The Provisions in •' The liritish Noi-tli America Act, I8ti7," shall (except those ])arts thereof which are in terms made?, or liy reasonai>le intendnu'nt may l)e held to be s[K;cialIy ajiplicahle to and only alfect one and not the wlioh; of the Provinces now cora- jirisin;^ the Dominion, and except so far as tlu* sanu- may be varieil liy this Resolution) be applicable to ih-itish Columbia in the same way and to the like ext(Mit as thry ajiply to tiie other Provinces of the Dominion, aiid as if the Colony of British Columbia had been one of the Provinces oi'iginally united liy the said Act. With reference to Defences : — f(. That it shall be an nnderstandin*; Avith the Dominion, that their inilueuce will be used to the fullest extent to procure the coutin\ied maintenance of the Naval Station ut Esipiimalt. h. Encouragement to be given to develoj) the efficiency and organization of tho Volunteer Force in Dritish Colund)ia. Wfiat the Local Government })i'ov!(/e for. Legislative Council. S cts. 900 00 Colonial Secretary 13,104 00 Treasurer. 4,712 00 Lands and Works 11,178 UO Registrar 4,850 00 Attorney General 3,4,33 00 Keep of Prisoners, Ac...". 31,.")28 50 Magistrates .33,678 00 Pensions fiOfi 25 Charitable Allowances 10,500 00 Education 10,000 00 Rent 1,000 00 Works and Buildings 9,000 00 Roads. &.C 59,300 00 Miscellaneous : 13,220 00 Immigration 5,000 00 What Local Covernnient lias to pay for . $21 2,009 75 * 9 Charges of which the Dominion relievu u$. Governor „, * *-'t8. ^ , . . Customs 23,952 00 ^l^-^i^O Au.litor l»--'2 r.O - i^'- Judicial . 4,l:i7 00 -— ♦■ High Sheriff '22,'m 00 -kA Postal .".'.' l.'''f^f^ 00 - •>»««• *Uh^ . Light Houses ." 38,800 00 := ^14 q .xva Sinking Fund ..W P'-"0 00 _ Interest on Debt. . . inS'^^'^ ^^ \<' '^''***' *^// '^ **- Government Vessels I'Ml^ ^^ ''^ <^t^K^ '/«..v './las' '. '. '. \ [ [ [ '. \ " '. '. ". '. ; ; ; '. ; ; ' ; j^'goo II Domimontakes . ' Ti^oolo Local Kevenuf> fox B. C, for 1870 537,750 00 Local Revenue left 15.1,050 00 Subsidies by the Dominion Government. slTdy '":'"' ^'^ ''''''' ^^^^*-*« 96,000 00 Interest on ^lifference'of debt;'at"5'per''cent'"::;;::;:;::::::::::^ 82,000 S2 213,000 00 sSaJbrootsr™ "" "' "■' "--o- w^o ^ 213,000 00 Total Revenue ' ' B. c. Government hayoniy^'proVidearpr^sent:::::::::::::::::;::: 21^^ ?6 Balance in favor of British Columbia for Local Lnprovements 152,040 26 ll>3 10 liecajjitulation: $ cts. Revenue of British Columbia for 1870 537,750 00 Canada takes of B. C. Kevomie 386,700 00 British Columbia Revenue left 151,050 00 Subsides given by Canada 213,000 00 Bribisli Columbia Revenue now at amis 364,050 00 Expenses of Local Government 212,009 75 Balance 152,040 25 Philip J. Hankin, Colonial Secrstary. The Ooverno)- of British Columbia to the Governor General. Government House, British Columbia, 12tli April, 1870. Sir, — Referring to my J^espatch, No. 11, of 20th February, I have the honor to forward to your F^xceilcncy the Resolution passed by the Legislative Council of this Colony on the subject of union with Canaila, with certain proposed amendments in the terms, and some supplementary i'ecommemlati(nis from the Council in respect of matters which they deem to re(iuire consid'natidu in the special circumstances of this Colony. 1 also enclose jirintvtl rv^jioi-ts >ipon the introduction of the resolution. 2. I propose to send a delegutioii to t)ttawa by the next monthly mail steamer which leaves this place for San Frnncisco, in order that they may discuss these proposals with your government, and explain the principles upon which they are framed. The delegation will be composed of one oftieiid and two non-official nieml>ers of the Council, and may be expected to arrive at Ottawa liefore the end of May. I have, (fee., (Signed), A. Musgrave. Governor General, The Rigiit Honorable Sir John Young, Bn,rt., G.C.B., G.C.M.G.. (fec.ic. Copy of a Report of o Committee of the Honorable the Privy Council, approved by Hit Excelleiicji the Governor General in Council on the 1st July, 1670. The Committee of the PriAV Council have had under consideration a Despatch dated the 7th May, 1870, from the Governor of British Columbia, together with certain I'esolutions submitted by the Go^•ernment of that colony to the Legislative Council thereof— lioth hereunto aimexed — on the subject of the proposed union of British Columbia with the Dominion of Canada ; and after sover.il interviews between them and the Honorable Messrs. Trutch, Helmeken, and Carrall, the Delegates from British Columbia, and full discussion with them of the various questions connected with that impoi'tant subject, the committee now rcs)iectfully submit for your Excellency's approval the following terms ami conditions to form the basis of a political union Iwtween British Columbia and the Douiiuion of Canada. i\ $ cts. * 17,750 00 16,700 00 il,050 00 .3,000 00 14,050 00 12,009 75 )2,040 25 IN, al Secretary. April, 1870. L) the honor to Council of this idmente in the pect of matters this Colony. 1 ilution. I steamer which proposals with The delegation icil, and may be &c., MUSGBAVE. ipproved by Hi* 170. , Despatch dated er with certain Jouncil thereof — Columbia with d the Honorable lumbia, and full ;ant subject, the following terms )lumbia and the 1. Canada shall be liable for the debts iuul liabilitiivs of Fritisli Ci>lumbia existing at the time of the union. 2. British Columbia not liaviiig iuounvJ debts tHjusil to tliosf et' the other provinces now constituting the Dominion, sliall be eutideil to rtvei\e bv huU'veaily pavment* in adrance from the Genenil Government, interest s.t the n.te of live per eent. per anuviui, on the difference between the aetual auu>unt of I*s indebtedness at the date <>i tlu> union, and the indebtedness per head of the pojmlation ot" Nova Seotia ;uid New lirunswiek ($27.77), the population of British Colnmbia l>ein>4 uiken :U i"0,000. 3. The following sums shall be paiil by Cauatla to lu'ltisli Cuhnnbia for tlie support of its Government and Ifgislaturo, to wit, an auiuial subsidy y^( ■■^;?'>,OlH), and au annual grant eipial to 80 cents per head of the s;\ld populatimi of 1)0,000, both halfyearly in advance, such grant of 80 cents per liead to be augin-'nted in p.Mpoition to ilu^ iiu'ieaso of population, as may be shown by each snbseipient di-ei-uniil >ensus, until ilie population amounts to 400,000, at wliieli rate s.u'li grant s!ii!| tln'iivifl,'!- n'lu.iin, it lieiiig nndoistooil that the first census shall be taken in tlie year I^.sl. 4. The Dominion will provide an eflleieiit mail service fvU't nightly by steam eem munication between Victorir. antl San I'raniisi'o, uml twiee a we^-k btii\\,-fii Vieturia an 1 Olympia, the vessels to be adapted for the eonveyaiu'e of fii-iglit and paswngei's. 5. Canada will assume and defray the eharges for tlie follow ing sciviees ; — . A. Salary of the Lieutenant ( lovernor. B. Salaries and allowances of tht; judges of tlie superinr eonrls ami the eounty or district courts. V. The charges in respect to the Department of ('n^tums. D. The postal and telegrapliie services. E. Protection and encouragement of fisheries. F. Provision for militia. G. Lighthouses, buoys and beacons, .shipwrecked crews, r|iiaraiitinc and nmriiie hospitals, including a marine hospital at V^ictoria. H. The geological survey. T. The Penitentiary. And such further charges as miiy be incident to nnd conneclod with the services whicli by the British NoHli America Act of IRGT ap))or'tain to tlie gciiend governnieul, and as are or may be allowed to th(! other provinces. 6. Suitable pensions, such aii shall b(» approved of by Ifer Majesty's (Jtivernment, shall be provided bv the Government of tlic^ Dominion for tlione of llt-r .Majesty's servants in the colony whose po.'ritish Columbia shoidd be Confederated with Canada, on tlu; following terms finil conditions ; that is to say : — 1. Canada shall be liable for the debts and lialiilities of British Columbia existing at the time of the Union. 2. Tlie population of British Columbia shall, foi- the |)urpose of financial arrangements, be estimated at 120,000. British CoUinihia not iiaving incurred debts equal to those of other Provinces now constituting the Dominion, shall be entitled to receive, by half-yearly payments, in advance, from the (leneral' CovcT'ument, interest at the rate of five per centum i)er annum, on the difi'erence between the actual amount of its iiulebtedness at the date of Union, and the [)roMortion of the Public Debt of Canada for 120,000 of the population of Canada at the time of Union. 3. The following sums shall bo annually paid by Canada to British Columbia, for tho support of the Local Oovei'iiment and Legislature, to wit : — An annual grant of $.'ii"),O0(), and a further sum, equal to 80 cents a head, ])er annum, of the population ; both payable half yearly in advance, the population of British Columbia being estimated as aforesaid at 120,000. Such grant, e, be added at the end of the Clause : — " Provided, however, that the number of Members of \hc- Senate alifill never be reduced below the number of Four, and th« number of Member* of the House of Commons below tlii.' nuiuber of Eight."'] 14. The Union shall takr; effect on siieh day as Her Majesty, by Order in Council (on an Address to tliu' "floet, in terms of tlio ilGth Section of "The British North America Act, 1807"), niiy dinvL; and British Columbia may, in such Address, -specify the (li:itrict,s, couutie.i, or divisions, if any, for which any of tlie four Senators „l. ./horn the Colony shall 1)0 entilled shall be named, the electoral districts for which, and time within whicli the first election of Members to serve in the House of Commons shall take place. 15. The constitutioTi of the Executive authority, and of the Legislature of British Columbia, shall, subject to the jtrovisions of "The British North America Act, 1867," continue as existing wt tlie time of Union, until altered under the authority of the said Act. ^'.n 15 therefrom would be to the Dominion of regular fortnightly earners adapted and ^nd Canada, without tains, by coach road of Union, construct > e Main Trunk Hoad n Trunk Road ; and •h railway communi- e the proper line for ss than One million ira from the date of : from the seaboard of « !twnn " construct " and ^| aetween Yale and New iHient is to be asked to ^ ine Hospital, and a r be considered most lier principal prison, * t purpose. Post Office, shall be !tween Victoria and ich services. le afforded by the lall be extended in for tJie time being. my measures which Dominion, for the he Senate by Four the year 18 , and s shall be increased, rted after figure* ' ' 18. "] waver, that the number ;h« number of Memben by Order in Council The British North icli Addi'esH. specify Senators ^o ./horn or wliich, and time Z!ommon8 shall take igislature of British merica Act, 1867," iithoritv of the said Ifi, The provisions in •' The British North A "ntrua Aot, lS(i7," shall (exoopt thoH© parts thereof which are in terms made, or by I'easonali'p intendment may be held to be specially applicable to i\m\ only atlet't one ami not the whele of the I'lDvinces uow com- prising the Dominion, and except so for as the same iii:iy be varied by this Ucsohition) be applicable to Bviti.sii Columbia in the same way ami tn tlie likv extent as tliev apply to the other Pro\iuees i>f the Diiuiiuioii, :;uil as if the ('.>K)ny o( Ib-itish tVihiinbia had been one of the Provinces originally uniii-d by tlu- said Aet. With reference to Defences : - (I. That it shall be an understanding with the Dcniiiiiou, tliat their intlueiuo will b« used to the fidle.st extent to procure the (.•ciitiniu'il ni,iiiit>'iu>iu-e of tlie Xa\al Station at Esquimalt. b. Encouragement to be giviii to (h'velop tlie elheieu 'y and i)rgaui/,)ition of the Volimteer Force in Briti.sh Columbia. Supplementari/ Resolutions in rr/en-iice to Vonj'tden'ntion, proposed by the Leyislative Cuuncil. liesolveJ, That in the opinion of tiiis Coniicil tli(i duties levied upon nuUtstors and brewers, under and l>y virtue of tlie Kxeisi.? Lnws of Canada, would be detriuuuital if made applicable to Brilisli ( 'olumbia. Tiiai. His h^xci-lltMiey b(( therefore earnestly recpiested to take such steps as ho may (hM-ni advisable, to liriug the sanui to the notice of the Canadian Government, and further, to tidce eare that no Mxport Duties shall ho charged on spars (exported from Hritisli Cohnubia. Resolved, That this (.'oiineil respectfully n;[)resciit to His Kxeelleiicy the («ov(u-nor, that in negotiating tlie terms of Union of I'ritisli Coliiiiil.iii with (Canada, it is of the first importance to [loiiit out to the Coverinneiit of that Doiiiiiiion, that the cireumstanees of this Colony are in many resjiects so diH'erent from those- ol' the I'lastern Provinces, that the application of the present Can.'uUan tariff to this Colony, v.hili^ rediuiing tln! aggre.gate burthen of taxation, woidd injuriously atleet the agiieultural and eoiumereial intorostH of this. Community ; and that it lie, therefore, iiigciitly impressed ii|)oii that (iovornmont, that it is absolutely necessary to our well bi;iiig under (/onfeilcration, tiiat special rates of Customs Duties and special Customs Itegulaticms lie arranged for the (!olony, in such maimer as may be found piaetieally most advisable, so as to Kcciire, while int at the foot of the eastern sIojh? of the Rocky Mountains, and that the same shall l>e free of toll of every kind whatsoever. 16 Governor Musyrave to the Governor General. (Copy— No. 20.) Government Hodse, British Columbia, 7th May, 1870. Sir, — Referring to my Despiiteh, No. 17, of the 1 2th ultimo, I have the honor to introduce to your Excelloncy's (lovcrumeut, the Honorable Jo3ej)h W. Trutch, John Sebastian Helmcken, and Robert William V7eir Carrall, Members of the Fxecutive and Legislative Councils of Uiis Colony, whom I have nominated as a Delegation to discuM with your Ministiy the terms upon whicli the Ijegislaturc of this Colony would be willing to join the Dominion of Canada, and to explain the grounds upon which those terms have been fram«d. 2. These gentlemen possess iny contideuce, and I think also the eonfidenco of the community in general, and they will he fully competent to inform you of the view* of the Local Government, and those popularly entertained upon the several questions wh''<;h may arise in conference upon the proposals which have been made. I have, (kc, His Excellency, Sir John Young, Baronet, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. (Signed,) A. MUSORAVB. Governor Muigrave to the Governor Oenerah (Copy— No. 22.) Government House, British Columbia, 27th July, 1870. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge your Excellency's despatch of the 7th July, acquainting me with the termination of the negotiations between the Delegates from this Government and the Ministers of the Dominion, and transmitting a memoi'andum embodying the ttmns of union upon which they had agreed. 2. I have much pleasure in conveying to your Excellency my opinion, that these terms are not only satisfactory but liberal to this Colony, and I believe that they are such as will be readily accepted by this community. 3. So soon as I shall have received the necessary insti'uctions from the Secretary of State with regard to the construction of the new Legislative Council, which I have recommended should be substituted for the existing body, I shall be able to take further steps towards bringing the question of Union forward in its present shape for final con- sideration and decision. I have, (fee., Governor General, The Right Honorable Sir John Young, (Signed, A. McsaaATE. I Baronet, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., &c., ftt"1i Xn in ,^P -,.i. t i stating thai, the ue-otiation.s between the Mi. istarsof i,« I , ' } n , ' *^ ^^"'y' I am nuu-h gratified to learn that the negotiations have made so ,„uch progress. I have, (kc, Gov«rnor-Genoral, (Signed,) Kimbbblby. The Right Honorable Sir , ohn Young Baronet, G.C.E., G.O.M.G., dso.', ic, 4c. A. MUSORAVK MBIA, rth July, 1870. I of the 7th July, elegates from this a memorandum inion, that these eve that they are the Secretary of lil, which I have to take further ape for final con- ^. MUSORATE. The Secretary of State for the Ooloniet to the Governor General (Copy— Canada— No. 268.) Downing Street, 13tJi October, 1870. nf fV,« l^n^^T . T"" ^^"^ ^'°'''''" *° -acknowledge the recei,,t of your^lospatch NTo ''OS I have, (fee, Governor General, The Eight Honorable Lord Lisgar, *fcc., (lesj^itcli of His E.\i:elk'inT tlio (lOvciiior tit' ihitisli (.'oluiiiiaa of the .')l1i ultimo, covoriug u [jotition from crtiiin in]i;J!ttiiut.s of VHUcoiivur Igluiid, bt?;^ leave to report : Tliiit in their o[>iuioii Governor ^lii.s'/rave shoulil be informed hy telegraph, aa ro- ((UesteJ ))y him, that the route of llr' I'aeiric Railway can only be settled after (Jon- fedei'iitiou, luid afi -r exploration and .^uvvey by the Dominion Parliament, in wliioh British Cohunbia will be; rei)ivsynt,eil. That Your Exoelleacy ha« no doubt that the interests of the whole Dominion, and Vaucouvev Island as a }iart thereof, will be fully considered in the drrisiou ; and (iait t!i ■ e.jMstruction of a liranch llailway on Vuneouvei" Island, as ii;>ived foi', (.'an then only be eonsidered. Certilied. Wm. H. Lkk, Clerk Privy Council. (Coj.y No. 31.) Mv Lord, —I havi Governor Miisijrace to the Gooernor General of Canada. GoVKKN.MEXT HoUSK, British CuLr.Miii.\, 7nh. Deeenilier, 1870. the honoi' to I'orward to Your Exeelleney a copy of a ])etition wliieli has been pi'C'^'^nt -.1 to me, signed by some .")()() residents of Yii;toriM and its neigh- boiuiiooil. 'I'he memorial ur< the etfeet that if after tlie neces.sary "surveys " for the |»ur[iose of tlio laiiway shiill iiaxct been made, it siiould be found impi'aetieable '•to brioi,' it HI pres?nt to Vaneouver Island, th(;u a railway, upon the aame terms and " eonditioil , ;is the ot'.ef ]).;rtions of the railway, shall be eojistructed between Victoria '•fuul l'].sijuiin;dt and Naiiaimo." '1. 1 al;;o entloso an e.\.traet from the '• Colonise " nowspapei', containing a report wiiieh, although iuaeeurate in s'tme [i.;rticuhirs of detail and phraseology, contains a substantially eorrect statement of wlia'. i)as.sed at the interview between the deputation who ]i!-eseiited tlie memorial and mywlf. r>. ] anne.K :' eoj)y of re-solutions rejjutly passed at a public meeting at New West- minster, wliich aie diametrically opposed to the prayer of the petition from Victoria, and I am awar.' that liios,' resolutions .are beiu':; followed up by similar action at several plaees on the lu.iiidaud. 4. 1 need seareelysay, tlierefore, tiiat tin- petition is not su])porte(l by me nor by the Council of GDvermnent, nor does it pro^'eed from an united community. I simply lay it before Your Exeellaney, as 1 pronused the De[)utation, in order that your minister,'* may form their own judgineiit npo:i its merits. 5. I sliould lie obliged, however, if I may be furnished at once with a reply by telegr:iph uiion the sul)jcet. I trust that we may count witli some confidence on carrying out the agreement on tlie terms as tliey now stand, withoutany alteration in thenew Council, as I am now iieipiainted with the result of the elections. But the agitation of questions, anf*Y;ineon\ t Tshiinl. humbly sheucth : That amongst the aiitieipatiil beiielil^; to aeenic to the Colony of Britisii Culumbia from its becoming ii part of the T)omiiiion th- Nort'i Pacific, tie lausf couvt nieni. .•uid suitable hai'bors, the chief conniKrcial (-■ity, the iai ;:;■.;■• po;'ula;ion, t!i;^ seat i>f g nei iiment, the .st.ition of Her .Majesty's lleec and proposed di"V-dock ivt Esipiimalt, e.vtensivo df posits of coal and iron, as well as other invaluable natural resources — nuist be considiavd as the most de- sirable, as it is, peihaps, the intended route foi- the pi'opoaed railway to tlie Paciii<'. ^yhilst fully convinced that Vancouvei- Island offers th<' best and most desiraMe i-outf for till' railway, we at tlie sanu'' tinia truly b."'ii'\i' it to be a perfectly ]ir;i(.'ticable one, ami the only one liy which the fullest amount of advanta;j;e can In; ;,':dn d. in ime of war as well i\< peace ; l)ut in consecjuence of the iuipeifect surveys of a iioition of liic intervening country, soiiii- now ;nil;iiown o'islach' ie.;>yye': jireN'cnt tiie iMMU'diafe cunstrueiion of the railw:i'.- thron:;h that ])articul:!r ])art of tlie route, v.\> have to ask that the in'i'tinti of the i-ailway on Vancouver island in,\y Mot on this account be d>'layed, Tliat almost all the import and export trade of the (Jolony is at present carrii d on at Victoria and Msipiimalt, the chief city of the colony, where a huv^e iunouut of ca[>ital has been iivest'^d. That a ':irge e.uniijer of her citizens and property holder?! fear that sliould the I'ailway tiu'iuinate elsewliere than on the Island, and tliere not li • any connectini,' link between Victoiia or Esquimalt and the railway, it n:ay, if our suggesaons are not ado|>ted, be the means of dis^ertii;-' the t;Md(! ar^d doing great injury aii'liniu^tie-' to the inhabitants of Vancouver j.sland witiiont, yielding tlii'in any compensating benefits. In order to cairy out our suggestions, to obviate or remote :uiv o' fstade to tlu? im- mediate confirmation of Union, and to promote the best interests and pros])ei'ity of the Dominion, as also those of British Columbia, we huiiddy jirav tliat the ibllowiu.:;' niav l><; If, iurcr 11 in necess.'.rv >surveys for the pur])ose inserted in the teiins '.f Union, namely " of a luilway shall hav-^ h.i::n made, it lie Ibund impi-acticable lo bring it at ))ieseiit to " Vancouver Island, then a rr.llway upon the same tei'ms and conditions as the other ])or- " tion of the railway .'iliali be construetcHl bjtweon Victori.i, Jilsouimidf. and Xanaimo.'' And we respectfully pi'ay that Your E.Kcelhmcy will place youis 'If in immediate com- municatiofi with the GoA'crnment of Ctuiada, to learn whether tiie Dominion Govei'imient will accept the above afldition as part of the terms of Confederation : and we fuither hope that Your Excellency will support the prayer of this [)etition. And, as in dutv bound, we will ever pi'ay, &c. ? (Signed,) \ A. Bcsster, Charijcs Hmallwood, W. C. Lawson-, liOBT. Hl!'KS, W. ETTKKSJtANi;, ^ Vj. Ri'Tiii:uKi);:!i, With .)!") otiKMr. MUSOKAVE. so ' The Ralhpny Tcriitimia Petition. — Tfie Deputation nt Government House. Yostorrlrtv movninp at ll.ri(> n.ni., M<:rpenl)lv' to apiioiutnient, !Mr. Henry Nathan, junior, (iiifinlx'i rayin^' that His Exoellency would transmit tho docn- monttothc ('anaiiiaii ('ovornMonr with his fav(.iaMo rcconimondation. The petition asljs for a <:uarante(' of tiie construction of a line of railroad irom Victoria to Esquimalt, as a jiart of tlie terni.s of Oonfedeiation, and has already ap])oared in these columns. Mr. Nathan liavinsj; read the petition, His Excelliiicy .saiii it Uiif;!it have the elfect of indclinitely postponing Confederation. Already he had rccei^ed i)etitions and reKolutions from residents of New Westminster and other jdaces on this very subject, and more were coniiuf!;. The teiuiinus was for engineers and surveyors to select. If the exijiencies of trade re(|uired the terminus to come to Vancouver T.sland. it would he so brought ; but no nutn living could toll what dfficulties would have to be overcome in its constmction. Tlie Canadian Ministry had undertaken a great work ; but no terms of union could make this Island a practicable terminus unless it were declared so from an engineei-ing point of \iew. The petition appeared to His Excellency to be iii some re.spects ridiculous, not to say greedy. Why not leave the matter with the engineers, for surely the Canadian Government liave no interest in placing the terminus at any but the most advantageous s]tot. Only the other day (His Excellency continued) I learned fi-om the C^anadian Government that th« terms arranged niusi be ailliMcd to, and that they should l)o amended by us, the Canadian Goveinment would claim the same right to amend, and commence tlie negotiations t/ie 7tnvo. You a]i])ear to think Canada will be glad to get us. Admitted, but they will not give us any better terms. Newfoundland lield out for better terms : has it got them 1 No ; and it will not. For myself, I am umazeri at the concessions that have granted by the Canadian Goveinment, and were it stipulated tli;\t thi.s road should bo brought across the Straits, it nnght not be built at all. Now, I think this petition should be withdrawn. Mr. Natlian — It is nut in cur power to withdraw it. His Excellency — I do not think i can send it on I .should have to exercise my discretion. I should have to say that wliich would do it no good. You can't drive ti'aflic into a particular channel by stipulation ; but if found advantageous you may be sure the line will be brought to the Island. Ml-. Norris showed that it was between this port and Nanaimo ami Burrard Inlet that nearly all the disasters to shipping had occurred. However, the Canadian Govern- ment might at least guaraniee the line between Victoria and Nanaimo. His Excellency— That will stand upon its own nun-its ; but my opinion is that a bi.anch woidd not pay without through traffic. Mr. Norris — T'iiere is always great difficulty in getting coal down from Nanaima foi H. M. ships. His Excellency— That j)oint has great force, and will, no doubt, be taken into con- sideration ; but I cannot send on this petition, coming as it does from only a portion of the community. Mr. Fell pointed out the*material advantages that would flow from making Esqui- malt the terminus. His Excellency said that nothing could prevent Esquimalt being a good harbor and being used as sucli. iNIr. Fell thought this the time to point out our wants or grievances. The petition did not seek to stay Confederation ; it sought only to point out certaih advantges which we i)ossessed, with a view to their adoj)tion by the Canadian Government and the good of the whole colony. His >'xcelloucy — If we attempt to add a ryder to the tenns they may be defeated. There will be opposition to them in any event in the Canadian Parliament, and the 21 nment House. Mr. ITenry Nnthan, e, Ml'. J. 11. Turner, ]\Ir. J. G. Non-iH, itiun signed liy 550 1 1 tntiismit tiio docu- iitioii. Tlie petition ictoriii to Esquimalt, tliusd coliimu.s. lonini; Coniederntion. of Ni'w Westminster le tcruiinub Avas for iired tlie terminus to ing could toll what niiulian IMinistry had Isliuid a practicable ■ \ iew. The petition ) Kiiy greedy. Why lovernrncnt have no ]>ot. Only the other inuent thivt th» terms [ liy us, the Canadian the uegotiiitinns de. ted, but they will not • terms : has it got Duccssions that have it tlii.s road shoukl bo ' think this petition liive to exercise my ou can't drive traffic you may be aiu'e the 10 am! Burraid Inlet e Canadian Govern- lO. my opinion is that a loAvn from Nanaima | it, be taken into eon- n only a portion of from making Esqui- ig a good harbor and mces. The petition aih advantges which rnment and the good >y may be defeated. Parliament, and the * strongest argument the Cmindinn MiuLstiy eiuih! uige would le tlint lliey iiad l)een already ncceptod by I'riti.'ili Coliiinbia. !•" ntni'ii'Ied, cwry cImusc wduld Ik- diHcu.ssed 'again by PiuliiuiKiit. Mr. Nalliau said iliiit llie Cruiadiini (rtvernnieiit was not askfd to luidije tlie '.Straits- it w.is on'y nrske I to guaninK'e a railway to Nanai!::o. His Kxci'Ili'iicy — 'i'liat Is ii diil'ercnt t!iiu,c;. It is a fresli tkcd to transmit it, because he would 1 e I (ur.d to .ay it, w.ns not a (o.iVeinii:eut le.rasure. uini that it was m Ithe interest of a section and not of ll:e whole colony. Mr. Turner said the iietitiou did not i'u|uir»^ the ttinis to be reopened. ]Mi-. Nathan thought that the interests of A' i(toiia were tlie interests of the whole [colony, lieiause thiee-f(,uiths oi'the capital and p(;prlatie returned 'oefore tlie Leuishdive Council should meet. His Excellency replied thai heMa.s sure the Canadian (jovernnieiit would refuse the request ; but if put in the way just sta.ed, ho wou'd forward it and leave thu Canadian Government to fona its oA\n coiiclusion.s. Keniarks wevj made by Dr. Tidiuic, ^Ir. XatLnn, Mr. Xor; if. f;n': 3[r. Feli, to the effect that the jieople believed it wise to iiress for the Nanaimo road 1 lov tlu' consumma- tion of union. His J'lxeellcncy i;d\anced it us his deliberate opinion that the petition was ksl ^ime, and, to a certain extent, undignified. He would certainly send it on and tell the Canadian Government that it was not tlie wisili of the entire community ; iait why did not the deputation send it tlieiuseives '< If it went through his liaiu's h. must say that it is not a Crovernnient measure, and that it is sectional in its bearing. Mr. Nathan urged tlio wealth and influeuee of Victoria as a i>'a.son why the prayer should be granted. His i'lxccdlency said the wealth of Victmia Was nothing wlieii ocinpared witli the luoney that will lie expended on the road. Perhaps it would 1.-^ belter for Canada to buy the whole tiling out and tlius overcome the difricultx. A desultory conversation ensued as to the effect the rail\\ay would have iqion the colony at large. 33 VI Dr. Tuzo Iiiivins^ mentioned the fact that piirtios interested in property on tho Lowe Frnscr arc nuw 111 Cnnailii, cndi'uvdriiij,' t(i tlx tho t'Mininus at tlicir own section, Hi' Exr«llii\(V said tint tiii! ^'u^J,'l■H ot' the (':i.sc idis would have a i,'n at deal more to Hiiy (.: that jiuint tlmn iinyon(> else. His K-M-vllouey added that' liaviiiy " cluarud ids couscionco he would forward tlio document. Mr, Natluui K\iL,'j,'('sted tliat au answer .slioidd be got before liic IFouse meetH, .so th;r tho pa^:iage of ilu' tornis might 'ii« ("acilitiitod. Mr. Fell thousiht there wcic many wlio iniijlit oppose Confederation, if the tcrminu, WHS not ;-ecin'ed for- the Island. Dr. Tiixo — ^'ery few. ' Mr. Xorris — Not over a dozen in the whole city. His I''xeelleney quite understood that if some persons' irons were not wurined In Confederation, that they would try to ihfeat tho whole scheme. Mr. Fell and Mr. Nathan tlK)ui,dit there would i)e nmcli less chance of popular dis- content il' liie ternuuus wei>' secured f.ir tin: Island licfore Confi'deration. His Kxcellency — I don't know that. You wouhl sow the seeds of perennial discon tent on tjie mainland. After some further reniai'k.s, tiie deputation took their leave of His Excellency. (Copy.) liMoJitflona jinsned liri', That we. the inhaliitants of New Westmin.ster. most .strongly deprecate the ai^itation at present carried on by thi; jieople and '■ press" of A''ictoria, regarding thf location of the ter-nimis of the Transcontinental Hallway. 'J'liat wf believe iht; same to be hurtful to the cause of Confederation, and at thi' same time tending to create a sectional feeling, wliii'h at this important ei)0cli in the his- tory of tlie colony oiight not to exist. J'rsolrvd, That tlieactlon of the '"press" and p; of the people of Victoria in assuming that Victoria or Esijuimalt should be tlie terminus tin railway is not justified by either her geograjihical or commercial position, or sustainiKl by the people of the colony 'en- erally. Jlcsolml, That wc are perfectly satistied with the terms of Confederation as arranged by our delegate*, feiling sure that the Valley of the Eraser presents such natural ad- vanta'jes for the route of the Transcontinental Railway as will not be overlooked. /t'enolred, 'J'hat aUlnough tills meeting would willingly forward tlu^ eon.struetion of any r;iilro.ul likely to de benetleial" to the interests of any ] rtion of the colony, yet they must I'espectfully btit strongly ui"p:e upon His Excellency the Governor not to sanction the action of the poojile of Victoria, as. if successful, it would, in the opinion of this meeting, tenrl to delay Confederation and misrepresent the feelings and opinions of the colony generally. (Signed,) W. J. Armstrong, Chairman. » C. J. Major, ' Secretary. ( i or alii ha '0 mi mi Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honorable the Privy Couneil, approved try His \ Excellency the Governor-Genend in Council on the 7th January, 1871. The Conmiittee of Council liave had imder consideration a Despatch, No. 30, dated 22nd November, 1870, from Governor Musgrave, of British Columbia, submitting the propriety, in the erent of th(» union of that colony with Canada, of insuring j)en8ions to certain of the officers now in the service of Biitish Columbia. , flS propprty on tlio Lowi Iii'ir own section, Il;i rat lU'iil more to Hiiy o! flenred IiIh conacionpp [Q House meetH, so tlm 'ration, if tlio torminii. i-i .vere not wnnnrd \<\ liiance of popular dis ration. lis of jjorcnnial fliscoii f His Excellency. I'|i:>v Imve :\Iho jia'l liefoif tlioni an ixtrant frmn tjif M T^easirv Hi'iir^i, liclil on the 1th .fanu.iry iii«t,iiit, iu which tl ''\l Mic Duminion may eu<,'ii;,'c i-itli'T to rotain the followin liitions or {i(juivftl«'nt (Hics, di- to I'raiit iIkiii ji'MnioMS filial It rianltiiat'iits, viz.-- 'I'ho ( 'oniiiiissioiitM' of Lands .Ui'l Works, The Collciloi' of ('\istoii!s, ^ 'I'ho Awlitov (IcMii'ial, ami The six ISti|ici;diarv Mui;i>*tratps. Tjiat as to the Colonial Sccri'taiy and thf Aliorury (iciii!! HI if iiidthcr the Imperial (lovi'iniiicnt nor tlmt of the Don. inutes of a nip»'tini; of th« r lloui'd htatt' ilif ir upiiuon '.' ortict'i-N in thfir piosent to two thirdii of thi'i.' pro- al, tilt; J>(;aril are of ojunion inion can prtjvid« lor them ital'h.' uniploytnont otlicrv.i.s •, a siniilaf jionsion may I'o f,'uai,inteod to tliciii. HM and ini'onvenit'iicf from df a yi'ar'.s salary l)e paid That the Hoard also tliiidc tiiRt in coiisidcratinn of the i I office of (rovernin' ccasin;Lj upon llie inuoii wiiii Canathi, I JGovei-nor Musgrave. I The ('Ommittee (!oiu'wr in th.' \ icws I'xpv.'ssod In' the It they be comraunicated liy Yoni Excellency to the rioven Certitied. rreasuiy Uoard, and advise lor of British Columbia. Wm. H. Lee, Clerk Privv Council. '.shnhister, oh Novemht' jBopy — No. 30.) nost .strongly deprecate rietoria, regarding the ifederation, and at the rtant epoch in the his- >f Victoria in a.ssuming not j ustified by either »))le of the colony 'on- ifederation as arranged nts such natural ad- be overlooked. tile construction of f the colony, yet they :»rnor not to sanction iu the opinion of this and opinions of the Armstrono, Chairman. Major, Secretary. (iovKiiNMiAT iTot;.si;, British Columuia, 22nd Novendier, 1870. leil, approved hy Hix uary, 1811, ipatchj No. 30, dated [mbia, submitting the insuring j)ensiou8 to Mt IjOKO, — In your lettei' to nu^ of the 7th .July, trauhinittin;.; the terms of agree- [ent between the iMinisters of Liie Doniiniou and llie dele^aies from British Columbia the propose I ualon iilil,v all be displaced, except, perhaps, Jlr. Hmulpy, the Oolleelor of Ciistunis, whow services T tliinlc your Government will very likely 'no glad to iviaiii, and who, I 'oelieve, will uuube liuwiiling to scrvp under them ;\v yomo sli,:;ht iucvoase to his ])resent salary, which is ri -w six Imiidred and fifty (,£051)). aud ivii^udit fairly he increased to ei.dit iuuidrcd pounds ( t^OO). That amount ia only equivalent in viJue here to about four linndred po'andf: ( Zl'-M) in Canadii. •1. I\Ir. Trut.'h ^sould, 1 believe, not i)0 unwillini; to Irdce iui i:ppo!atm9iit from I'.e Canadian GoveniuiCiC ctpial in value lo i'iw one he now helds. I re,.;ar',l him as being an able public servant, who would lie a valuable aecprisition Lo anv adniinistralioa, and I should think that it nii.iiht )iuc he impo;>.'.ibl.' to hud an aj'iioiniuieni; wliich may be a'-- ceptable to him. Probal)Iy Mr. Ker, the Auditor (Tei.erai, may. in o manner, bo suited with employnuuit under the Governmeni; of the l^ominiou wiiieh will leave him in no worse position than the one ho now occujue.s. There will then remain tlio Colonial Secretary and the Attorney (biiei-al, for wliom it will i)e far mun^ dilhcult to ])rovide, and for whom jiensions v,ou!;l l)e ue'Oes.sary, unless the Seerelary of Stale should tind it possible to afford satisfactory emidoymeiat for them in .some other colony. 5. The Stipendiary Magistrate;; form another class of olHcei's who, notwithstanding their value, would almost certainly lie disturbed in their ai)j)ointmeuti on the intLoductioii of responsible government. These ^Magistrates are not only Justices of the Peace, but County Court Judges. Indian Agents, Assistant Commissioners of Lands and Wbrks, Collectors of Revenue in the idtieient departments of tiie pub!i„- sjrvice at the several stations hundre Is of miles ajnirt and in very extensive districts. I think that these ap- pointments are sintjularly well filled, ;iiid T i-eganl th" successful administration of this Govcramoi\i, aiiJ the romar^..ii)ie nuxiuteiiance of law and oixle:-, as compared with the neighbouring territories, as raainly due to the services of th(!se oliicers. G. As the supri'me goviaiiment of tlie colony, as Vioil as t!u! administration of all affairs relating to tli3 Indian tribes, will i-est witli the Doiiiinion, I regard it as of the greatest importance to th(^ tranquility of the Province ;'.nd the success of the Union, that these officers shotdd be offici.ns of the Dominion, and not 1)0 transferred to the control or caprice of local pai ty government, who, through mistaken moti^'es oi economy, by the substitution of un])aLd irresponsible magistrates, or some such jiolicy, might entail upon the Government at Ottawa an amount of troubhi and cx])euse not easily to be computed. 7. I proposi-, therefore, that these oilicei-s should be officers of the Pominion, as they naturally would lie in their character of County (.'ourt Jui!;.;es and Indian Agents. The (juestic/u ma.' arise whether it is desii-able they should aiiy longer discharge other duties which will he within the jurisdiction of the Local Govornment. But if it should not be thought obiec:ional)lc to unite rorvice to the Loc.d Government to responsibility to the Federal authority, they might continue to render aid under the direction of the Lieutenant-Governor-ln-Chief in the administration of local affairs, as they do now in the I business of the Lands and Works, thcs Ooliectlon of th:* Revenue, and other miscellaneoui duties. But I would have th an paid by Canada, and not amjnable to the control of the Local Administration, e.Kcept through the J^ieutenant Governoi', representing the centrals authority. j 8. This being conceded, I should seek {"or ;u# aviu.aue^' ..o tjiese oificers from the! (lovernmeut of the Dominion, that their npiKuntmenis vill be cojisidered permanent and that in thcf evenc of any organic chau^-e in olUcial arrangements, they v, ill either be| j)rovidi'd with a[ii)ointments of oijmd \alue, or allowed to retire on pcr.sions of two-thirdsj of thei'' pres>'nt emolunraits, which may be cstimateil in each case as live hundred poundsl (£500) per annum, though in sume instances an extra allowance has been made on! account of the greater expense of Using in distant districts. 9. As regards the subordinate oihcers in Public Departments, I assume that thoy^ will cont'nue to hold their [iresent posts, whether the officers to which they belong shoulu' be transferred to tlie Dominion, or remain under the administration of the Local Govern- ment. 26 , class apart, of whom hf. (lisplaced, except, iu!w your Government willing to KorvK under sJM liuiidred and fiftr )(!). Tliiit amount ia in (Jajiii'lii. ippoiutingnt from t'.e .•;.;ar!l him ns boinj,' an ulaijni.'^traiioji. und I ■ut wliicli may be a ■- e manner, \ ot economy, Ijy the ix, might entail upon a:;iiy to be computed. of the Porainion, as j and Indian Agents. anger discharge other nt. But if it should iicut to responsibility the direction of the is they do now in the 1 oth.M- Aiiscellaneoui to tho control of the n-esenting the central ; pse oQieei's from the! jjisidered permanent is, they will either he| iLvuiions of two-thirdsi ive hundred poundsl 3 has been made on| i, 1 assume that thoyj li they belong shoulu • of the Local Govern- i 10. Uunder the arrangements which I have sketched, if the Colonial Secretary and Attorney Genei'al can be provided for, I think it probable that the Canadian Government mav be relieved from any present necessity for the payment of pensions. But. 1 regard it as absolutely necessary that the provision of pensions sliovild be made, at the rate of two-thirds the present amount of salary as security to tho oficers concerned, that they will not be allowed to go without either employmant or pension. It will be easy to pro- vide that the pensions shall not be drawn in cases wiiere the claimants accept suitable i employment. 11. T think it very important that the arrangements in respect of the whole of this : question, should early be placed iipon a satisfactory basis. It i.s my duty to l>ear testi- imony to tlic loyalty and good feeling with which I have been supi'orted by the official j body in carrying out a policy which they could not but be aware entailed some risk to \ them as regards their personal interests, and it is not unnatural that tho subjeet should I continue to cause some uneasiness and anxiety. I hftve, dbc., (SigQ«d,) A. McsoKATi. j His Excellency \ The Right HonorabU Lord Lisgar, Sk,, itc, dec. (Copy.— No. 35.) Government House, Beitish Columbia, 23rd January, 1871. Mv r.ORD, — 1 have the honor to forward for the Liformation of Your Lordshii)'s advisers, printed copies of an Address to the Queen, which has been ))assed by tho uuaniujous vote of the Legislative Council, praying that Her Ma,)esty will be pleased, under tlio provisions of the l-tGth section of the British North Amei-ica Act, to admit British Columbia into tlie Dominion of Canada on the basis of the terms and conditions offered to this Colony by the Government of the Dominion of Canada therein set foi'th. 2. jMr. Trutch, who is already known to Your Lordshij)'s Governmen,t as one of the Delegates who conferred with tUem upon this subjeet Last year, will proceed to Ottawa next month for the purpose of aiibi'diiig any details of information which may \>e recjuired during the pa'^sage of the proposed corrospauding Address through the Canada Parliament; and nlso to adjust such matters of arrangements between the two Governments as it may be ueeeasaiy to settle before the declaration of Union. I have, ifec, (Signed,) A. MuaoRAVK. Ttie Bight Honorable The Lord Lisgar, G. C. B., G. 0. M. G., (Sec. dec. To th» Qtieen'a Most ExetUent iimjatty. Mow Gracious SovEREroN : We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Members of the Legislative Council of Britisii Columbia in Council assembled, humbly approach Your Majesty for the purpose of repi*esonting : — That; during the last Session o( tVia la^p Legislative Council, tho subject of the admission of the Colony of British Columbia into tho U^nion or Dominion of Canada waa taken into consideration, and a 'Resolution on the subjeot was agraed to, embodyiug tha terms upon which it wHi proposed that this OoI'Tiy .ihould antwr i)M Uaiov ; 18-4 26 That, after the close of the Session, Delegates were sent by the Government of this Colony to Canada, to confor with the Goveriiinont of the Dominion with respect to the admission of British Columbia into tlic IJiiioii upon the terms proposed ; That, after cousiilerable discussion by the Delegates with the Members of the Govern- ment of the Dominion of Canaila, the Terms and Conditions hereinafter specified were adopted by a Committee of the Privy Council of Canada, and were by them reported to the Governor General for his approval ; That such Terms were communicated to the Government of this Colony by tht Governor General of Canada, in a Despatch dated July 7th, 1870, and are as follows : — 1. Canada shall be liable foi- the Debts and Liabilities of British Columbia existing at the time of the Union. 2. British Columbia not having incuned debts equal to those of the other Provincw now constituting the Dominion shall be entitled to receive, by half-yearly payments in advance from the General Governmont, Interest at the rate of five per cent, per annum on the difference between the actual amount of its indebtedness at the date of the Union, and the indebtedness \)er head of the poi)nlation of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick ($37"77), the popvilation of British Columbia being taken at 60,000. 3. Tha following sums shall be paid by Canada to British Columbia, for the support of its Govornnieut untl Legislature, to wit, an Annual Subsidy of $35,000 and an Annual Grant equal to 80 cents yiev head of the said j>opulatiou of 00,000, both half-yearly in advance, such Grant of 80 cents jier l'.>ad to be augmented in proportion to the increase of population, as may Ivj shtwn l)y ca'jii subsequent decennial oensus, until the population amounts to 400,000, at wjiich rate such Grant shall thereafter remahi, it beuig understood that the first census be taken in the \'ear 1881. 4. The Dominion will jirovido an efficient Mail Service, fortnightly, by steam communication between Victoria and San Francisco, and twice a week between Victoria and Olympia ; the Vessels to be adapted lor the conveyance of freight and passengers. 5. Canada will assume and defray xhe charges for the following Services : — A. Salary of the Lieutenant Governor ; B. Salaries and Allowances of the Judges of the Superior Courts and the County or District Courts ; C. The charges in resjject to the Department of Customs ; D. The Postal and Telegi-aphic Services ; E. Protection and Encouragement of Fishe'ies ; Provision for the Militia ; Lighthouses, Buoys, and Beacons, Shipwrecked Crews, Quarantine and Marine Hospitals, including a Marine Hospital at Victoria ; The Geological Survey ; The Penitentiary ; And such further chai-ges as may bo incident to and connected with the servicei which by the British North America Act of 1867 appertain to the Oeneral Government, and as are or may be allowed to the other Provincei. 6. Suitable Pensions, such as shall be approved of by Her Majesty's GtoTemment, shall be provided by the Government of the Dominion for those of Her Majesty** Servants in the Colony whose position and emoluments derived therefrom would b« affected by Political changes oi the admission of British Columbia into the Dominion of Canada. 7. It is agreed that the existing Customs Tariff and Excise Duties shall continue in force in British Columbia until the Railway from the Pacific Coast and the system of Railways in Canada are oonnecced, unless the Legislature of British Columbia should soon*r decide to accept the Tariff and Excise Laws of Canada. When Customs and Excise Duties are, at the time of the Union of British Columbia with Canada, leviabl* oa any Goods, Wares, or M*rohandiros in British Columbia, or in the other ProviaceB of the Dominion, those Goods, Warfis, and Merchandises may, from and after ike Union, F. G. H. L 27 Government of this with respect to the d; bers of the Govern- lafter specified were hem reported to the his Colony by th« 1870, and are as Columbia existing bhe other Provincts yearly payments in iv cent, per annvm date of the Union, ,d New Brunswick bia, for the support OOO and an Annual both half-yearly in tion to the increase mtil the population it being understood tnightly, by steam k between Victoria and passengers, ervices : — rts and the County rantine and Marine 1 with the servicei ain to the Oeneral Provinces. [sty's Goremme&t, )f Her Majestj's ^refrom would be the Dominion of shall continue in md the system of Columbia should Then Customs and Canada, leviable other ProrijiceB after tiie Union, be imported into British Columbia from the Piovinces now compoaing the Dominion, or from either of those Provincos into British Columbia, on proof of payment of the Customs or Excise Duties leviable thereun in ilic Province of Expoitatioii, and on payment of such further amount (if any) of Customs or Excise Duties as wvo leviable thereon in the Province of Importation. Tliis .inangemeut to have no force oi- effect jrfter the assimilation of the Tariff and Excise Duties of British Columbia ■\viili those of vthe Dominion. 8. British Columbia thall be entitled 1o be represented in tlie Senate by Three lembera, and l>y Six Members in the House oi' Commons. The representation to be jcreased under the provisions of the " Britisli North America Act, IStiT." 9. The influence of the Dominion Government will l>e used to secure the continued Maintenance of the Naval Station at Esquimalt. % 10. The provisions of the " Britisli Noi-th America Act, 1807." shall (except tliose irts thereof which are in terms nuule, or l)y r.-asoniiblo iutendnieiit may be held to be [jially applicable to and only affect one and not the whole of the Provinces now comprising ie Dominion, and except so far as tli<' same naiy 1 e varied by tliis Jlinute) be applicable British Columbia, in the same way and to the like extent as they ajiply to the other Provinces of the Dominion, and as if tlie Colony of British Columbia had been one of the provinces originally united by the .'aid Act. 11. The Government of the Dominion undertake to secure the commencement simul- taneously, within tM-o years from the date of the I'nion, of the construttion of a Railway from the Pacific towards the Rocky ^rouuiains, anil from such jioint as may b" selected. East of the Jlocky Mountains, towards the Pacific, to connect the Seaboard of Uritish Columbia with the Railway system of Canada ; and t'ui'tliei', to secuir thf eom])letion oi' such Railway within ten yeaivs from tin- date of th(^ l/nion. And the Government of British Columbia agree to convey to the Dominion iGovernment, in trust, to be a]iproi)riated in such manner as the Dominion (lO^■ernment |may deem advisable in furtherance of the construction of the said llailway, a similar ^extent of Public Lands alon;:j the line of Railway throughout its eniiri' length in British ;CoIuml)ia, not to exceed however Twenty (20) Miles on each side of said line, as may be appropriated for the same purj)ose by the Dominion Government fiom the Public Lands |,in the North West Territories and the Piovince of Manitoba. ?ro\ ided that th(^ quantity (of land which may be held under the Pre-emption right or by Crown Grant within the limits of the tract of laud in British Columbia to be so conveyed to the Dominion Govern- ment shall be made good to the Dominion from contiguous Public Lands : and provided further, that until the commencement, within two veai's as idbrc^saitl from the date of the i Union, of the construction of the said Railway, the Government of British Columbia Ishall not sell or alienate any fiu'ther j'ortions of the Public Lands (if Biitish Columbia lin any other way than under right of Pre-emption, ivq\iiring actiial residence of the Pre- Icmptor on the land claimed by him. In consideration of the land to be so conveyed in aid iof the construction of the said Railway, the Dominion tJoverunK'Ut agree to pay to ITiritish Columbia, from the date of the Union, the smn of $100,000 jk r annum, in hnlf- lyearly payments in advance. 12. The Dominion Government shall guarantee the interest for ten years from the late of the completion of the works, at the rate of five per centum per annum, on such bum, not exceeding £100,000 sterling, as may be required for the construction of a first plass graving dock at Esquimalt. 13. The charge of the Indians, and the tnistecship and management of the lands eaerved for their use and benefit, shall be assumed by the Dominion Government, and policy as liberal as that hitherto jmrsued by the British Columbia Government shall continued by the Dominion Government after the union. To carry out such policy, tracts of land of such extent as it has hitherto l»een the practice of the British Columbia Government to appi'opriate for that piu-pose, shall from |ime to time be conveyed by the Local Government to the Dominion Government in £>8t for the use and benefit of the Indians on application of th« Dominion Govemment ; 38 and in case of disagreement between the t-wo Governments respecting the quantity of such tracts of land to he so granted, the matter bIirII he referred for the decision of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 14. The constitution of thc^ Executive Authority and of the Legislature of British Columbia shall, subject to tlio piovisioiiR of tho 'British North Ameiica Act, 1867," continue as existing at tlie time of the uniun until altered under the authority of the said Act, it lieing at tlie same time understood that the Governmeit of the Dominion will readily consent to the introihiction of responsible government -..'hen desired by the inhabitants of British Columbia, and it being likewise understood thf.i it is the intention of the Govei-nor of British Columbia, under the authority of the Secretory of State for the (Colonies, to amend the existing Constitution of tlio Legislature by providing that a majority of its Members shall bo elective. The union sluill take eifect ivccordiug to tho foregoing terni.s and conditions on such day as Her Majesty by and with the advice of Her Most liouoralilo Privy Council may appoint (on addresses from the Legislature of tlie Colony of British Columbin, and of the Houses of I'arliaiuent of Canada, in tiio terms of the liGth section o'.' tho ''British North Americii Act, 18G7,") raid British Columbia may in to ts address specify the serve in the House of electoral districts for which the first election of Members Commons shall take place. That such terms liave j>rovrd generally acceptable to the people of this Colony ; That this council is, therefore, willing to enter into union Avitli the Dominion of Canada upon such teruis, and lincnbly submit that, under th" circumstances, it is expedient that the admission of this Colony into such union, as aforesaid, slundd bo effected at as early a date us may bo found practicable under the yn-ovision^j of the l-iGth section of the "British North Aniorici Act, 18G7." We, therefore, humlily pray that Your Majeri'ty will bo graciously pleased, by and with the advice of Yum- ]\[ajesty's Most Honorabb". Pi ivy Cnnnoil, under the ]>rovisions of the 146th s^'otion of Iho "British North America Act, 1867," to ndiuit British Columbia into the Union or Doniiiiion of Canada on th.'' 'oaiis of the terms and conditions offered to thi.'^ Colony by the Government of the Dominion of Canada, hereinbefore set forth ; and, inasniucii as by the said terms British (!olumb!;i is eniiioweicd in its Address to specify the electoral districts for which the first election of ilombcsrs to S3rve in the House of CouiQions shall take place, we humbly [)ray that .such electoral districts may be declared under the Order in Council to be as follows : — That '' New Westminster District" and the " Coast District." as defined in a puVilic notice issue ! from the Lauds and Works OiBce on the L5th day of Decenii)er. 1869, by the d(!sire of the Governor, and jairporting to be in accordance with the provisions of tho 39th clause of tho " jMineral Ordinance, 1869," sliall constitute one district, to be designated " New Westminster District," and return C)ne Membei' ; That "t'aril'oo District" and " Lillooet District," as specified in the said public notice, shall constitute one district, to be designated " Cariboo District," and return One IMember; That "Yale District" and "Kootenay District," as ispecitied in the said public notice, shall constitute one district, to be designated "Yale District," and return One Member ; That those portions of Vancouver Island known as " Victoria District," " Esquiraalt District," and " ]Metchosin District," as defined in the oftloial maps of those districts in the Land Office, Victoria, and which maps ai'e designated raspecti^'ely " Victoria District Official Map, 1858," " Esquimalt District Official Map, 1858," and " Metchosin District Official j\Ia]), A.D., 1858," shall constitute one district, to be designated " Victoria District," and return Two Members. And, that all the remainder of Vancouver Island, ami all such islands adjacent thereto, a.s were formerly dependencies of tho lato Colony of Vancouver Island, ahall constitute one district, to be designated " Y^ancouver Island District," and return One Member. I I 99 g the quantity of ;he decision of the islaturo of British ieii <-'-^'-''i^ I -" doubt that Parliament will consider any proposition made by you, vnth a desire to mee ymir views as much as it properly can. j .x , j^h (lesire ro met t (Signed,) Lisgau. S s i K o § 51 00 s I ^. 00