Colonial Despatches

In my confidential dispatch of the 1st of this month I informed you that in the opinion of Her Majestys Government the moment had not arrived for considering the establishment of a separate government in the British Territories North of British Columbia, but that I should address you again respecting the mode of providing for the temporary administration of justice in those Territories.

I enclose an Order in Council which has been passed for that purpose, with copies of the Acts of Parliament on which, as you will see by the recitals, that Order in Council is founded.

The order provides that the Territories in which you anticipate the discovery of gold in large quantities shall constitute the "Stikin" or "Stickeen Territories", that the government of these Territories shall be administered by the Governor for the time being of British Columbia with power to appoint and suspend judges and justices of the Peace, to pardon offenders and to exercise other functions of government,especially especially that of making regulations for the disposal of land and occupation of the gold fields, in respect of which he will be able to levy a revenue by way of fees.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia will take cognizance of all suits, actions and prosecutions in respect of matters arising within the Stikin territories; trying all such cases by the Law of England so far as the Law is applicable to the circumstances of the country. Cases of Minor importance, however, may be tried by Justices of the Peace, whose proceedings are to be regulated by general rules laid down by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

I anticipate that these powers, the extent of which you will learn more precisely from an examination of the Order in Council, will enable you to deal satisfactorily with any amount of population by which these territories at present are likely to be occupied. If this should not be the case, you will of course report to me any difficulties in which you may find yourself involved and I shall be glad to receive, with your report, such suggestions as may occur to you respecting the most effectual mode of dealing with those difficulties.