Colonial Despatches

As the Act for the Government of British Columbia will expire at the end of the present Session of Parliament, I think it necessary to inform you of the course which it is my intention to pursue with respect to the future administration of that Colony.

I shall in the first placepropose propose to Parliament a Bill continuing the present Act for another year and annexing to British Columbia what is at present the Stickeen territory.

I shall also submit to Her Majesty an Order in Council constituting a Legislative Council in British Columbia in pursuance of the 3rd Section of the Act of 22 Victoria Cap 99. The power of nominating the Members of this Council will in the first instance be vested in the Governor: but I wish it to be so exercised as to constitute a partially representative body capable of making the wishes of thecommunity community felt and calculated to pave the way for a more formal if not a larger introduction of the representative element. I shall of course make you more fully acquainted with my views in this respect hereafter. But I think it best to communicate to you confidentially the draft of an Order in Council which I have caused to be prepared, but which may possibly be altered in some of its details before it is finally passed.