Colonial Despatches

My predecessor appointed a Legislative Council to last for one year; from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 1864. The Indian rebellion and many other causes have compelled me to depart considerably in the expenditure of the Revenue from the Appropriation made by Ordinance in the beginning of the year. I purposecalling calling the Legislature together in December to pass the Supplementary Estimates and an Auxiliary Appropriation Act. I found myself therefore in the dilemma of having the December Session carried on by a Council which would be replaced in January unless I reappointed the Board as constituted by Sir James Douglas. The Council I found in existence did not I believe command the full confidence of the people, I therefore relieved myself of all further embarrassment by dissolving it.

2. I have made the following appointments, subject to your pleasure.The
The Colonial Secretary
The Treasurer
The Attorney General
The Collector of Customs I should have added, The Acting Surveyor General, but that Captain Holmes has departed for Honduras. The Office is now in abeyance.

3. I have appointed the undermentioned Magistrates
Mr Chartres Brew of New Westminster
Mr Peter O'Reilly of Cariboo
Mr Henry Maynard Ball of Lytton to represent the interests of the People on the Yale-Lytton line of road. I have chosen Mr Andrew Charles Elliott, of Lillooet, inthe the place of Mr Nind of Douglas, as Official representative of the Douglas-Lillooet District. Mr Nind so little satisfied my predecessor that he was ordered to remain at his post during the last Session. Mr Elliott is a lawyer of considerable acquirements and, I believe, will be an acquisition to the New Council. He is at present personally unknown to me. The management of the new Gold mines recently discovered near the Kootenay River in the Rocky Mountains and the facilitating of access to them will be among the mostimportant important measures which I shall bring before the Council in January. I have, therefore, gladly availed myself of the Services in the Council of Mr John Carmichael Haynes, who, you will observe in Mr Birch's report enclosed in my despatch No. 71 of the 25th instant, has managed admirably in the establishment of law and order among the miners. Mr Haynes supersedes Mr Sanders of Yale. The last named Gentleman is an excellent public Officer, but the interests of Yale and Lytton are so nearly identical that theycan can safely be left to the management of Mr Ball. Mr Haynes is, like Mr Elliott, at present unknown to me.

4. The people of New Westminster have recommended me to reappoint Mr Joshua Attwood Reynolds Homer, and Douglas and Lillooet, by a large majority replace Mr Henry Holbrook's name before me. The district of Cariboo East, has chosen Mr George Anthony Walkem, a Canadian Barrister, to represent them in the place of Mr Orr. Yale and Lytton have selected Mr Clement Francis Cornwall, an English barrister, in the place of Mr Smith. These four Gentlemen recommended by the people have been appointed by me.

5. In Cariboo West, Mr Walter Moberley has been chosen in preference to the former Member of Council, Dr Black, but the latter Gentleman has just sent me in a petition, praying that I will not appoint Mr Moberley on the ground of his having been adjudicated a Bankrupt in Vancouver Island in 1863. The matter is under my consideration. I have asked for information respecting Mr Moberley's bankruptcy, but if, as I believe, he was an honest but unfortunate speculator, in a Country where all speculate, I shall appoint him during your pleasure.

6. The Appointments I havemade made are to continue in force, unless disallowed by the Secretary of State, until the 1st of May 1866.

7. I have summoned the Council to meet on the 12th of December for the despatch of business.