Early in 
1868
               
               
               
                     
                     In Sepr 1867?
                     
                     
               
               
               my predecessor 
Mr Seymour applied for authority
               which was accorded him, to appoint two unofficial members of the
               Executive Council, and on the opening of the last Session of the
               Legislature at the end of
the
 the year he intimated to them his
               intention to make such appointments; but for some unexplained
               reason they were never made.
               
               2.  I observe that the authority has been continued in the Royal
               Instructions accompanying my Commission, and I think it very
               desirable to have the assistance in the Council of two Members
               who are not paid servants of the Crown, particularly with
respect
               respect to the question of the Union of this Colony with the
               Dominion of Canada which must become a prominent subject for
               discussion during the ensuing Session.
               
               3.  I have therefore appointed, provisionally and until Her
               Majesty's pleasure shall be known, the Honble 
John
                  Sebastian Helmcken, and 
William Weir Carrall to be Members of
               the Executive Council.  
Mr Helmcken is
perhaps
 perhaps the oldest and
               most influential among the Members of the Legislature for
               
Vancouver's Island, being selected by the District of 
Victoria;
               and 
Mr Carrall is the representative of the Mining District of
               
Cariboo looked upon as the most important on the Mainland, and I
               regard him as being in other respects the most eligible Member
               to represent that section of
the
 the Colony.