N u m b . 1.

The G overnm ent G azette.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Vol. X. VICTORIA, JANUARY 7 t h , 1871: [Price 12 1/2 cents.

3. Any applications to the Trustees, to permit any T able of Contents. Grave to be dug in the Cemetery, may be made to the Cemetery Keeper, and the fee payable to the PAGE. Trustees for permitting such Grave to be dug, may Colonial Secretary’s Department. Notice respecting a Fog-Bell at Race Rock ...... 2 be paid to such Keeper. Rules and Regulations of Victoria Cemetery...... 1 4. When such fee is paid, it shall be the duty of Registrar General. the Cemetery Keeper to dig and close the Grave in Respecting the issue of Crown Grants to Vancouver Coal Min­ accordance with the instructions of the Trustees for ing Company, Limited...... 3 the time being, for which service he shall receive Supreme Court. from the Trustees the sum of Five Dollars. Bankruptcy Notice...... 2 In re the Queen Charlotte Coal Mining Co., Limited...... 3 5. Applications for permitting Vaults to be made, Stipendiary Magistrate. or Monuments or Tombstones to be erected or placed Reward—Incendiarism—$500...... 3 in the Cemetery, must be made direct to the Trustees, Lands and Works Department. but may be handed to the Cemetery Keeper to bring Reserving a tract of land at Baynes Sound...... 2 before the Trustees at their next meeting. Reserving a tract of land at Skidegate Bay...... 2 Reserving a tract of Land at Gambier Island, Howe Sound... 2 6. When such applications are granted, payment Reserving a tract of land on Moresby Island...... 2 may be made to the Cemetery Keeper. Respecting the issue of Crown Grants ...... 2 Reserving a tract of land at Naas River ...... 2 7. The Cemetery Keeper shall, upon receipt of Respecting the payment of Surveyed Lands in V. I ...... 2 any money, lodge the same in some Chartered Gold Commissioner’s Notice. Bank, to be named by the Trustees, to the credit of Laying over C laim s...... 3 the Trustees, deducting only his own fee of Five General Post Office. Dollars for each Grave dug and closed. Unclaimed Letters, Victoria Post Office...... 3 8. The Cemetery Keeper shall, at the end of every Common Schools. Respecting. Grants to Common Schools for 1871...... 3 month, furnish to each of the Trustees a statement of all money received and expended by him; and he Legislative Council. shall keep a Register Book of all Graves heretofore Governor’s Opening Speech...... 6 or hereafter dug in the Cemetery, designating each Audit Office. Comparative Statements of Revenue and Expenditure, 1869 4 by some distinguishing number. 9. On payment of the proper fee, the Trustees shall give to every person on whose behalf any Grave has Colonial Secretary's Department. or shall have been dug, a Certificate in the following form: This is to certify that A . B., and his representa­ Colonial Secretary’s O ffice, tives for ever (in consideration of the payment of the 12th December, 1870. sum of Ten Dollars, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged) is and are entitled to the sole use and HE GOVERNOR directs it to be notified that the possession of that piece of ground in the Victoria T following Rules and Regulations made by the Cemetery, measuring and numbered Trustees of the Victoria Cemetery, in pursuance of in the Register Book. the “ Cemetery Ordinance, 1870,” have been submit­ ted to him, pursuant to the provisions in that behalf of Dated, this day of , A . D. 18 . Section V. of the said Ordinance, and are hereby C. D. Trustees published for general information. E. F. of the By Command. G. H. Victoria Cemetery. PHILIP J. HANKIN.

Scale of Fees made by the T r u s t e e s o f t h e RULES AND REGULATIONS OF Victoria Cemetery, in pursuance of the VICTORIA CEMETERY. “ Cemetery Ordinance, 1870.”

1. An Officer shall be appointed by the Trustees, For permitting any Grave to be dug therein...$ 7 50 to be called the Cemetery Keeper, to take charge of the Cemetery and, generally, under the directions of For permitting any Vault to be made not ex­ the Trustees, to do and perform all such acts, matters ceeding 8 ft. x 10 ft., including Certificate of and things as the Trustees are authorized under the Title ...... 25 00 “ Cemetery Ordinance, 1780,” to cause to be done For permitting any Vault to be made, not ex­ and performed. ceeding 16ft. x 20ft., including Certificate.. 50 00 2. The Cemetery Keeper may be dismissed at any For permitting any Monument or Tombstone time by the majority of the Trustees for the time to be erected or placed therein...... 5 00 being, and a new Keeper appointed in his place by the like authority. For every Certificate of Title to any Grave...... 10 00 2 THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. [J a n u a r y 7 t h , 1871

Supreme Court. L ands and Works Department. In the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

IN BANKRUPTCY. PUBLIC NOTICE.

In re JOHN GOODACRE, a Bankrupt. OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that all the land at W ednesday, 21st of December, 1870. N Baynes Sound, Vancouver Island, lying between HE Bankrupt having this day passed his second the Reservations established by notices in the examination before his Lordship the Chief Jus­ G o v e r n m e n t G a z e t t e , dated respectively March 20th Ttice, will come up on his application for his Certifi­and May 1st, 1868, is reserved until further notice. cate on Wednesday, the 18th day of January next, at 12 o ’ clock noon. By Command. ROBERT BISHOP, JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. Solicitor to Trade Assignee. Lands & Works Office, Victoria, September 25th, 1868.

L a n d s and Works Department. PUBLIC NOTICE. PUBLIC NOTICE.

OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Crown Grants of all Surveyed Lands in the former Colony of OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a tract of NVancouver Island and its Dependencies (excepting land, being the peninsula between Mudge Har­ only those in Victoria District) as well as on the Nbour and Mitchell Harbour, in Port Kuper, Moresby Mainland of British Columbia, the purchase money Island, one of the Queen Charlotte group, and bound­ for which has been fully paid, will on proper applica­ ed as follows, viz.:— commencing at the mouth of a tion for the same, be at once issued. certain stream at the South-east end of Mitchell Such Crown Grants will be made out invariably Harbour, and running thence North, 26° East, across in the names of the original purchasers from Govern­ said peninsula, to the South-east end of Mudge Har­ ment, unless in such special cases as are provided for bour ; thence North-westward, following the Western under the “ Crown Grants Ordinance, 1870.” shore of Mudge Harbour round Mitchell Point, at the Applications must be made by letter, addressed to North-west extremity of said peninsula ; and thence the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works and South-eastward, along the Eastern shore of Mitchell Surveyor General, giving the Christian and Surnames, Harbour, to the point of commencement, is hereby in full, of the Persons to whom the Crown Grants are reserved for two years from this date. to be made, and enclosing the receipts for the pur­ chase money of the Land referred to. By Command. Should it be inconvenient for the Person in whose JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. name any such Crown Grant is made, to receive the Lands and Works Office, same at this Office, it will be handed to any Agent Victoria, July 15th, 1869 duly authorized by some Instrument in writing to give a receipt for the same. JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. Lands & Works Office, PUBLIC NOTICE. Victoria, Dec. 16th, 1870.

PUBLIC NOTICE. LL PERSONS in occupation of Surveyed Lands A in the undermentioned Districts, viz:— N O TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the tract of Esquim alt, Quam ichan, land, 20,000 acres in extent, situated on the M etchosin, Som enos, south shore of Skidegate Bay, Queen Charlotte Island, Sooke, Com iaken, formerly held under prospecting right by the Seymour Kennedy, Chemainus, Coal Company, is again reserved until further notice. H ighland, Cedar, Lake, Cranberry, By Command. North Saanich, M ountain, JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. South Saanich, Nanaim o, Lands and Works Dept., Shawnigan, C om ox, Victoria, August 7th, 1868. Cowichan, the right to purchase which Lands is legally held by them by Pre-emption Record under the “ Vancouver PUBLIC NOTICE. Island Land Proclamations of 1861 and 1862,” which Records were made prior to the 1st January, 1870, OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Five Hundred are hereby required to pay into this Office the amount Acres of Land, situated at the extremity of the of the Instalments due thereon, on or before the 31st Nsouth-west peninsula of Gambier Island, Howe Sound,March, next ensuing. is reserved until further notice. By Command. By Command. JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. Lands and Works Office, Lands and Works Office, Victoria, A pril 6th, 1869 Victoria, B. C., 9th December, 1870.

PUBLIC NOTICE. Colonial Secretary.

N OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a tract of Land Colonial Secretary’s O ffice, containing about 4,000 acres, situated on the December 1st, 1870. North or right bank of Naas River, at its junction with Observatory Inlet, and extending from said HE GOVERNOR directs it to be notified that a Observatory Inlet about six miles up the Naas River, FOG-BELL has been placed in position on the and about a mile back from the said North or right RaceT Rock, in the Straits of Fuca, and will be used bank of said River, is reserved until farther notice. on and after this date as occasion may require. By Command. JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. By Command. Lands and Works Office, P h i l i p j . h a n k i n , Victoria, Sept. 1st, 1869. Colonial Secretary. Jan u ar y 7th , 1871.] THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 3

Johnson, C P S p e n c e , J S tipendiary Magistrate. Johnson, Mrs P L Spencer, J Kem per, A Stirling, G Colony of British Columbia and its Knudsen, O S Throme, Mr Dependencies. Koyle, W B V erjee, J K yle, T F To W it :— V ance, T K ing, J Waldron, R M HEREAS there is reason to believe that, on Lindsay, J 2 W ood , R W Friday evening, the first day of October, A.D. L aw ler, J W atson, E 1869, Christ Cathedral, at Victoria, was maliciously Lafrenier, A B W aller, D set on fire, A REWARD OF $500 is hereby offered Leanna, G W alker, R for such information as will lead to the apprehension Lam b, A W a h l, W and conviction of any person or persons concerned in Meynider, F W atson, R the said outrage. Mills, D By Command. A. F. PEMBERTON, S. M. REGISTERED. Jackson, D Walters, H Ackland, R L McEarchern, J Supreme Court. HENRY WOOTTON, In the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Postmaster.

IN CHANCERY. Registrar G eneral. In the matter of the Companies’ Act, 1862, and of the Companies' Ordi­ nance, 1869, and of the Queen Char­ NOTICE. lotte Coal Mining Company Limited. “ Crown Grants Ordinance, 1870.” Y an order made by the Honourable the Chief B Justice of British Columbia in the above matter, dated the 31st day of October, 1870, on the Petition OTICE i s HEREBY GIVEN that I shall, in ac­ of Charles Edward Redfern, of Dallas Street, in the cordance with the provisions of the “ Crown City of Victoria, Jeweller, a Contributary, it was NGrants Ordinance, 1870,” and at the expiration of ordered that the voluntary winding up of the said Three months from the date hereof, recommend the Queen Charlotte Coal Mining Company be continued, issue of Crown Grants to the Vancouver Coal Mining but subject to the supervision of this Court, and any and Land Company, Limited, of the following pieces of the proceedings under the said voluntary winding of land, viz.:— Section 13. Range IV up may be adopted as the Judge shall think fit, and 13., V the Creditors, Contributors, and Liquidators of the said Company, and other persons interested, are to 1 7 IV 1 7 be at liberty to apply to the Judge at Chambers, as V 18 IV there may be occasion. 18 V DRAKE, JACKSON, & AIKMAN, and the eastern half of 13 III Solicitors for the Petitioner. according to the Official Map of the Cedar District, unless objection be made to me in writing in the meantime against the issue thereof. General Post Office, E. GRAHAM ALSTON, Land Registry Office, Registrar General. 5th Oct., 1870. UNCLAIMED LETTERS

IN VICTORIA POST OFFICE, G old Commissioner.

O c t o b e r , 1870.

NOTICE. Allen, A Miller, Miss S Aaron, M M ayo, G E Adam s, S Malone, J W N AND AFTER the 1st November, 1870, all Agusterson, J M orrell, P Mining Claims in the District of Cariboo are Armstrong, Mrs W J 2 M olina, A herebyO laid over until the 20th May, 1871. M oore, F X Byrn, J H. M. BALL, M cKay, G Bechtel, J S 2 Assistant Gold Commissioner. Brown, Mrs H M cW hay, A Brown, H McPherson, J Baranovich, V McAlister J Baker, Mary McKenzie, G Common Schools. Clark, J B Norman, W L 3 Clark, E E 3 Nilan, Mrs M Clark, Mrs B 2 Napier, A Crigin, J Phillips, G PUBLIC NOTICE. Colan, J Parker, T Cloak, Miss Porter, W W Doland J P ercy, E COMMON SCHOOLS. Douglas, Miss J Petherick, G Davis, J C M Petterson, P EFORE any portion of the Government Grant Dunn, Mr R eed, W N B for the year 1871 can be paid to any Local Davies, Mrs S W Reed, C L School Board, it is necessary that information be Emerson, E Rees, Mr given to the Inspector of the amount required for the Evans, Mrs S Rees, J support of each School for the year (beyond the Evans, Mr Rees, R Government Grant), and of the amount likely to be Feigh, J 2 Reid, G raised by Local Tax, Tuition Fees, or Subscription, Graves, J Scott, J as the case may b e ; and the Secretary of each School Hindriksson, J Sterk, F 2 Board is hereby requested to furnish such information Hughes, H Seger, Miss E as early as possible. Haslam, D Scott, W E. GRAHAM ALSTON, Janner, D S a v o y , A December 16th, 1870. Inspector of Schools. 4 THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. [Ja n u a r y 7t h . 1871.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

RECAPITULATION OF THE ABSTRACTS OF RECAPITULATION OF THE ABSTRACTS OF REVENUE RECEIVED DURING 1869. PAYMENTS MADE DURING 1869.

H e a d s o f R e v e n u e . HEADS OF EXPENDITURE.

Balances in hand 1st January, 1869 $ 16,057 04 E stablishments :— Customs ...... 344,577 34 Salaries, Fixed...... $151,697 69 Port and Harbour Dues...... 12,100 98 Allowances...... 1,260 66 Roads’ Tolls...... 47,512 14 Office Contingencies...... 2,093 59 E xcise D uties...... 4,215 76 Land S a le s ...... 1,354 50 $155,051 94 Land Revenue ...... 4,662 70 Pensions, &c...... 9,020 93 Rents, Exclusive of Land .. 1,640 25 Revenue Services, ex. of E ... 2,748 17 Free Miners’ Certificates ... 9,940 00 Administration of Justice, do. 8,233 99 Mining Receipts General... 12,740 12 Charitable Allowances...... 11,326 25 L ic e n c e s ...... 40,358 93 Education...... 5,577 69 P o s ta g e ...... 12,569 91 Police and Gaols, ex. of E ... 16,715 44 Fines, Forfeitures, and Fees R ent...... 868 46 o f Court ...... 5,824 56 Transport...... 10,926 22 Fees o f O ffice ...... 4,534 40 Conveyance of M ails...... 33,239 88 Sale of Gov’t Property...... 2,545 28 Works and Buildings ...... 12,385 71 Reimbursements in aid, &c. 17,822 83 Roads, Streets, and Bridges. 49,601 35 Miscellaneous Receipts...... 981 26 Miscellaneous Services...... 33,946 94 Arrears Real Estate Tax, V.I. 241 82 Interest ...... 102,082 41 R oad T a x ...... 4,871 45 Drawbacks & refund of duties 1 962 18 Government Vessels...... 16,388 50 Lighthouses ...... 10,206 76

T o t a l C o l o n i a l R e v e n u e $528,494 23 T o t a l C o l o n i a l E x p e n d i t u r e ...... $480,282 82

Deposits ...... 2,771 19 Sinking Fund ...... 29,948 75 Real Estate Tax Redemption, late V. I. 158 63 Temporary Loans...... 5,308 05 V ictoria City T ax ...... 26 30 Deposits...... 1,049 86 Indian Reserve Fund...... 1,984 82 Real Estate Tax Redemption, late V . I 25 62 Drafts between Stations...... 30,124 65 Drafts between Stations...... 27,540 40 Remittances between Chests ...... 47,355 77 Remittances between C h ests...... 48,303 25 Advances accounted for ...... 39,988 45 Advances to be accounted for ...... 40,456 97 Remittances to Crown Agents accounted Remittances to Crown Agents to be ac­ fo r ...... 100,568 01 counted f o r ...... 152,665 99 Commissioners of Savings Banks account 41,000 00 Account Current, Bank of B. C ...... 432,254 83 Account Current Bank of B. C ...... 411,936 51 Home Government Account...... 15,314 67 Home Governm ent a c co u n t...... 24,010 21 Over payments to be recovered...... 707 57 Over payments recovered ...... 689 08 Balances in h a n d ...... 11,306 11

T o t a l ...... $1,245,164 89 T o t a l ...... $1,245,164 89

ROBERT KER, Audit Office, 1st June, 1870. Auditor General.

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of the ESTIMATED REVENUE of BRITISH COLUMBIA for the Year 1869, and the REVENUE RECEIVED in that Year, as shewn by the Accounts made up

from 1 s t J a n u a r y to 31 st D e c e m b e r , 1869.

Estim ated R even u e Arrears of R evenu e. received . previous years. T o tal.

Customs, including Port and Harbour Dues...... $ 400,000 00 356,678 32 356,678 32 Roads’ Tolls ...... 65,000 00 47,512 14 47,512 14 Excise Duties...... 5,000 00 4,215 76 4,215 76 Land Sales ...... 5,000 00 1,354 50 1,354 50 Land R e v e n u e ...... 5,000 00 4,662 70 4,662 70 Rents, exclusive of Land ...... 2,000 00 1,640 25 1,640 25 Free Miners’ Certificates...... 12,000 00 9,940 00 9,940 00 Mining Receipts G eneral...... 18,000 00 12,740 12 12,740 12 L ic e n c e s ...... 50,000 00 40,358 93 40 358 93 P o sta g e ...... 13,000 00 12,569 91 12,569 91 Fines, Forfeitures, and Fees o f Court...... 5,000 00 5,824 56 5,824 56 Fees o f O ffice...... 4,000 00 4,534 40 4 534 40 Sale o f Government Property...... 2,000 00 2,545 28 2,545 28 Reimbursements in aid of Expenses incurred ...... 13,000 00 15,215 25 2,607 58 17,822 83 Miscellaneous R eceipts...... 1,000 00 857 76 123 50 981 26 Arrears, Real Estate Tax, Vancouver Island...... 2,000 00 241 82 241 82 R oad Tax ...... 4,871 45 4,871 45

T o t a l ...... $ 602,000 00 525,763 15 2,731 08 528,494 23

$528,494 23 J a n u a r y 7th , 1871] THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 5

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of the ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE of BRITISH COLUMBIA for the Year 1869, and the ACTUAL EXPENDITURE of the Year, as taken from the Accounts made up from 1st J a n u a r y to 31st D e c e m b e r , 1869,

E stim ated A ctual Expenditure Arrears of Expenditure otal as Voted T . 1869. previous years. 1869.

C i v i l E stablishments : C row n Officers and other Salaries as provide dfor byActs$ Crown Officers and other Salaries as providedfor 51,167 50 50,243 95 5,052 08 55,296 03 G overnor...... 2,613 12 2,318 47 61 12 2,379 59 Legislative Council...... 1,247 20 962 17 284 95 1,247 12 Colonial S ecre ta ry ...... 9,451 25 9,422 03 27 25 9,449 28 Treasurer ...... 4,552 00 4,552 00 4,552 00 A uditor G en era l...... 5,077 00 4,410 29 4,410 29 Chief Commissioner of Lands & Works &c...... 4,348 00 4,248 92 4,248 92 C u stom s...... 14,741 62 12,757 06 921 62 13,678 68 Registrar General...... 810 00 759 93 25 00 784 93 Harbour Master...... 1,940 00 161 66 161 66 Post Office...... 4,060 04 3,692 54 305 00 3,997 54 J u d i c i a l E stablishments : Supreme Court...... 3,452 00 3,451 92 3,451 92 A ttorney G en era l...... 1,008 00 1,008 00 1,008 00 High S h e riff...... 1,760 66 1,000 00 260 66 1,260 66 P o l i c e E stablishments ...... 17,720 19 15,553 91 413 69 15,967 60 Gold, and Assistant Gold Commissioners, & c ...... 36,445 14 30,138 78 3,279 14 33,417 92

T otal E stablishments...... $ 160,393 72 144,681 63 10,630 51 155,312 14 Pensions, Retired Allowances, &c...... 9,505 97 9,020 93 9,020 93 Revenue Services, exclusive of Establishments...... 2,468 67 2,418 17 330 00 2,748 17 Administration of Justice, Do. Do...... 8,233 99 7,899 08 334 91 8,233 99 Charitable Allowances...... 11,667 25 11,227 25 99 00 11,326 25 Education, exclusive o f Establishments...... 10,376 00 5,201 69 376 00 5,577 69 Police and Gaols, Do. Do...... 16,587 19 14,177 49 2,537 05 16,714 54 Rent 1,135 83 787 63 80 83 868 46 T ra n sp ort...... 11,789 97 9,597 09 1,329 13 10,926 22 Conveyance o f Mails...... 35,169 75 32,230 13 1,009 75 33,239 88 W orks and B u ild in gs...... 14,309 93 10,635 10 1,750 61 12,385 71 Roads, Streets, and Bridges...... 62,718 22 49,383 13 218 22 49,601 35 Miscellaneous Services...... 36,274 09 32,381 75 1,581 01 33,962 76 Interest ...... 102,009 66 99,767 66 1,863 70 101,631 36 Drawbacks and Refunds, &c...... 2,358 84 1,959 58 2 60 1,962 18 Governm ent V essels...... 21,863 25 15,002 82 1,385 68 16,388 50 Lighthouses 11,133 11 9,813 66 393 10 10,206 76 Immigration 1,940 00 1,940 00 1,940 00

T otal Colonial Expenditure...... $ 519,935 44 458,124 79 23,922 10 482,046 89 Sinking Fund 50,197 50 46,317 50 46,317 50 Temporary Loans ...... 100,000 00 5,308 05 5,308 05 Deposits ...... 1,049 86 1,049 86 1,049 86

T otals...... $ 671,182 80 510,800 20 23,922 10 534,722 30

$534,722 30

Voted for the Service of the Year...... $671,182 80 Sums issued during the Year...... 534,722 30

Saved and unexpended...... $136,460 50

N o t e . — The Comparative Statements include the transactions of the Crown Agents in London for the whole year. ROBERT KER, Audit Office, Sept. 27th, 1870. Auditor General.

STATEMENT of the ASSETS and LIABILITIES of the BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT, whether in the Colony or elsewhere, as ascertained on 31st D e c e m b e r , 1869.

a s s e t s . liabilities .

Advances unaccounted for...... $ 2,405 12 Treasury Notes in circulation...... $ 38 80 Balances in hand...... 11,916 44 Roads’ Loans...... 1,164,000 00 Amount invested on account of Sinking Temporary Loans ...... 318,042 04 Fund ...... 374,938 95 Deposits, Intestate and other Estates... 13,919 17 Balance due by Municipal Council, Vic­ Amount due the Imperial Government toria...... 3,451 96 on San Juan Military, and Imperial Over payments to be recovered, sa y ...... 600 00 Pension Accounts...... 6,991 50 Real Estate Tax Redemption...... 2,713 64 Balance due Crown Agents...... 895 56

$ 396,026 11 $1,503,887 07

JOHN GRAHAM, In Charge of Treasury, ROBERT KER, September 27th, 1870. Auditor General. 6 THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. [J a n u a r y 7 t h , 1871.

will be necessary for the purpose of establishing the Legislative Council. requisite legal machinery for a change in the form of the Executive Council, as well as of the Legislative SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY Body as would be necessary, which cannot prudently be effected without some delay ; and more details require THE GOVERNOR to be settled than persons unacquainted with the working of the system would expect. But, if your AT THE Honorable House should be deliberately of opinion OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, that this change is expedient, and that it will not be wiser to leave it for more leisurely consideration Victoria, January 5th, 1871. after Union I shall, after the adoption of the proposed Terms of Union with Canada, be prepared to intro­ duce for your consideration a Bill to enlarge the Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen o f the Honourable Legis­ number of popular Representatives, excluding nomi­ lative Council: nated Members from the Council, so as to enable a It affords me great pleasure to be able to meet you new Legislative Body and the form of administration in person at the commencement of this most import­ known as Responsible. Government to come into ant Session of the Legislature of the Colony ; and I operation at the first Session of the Legislature sub­ do so with especial satisfaction at a time when your sequently to the Union. body has been so reconstituted as to confer the The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the advantage of legal representation upon the Con­ ensuing year shall be promptly laid before you. In stituencies of the several Electoral Districts. the preparation of these I have endeavoured to avoid In my Address to the late Legislative Council at any expenditure that can, without injury, be post­ its last Session, I pledged myself to recommend to poned. In the state of transition through which the the Secretary of State such a modification of the then Colony is now passing to a different system of existing Constitution as to allow the majority of the administration, it is obviously desirable not to Members of the Legislative Body to be formally undertake services of novelty or magnitude, or to elected ; and my suggestion has been approved and disturb existing arrangements. carried into effect. The Representative Members of I have been acquainted by the Secretary of State, your Body have been chosen with a full knowledge that Her Majesty’s Government no longer regard it of the people of the community of the intention that as necessary that the Accounts of the Colony should to you shall be confided the final decision upon the be transmitted to England for Audit, and I have been great question of the expediency and conditions of required to report on the character of the precautions the proposed Union of British Columbia with the that may be taken to ensure that the local audit Dominion o f Canada. shall be conducted promptly, honestly, and without At the close of the last Session, I acquainted the any influence on the part of the Executive. Council that I should send a Delegation to Ottawa, It may not be desirable at present, having reference to lay before the Government of Canada the Resolu­ to impending political measures, to make any im­ tions which have been adopted by that Council on mediate change in the existing system of audit which the subject of Confederation, to explain our views I believe to be complete of its kind; but I recommend and wants, and to learn how far the wants and ex­ you to appoint a Committee to enquire into and report pectations of the people of this Colony could be upon that system, with a view to its simplification, fulfilled in any arrangement for Union. The result which I think may probably be effected after Confed­ of that mission has already been communicated to eration with Canada. the Public ; but I shall now lay before you formally Previously to my arrival in the Colony a List of the Report of the Privy Council of Canada upon the taxes and sums due on Real Estate was in course of subject, which has been transmitted to me by Lord preparation by the direction of my Predecessor, under Lisgar. The terms of Union embodied in that the provisions of the Fifth Section of the “ Tax Sales Minute, which the Government of Canada is prepared Repeal Ordinance, 1867.” to support in the Parliament of the Dominion, are, On the Publication of this List, many complaints I believe, as liberal as this Colony can equitably have been made of erroneous charges, and of the expect. Indeed, in some respects the arrangements hardship arising in many instances from the arrears agreed upon are more advantageous to us than the which should have been paid by previous owners, Scheme originally proposed. I submit them to you and which were presumed to have been liquidated, in full confidence that you will join with me in this now falling as a charge upon the land in the possession conclusion ; and I recommend to you at once to pass of other Proprietors. The whole subject is a com­ an Address to Her Majesty, in accordance with the plicated one not yet cleared from a confusion which provisions of the “ British North America Act, 1867,” gave rise to the Tax Repeal Ordinance itself, praying for admission into the Union, on those terms under which this list has been prepared. I shall and conditions. I have reason for believing that the cause a Bill to be submitted to you for the purpose of Community at large desire this course, and no minor giving me authority to appoint a Commission to issues or local interests, which may quite as well be enquire into objections to these claims for Arrears of considered and protected hereafter, ought to be Taxes, with power to the Governor, on the Report of allowed to hinder the progress of the arrangements the Commissioners, to remit the liability in cases likely to be beneficial to the Colony in general. where it should equitably be removed. The agreement proposed contains the condition I have appointed a Commission to examine into the that the existing Tariff and Excise Duties shall be state of the Laws of the Colony, and to prepare an continued in force in British Columbia until the Act to repeal obsolete and useless enactments, which intended Railway from the Pacific Coast and the I hope to be able to submit to you during this Session systems of Railways in Canada are connected, unless with a view to the publication of a revised edition of the Legislature of this Colony shall sooner decide to the Laws of the Colony as they stand at the time of accept the Tariff and Excise Laws of Canada. This Union, which may be readily accessible to all classes alternative will therefore form a separate question for o f the Community. your consideration, but it need not in any manner Beyond the subjects which I have mentioned, I do affect the adoption of the terms of agreement as they not now find it necessary to present any to your con­ stand. sideration. Our business during this Session is especially to deal with the great question of Union It is also provided that the Constitution of the Executive authority, and of the Legislature of British with Canada, which in greater or less degree must Colombia shall, subject to the provisions of the affect every Department of Public Affairs. To this “ British North America Act, 1867,” continue as most important matter I am sure that you will give existing at the time of Union, until altered under the your ready and earnest attention. At no time in the authority of the said Act; but it is also expressly history of this Colony has any Legislative Body, stated, as understood, that the Government of Canada whether of the Mainland or Vancouver Island, been will readily consent to the introduction of Responsi­ occupied with considerations of greater moment than ble Government when desired by the inhabitants of those which now demand your solicitude, and which British Columbia. I am aware that a very general must so deeply affect the future progress of the opinion prevails in favor of the adoption of this form Province. In every subject of public interest, but of administration for the Local Government on Con­ especially in one so weighty, I pray that the Almighty federation. T o introduce it simultaneously would be may guide your deliberations and may bring them to practically impossible if, as I hope, we should seek a happy issue. admission to the Union at an early date. Time would not be afforded to enable such a further enlargement Printed every Saturday at the Government Printing Office, and modification o f the Legislative Constitution as Victoria, British Colombia.