No. 2

Early in 1868
*

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 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 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 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 Colony.