No. 163

Referring to my Despatch No 136, of 17th October, I have the
honor to report that the Writs for the Elections of Members of
the new Legislative Council have all been returned, and the
following are the names of the Members elected—

Mr Nathan - for Victoria

Mr Helmcken - "

Mr De Cosmos - Victoria District

Mr Bunster - Nanaimo & Comox

Mr Nelson - New Westminster

Mr Cornwall - Yale & Lytton

Mr Humphreys - Lilloett & Clinton

Mr Carrall - Cariboo

Mr Skinner - Columbia & Kootenay

2. In exercise of the authority given to me by the 6th Section
of the recent Order in Council I have appointed the following
Gentlemen to be Members of the Council provisionally and until
confirmed in their appointments by Her Majestys Warrant, namely:

The Honourable Philip James Hankin

" George Phillippo

" Joseph William Trutch

" Wymond Ogilvy Hamley

(members of the Executive Council) and Augustus Frederick
Pemberton, and Edward Graham Alston Esquires.

3. The Constitution of the new Legislature is thus completed,
and I have issued a Proclamation of which I enclose a Copy,
convening a Meeting on the 5th January.

4. The business of the Session will be almost entirely limited
to completing the proposed Union with Canada, and I do not doubt
the favorable issue of the proceedings for this purpose.
Attempts may probably be made to obtain modifications of the
terms agreed to by the Government of Canada, but I have heard of
none proposed that ought reasonably to be excepted by this
Colony, and I think that I shall be able to obtain sufficient
support even among the elected members to avoid or surmount any
complications arising from this cause. All elected Members have
been returned in favor of Confederation.

5. The most important question likely to be raised is as to the
time when "Responsible Government" shall be introduced. The
Community are certainly in favor of this form of administration,
and a party is prepared to press for its adoption simultaneously
with Union. To introduce it simultaneously is practically
impossible; for this cannot be done without another change of
constitution and the passing of an Election Law with provision
for an enlarged Representative Body. But, the necessary steps
for the purpose would certainly be taken at the earliest
possible moment after Union if they are prevented now. Some
facility will therefore probably be afforded to me in dealing
with the principal question of the Union itself, if I anticipate
the movement by introducing a Bill during the present Session
for effecting such changes as will render possible the
introduction of the desired system with the first meeting of an
enlarged Council in which nominated members will not sit, and
which might be elected under the proposed Act soon after the
declaration of Union. I should oppose such a measure except as
a pendent to Confederation, which will remove the most important
portions of public affairs to the control of the Parliament of
Canada; and it shall not be passed until Confederation is
finally agreed to; but, after that, I shall regard it as
expedient to bring forward a Bill for further modifying the
Legislative Constitution, as there will be some advantage in the
management of it by the present government.