No. 70

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 purpose 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 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, in 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 most
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 they 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 have 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.