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Confedorntion LeiiKne propode holding at Yalf, on Mondivj', 14th JL September. 18U8, u Convention of I>eleKAto8, for tho purpose of accelcr- (iliiiff iIk' ndmiHsion ot tliij Colony into the Dominion of Canada, upon equit- iihle ani hcneficifll terms; and, also, to devise means to secure Representative Institutions with Ile;has. Kvans, Adam McLardy, Henry lia'v^lock, (Vale); Jas. K. McMillan, J. U. Norris, ( Victoria ); M. W. Cibbs; (Salt Spring Island); F. H. Babbitt, 1^ I \V. C. King, (Cariboo); J. C. Armstrong, (Quc^nci Moutli); F. J. Btiniard, (Williams LiiIrr. Norris, seconded by Mr. Baruiird : That the Ce-nvention adjourn till 1 p.m. ADJouiJNKi) Mi:i'yriN(j. Convention met at 1 ]).m. .^^r. Wallace in the Chair. I ' resell t : Messrs, llohson, DeCosmos, Wisher, BIa(d\, Fivans, .Norris, McMillan, Thompson. Barnard. Fealherstone, (ribhs, Babbitt, Wilhrow, Armstrong, .Miller, Smith, llolbi-ook, Uosi', Nelson, ILavelock. Pulton, McLurdy, King, Brouse. The Committee on Business presented their Rcpoi-t and asked leave to sit again. .Moved by Afr. Barnard, seconded by Mr. Nori'is : That tlu? i'epoft of the Commit tee on Busim-^s l)e received. ^nel Mouth); (Motcliosiii); . Fislicr, (Es- s Domiolk'j, i)llo\viiii5 0(- Srtrgo;irit-jit- nsistol" five VKNAIlii. Jhairmnii. s : Tl.iit lie 'icil. on biisiiu'ss orr as irlat- >en adopt 0(1 : That Mr. )soii : Tliat ri'i((l. : Til at Mr. 1 rioil. pen foi- the »ilt, DeCos- III, nti C'<»ni- : 1'hai the i('I<, Kvaii.s, >!ie, (ribh.s, ■i>olc, Itose. 1 and asked That the ♦:-3;?5G»Sr CO Moved hy Mr. Tlionipson, seconded by Mr. Dc'Josjnos : That this Convention resolve itself into Coininittee oi" the Whole, lor consideration ui the Jieport of the Committee on Business. — ('arried. The Chairr..an then appointed Dr. IJrouse fts Chairman of Coininittee, and left the Chair. On tlie ('hairinan resiimin<^ the Chair, Dr. Brouso reported the following fifteen lii'sohilions : WiiKiiKA.s Tin.-i (JoxvK.VTrox ; composed of Delegn'cs rcpresentitifj diffuroiit Oiistitucncies, lm,s — iit the generiil [topiiliir desire iiiul iiftcr ilue iintl amp!',! iililic Iio'iiijc-Weoti convened iitViilc, Uritifh Colutnluii, tliis Sei)tember 14th, iS(!8, by the eail of the (.'onf-dcnite Leaa;iie, and by tl:e aulhoi-ity of tlio peo- jdo of liritidt ('olMMiliiii in llie rej-pcctive districts deilurod, to ^iivo ft fnll, nn- prejiidiced iimi united expression of iheir views and feeliiijjs respecting the desiral)iliiv ot (he adniii^.-ion of tliis (^ohjiiv into the Uoirtiiiion of Cana(!a, the nei'e.isity tor tlic imnie.ii,ite estuldishnu'nt of leprescntative institutions with llesponsible (iovermiient, and j^ener.illy as to the state, wants and wislies of tlie country ; .\nil whereas tliis Convention is duly impressed with the high, responsible and patriotic duties tliut ti^eir Fellow-eonntrymen have called on them to dis- charge, and cheiislies the ino.-t ardent and dev(jted loyalty to Her .Most (Jra- cioM.s .Majesty the Queen, and attachment to British Institutions ; And Wliereas it is expedient to resoive and declare wh.U in its opinion is rij?ht and proper in the premises. This tJonvention, therefore, in virtue of the trust repo.icd in it, and with an honest and |)alriotie desire to promote the publie welfare, after due dclibera'ioii, resolves and declares as follows : 1. That all (Jovernuient.s .'•hoiild exist by the tree and just consent of the giivern^d, and that the (irovernuient that does not exist by the tree and just i'()nseiit(d the governed is a despolisni That the Government of British Co- lumbia does not f.visi by the free audjust consent of the governed, and is, (herefore.a l>es|M);isni. That it is unsuited to the free British subjects of this (!ol()ny. Thut it deprives the jieople of their rijfhtful share in the (lovern- nient. as no Statute or Order in tlouncil exists which guaranieos to the jieople the right to particip.iic i" the Government of tlieColony ; but in the Legislat- ive and Ksetniive DeparUnenta all are nominated or may be rejected, su--;pend- (•(1 or removed by the (iovernor of iliis Colony. Tiiat the ordinary conse- (inences ol' such a torin of government nre manifest in this Colony, in the dis- regard o( [lublic o|)iiiion, in the neglect ot public interests, in the high taxa- tion, in the annual deficits, in the annually increased public debt, in expend- ing large sums of puldi'' money in paying sahuies disproportionate to the ser- vices rendered, ami in maintaining a,n unnecessarily large number of oHicials, and in the tendency which the continuance of such political evils have to weaken the attachment of the people to the Crown and British connection. That to such an extent have the evils of inisgoverament multiplied that pro- found, widt'-spread, universal disi-ontjiit prevails and is expressed at the form of (Jo eminent and at the manni r in which the affairs ot the Colony have lieen and are mismanaged ; and that the people of British Ctdiimbia loudly demand a UKMKDY. It. That the proper remedy forthe present political condition of the Colony and the one that commends itself as preferable to all others — being in harmo- ny witli Imiieriai policy and the legitimate aspirations and desires of the peo- jde of this I'olony — is the immediate ndmission ot British Columbia into the Uomiiiic-n of Canada on terms equitable, expedient and beneficial, simultan j'onsly v\ith the estaldi>linient ot Hepro.uentative Institutions and IJesponsiblf / ! I l4^ Oovcrninent ; and that, whether ftdin!86ion into the Dominion of Gannda shall occur or not, lirprc-*entative Institutions and Responsible Government should be inan^uriited forthwith in British C!oluin))ia. III. That the terms of admission into the Dominion ofCunada that would he cquitflhlc, expedient and beneficial to the Colony, in the opinion of thii! Con- vention, are chiefly expressed in the followinj; fifteen sections: — 1. The limits of British Columbia, on and after admission, to be the same n.<> at present. 2. The Dominion of Cnnadu to become liable forthi- Public Debt of British Columbia at the time of admission. 3. The Dominion of Canada to pay annually out of her Consolidnted Beven- ue Fund, in semi-annual ndvancs, to British (volurabia for the .sujjport of her local Government and Lejji-^lnture, the sum of $110,000, and also, an annual Grant in aid of tlic local Government of British Colnmltia, eqiml to Eighty (Jents per head of the popiilation of British Columbia, the minimum number of said pi)i)uliVtion, including IndiiUH, no' to bo e.-h Columbia shall pass an address to the Governor-General of Canada declarinp that it is exped- ient to establish a Free Port on the Pacific, in order to advance the interests of British commerce in the North Pacific, the Parliament of the Dominion to make provision for the establishment of the same. 10. British Columbia to be represented in the Senate by not less than two Members, antl in the Commons by not less than three Members, at any time. 11. At the first election of Representatives to the Commons and until other- wise provided by the Parliament of Canada, the Lieuleiiant-Governor of Brit- ish Colunuia to proclaim what shall be the ((ualif ca'ions and disqutilifications of Representatives mid Klectors, the boundaries of Klectoral Districts and the laws governing such elections. 12. At the time of admission, the Revenne Laws of the Dominion of Cana- da to extenil and apply to British Columbia, and therenjion the Revenne Laws of British Columliia thereby affected to be null and void, and all Duties and Revenues deriveil in and from British Columbia niidi'r the Revenne Law* of ivnnda sball ent shguld ,( would lio f this Con- ^bi> siitno n» t ut Itritisili iterl Ucven- port of her . im niiniuit il to nighty 1 iiiiinl)er of 111 40,000 lit ' iiicroiisc of to ho dotcr- nt. tish ('oliiin- piiyaliK', or niul Uoyal- )iitr()l of its y helon^rinK :y of British time of nd- i portions of ^n constrnct- ch sliftll lio- thc admis- •ndiiig from 'rnspr riv<'r, ihroiijjh the snid (hor- luiiliin shnll it is expcd- intcrests of Dominion to ■ss ihnu two ny time. until oth«;r- •nor of Brit- mtlifuations icts find the on of ("nnii- vcntiR iiiwvs Duties and UP liitW* of (Ho Ootulnlon of Canada to belotig to Canada. 13. The exclusive powers of Provincial Legislatures ennmerated in the nine- tjr-second Section 0^ f The Britisli North America Act, 1867," and all other {(roVisions of tlie Sa-d Act that extend and apply generally to the provinces of the Dominion of Canadn and that maybe applicable to British Columbia, ex« cept as otherwise in these terras provided, to extend and apply to British Col- umbia, at and ft-om the time of admission. 14. Bzeept as otherwise provided, all Laws in force in British Columbia at the time of admission, and all Courts of Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction, and all Legal Commissions, Powers aud Authorities, and all Officers, Judicial, Ad- ministratiTe and Ministerial existing therein at the time of admission to con- tinue ia British Columbia as if such admission had not taken place ; subject neTertheless to be repealed, abolished or altered by the Parliament of Canada (ff bj the Legislature of British Columbia, according to the authority of the said Parliament or of the said Legislature, undsr 'The British North America Act, 1867,' and any subsequent Imperial Act. 16. Until the Parliament of Canada provides otherwise, all Officers of Brit- ish Columbia, at and from the time of admission, having duties to discharge in relation to matters other than those coming within the Classes of subjects assigned by "The North America Act, 1867," to the Provinces, to be Officers of Canada. . Tbie Convention adjoavned till 10 am., 15th September. Paraaant to adjourn iaont, the Convention met at 10 a. m., on the 15th. Moved by Mr. Babbitt, seconded by Mr. Smith : That tho rckadingof tho Minutes of yesterday be aeierred. — Carried. The Secretary presented the Eepurt of the Committee on Ba- mness, and asked leave to sit again. Moved by Mr. DeCosmos and seconded by Mr. Bobson : That Beport of Committee be received. — Carried. Moved by Mr. Barnard and seconded by Mr. Nelson : That the Convention go into Committee of the Whole to consider Be- port of Business Committee. — Carried. The Chairman then appointed Dr. Brouse as Chairman of the Committee and left the Chair. On the Chairman resuming, Dr. Brouse reported the following n93olutioDa :-— ' ' 4bst this Convention further resolves and declares : — . IV. That the people of British Colnmbia d« Legi3',aturc till a Representative Assembly is established. \\yl^x'ii ui,l n'>rni8se8sed of rea)' iball be en^tl- does hoi bom- ament, is irre- ation of its r^- e Colony is but' ill-being of the icil which bolda majority of m B country. tbo Logislativo That the Ootm- qnorura, as the teed to themi by X'wea to partlti- -0 t^e| GouncU.ik lepresentative,"^ Ql insure him a tl power to pftsa gh the GountiL. )o{ the: British totion.. Tbotit) t it consents to in afford or tto an extraragftBi i-representattve tive AsBemblf, reduced,) a tftn* ThattbtoO* :«sponBible an* See. That tho lutive Intimates - Council i^as 90 ccutiro CounciL slatlvc Council, nominative aQ.d.. ipport, and will i,a vo.no cooiJLcl-^ titutton of iiw IX. That one of thcrrftsons why tlnion betwpon Vancouver Island and Brit- ish Columbia was sought was that a Siipremc Court of Appeiil for the whoio Colony could bo economically created. That tho colonies were united two years ago, and yet no AppcUnto Court has been iniiugumled. That aa a con- sequence of tho continued separate existence of the Huprem»» Courts of Vnn- eouver Island and British Columbia confidence in tlioso Courts respectively has been materially impaired. That it is the prevnilin;^ opinion that such con- iinufld separation of tho Courts ar.d non.inaugur.ition of a yujircmo Court of Appeal has been due to more consideration for tlie ])ersonal interests of the fudges than for the general interests of Justice throughout the Colony. X. That by appointing Stipendiary Magistrates and Gold Commissioners to lleats in the Legislative Council they are withdrawn from their respective dist- ricts for long continuous periods, leaving such districts without any competent Authority to aid in tho protection of life and property, and thereby virtually declaring that such officers arc not required. XI. That the salary, allowances and perquisites of the Governor (exceeding the sum of $20,000) are unreasonable and ought to be reduced to a figure pro- Jbrtionate to tho ability of tho Colony and tho services rendered. That in ad- ttion to the above salary and perquisites there is an annual interest of six per (bent, on $45,000. makiug the approximate cost of residence in Victoria, $2700. That the salary of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario.'Ca- nada, with a population of 1,500,000 is only $8000 per annum ; and that there i^ no good reason why the salary of the Governor of this Colony should ex- ceed $10,000 per annum with a residence. That if the Governor's salary bo rii^^ed to that amount and the allowances, perquisites and extra assistance of ^600 \te abolished, there would be nn annual saving in the Governor's De- partment of about $10,000, ■ Xll. That tho salary of the Colonial Secretary, $3,880 per year, is too high find ohght to be reduced to a sum not exceeding $3000 per annum, thereby tjaring $880. That one clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Department at a ■alary of $1800 is sufficient to meet the requirements of the public service. That an assistant printer at $600 per annum is unnecessary. That the total saving by these reductions, without impairing the efficit^cy of the public service would be $3540. [ XIIT. That the Office of Lands and Works ia maintained at a great annual Expense, amounting iu ISGS, for a Chief Commissioner and three clerks, to ^8490, and in former years to a far larger sum. That tho greatest ignorance prevails In the department as to the lands in Vancouver Island and on tho mdiinland, although a Land Ofllice has been kept open in the former place sev- enteen years, and in the latter for ten years. That nothing is done by the De- {'tkHinent to assist in the sale and settlement of the public lands, except record- ngaf^w pre-emptions in Vancouver Island, and on the mainland the pre- J'Mpfibn^ are recorded by the Magistrates. That a few parcels of Public andd arii leased for the purposes of trade, agriculture, lumbering, and min- ing, and the rents collected for tho same. That instalments on lands sold or Arc-empted are collected. That a few maps are made or extended occasionally. That the above includes the total services performed by this Departmoot per- taining to land, and could all be transacted by one clerk. That the public works carried on by the Department are confined to repairing roads, construct- ih^ kO^e Small bridges, cutting out or keeping open a trail, or repairing or enlarging a pnblic building, and aro either performed by contract or by tem- EOrtiry service. That the entire public works, including map-making, could e veil attended to by one competent civil engineer. That two competent esisrkfe or civil eugineors to perform all the .ibovo services cUicicntly and satis- factorily, could be had for ^1500 each, and thus a saving could bo made in tho permanent expcudilure of the Depiirtmcnt, amouutiug to $5 190. That by /' 8 connecting ihia Department ritb thnt of tlio Coluniiil Sccrciarj, one civil en-' ginocr would bjaudicient to transact all tho busfneBs. That, therofore, for purposes of ecunomy, it is expedient to nbolisb tbo offlco of Oliicf Cominis-< sioner of Lands and Works and to reduce the pernnnent staff of the Depart- ment to not more than two civil engineers, under tlie supervision of the Oo- lonial Secretary. XIV. That the duties of the Treasury can be performed under eillclentcbecko by two clerks ; that, therefore, one clerk should be discharged, thereby Sftvlng $1200 per annum. * XV. That the Auditor's Department is too expensively conducted. That two competent clerks can efficiently audit the public accounts at a saUry not exceeding $1800 and $1660 respectively, thereby saving in this Department $17fl0. XVI. That the ofHcfl of Registrar OenernI of Titles at Victoria is aknotta sinecure. That the iucumbcat diows a salary of $2440 per year fot a serrice that notoriously does not n of tb« Oo- IRclent eb«cl(» hereby Mv{ng iiictod. Tliat it a salary not 8 DepartoMnt a h aknotta r tot a senric* ; yet tlie QoT- id It $485 in lalKamating it itnbent. That oQice is self- ted by impofT' by the office is y affixing a sa- riff of charges tployed Iq (het Iteration of lo- ilgamated with time of the in* •XI there would 500, malting a if Titles might efficiency and is officer at the ninster should {istrar General leral. ated with that cted of $1800^ )0 with pn^it^ ry, as U tovfr* eriff in case o^ ty ioto two or mount for the ' and security I to the Sheriff re. >ed, and there- tillan-.That Lilian : Thai AdjouiTiod till 11 II. lu., lOLli Hoptombor, 1808. Pursuant to adjournmont, Convontioa mot at 11 a. in., on tbo 16th Sontombor. The Secretary then road the Minutoa of 14th inst. Moved by Mr. DeCosmos and seconded by Mr. J3arna»-d : That the Minutes of 14th inst., as read, be adopted. — Cnrriod. The Secretary then read the Minutes of the 15' ' inst. Moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Mr. McMillan : ihat the Minut< -^ *>' 15th inst., as read, bo adopted. — Carried, The Secretary then presented lleport of Coiamit'.w,o on Busi- nosf nd asked leave to sit again. Moved by Mr. DeCosmos and seconded by Mr. Norria ; That Report of Business Committoe bo rocoivod. — Carried. The Convention then adjourned till 2 p. m. Pursuant to adjournment Convention met at 2 p. m. Moved by Mr. Barnard and seconded by Mr. Koso : That the Convention go into Committee of the Whole to consider the Re- port of the Committee on Business. The Chairman then nominated Dr. Brouso as Chairman of Committee and left the Chair. On the Chairman resuming, Dr. Brouso reported the following Resolutions : — XXII. That there is no public necessity for keeping Are extra Constables la Cariboo at an annual expense of $3500 per year. That in the Lillooet-Clinton District a Stipendiary Magistrate is not required, thereby saving $2400 per an- num. That at Nanaimo, a Stipendiary Magistrate is not required, and the du- ty of Deputy Collector of Customs there, with that of Postmaster, could b« performed satisfactorily for $1000, saving thereby $1000. That in LiUooet, Clinton and Nanaimo, Honorary Magistrates can discharge the duties of Just- ice of the Peace. That the retrenchment that might be made by the Executive under these beads is equal to $10,300 per year. XXIII. That the Supreme Court Judges should discharge the duties of Coun- ty Court Judges, holding Court periodically in the different districts of the Colony. XXIV. That the rote of $3000 in the Estimate for expenses of Judge and Registrar on Circuit, on the mainland of the Colonjr, is exorbitant and calls for revision. XXV. That, including the reductions suggested and otheir;, which' might advantageously be adopted, a saving of about $60,000 in the annual expendi- ture tor Civil Establishments may be made, without impairing in the leastde- grec the public service, or endangering in the least the securities for the pre- servation of life and property, or the maintenance of order throughout the Colony. XXVI. That the people of British Columbia are willing to bear patiently the heavy financis'. burden iiaposod upon the country for the construction of public works, amounting to nearly $150,000 annually; but they denounce the extravagant expeijf ituro by which a deficit was created in 1866, amounting to about $170,000; and in 186Y, $130,000. That these deficits were effected in violation of the rule laid down by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in a despatch dated April 30, 1866, viz.: That Ijo expenditure ot the year must I) < I 10 be reduced to such un amount ii3 nitiy be covered by the actual average receipts of the past two years That the Estimates of 1808 viohite this rule. XXVII. That the system of dividing and sub-dividiug the public service in- to departments, and phicing sucli duties respectively in the hands of a siuglo person, may be the proper mode to transact public business in a rich and po- pulous country. But to a Colony such as British Columbia, where the Popula- tion i^ TeJ7 small, the financial resources Proportionately limited, and the bu- siness to be transacted under each head buj; trilling, such a system is wholly unsuited, entailing too high an expenditure without increasing efficiency. That iJt iamainly by attempting to carry out this system and by keeping too large a staff of bfficinis at salaries disproportionate to the circumstances of the Colo- ny that the public o.Tpenditure is annually unnecessarily increased. That it is, therefore, to amalgamation of Offices, reduction of the Civil List, and lower- ing of Salaries that the people look for a reduction in the current expcndituro fp;r the support of Establishments. "XxVIIl. That the total population of British Columbia, exclueivo of la* dians, does not exceed 10,000; and that the number of Indians does not ex- ceed 30,000. That the Indians, living chiefly by hunting and fishing, are not Individually on the average large consumers of dutiable or taxable commodit- l^',. That the highest estimate that could be placed on the Indiana as consu" nteirs is that three Indians consume as much as one white or civilized persony and that, consequently, the total Indian population is only equal to 10,006 .white consumers. That a more correct estimate would in all probability be that fiVe'Ihdittrts are equal to one white person, thereby makiiig the total In. dian inhabitants as consumers equal to GOOO whites. That (taking the highest estimavteof the Indians as consumers) the total number of consumers of dutia- ble and taxable commodities is 20,000. That in 18G7 the revenue without loans was $475,250 and the average tax per head of the consumers $23 '?&. Jthftt the exponditure'as reported to the Council as less than the actual expend- ture w.^8 In 18G7, $560,150, or $28 to each contiumer. That out of the ex- Pfinditiir* of $560,159 in 1RG7, only $52,000 wore expended in public worksj Tliat the estimated revenue of 18G8 is $57G,000 or nearly $29 to each consui^er. That the estimated expenditure of 1868 is $572,553 or $28,60 to each consum- ef. That the total amount appropriated for public works out of the $572,563 is $55,300. That out of the latter sum there has been about $12,000 cxpe^dcd in unnecessary additions to the Governor's residence and the Land Office* Wbils^ necessary improvements to roads and bridges to advance the interests of ff^rpci's and settlement generally are deferred. Tiiat the return made to th<^ Legislative Council in 1868 by His Excellency the Governor, comparing tb4 Cttgtoms' Tariffs of England, United States, Canada and other oolonies and countries IS fallacious, if intended to show that British Colnmbii^ is not tax^d higher than other countries. That the fallacy is apparent' when it js obQerVec^ tliftt the average annual tax per head in Canada is only $3 50, whilstthc^ aver- age tax to each consumer mi British Columbia in 1867 was $23 75, and that proposed in 1868 is $29 to each consumer. iThat home productions, other thau, gold, m this Colony i\re npt so advanced as in the countries enumerated in the IHeturU; and tjiat, consequently, tlierc is a larger average consumption hero of dutiable commodities and a corrcsiiondingly higher tax paid by each consumer^ Thftt TYitb tarifl, internal revenue due?, road tol}s, &c., taxation is high and op- pregpivc. That after paying the interest and siniving fund on the public debt,, nearly Tall the revenue is consumed non-productivoly. That retrenchment is therefore demanded by tlic united voice of the jicople of British Columbia. XXIX. That it is the duty of the Executive to iustituto the niost thorougb retrenchmout in the e.\jjendiiiire, and caus" to lie auiended and repealed all Statuteg or ordinauecs that iul-.-ri\re with econpiuy iu ihe public bcrvico. XXX. That miiiers and capitiiliEts during the last tc'u years have been sub- ] ■ / 11 ill average rccoipta this rule. public service ia- liands of a single in a rich and po- whete the Popula- mited, and thebu- system is wholly ng efficiency. That Looping too large a ;ances of the Colo- renscd. That it is, il List, and lower- urrent expenditure ,, exclusive of In* dians does not ex- id fishing, are not taxable coannodit- ( IndianSi as consu- \T civilized person, nly equal to 10,000 all probability be nakiilg the total In- staking the hlgh«8t consnmera of dotift' le revenno without consumers $23 VS" I the actual expend- rhat out of the ex- i in public works, 9 to each consumer. ,60 to each consuro- out of the $5^2,553 It $12,000 expe^dod md the Land Office, luco the interests of return madei to tho nor, coniparipg tb6 . other ooloniea and Inmbi^ is flot tax^d when it is observed 50, whilst the aver- ts $23 75, and tha| ductions, other thaii, 3 enumerated in the onsumption, hereof d by each consumer^ ition is high and op- en the public debt, LMiat retrenchment is k'itish Columbia. tho most thorough 'd iind repealed all public bcrvice. cars have bccu sub- ; ,1 Ject to the greatest inconvenieuce and delays in securing copper and silver bearing quart/, veins, under &uch a toauro and with such facilitiei) as would offer reasonable security for tho investment of capital ; that the non-existence of a general law on tho subject and tho obstacles interposed by the Govern- ment have tended to prevent the investment ot capital in the country ond re- tarded the development of its mineral rcoourccs. That the enactment of .-i law under which a limited extent of any copper or silver bearing quartz viena,; free from Royalties, onerous laws, and taxations, may be taken up and hdld by any one or more persons, under reasonable conditions of working, ii absolute-^ ly essential to the investment of capital in such enterprises. XXXI. That religion, humanity and public opinion demand that due and. proper consideration bo paid to the ladian population, with a view to their preservation and the improvement of their moral, intellectual and material ooadition. That beyond making reservations of land. Government has done nothing for them. That in many instances the Indian Reserves are large ami valuable tracts of agricultural land. That such lands though situated in dist- ricts where they would be cultivated by settlers, remain unimproved by tho Indians, except the occasional cultivation of a small patch. That settlers aro prohibited occupying them. That such Reserves are consequently neither pro- perly utilized by the Indians nor by settlers. That it is incumbent, therefoile, on the Government to establish such regulations as would utilize theilndian. Reserves and appropriate the proceeas to the benefit of the Indians. XXXII. That the people of British Columbia, recognizing the principle thai) it is the imperative duty of the State to providefor education, earnestly desire! the immediate establishment of a national system of popular education, based upon broad non-sectarian principles, and that the non-existence of any recog-; nized system of education applicable to the whole Colony, is discreditable- to the Government. XXXIII. That while it is apparent to any disinterested person that rettenich- meht in the public service could be made by which about $60,000 ot the an- nual expenditure could be paved without impairing the efficiency of the'pikb-' lie service, yet the Government persists in imposing Road Tolls on merohan^- ize passing between Yale and Cariboo, thit amount to $60,000 per aiinunj. That the continuance of the Road Tolls and the resistance ofiered to retrench- ment by the Executive nre grave acts of misgovernment. XXXIVi That a Reciprocal Commercial Treaty between the United States and England, bj which the lumber, coal, fish and other r&W prodhcti(i)iia ,o(i British Columbia and the United States may be entered dutyfree for home cpn^ , sumption in tho ports • of tho last named countries respectively, would be a powerful stimulant to iniustrjiin this Colony. That it is, therefore, tlxji^d- ' lent to urg« upon the attention of tho Local .and Imperial Governments the de- sirability of tating immediate steps to secure such a commercial pritiiei|ge, wJ^ilat the Beciprocity Treaty between Canada and the Uixite4 Sta1ie$ is odder consideration. . ;■,.-, ^ , ^uiyiaiJ XXXV. That though there has always been a largo staff' oir officials conne'ct- od with the office of Lands and Works, and notwithstanding there are vast areas of good unoccupied agricultural and gi^azing lands ii!i the Gol6ny, the country but sparsely populated, the imports of agricultural produce and stock large, and tho prices of agricultural productions highly remunerative, yet the Executive has never made any systematic and continuous effort to invite im- migration, or induce pcoi)lo to engage in agriculture. That the apathy aud in- dolence of tho Government respecting tho settlement of the public lands is therefore totally indefensible. XXXVI. That free grants of at least 320 acres of land ought to be offered to actual settlers upon the public lands, and that tho Executive should spare no effort in inviting immigration and facilitating the settlement of tho country. 12 JXXVII. That the Toto of the Legislative Council, reAising to pass an Ad- dnssto Her Majesty the Queen respecting the Confederation of this Colony wiUi Canada, is not endorsed by the country ; but is opposed to the well-on-> derstood wishes of the people of British Columbia. ' The Uonvention further resolved : — 1. That an Address be prepared and sent to Her Majesty the Queen, pruying tat the Reforms enumerated in these resolutions. 2. That an Address to the Governor Qeneral of Canada be prepared and> tnuumitted, urging Confederation on the terms proposed. 3. That an Address be transmitted to His Excellency the Governor, accotd-r' panied by a copy of these resolutions, praying that the Reforms therein con- tained may be initiated and perfected. ' ' I 4. That a Petition to the Imperial Parliament be prepared and circulated fbrl lignatnre throughout the Colony, and transmitted to some prominent Membeif* of Parliament tor presentation, accompanied by the resolutions of this Cota^- Teation. '< ' -dia 5. That an Executive Committee be appointed, with full authority io cAlt' conventions, communicate with the Imperial, Canadian and local Governments, to prepare and transmit the addresses and petitions above alluded to, and to' take any measures they may deem expedient to secure the Reforms enumer- ated ii^the resolutions of the Convention. ■ "' < > The following Committee was appointed to carry out the objects of tW' Convention : — Messrs. De Cosmos, McMillan, Wallace and Norris of Victoria; Havelock of Yale ; John Robson of New Westminster, and F. J. Barnard. Moved by Mr. Norris and seconded by Mr. Eobson : That tho Beport be received. — Carried. Moved by Mr. Norris and seconded by Mr. Bobson : That the '. Bepori of Business Committee be adopted. — Carried. Moved by Mr. Barnard and seconded by Mr. Smith : That thct Ibllowing gentlemen be an Executive Committee in accordance with the 5th Eesolution : Messrs. A. DeCosmos, E. Wallace, J. E. McMillan, J. G. Norris, John Eobson, H, Havelock, and F. J. Barnard. Moved by Mr. Norris and seconded by Mr. Armstrong : That the thanks of the Convention be tendered to the steamboat own- era and stage propiietor, and that the Secretary be instructed to coiiunnnicate the same. — Carried. , Three cheers were then proposed and given for the Queen. . ,'iThree cheers were then proposed and given for the Dominion. •- ' Moved by Mr. Eobson and seconded by Mr. Barnard : That this' Convention adjourn. — Carried. .^r^:!!'jl^V] ''* EOBEET WALLACE, Chapman:';,, CHAELES EVANS, 1q,„„,^,„„„ V: . HBNEY HAVELOCK:, j ^^'^^*^^^^^^' -lii British COldmdus Print, New Wwtminstor, B, 0, ■ J li.i I g to pfvss ati Ad-' tn of this Colony i to the well-un- le Queen, pruying be prepared and' 3overnor, acconiv :ius therein con- ■I and circulated ftiti rominent Member' ona of this Ooh-' -'■■■■r authority to colt' ical Oovernioents, [uded to, and to Beforms enamer* the objects of the' orris of Victoria ; F. J. Barnard, son : That tho 3on: That the' ed. lith: Thattho in accordance , J. G. Norris, [istrong: That ieamboat own- D instructed to the Queen. . ;he Dominion. !ird: That this Jhaibman. .li' ' "■■J- y.y.. m jm-ammMBL k msa '-'.}■ diL.im'im-mm