BRITISH COLUMBIA'S PROPOSAL.¹

FINAL TERMS OF UNION.²

Subsidies.

3. The following sums shall be annually paid by Canada to British Columbia, for the support of the Local Government and Legislature, to wit:-

That the figures "400,000" be altered to "1,000,000."

3. The following sums shall be paid by Canada to British Columbia for the support of its Government and Legislature, to wit, an annual subsidy of 35,000 dollars, and an annual grant equal to 80 cents per head of the said population of 60,000, both halfyearly in advance; such grant of 80 cents per head to be augmented in proportion to the increase of population, as may be shown by each subsequent decennial census, until the population, amounts to 400,000, at which rate such grant shall thereafter remain, it being understood that the first census be taken in the year 1881.

Communications.

8. Inasmuch as no real Union can subsist between this Colony and Canada without the speedy establishment of communication across the Rocky Mountains by Coach Road and Railway, the Dominion shall, within three years from the date of Union, construct and open for traffic such Coach Road, from some point on the line of the Main Trunk Road of this Colony to Fort Garry, of similar character to the said Main Trunk Road; and shall further engage to use all means in her power to complete such Railway communication at the earliest practicable date, and that Surveys to determine the proper line for such Railway shall be at once commenced; and that a sum of not less than one million dollars shall be expended in every year, from and after three years from the date of Union, in actually constructing the initial sections of such Railway from the Seaboard of British Columbia, to connect with the Railway system of Canada.

That the word "and," between "construct" and "open," be erased, and words "and maintain" be inserted after "traffic." That this Section be altered so that the section of the Main Trunk Road between Yale and New Westminster may be included in the Coach Road which the Dominion Government is to be asked to construct within three years from the date of Union.)

11. The Government of the Dominion undertake to secure the commencement simultaneously, within two years from the date of the Union, of the construction of a Railway from the Pacific towards the Rocky Mountains, and from such point as may be selected, east of the Rocky Mountains, towards the Pacific, to connect the seaboard of British Columbia with the railway system of Canada, and further, to secure the completion of such Railway within ten years from the date of the Union.

And the Government of British Columbia agree to convey to the Dominion Government , in trust, to be appropriated in such manner as the Dominion Government may deem advisable in the furtherance of the construction of the said Railway, a similar extent of public lands along the line of Railway, throughout its entire length in British Columbia, (not to exceed, however, Twenty (20) Miles on each side of the said line,) as may be appropriated for the same purpose by the Dominion Government from the public lands in the North-West Territories and the Province of Manitoba.

Provided, that the quantity of lands which may be held under pre-emption right or by Crown grant within the limits of the tract of land in British Columbia to be so conveyed to the Dominion Government shall be made good to the Dominion from contiguous public lands; and, provided, further, that until the commencement within two years, as aforesaid, from the date of the Union, of the construction of the said Railway, the government of British Columbia shall not sell or alienate any further portions of the public lands of British Columbia in any other way than under right to pre-emption, requiring actual residence of the pre-emptor on the land claimed by him.

In consideration of the land to be so conveyed in aid of the construction of the said Railway, the Dominion Government agree to pay to British Columbia, from the date of the Union, the sum of 100,00 dollars per annum in half-yearly payments in advance.

Form of government.

15. The constitution of the Executive authority and of the Legislature of British Columbia shall, subject to the provisions of "The British North America Act, 1867," continue as existing at the time of the Union until altered under the authority of the said Act.

14. The constitution of the Executive Authority and of the Legislature of British Columbia shall, subject to the provisions of the "British North America Act, 1867," continue as existing at the time of Union until altered under the authority of the said Act, it being at the same time understood that the government of the Dominion will readily consent to the introduction of Responsible government of British Columbia under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to amend the existing constitution of the Legislature by providing that a majority of its members shall be elective.