PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Resolutions passed on the 5th October.
"1. That an Association be formed in the Colony to be in immediate connection with the Mauritius Association now established in London. The object of this Association will be to lay before the Local and Home Government the grievances under which the Colony is suffering, and to expose the perilous position in which it is now involved. To point out the remedies necessary to its relief, together with the changes and ameliorations which its institutions require, and to urge their adoption by every legiti-
mate means.
"2. This Association shall be formed by the public election of its members.
"3. It shall be composed of twenty members, elected by the inhabitants of the town of Port Louis, and forty four members for the country, to be elected by the inhabitants of each of the rural districts in the proportion of four for the districts of South Pamplemousses, Savane, Black River, Plaines, Wilhems, and Moka: and six, for each of the districts of North Pamplemousses, Rivière du Rempart, Flacq, and Grand Port.
" 4. The right of election shall be common to all Her Majesty's subjects resident in Mauritius; and
inasmuch as it is indispensably necessary to provide
for the expenses of the Association, both here and The Governor states that some
in London, by a public fund for the purpose, it
shall be obligatory on every person voting to deposit the sum of two dollars, or four rupees, for which a receipt will be furnished.
"5. The votes shall be taken by ballot.
"6. The Committee as now formed (two of its members at least being present) will undertake to receive the votes of the inhabitants of the town of Port Louis, at the Europe Hotel, from 11 to 3 o'clock on the days of election. Registering the names of the voters and giving receipts for their subscriptions. In the rural districts the votes will be received in a similar manner by Corresponding Committees, which the Town Committee under- takes to name.
"7. The days of election shall be fixed from the 12th to the 18th of the present month inclusively
at the above-mentioned boura, viz., 11 to 3.
"8. The verification of the votes, shall be publicly made on Saturday the 22nd instant, at noon, by the
parties expected to raise 7000!.
Sir W. Gomm, No. 229;
October 9, 1848.
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distict and town Committees assembled for the purpose in town, at the Europe Hotel.
❝9. The President of the Committees thus assem= bled shall proclaim at once as members of the Association the twenty members for the town of Port Louis, and those for each of the country districts who shall have obtained the most votes.
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"At the same meeting each Committee shall give an account of the subscriptions it shall have received, when the amount shall be deposited at the Com- merctal Bank, and placed at the disposal of the Association.
"11. The Association once organized will esta- blish its own regulations and by-laws, and shall, at the expiration of each year, be bound to publish a detailed account of its proceedings.
12. The members of the Association shall be elected for three years, and shall be re-eligible. At the expiration of three years, new elections shall take place."
Upon these Resolutions the Procureur-General gave the following opinion (see Despatch No. 229)
in answer to the Colonial Secretary's letter of October 4, 1848 :
The Honourable Procureur and Advocate-General.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
October 4, 1848.
Sir,
1. Referring to the proceedings at the meeting held on the 28th ultimo at Luciäny Hotel, as re- ported in and commented upon in the Colonial newspapers, his Excellency the Governor, without having any wish to interpose, as he has already sufficiently shown, needles obstacles to any project of any parties, however wild and fanciful, never- theless trusts that you will keep a watchful eye over the proceedings of those meetings; and as things may be done which ought not to be permitted, that you will give notice wherever and whenever such notice may be needed.
2. In the meantime his Excellency would be glad to have your opinion on the following points
1st. Should the proposal of a general election of delegates or representatives to a general Council be seriously acted upon, in consequence of the decision of Thursday last or of any other resolution, would