10
3. Having read that passage, I expressed the hope that, in favouring me with their views on the question, the members of Council would do so with entire independence, uninfluenced by the fact of their being either official or unofficial members.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 7.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
11
Enclosure 1 in No. 8.
The Hon. L. RAOUL, President, Reform Committee, to his Excellency the GOVERNOR.
Port Louis, December 29, 1883. DEAR SIR,
MR. PELLEREAU has kindly accepted to represent the Reform Committee in England and to support our views near the Secretary of State. Would you have the goodness to give him leave to do so, and a letter of introduction for Lord Derby. Very respectfully yours, &c.
(Signed) Lois RAOUL.
His Excellency the Governor.
Enclosure 2 in No. 8.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference T
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
T
GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNÈSSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received January 24, 1884.)
(No. 284.) MY LORD,
Government House, Mauritius,
December 18, 1883.
I HAVE the honour to report that the following notices were given at to-day's meeting of the Council of Government, and that a special meeting has been called for Friday next to consider them:
By the Honourable L. L. Raoul, to move:--
"That the constitution of this Council, which exists since 1831, is no longer in accord with the material and intellectual condition of the people and with the feelings and opinions of the time, and an elective element should be introduced therein."
C
By the Honourable Sir Virgile Naz, K.C.M.G., to move :-
That the alterations in the constitution of this Board proposed by the Right Honour- able the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in his Despatch of the 11th of June last, would be attended with many more objections than advantages.
"Thet this Council can only be adapted to the wants and circumstances of the Colony, and can only be acceptable to the large majority of the Colonists, by being composed of at least 21 members, one-third of whom, at least, to be directly chosen by electors belonging to all classes of the community, and the remainder to be nominated by the Crown, not less than one-half of the nominated members being unofficial."
The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 8.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.
GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received January 24, 1884.)
(No. 303.) MY LORD,
Government House, Mauritius,
December 31, 1883.
THE Honourable L. Raoul, the President of the Constitutional Reform Associa- tion of Mauritius, has asked me to allow the Honourable E. Pellereau (the Procureur- General) to represent the Reform Committee in England.
2. I have replied that as Mr. Pellereau is a member of the Executive Council, I do not feel justified in complying with that request.
3. In the recent discussion and vote in the Council of Government, I knew I was only complying with your Lordship's wishes in allowing the official members to express their views with absolute independence; but whilst the most important details of the question are still under my consideration and that of Her Majesty's Government, I should not wish to see one of my chief advisers acting as the agent in England of the Reform Committee.
4. Mr. Pellereau, who has obtained leave of absence, will, I presume, do himself the honour of paying his respects to your Lordship on his arrival in London, when, no doubt, be will be allowed, if it should be thought necessary, to explain his views in favour of the elective system,
I have, &c. 5. I enclose copies of my correspondence with Mr. Raoul.
(Signed)
The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,
&c.
&c.
&c.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
DEAR MR. RAOUL,
His Excellency the GOVERNOR to the Hon. L. Raoul.
Le Réduit, Mauritius,
December 30, 1883. As Mr. Pellereau is a member of the Executive Council, I do not feel justified in consenting to your request that he might be allowed to act as the representative of the Reform Committee in England.
You may be quite certain, however, that when he pays his respects in Downing Street, he will not be prevented from expressing his views on the questions there ai fully as you may desire.
Believe me, &c. (Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.
No. 9.
GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON, THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received January 24, 1884.)
(No. 306.)
Government House, Mauritius, December 31, 1883. MY LORD,
Ar the special meeting held on the 21st instant, the Council of Government expressed their views fully, and arrived at a definite decision on the constitutional question and the changes suggested by Her Majesty's Government.
2. After a debate, which the majority of the members took part, the following resolution, moved by the Hon. L. L. Raoul and seconded by the Hon. H. Adam, was carried by a majority of nine to six :—
56
"That the constitution of this Council, which exists since 1831,
no longer in accord
"with the material and intellectual condition of the people and with the feelings and opinions of the time, and an elective element should be introduced therein;" and the following resolution, moved by the Hon. Sir Virgile Naz, K.C.M.G., and seconded by the Hon. A. P. Ambrose, was, after being slightly amended, carried by a majority of eight to seven :-
"That the alterations in the constitution of this Board proposed by the Right Hon. "the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in his Despatch of the 11th of June last,* would "be attended with many more objections than advantages.”
"That this Council can only be adapted to the wants and circumstances of the Colony, " and can only be acceptable to the large majority of the Colonists, by being composed “of at least 21 members, one-third of whom at least to be directly chosen by electors "belonging to all classes of the community, and the remainder to be nominated by the "Crown, not less than one-half of the nominated members being unofficial.”
"After debate, on the motion of the Hon. the Acting Colonial Secretary, it was agreed that the resolution should be amended by the addition of the words, provided that the right of dissolving the Council be vested in the Governor,' after the word 'unofficial.'
3. I hope to be able by this mail to lay before your Lordship a complete report of the speeches delivered in this debate.
• No. 2.
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