3
Mauritius.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
L
19
Reference :-
C.O. 882
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Subject.
Serial
From or to whom.
No.
Despatch No.
Date.
Paga
1
Lieut.-Governor
F.
807
July 10, 1882
Napier Broome.
(Rec. Aug. 8, 1882.)
Reporting the nomination, at a public meeting, of a committee to consider the question of changes in the Consti- tution, and enclosing an account of such meeting.
3
2
Ditto
330
July 18, 1882
(Rec. Aug. 30,
1882.)
Forwarding copy of a letter to the public press by the Hon. C. Antelme, senior unofficial member of Council, depreca ting the contemplated changes in the Constitution of the Colony
18
3
Ditto
408
Sept. 4, 1882 (Rec. Oct. 2, 1882.)
4
Ditto
441
Sept. 14, 1882 (Rec. Oct. 80, 1882.)
Transmitting the report of the public 14
Committee which has been nominated to consider the question of changes in the Constitution.
Transmitting copy of his speech on the constitutional question at A recent public banquet, and of a further letter thereon from Mr. Antelme to colo- nial newspaper.
15
5
Ditto
619
Oct. 31, 1882
(Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
Enclosing a petition signed by 8,829 persons praying for a change in the Constitution of the Colony, with other documents on the subject, and sub- mitting observations thereon.
21
6
Ditto -
520
Oct. 31, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
7
Ditto
521
Oct. 81, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28,
1882.)
48
Transmitting a letter signed by the senior unofficial member of Council and others objecting to the proposed introduction into the Council of an elective element, but suggesting the appointment of three additional unofficial members.
Forwarding copy of a petition to the 50
Queen, stated to be signed by “about 7,000" Indians and others, objecting to the introduction into the Council of an elective element, and asking for the appointment of two additional unofficial members.
8
Ditto
Confil- dential.
Oct. 31, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
Submitting observations on the present movement for securing a change in the Constitution of the Colony.
56
9
Sir G. F. Bowen
Private.
Dec. 80, 1882
Submitting statement of his views respecting the proposed changes in the Constitution of the Council of Govern- ment.
58
10
Parisian proprietors
of estates in Mauri-
-
tius to Sir G. F. Bowen.
Nov. 30, 1882 | Submitting a scheme for the reconstitu- tion of the Council of Government in place of an elective element, which would be prejudicial to the interests of the Colony.
60
11
To Lieut. Governor
42
Jan. 17, 1888
F. Napier Broome.
Stating that the points raised in the Lieutenant-Governor's despatches re- garding the proposed changes in the constitution of the Council are receiving the careful attention of Her Majesty's Government.
62
No. 1.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR F. NAPIER BROOME, C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY. (Received August 8, 1882.)
No. 307.
MY LORD,
Government House, Mauritius, July 10, 1882. I HAVE the honour to report that the question of possible changes in the constitution of this Colony in a representative direction has lately occupied a good deal of attention here, and has now reached the point of the formation of a committee, nominated at an orderly and influential public meeting, held, by my permission (which I saw no reason for refusing), at the Hôtel de Ville, on the 7th inst.
2. The modification of the present Crown Council by the addition to it, in some shape or other, of a representative or popular element, is a topic naturally congenial to the Colonial press, and one which has taken possession of the newspapers, at intervals, for a long time past, in this as in other Crown Colonies. It had lately again appeared among the seven daily journals of Port Louis; but it would perhaps have died away as on former occasions, had it not been for the notice excited by your Lordship's disinclination to any increase to the Messageries subsidy (as to which I address you in another Despatch* by this mail), and for the delay (the reason and necessity for which I fully explained to the Council of Government) in settling the
scheme of forest finance.
3. With regard to the former cause, it may be measured by the writing of the press, to which your Lordship will be in a position to refer; while as to the latter I enclose a report of the remarks made in the Council of Government by the Honourable Loïs Raoul, on the 27th ult., when the ordinance renewing the forest proclamation was brought forward and passed unanimously through all its stages. In case your Lordship should read the debate, I may observe that the few words attributed to me in the report do not in the least resemble what I said. A speaker, in Mauritius, must be his own reporter, and on this occasion I was unable to write out my speech for the papers. I have since had my remarks reprinted more or less correctly as they were spoken, and annex a copy of them.*
4. I forward a newspaper account of the public meeting above alluded to, and a report of the speeches made, so far as they have been published. It will be seen that a committee has been formed for the purpose of drawing up a report upon the question of "reforms in the system of Government, and in the constitution of the Legislative "Council."
5. In the present stage of the movement, it is scarcely necessary that I should discuss the general question of the possibility of representative institutions in any form in this island. I look forward to the report of the committee with curiosity and interest. I have not taken, and do not mean to take, any part, directly or indirectly, in what is going on. So long as the proceedings of the committee and its supporters are conducted in the irreproachable manner that has hitherto marked them, it would be wrong for me to oppose or discourage them-and I certainly do not intend "to throw myself into the arms of the popular party." I shall stand quite aloof and neutral, merely letting it be known that accounts of what is taking place, and any documents I may be asked to forward, will be laid fairly and fully before your Lordship.
I regard the movement which has been set on foot as quite devoid of any trouble. and difficulty, and I would leave it to run its natural course.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.
&c.
&c.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. NAPIER BROOME.
B SUB.
• Not printed.
A 2
2
CONTENTS.
Serial
From or to whom.
Despatch
Date.
No.
No.
Subject.
Page
1
Lieut.-Governor
F.
307
Napier Broome.
July 10, 1882 (Rec, Aug. 8, 1882.)
Reporting the nomination, st ▲ public meeting, of committee to consider the question of changes in the Consti- tution, and enclosing an account of such meeting.
3
2
Ditto
330
July 18, 1882
(Rec. Aug. 30, 1882.)
Forwarding copy of a letter to the public press by the Hon. C. Antelme, senior unofficial member of Council, depreca- ting the contemplated changes in the Constitution of the Colony
13
3
Ditto
408
Sept. 4, 1882
(Rec. Oct. 2, 1882.)
Transmitting the report of the public Committee which has been nominated to consider the question of changes in the Constitution.
14
4
Ditto
441
Sept. 14, 1882
(Rec. Oct. 30,
1882.)
Transmitting copy of his speech on the constitutional question at a recent public banquet, and of a further letter thereon from Mr. Antelme to a colo- nial newspaper.
15
5
Ditto
519
Oct. 81, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
Enclosing petition signed by 8,829 persons praying for a change in the Constitution of the Colony, with other documents on the subject, and sub- mitting observations thereon.
21
6
Ditto -
520
Oct. 31, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
48
7
Ditto
521
Oct. 81, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28,
1882.)
Transmitting a letter signed by the senior unofficial member of Council and others objecting to the proposed introduction into the Council of an elective element, but suggesting the appointment of three additional unofficial members,
Forwarding copy of a petition to the Queen, stated to be signed by "about 7,000" Indians and others, objecting to the introduction into the Council of an elective element, and asking for the appointment of two additional unofficial members.
50
8
Ditto
Conf- dential.
Oct. 31, 1882 (Rec. Nov. 28, 1882.)
Submitting observations on the present movement for securing a change in the Constitution of the Colony.
56
9
Sir G. F. Bowen
-
Private.
Dec. 80, 1882
Submitting statement of his viewi respecting the proposed changes in the Constitution of the Council of Govern- ment.
58
10
Parisian proprietors
of estates in Mauri-
tium to Sir G. F. Bowen.
Nov. 30, 1882 | Submitting a scheme for the reconstitu-
60
tion of the Council of Government in place of an elective element, which would be prejudicial to the interests of the Colony.
11
To Lieut. Governor
42
Jan. 17, 1888
F. Napier Broome,
Stating that the points raised in the Lieutenant-Governor's despatches re- garding the proposed changes in the constitution of the Council are receiving the careful attention of Her Majesty's Government.
62
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