CO882-(3-4) — Page 578

46

Jan. 28, 1884

12

Ditto

(Rec. Feb. 22, 1884.)

Transmitting a further letter from Mr. Antelme to the Secretary of State on the constitutional queation,

54

47

13

Ditto

Jan. 29, 1884

(Rec. Feb. 22, 1884.)

Transmitting the reply of the Lord Reform Committee to Derby's Despatch of 11th June 1888, which Mr. Raoul requests

56

(No. 168.) MY LORD,

50

14

Ditto

Jan. 30, 1884 (Rec. March 12, 1884.)

may

be considered by Her Majesty's Government before a final decision is arrived at.

Transmitting a letter to the Secre- tary of State from Mr. B. H. Colin, respecting his objec tions to the adoption of the partially elective Council pro- posed by the Reform Committee.

73

MAURITIUS.

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE

RESPECTING THE

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT.

No. 1.

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR F. NAPIER BROOME, C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received May 16, 1883.)

Government House, Mauritius,

April 21, 1883. ADVERTING to my Despatch No. 519 of the 31st October last, transmitting the petition to Her Majesty for a change in the political Constitution of this Colony, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the" Constitutional Reform Committee" have stated to me that they have requested Mr. George Guibert, a barrister of high standing at the Mauritius bar, who is proceeding to England by this mail, to act as their delegate, in the hope that he may be allowed an opportunity of explaining to your Lordship the motives and intentions of the movement which led to the petition forwarded in the Despatch above named.

Mr. George Guibert has taken a leading part in the proceedings connected with this important petition. He is a Mauritian of influence and distinction, and a barrister of great ability, in which latter capacity he has been engaged for several years in most of the important civil cases before the Supreme Court. He will certainly be able to place the views of his friends in the most favourable light for your Lordship's information."

have, &c. (Signed) F. NAPIER BROOME.

&c.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,

&c.

&c.

No. 2.

K.C.M.G.

The RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY to GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY,

(No. 202.)

SIR,

Downing Street, June 11, 1883.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lieutenant-Governor Napier Broome's Despatchest with reference to the petition addressed to the Queen in October of last year, praying that the Constitution of the Colony of Mauritius may be altered by substituting for the present Council of Government a Legislature comprising 10 official and 20 unofficial members, 10 of the latter to be nominated and 10 elected.

2. Mr. Napier Broome observes that among the 3,329 signatures to this petition are the names of 79 (out of about 300) planters of the island, and that about nine-tenths of the signatures are those of professional and other gentlemen and persons belonging to the various classes of shopkeepers and employés. The petition, therefore, is an influential one, and it has received from Her Majesty's Government the careful consideration which it deserves. I have also before me a counter petition purporting to be signed by about 7,000 of the Indian population, stating their objections to the introduction of an elective element into the Council. With respect to this latter petition I must agree with Mr. Napier Broome, that few of those who signed it can understand the political questions

involved.

• No. 5 in Eastern No. 39.

↑ Nos. 1 to 7 in Eastern No. 89.

A 8

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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