CO885-(15-16) — Page 136

28329.

No. 100.

(GOLD COAST.)

། ༴།། ‛། |

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

ण

Reference :-

C.O. 885

15 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SIR,

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Royal Courts of Justice,

August 14th, 1901.

WE were honoured with your commands, signified in Mr. R. L. Antrobus's letter of the 23rd ultimo stating that, with reference to the Attorney General's Report of 5th February last relating to certain Drafts of Orders in Council and instructions providing for the Government of certain territories on the West Coast of Africa, he was directed by you to inform us that those instruments were submitted to the Governor of the Gold Coast, and to transmit to us a despatch which had been received from him represent- ing that certain amendments were desirable in the Instruments.

That with reference to Draft " A," referred to in the Report above mentioned, the Governor had represented that it was desirable that Sefwhi and Kwahu should be included in the Colony of the Gold Coast, and that the boundaries set forth in Art. 11 of the Draft Order in Council marked "A" had been amended accordingly. That that amendment rendered it unnecessary to proceed further with the Drafts "B" and “C” dealt with in that Report, which provided for the establishment of two separate Protectorates in Sefwhi and Kwahu.

That with regard to Draft " D," relating to the Government of Ashanti, the Governor had represented that it was desirable that Ashanti should be annexed to His Majesty's Dominions, and that His Majesty's Government had decided that that step should be taken, and that accordingly Draft "D" had been amended to provide for the annexation of Ashanti, and for the exercise by the Governor of the Gold Coast of His Majesty's power of legislation in that country. That it would be observed that in that draft and also in Draft "E" the laws to be enacted had been entitled Ordinances instead of Proclainations, as in the previous draft.

That in Article XI. it had been found necessary, owing to the fact that the Governor would ordinarily be at a great distance from Kumassi, to provide for the Chief Com- missioner exercising His Majesty's prerogative of pardon as reference to the Governor of the Gold Coast would cause serious delay and inconvenience in the administration of justice.

That with regard to Draft "E," viz., the instructions to the Governor of the Gold Coast with regard to Ashanti, it had been found necessary to omit clauses 7 and 8 of Article II. in view of the delay which would occur in submitting every Draft Ordinance for the consideration of the Secretary of State before it was passed. That several verbal ainendments had also been made in Article VI. of Draft "E" in view of representations made by the Chief Justice of the Gold Coast, who was in this country, and to whom the drafts had been referred.

That with regard to Draft "F," namely, the Order in Council providing for the Government of the Northern Territories, and Draft "G," Instructions to the Governor of the Gold Coast with respect to the administration of the Northern Territories, the same amendments had been made as had above been alluded to with respect to Drafts "D" and "E."

That Draft "H" remained unaltered.

That Mr. Antrobus was to request us to report to you whether, in our opinion, the drafts as amended were fit and proper for the purposes for which they were intended. We have taken the papers into our consideration, and, in obedience to your commands, have the honour to

Report―

16

That, as altered and initialled by us, the accompanying Draftst A," " D," " E," "F," "G," and "H," as amended, are, in our opinion, fit and proper for the for which they are intended.

The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P.

• No. 694.

We have, &c.,

purposes

R. B. FINLAY. EDWARD CARSON.

↑ The drafta initialled by the Law Officers are attached to 28,329. 0757-28-8/1901 W 352 D & S 5