BRITISH COLUMBIA.

31

The seat of government in British Columbia had been
fixed by the 21 & 22 Vic. (i) c. 99 at New Westminster, but
Victoria in Vancouver's Island was fixed as the Governor's
residence. The complaints of the inhabitants of the mainland
 regarding the continual absence of the Governor from
the seat of government led to the passing of the 26 & 27
Vic. (i) c. 83 establishing separate governments at Victoria
and New Westminster.
In 1865 the legislature of the island adopted a series of
resolutions in favour of union with British Columbia, and by
the Imperial Act 29 & 30 Vic. (i) c¢. 67 the two colonies
were united. The power and authority of the executive
government and of the legislature of British Columbia was
extended over the island, and the number of Councillors was
increased from 15 to 23 in order to provide for the representation
 of the island in the legislature. No other alteration
 was made in the constitution of the legislature, which
until the admission of the colony into the union continued to
consist of the Governor and a Council.
Though British Columbia was not represented at the Admis.
Quebec Conference, the legislative Council on the 18th March, ng
1868, unanimously adopted a resolution expressing the desire Dominion.
that the province should be admitted into the union. Negotiations
 were entered into with the Dominion and resolutions
embodying the terms and conditions agreed upon were
adopted by the Dominion Parliament on the 31st March,
1871, and by the legislature of British Columbia.
By an Order in Council dated the 16th day of May, 1871",
British Columbia was declared to be a province of the Dominion
 from the 20th July, 1871.

See Appendix.