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 main- 
land 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 repre- 
sentation of the island in the legislature. No other altera- 
tion 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. Nego- 
tiations 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 Do- 
minion from the 20th July, 1871. 
See Appendix.