CHAP. 1] ORIGIN AND HISTORY 37
of the Crown on the understanding that the moneys received
should form a fund for the benefit of the Colony which
ultimately would be there established. They were not pre-
pared to divide the Colony, for the scanty population of the
north could not afford to pay for an administration, and
the Imperial Government were not prepared to place it on
the Imperial estimates. The lands south of the Murchison
would be subject to the full measure of Colonial control.
On January 3, 1888 a further dispatch was sent, depre-
cating any attempt to introduce a power to override an
Upper House, and suggesting that a nominee body would
be better in the first instance, unless the example of Ontario
were followed and only one chamber was created, which
the Secretary of State was apparently inclined to favour
at the start. Approval was expressed of the proposal to
safeguard the natives, and stress was laid on the need of
a Civil List for the salaries of the Governor, the judges, and
three or four ministers. The Governor replied in a dispatch
of May 28, 18882 in which he summed up the position :
the Legislative Council were opposed to one chamber, and
80 was he; Ontario was not a full Colony; again, all the
other States had bicameral legislatures, and a check on
hasty legislation was desirable. They objected to any
reservation regarding the natives, but he felt that that was
essential, and would relieve the ministers of much undesir-
able pressure from interested parties. He agreed with the
Council that there was nothing to be gained from treating
in any differential manner the proceeds of land leased in
the north, especially as the sums coming in were less
than the expenses.
In a reply of July 30, 18883 the Secretary of State stated
that he adhered to his view as to the proceeds of lands in
the north, and the control of the Imperial Government over
them : he agreed to a bicameral system, but preferred a
nominee Upper House appointed for six years; he also
thought that responsible government should be proceeded
* Parl Pap., C. 5743, p. 25. Thid., pp. 34 seq.
Ibid., p. 53.
