1879
Order Of Her Majesty In Council
Admitting Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory into the
Union
At the Court at Windsor, the 23rd day of June, 1870.
Present:
The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty Lord President Lord Privy
Seal Lord Chamberlain Mr. Gladstone
Whereas by the British North America Act, 1867, it was
(amongst other things) enacted that it should be lawful for the
Queen, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Most Honourable
Privy Council, on Address from the Houses of the Parliament of
Canada, to admit Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory,
or either of them, into the Union on such terms and conditions
in each case as should be in the Addresses expressed, and as the
Queen should think fit to approve, subject to the provisions of
said Act. And it was further enacted that the provisions of any
Order in Council in that behalf should have effect as if they
had been enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland:
And whereas by an Address from the Houses of the Parliament
of Canada, of which Address a copy is contained in the Schedule
to this Order annexed, marked A, Her Majesty was prayed, by and
with the advice of Her Most Honourable Privy Council, to unite
Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory with the Dominion
of Canada, and to grant to the Parliament of Canada authority to
legislate for their future welfare and good government upon the
terms and conditions therein stated:
And whereas by the Rupert's Land Act, 1868, it was (amongst
other things) enacted that it should be competent for the
Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into
Hudson's Bay (hereinafter called the Company) to surrender to
Her Majesty, and for Her Majesty, by any Instrument under Her
Sign Manual and Signet to accept a surrender of all or any of
the lands, territories, rights, privileges, liberties,
franchises, powers, and authorities whatsoever, granted or
purported to be granted by certain Letters Patent therein
recited to the said Company within Rupert's Land, upon such
terms and conditions as should be agreed upon by and between Her
Majesty and the said Company; provided, however, that such
surrender should not be accepted by Her Majesty until the terms
and conditions upon which Rupert's Land should be admitted into
the said Dominion of Canada should have been approved of by Her
Majesty and embodied in an Address to Her Majesty from both the
Houses of Parliament of Canada, in pursuance of the 146th
Section of the British North America Act, 1867.
And it was by the same Act further enacted that it should be
competent to Her Majesty, by Order or Orders in Council, on
Addresses from the Houses of the Parliament of Canada, to
declare that Rupert's Land should, from a date to be therein
mentioned, be admitted into and become a part of the Dominion of
Canada;
And whereas a second Address from both the Houses of the
Parliament of Canada has been received by Her Majesty praying
that Her Majesty will be pleased under the provisions of the
hereinbefore recited Acts, to unite Rupert's Land on the terms
and conditions expressed in certain Resolutions therein referred
to and approved of by Her Majesty, of which said Resolutions and
Address copies are contained in the Schedule to this Order
annexed, marked B, and also to unite the North-Western Territory
with the Dominion of Canada, as prayed for by and on the terms
and conditions contained in the hereinbefore first recited
Address, and also approved of by Her Majesty:
And whereas a draft surrender has been submitted to the
Governor General of Canada containing stipulations to the
following effect, viz:
1. The sum of 300,000l. (being the sum hereinafter mentioned)
shall be paid by the Canadian Government into the Bank of
England to the credit of the Company within six calendar months
after acceptance of the surrender aforesaid, with interest on
the said sum at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, computed from
the date of such acceptance until the time of such payment.
2. The size of the blocks which the Company are to select
adjoining each of their forts in the Red River limits, shall be
as follows:
Acres
Upper Fort Garry and town of Winnipeg, including the inclosed
park around shop and ground at entrance to the
town......................500
Lower Fort Garry (including the farm the Company now have
under cultivation)......................500
White Horse Plain.......................500
3. The deduction to be made as hereinafter mentioned from the
price of the materials of the Electric Telegraph, in respect of
deterioration thereof, is to be certified within three calendar
months from such acceptance as aforesaid by the agents of the
Company in charge of the depots where the materials are stored.
And the said price is to be paid by the Canadian Government into
the Bank of England to the credit of the Company within six
calendar months of such acceptance, with interest at the rate of
5 per cent per annum on the amount of such price, computed from
the date of such acceptance until the time of payment:
And whereas the said draft was on the fifth day of July, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, approved by the said
Governor General in accordance with a Report from the Committee
of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; but it was not
expedient that the said stipulations, not being contained in the
aforesaid second Address, should be included in the surrender by
the said Company to Her Majesty of their rights aforesaid or in
this Order in Council.
And whereas the said Company did by deed under the seal of
the said Company, and bearing date the nineteenth day of
November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, of which
deed a copy is contained in the Schedule to this Order annexed,
marked C, surrender to Her Majesty all the rights of government,
and other rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and
authorities granted, or purported to be granted to the said
Company by the said Letters Patent herein and hereinbefore
referred to, and also all similar rights which may have been
exercised or assumed by the said Company in any parts of British
North America not forming parts of Rupert's Land, or of Canada
or of British Columbia, and all the lands and territories
(except and subject as in the terms and conditions therein
mentioned) granted or purported to be granted to the said
Company by the said Letters Patent:
And whereas such surrender has been duly accepted by Her
Majesty, by an instrument under Her Sign Manual and Signet,
bearing the date at Windsor the twenty-second day of June, one
thousand eight hundred and seventy:
It is hereby Ordered and declared by Her Majesty, by and with
the advice of the Privy Council, in pursuance and exercise of
the powers vested in Her Majesty by the said Acts of Parliament,
that from and after the fifteenth day of July, one thousand
eight hundred and seventy, the said North-Western Territory
shall be admitted into and become part of the Dominion of Canada
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the first
hereinbefore recited Address, and that the Parliament of Canada
shall from the day aforesaid have full powers and authority to
legislate for the future welfare and good government of the said
Territory. And it is further ordered that, without prejudice to
any obligations arising from the aforesaid approved Report,
Rupert's Land shall from and after the said date be admitted
into and become part of the Dominion of Canada upon the
following terms and conditions, being the terms and conditions
still remaining to be performed of those embodied in the said
second address of the Parliament of Canada, and approved by Her
Majesty as aforesaid:
1. Canada is to pay to the Company 300,000l, when Rupert's
Land is transferred to the Dominion of Canada.
2. The Company are to retain the posts they actually occupy
in the North-Western Territory, and may, within twelve months of
the surrender, select a block of land adjoining each of its
posts within any part of British North America not comprised in
Canada and British Columbia, in conformity, except as regards
the Red River Territory, with a list made out by the Company and
communicated to the Canadian Ministers, being the list in the
Schedule of the aforesaid Deed of Surrender. The actual survey
is to be proceeded with, with all convenient speed.
3. The size of each block not to exceed [10] acres round
Upper Fort Garry, [300] acres round Lower Fort Garry; in the
rest of the Red River Territory a number of acres to be settled
at once between the Governor in Council and the Company, but so
that the aggregate extent of the blocks is not to exceed 50,000
acres.
4. So far as the configuration of the country admits the
blocks shall front the river or road by which means of access
are provided, and shall be approximately in the shape of
parallelograms, of which the frontage shall not be more than
half the depth.
5. The Company may, for fifty years after the surrender,
claim in any township or district within the Fertile Belt, in
which land is set out for settlement, grants of land not
exceeding one twentieth part of the land so set out. The blocks
so granted to be determined by lot, and the Company to pay a
rateable share of the survey expenses, not exceeding 8 cents
Canadian an acre. The Company may defer the exercise of this
right of claiming the proportion of each township for not more
than ten years after it is set out; but their claim must be
limited to an allotment from the lands remaining unsold at the
time they declare their intention to make it.
6. For the purpose of the last Article, the Fertile Belt is
to be bounded as follows: -- On the south by the United States
boundary; on the west by the Rocky Mountains; on the north by
the northern branch of the Saskatchewan; on the east by Lake
Winnipeg, the Lake of the Woods, and the waters connecting them.
7. If any township shall be formed abutting on the north bank
of the northern branch of the Saskatchewan River, the Company
may take their one-twentieth of any such township, which for the
purpose of this article shall not extend more than five miles
inland from the river, giving to the Canadian Dominion an equal
quantity of the portion of lands coming to them of townships
established in the southern bank.
8. In laying out any public roads, canals, etc., through any
block of land reserved to the Company, the Canadian Government
may take, without compensation, such lands as is necessary for
the purpose, not exceeding one twenty-fifth of the total acreage
of the block; but if the Canadian Government require any land
which is actually under cultivation, or which has been built
upon, or which is necessary for giving the Company's servants
access to any river or lake, or as a frontage to any river or
lake, they shall pay to the Company the fair value of the same,
and shall make compensation for any injury done to the Company
or their servants.
9. It is understood that the whole of the land to be
appropriated within the meaning of the last preceding clause
shall be appropriated for public purposes.
10. All titles to land up to the eighth day of March, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, conferred by the Company
are to be confirmed.
11. The Company is to be at liberty to carry on its trade
without hindrance in its corporate capacity, and no exceptional
tax is to be placed on the Company's land, trade or servants,
nor any import duties on goods introduced by them previous to
the surrender.
12. Canada is to take over the materials of the electric
telegraph at cost price -- such price including transport, but
not including interest for money, and subject to a deduction for
ascertained deterioration.
13. The Company's claim to land under agreements of Messrs.
Vankoughnet and Hopkins to be withdrawn.
14. Any claims of Indians to compensation for lands required
for purposes of settlement shall be disposed of by the Canadian
Government in communication with the Imperial Government; and
the Company shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect
of them.
15. The Governor in Council is authorized and empowered to
arrange any details that may be necessary to carry out the above
terms and conditions.
And the Right Honourable Earl Granville, one of Her Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary
directions herein accordingly.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE (A)
Address to HER MAJESTY the QUEEN from the Senate and House of
Commons of the Dominion of Canada To the Queen's Most Excellent
Majesty
Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the
Senate and Commons of the Dominion of Canada in Parliament
assembled, humbly approach your Majesty for the purpose of
representing: That it would promote the prosperity of the
Canadian people, and conduce to the advantage of the whole
Empire, if the Dominion of Canada, constituted under the
provisions of the British North America Act, 1867, were extended
westward to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. That the
colonization of the fertile lands of the Saskatchewan, the
Assiniboine, and the Red River districts; the development of the
mineral wealth which abounds in the region of the Northwest; and
the extension of commercial intercourse through the British
possessions in America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, are
alike dependent on the establishment of a stable government for
the maintenance of law and order in the North- Western
Territories. That the welfare of a sparse and widely scattered
population of British subjects of European origin, already
inhabiting these remote and unorganized territories, would be
materially enhanced by the formation therein of political
institutions bearing analogy, as far as circumstances will
admit, to those which exist in the several Provinces of this
Dominion. That the 146th section of the British North America
Act, 1867, provides for the admission of Rupert's Land and the
North- Western Territory, or either of them, into union with
Canada, upon the terms and conditions to be expressed in
addresses from the Houses of Parliament of this Dominion to your
Majesty, and which shall be approved of by your Majesty in
Council. That we do therefore most humbly pray that your Majesty
will be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of your Most
Honourable Privy Council, to unite Rupert's Land and the North-
Western Territory with this Dominion, and to grant to the
Parliament of Canada authority to legislate for their future
welfare and good government; and we most humbly beg to express
to your Majesty that we are willing to assume the duties and
obligations of government and legislation as regards these
territories. That in the event of your Majesty's Government
agreeing to transfer to Canada the jurisdiction and control over
the said region, the Government and Parliament of Canada will be
ready to provide that the legal rights of any corporation,
company or individual within the same shall be respected, and
placed under the protection of Courts of competent jurisdiction.
And furthermore that, upon the transference of the territories
in question to the Canadian Government, the claims of the Indian
tribes to compensation for lands required for purposes of
settlement will be considered and settled in conformity with the
equitable principles which have uniformly governed the British
Crown in its dealings with the aborigines.
All which we humbly pray your Majesty to take into your
Majesty's Most gracious and favourable consideration.
The Senate, Tuesday, December 17th, 1867. (Signed) JOSEPH
CAUCHON, Speaker.
House of Commons, Monday, December 16th, 1867. (Signed) JAMES
COCKBURN, Speaker.
SCHEDULE (B)
1. Resolutions
May 28th, 1869.
Resolved, -- That the Senate and Commons of the Dominion of
Canada during the first session of the first Parliament of
Canada, adopted an Address to Her Majesty, praying that Her
Majesty would be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of
Her Most Honourable Privy Council, under the provisions of the
146th section of The British North America Act, 1867; and on the
terms specified in the Address, to unite Rupert's Land and the
North-West Territory with this Dominion, and to grant to the
Parliament of Canada authority to legislate for their future
welfare and good government, and assuring Her Majesty of the
willingness of the Parliament of Canada to assume the duties and
obligations of government and legislation as regard those
territories.
Resolved, -- That the Joint Address of the Senate and Commons
of Canada was duly laid at the foot of the throne, and that Her
Majesty, by despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, to the Governor General of Canada, under
date of the 23rd of April, 1868, signified Her willingness to
comply with the prayer of the said Address; but She was advised
that the requisite powers of government and legislation could
not, consistently with the existing charter of the Hudson's Bay
Company, be transferred to Canada without an Act of Parliament,
which Act was subsequently passed by the Imperial Parliament and
received Her Majesty's Assent on the 31st July, 1868.
Resolved, -- That by despatch dated 8th August, 1868, from
the Honourable Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Governor
General was informed, that in pursuance of the powers conferred
by the Act for the surrender of the Hudson Bay Territories to
Her Majesty, he proposed to enter into negotiations with the
Company as to the terms of such surrender, whereupon under
authority of an order of the Governor-General in Council of the
1st October, 1868, the Honourable Sir Georges-E. Cartier,
Baronet, and the Honourable William MacDougall, C.B., were
appointed a Delegation to England, to arrange the terms for the
acquisition by Canada of Rupert's Land, and by another Order in
Council of the same date, were authorized to arrange for the
admission of the North-West Territory into union with Canada,
either with or without Rupert's Land, as it might be found
practicable and expedient.
Resolved, -- That the Delegates proceeded on their mission to
England and entered into negotiations with His Grace the Duke of
Buckingham and Chandos, the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
and afterwards with the Right Honourable Earl Granville, his
successor in office, for the acquisition by Canada of the
territorial and other rights claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company
in Rupert's Land, and in any other part of British North
America, not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British
Columbia. That terms of agreement were conditionally assented to
by the Delegates on behalf of the Dominion, and on their return
to Canada were submitted with a Report dated 8th May, 1869,
which was approved by His Excellency the Governor in Council, on
the 14th day of the same month.
Resolved, -- That the Senate will be prepared to concur in
accepting the transfer of the territorial and other rights of
the Hudson's Bay Company in Rupert's Land, and in any other part
of British North America, not comprised in Rupert's Land,
Canada, or British Columbia, on the terms conditionally agreed
to on behalf of the Government of Canada, by the Hon. Sir
Georges-E. Cartier, Baronet, and the Hon. William MacDougall,
C.B., and on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company, by Sir Stafford
H. Northcote, Governor of that Company, and approved by His
Excellency in Council as aforesaid, which terms are set forth in
a letter from Sir Fredric Rogers, Under-Secretary of State for
the Colonies, of the 9th March, 1869, communicated to the
Delegates by Direction of Earl Granville, and in two subsequent
Memorandums dated respectively 22nd and 29th March, 1869,
containing a modification of such terms, and are in the words
and figures following:
"Terms, as stated in the Letter from Sir Fredric Rogers, of
March, 1869.
"1. The Hudson's Bay Company to surrender to Her Majesty all
the rights of Government, property, etc., in Rupert's Land which
are specified in 31-32 Vict., chapter 105, section 4; and also
all similar rights in any other part of British North America,
not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British Columbia. "2.
Canada is to pay to the Company 300,000l., when Rupert's Land is
transferred to the Dominion of Canada. "3. The Company may,
within twelve months of the surrender, select a block of land
adjoining each of its stations, within the limits specified in
Article 1. "4. The size of the blocks not to exceed
......................acres in the Red River Territory, and the
aggregate extent of the blocks is not to exceed 50,000 acres.
"5. So far as the configuration of the country admits, the
blocks are to be in the shape of parallelograms, of which the
length is not more than doubled the breadth. "6. The Hudson's
Bay Company may, for fifty years after the surrender, claim in
any township or district within the Fertile Belt in which land
is set out for settlement, select grants of land, not exceeding
one-twentieth of the land so set out. The blocks so granted to
be determined by lot, and the Hudson's Bay Company to pay a
rateable share of the survey expenses, not
exceeding......................an acre. "7. For the purpose of
the present agreement, the Fertile Belt is to be bounded as
follows: -- On the south by the United States' boundary; on the
west by the Rocky Mountains; on the north by the northern branch
of the Saskatchewan; on the east by Lake Winnipeg, the Lake of
the Woods, and the waters connecting them. "8. All titles to
land up to the 8th March, 1869, conferred by the Company are to
be confirmed. "9. The Company is to be at liberty to carry on
its trade without hindrance, in its corporate capacity and no
exceptional tax is to be placed on the Company's land, trade or
servants, nor any import duty on goods introduced by them
previous to the surrender. "10. Canada is to take over the
materials of the electric telegraph at cost price, such price
including transport but not including interest for money, and
subject to a deduction for ascertained deteriorations. "11. The
Company's claim to land under agreement of Messrs. Vankoughnet
and Hopkins to be withdrawn. "12. The details of this
arrangement, including the filling up the blanks in Articles 4
and 6, to be settled at once by mutual agreement."
"MEMORANDUM
"Details of Agreement between the Delegates of the Government
of the Dominion, and the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company.
"1. It is understood that, in surrendering to Her Majesty,
all the rights, etc., of the Company in any part of British
North America not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada or British
Columbia, the Company are to retain the posts they actually
occupy in the North-West Territory. "2. It is understood that it
will be a sufficient act of selection under Article III, that
the Company should, within twelve months, name the number of
acres which they will require adjoining each post. The actual
survey to be proceeded with, with all convenient speed. "3. It
is understood that in the Red River Settlement, the size of the
blocks to be retained round Upper Fort Garry shall not exceed
(10) acres; and that round Lower Fort Garry shall not exceed
(300) acres. "4. It is understood that a list of the stations
round which the Company will require blocks of land, with the
size of the blocks they will require, shall be made out
forthwith, and communicated to the Canadian Ministers. "5. It is
understood that Article V, shall be construed to mean that the
blocks shall front the river or road, by which means of access
are provided, and shall be approximately in the form of
parallelograms, of which the frontage shall be more than half
the depth. "6. It is understood that the Company may defer the
exercise of their right of claiming their proportion of each
township for not more than ten years after it is set out; but
their claim must be limited to an allotment from the lands
remaining unsold at the time they declare their intention to
make it. "7. It is understood that the Blank in Article 6 shall
be filled up with 8 cents (Canadian). "8. It is understood that
any claim of Indians to compensation for lands required for
purposes of settlement shall be disposed of by the Canadian
Government, in communication with the Imperial Government, and
that the Company shall be relieved of all responsibility in
respect of them.
(Signed) "STAFFORD H. NORTHCOTE "G.-E. CARTIER "W. MacDOUGALL
"March 22, 1869."
"Memorandum of a further Agreement between Sir Geo.-E.
Cartier and Sir Stafford Northcote.
"Inasmuch as the northern branch of the Saskatchewan River is
the northern boundary of the Fertile Belt, and therefore any
land on the northern bank is not within the territory of which
the Company are to have one-twentieth part, it is understood
that, in forming the townships abutting on the northern bank,
the Company shall be at liberty to take their one-twentieth of
any such townships, giving up to the Canadian Dominion an equal
quantity of the portion of lands coming to them of townships
established on the southern bank.
"It is understood that the townships on the northern bank
shall not for the above purpose extend more than five miles
inland from the river.
"It is understood that, in laying out any public roads,
canals, etc., through any block of land reserved to the Company,
the Canadian Government may take, without compensation, such
land as is necessary for the purpose, not exceeding
one-twentyfifth of the total acreage of the block; but if the
Canadian Government require any land which is actually under
cultivation, or which has been built upon, or which is necessary
for giving the Company's servants access to any river or lake,
or as a frontage to any river or lake, they shall pay the
Company the fair value of the same, and shall make compensation
for any injury done to the Company or their servants.
"It is understood that the whole of the land to be
appropriated within the meaning of the last preceding clause
shall be appropriated for public purposes.
(Signed) "GEO.-E. CARTIER "STAFFORD NORTHCOTE
"London, March 29, 1869."
Resolved, -- That this House learns with satisfaction, by
letter from the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, of
9th March last, that, in fulfillment of the expectations held
out in Mr. Cardwell's despatch of 17th June, 1865, Her Majesty's
Government will be prepared to propose to Parliament that the
Imperial guarantee be given to a loan of 300,000l., the amount
which is proposed to be paid over by Canada on the transfer of
the Company's rights.
Resolved, -- That the Senate will be ready to concur with the
House of Commons in an Address to Her Majesty, that she will be
graciously pleased, by and with the advice of Her Most
Honourable Privy Council, under the 146th clause of The British
North America Act, 1867, and the provisions of the Imperial Act,
31-32 Vict., chapter 105, to unite Rupert's Land on the terms
and conditions expressed in the foregoing Resolutions, and also
to unite the North-Western Territory with the Dominion of
Canada, as prayed for by, and on the terms and conditions
contained in the joint Address of the Senate and the House of
Commons of Canada, adopted during the first session of the first
Parliament of Canada, and hereinbefore referred to.
Resolved, -- That upon the transference of the territories in
question to the Canadian Government, it will be the duty of the
Government to make adequate provision for the protection of the
Indian tribes whose interests and well-being are involved in the
transfer.
Resolved, -- That the Governor in Council be authorized and
empowered to arrange any details, that may be necessary to carry
out the terms and conditions of the above agreement.
2. Address
To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the
Senate and Commons of the Dominion of Canada in Parliament
assembled, humbly approach your Majesty for the purpose of
representing:
That during the first session of the first Parliament of this
Dominion, we adopted an Address to your Majesty, praying that
your Majesty would be graciously pleased, by and with the advice
of Your Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council under the
provisions of the 146th Section of the British North America
Act, 1867, and on the terms specified in that Address, to unite
Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory with this Dominion,
and to grant to the Parliament of Canada authority to legislate
for their future welfare and good government, and assuring your
Majesty of the willingness of the Parliament of Canada to assume
the duties and obligations of government and legislation as
regards those territories.
That our joint Address was duly laid at the foot of the
Throne, and that your Majesty by despatch from the Right
Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor General of Canada, under date of the 23rd April, 1868,
signified your Majesty's willingness to comply with the prayer
of the said Address, but that your Majesty was advised that the
requisite powers of government and legislation could not,
consistently with the existing charter of the Hudson's Bay
Company, be transferred to Canada without an Act of Parliament,
which Act was subsequently passed by the Imperial Parliament,
and received your Majesty's assent on the 31st July, 1868.
That by a despatch dated 8th August, 1868, from the
Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Governor
General was informed that in pursuance of the powers conferred
by the Act for the surrender of the Hudson's Bay territories to
your Majesty he proposed to enter into negotiations with the
company as to the terms of such surrender, whereupon, under
authority of an Order of the Governor General in Council of the
1st October, 1868, the Honourable Sir Georges-E. Cartier,
Baronet, and the Honourable William MacDougall, C.B., were
appointed a delegation to England to arrange the terms for the
acquisition by Canada of Rupert's Land, and by another Order in
Council of the same date, were authorized to arrange for the
admission of the North-West Territory into union with Canada
either with or without Rupert's Land, as might be found
practicable and expedient.
That the delegates proceeded on their mission to England, and
entered into negotiations with His Grace the Duke of Buckingham
and Chandos, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and
afterwards with the Right Honourable Earl Granville, his
successor in office, for the acquisition by Canada of the
territorial and other rights claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company
in Rupert's Land, and in any other part of British North America
not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada or British Columbia, on
the terms conditionally agreed to on behalf of the Government of
Canada by the Honourable Georges-E. Cartier, Baronet, and the
Honourable William MacDougall, C.B., and on behalf of the
Hudson's Bay Company by Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Governor of
that Company, and approved by His Excellency in Council as
aforesaid, which terms are set forth in a letter from Sir
Fredric Rogers, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies , of
the 9th March, 1869, communicated to the delegates by direction
of Earl Granville, and in two subsequent Memorandums dated
respectively 22nd and 29th March, 1869, containing a
modification of such terms, and are in the words and figures
following:
"Terms, as stated in the Letter from Sir Fredric Rogers of
9th March, 1869.
(These terms as set forth on pages 146, 147 supra are here
recited at length.)
"Memorandum
"Details of Agreement between the Delegates of the Government
of the Dominion and the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company.
(This memorandum as set forth on pages 147, 148 supra is here
recited at length.)
"Memorandum of a further Agreement between Sir Geo.-E.
Cartier and Sir Stafford Northcote.
(This memorandum, also above set forth is here recited at
length.)
That we learn with satisfaction by letter from the Under-
Secretary of State for the Colonies, of the 9th March last,
that, in fulfillment of the expectations held out in Mr.
Caldwell's despatch of the 17th of June, 1865, your Majesty's
Government will be prepared by propose to Parliament that the
Imperial guarantee be given to a loan of 300,000l. the amount
which is proposed to be paid over by Canada on the transfer of
the Company's rights.
That upon the transference of the territories in question to
the Canadian Government it will be our duty to make adequate
provision for the protection of the Indian tribes whose
interests and well-being are involved in the transfer, and we
authorize and empower the Governor in Council to arrange any
details that may be necessary to carry out the terms and
conditions of the above agreement.
We therefore most humbly pray that your Majesty will be
graciously pleased, by and with the advice of your Most
Honourable Privy Council, under the 146th clause of the British
North America Act, 1867, and the provisions of the Imperial Act
31-32 Vict., chapter 105, to unite Rupert's Land on the terms
and conditions expressed in the foregoing resolutions and also
to unite the North-Western Territory with the Dominion of Canada
as prayed for by and on the terms and conditions contained in
our joint Address adopted during the first session of the first
Parliament of this Dominion, and hereinbefore referred to.
The Senate, Monday, May 31, 1869. (Signed) JOSEPH CAUCHON,
Speaker.
House of Commons, Ottawa, May 29, 1869. (Signed) JAMES
COCKBURN, Speaker.
SCHEDULE (C)
The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading
into Hudson's Bay to HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.
DEED OF SURRENDER
To all whom these presents shall come unto, or concern, the
Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, trading into
Hudson's Bay, send greeting.
Whereas the said Government and Company were established and
incorporated by their said name of "The Governor and Company of
Adventurers of England, trading into Hudson's Bay," by Letters
Patent granted by His late Majesty King Charles the Second in
the twenty-second year of his reign, whereby His said Majesty
granted unto the said company and their successors the sole
trade and commerce of all those seas, straits, bays, rivers,
lakes, creeks and sounds in whatsoever latitude they should be,
that lay within the entrance of the straits commonly called
Hudson's Straits together with all the lands and territories
upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, bays,
lakes, rivers, creeks, and sounds aforesaid that were not
already actually possessed by, or granted to, any of His
Majesty's subjects, or possessed by the subjects of any other
Christian Prince or State, and that the said land should be from
thenceforth reckoned and reputed as one of His Majesty's
Plantations or Colonies in America, called Rupert's Land; and
whereby His said Majesty made and constituted the said Governor
and Company and their successors the absolute lords and
proprietors of the same territory, limits and places aforesaid,
and of all other the premises saving the faith, allegiance and
sovereign dominion due to His said Majesty, his heirs and
successors for the same; and grant to the said Governor and
Company and their successors, such rights of Government and
other rights, privileges and liberties, franchises, powers and
authorities in Rupert's Land as therein expressed. And whereas
ever since the date of the said Letters Patent, the said
Governor and Company have exercised and enjoyed the sole right
thereby granted of such trade and commerce as therein mentioned,
and have exercised and enjoyed other rights, privileges,
liberties, franchises, powers, and authorities thereby granted;
and the said Governor and Company may have exercised or assumed
rights of Government in other parts of British North America nor
forming part of Rupert's Land, or of Canada, or of British
Columbia. And whereas by the British North America Act, 1867, it
is (amongst other things) enacted that it shall be lawful for
Her present Majesty Queen Victoria, by and with the advice and
consent of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, on
address from the Houses of Parliament of Canada, to admit
Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territories or either of
them into the Union of the Dominion of Canada on such terms and
conditions as are in the Address expressed, and as Her Majesty
thinks fit to approve, subject the provisions of the said Act.
And whereas, by the Rupert's Land Act, 1868, it is enacted
(amongst other things) that for the purposes of that Act the
term "Rupert's Land" shall include the whole of the lands and
territories held or claimed to be held by the said Governor and
Company, and that it shall be competent for the said Governor
and Company to surrender to Her Majesty, and for Her Majesty, by
any instrument under Her Sign Manual and Signet to accept a
surrender of all or any of the lands, territories, rights,
privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and authorities
whatsoever, granted or purported to be granted by the said
Letters Patent to the said Governor and Company within Rupert's
Land, upon such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon by
and between Her Majesty and the said Governor and Company;
provided, however, that such surrender shall not be accepted by
Her Majesty until the terms and conditions upon which Rupert's
Land shall be admitted into the said Dominion of Canada shall
have been approved of by Her Majesty, and embodied in an Address
to Her Majesty from the Houses of the Parliament of Canada, in
pursuance of the 146th Section of the British North America Act,
1867, and that upon the acceptance by Her Majesty of such
surrender, all rights of Government and proprietary rights, and
all other privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and
authorities whatsoever, granted or purported to be granted by
the said Letters Patent to the said Governor and Company within
Rupert's Land, and which shall have been so surrendered, shall
be absolutely extinguished, provided that nothing in the said
Act contained shall prevent the said Governor and Company from
continuing to carry on in Rupert's Land or elsewhere trade and
commerce. And whereas Her said Majesty Queen Victoria and the
said Governor and Company have agreed to terms and conditions
upon which the said Governor and Company shall surrender to Her
said Majesty, pursuant to the provisions in that behalf in the
Rupert's Land Act, 1868, contained, all the rights of Government
and other rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and
authorities, and all the lands and territories (except and
subject as in the said terms and conditions expressed or
mentioned) granted or purported to be granted by the said
Letters Patent, and also all similar rights which have been
exercised or assumed by the said Governor and Company in any
parts of British North America not forming part of Rupert's
Land, or of Canada, or of British Columbia, in order and to the
intent that, after such surrender has been effected and accepted
under the provisions of the last-mentioned Act, the said
Rupert's Land may be admitted into the Union of the Dominion of
Canada, pursuant to the hereinbefore mentioned Acts or one of
them. And whereas the said terms and conditions on which it has
been agreed that the said surrender is to be made by the said
Governor and Company (who are in the following articles
designated as the Company) to Her said Majesty are as follows
(that is to say):
1. The Canadian Government shall pay to the Company the sum
of 300,000l. sterling when Rupert's Land is transferred to the
Dominion of Canada.
2. The Company to retain all the posts or stations now
actually possessed and occupied by them or their officers or
agents whether in Rupert's Land or any other part of British
North America, and may within twelve months after the acceptance
of the said surrender select a block of land adjoining each of
their posts or stations, within any part of British North
America, not comprised in Canada and British Columbia in
conformity, except as regards the Red River Territory, with a
list made out by the Company and communicated to the Canadian
Ministers, being the list in the annexed schedule. The actual
survey is to be proceeded with, with all convenient sped.
3. The size of each block is not to exceed in the Red River
Territory an amount to be agreed upon between the Company and
the Governor of Canada in Council.
4. So far as the configuration of the country admits, the
blocks shall front the river or road by which means of access
are provided, and shall be approximately in the shape of
parallelograms, and of which the frontage shall not be more than
half the depth.
5. The Company may, at any time within fifty years after such
acceptance of the said surrender, claim in any township or
district within the fertile belt in which land is set out for
settlements, grants of land not exceeding one-twentieth part of
the land so set out; the blocks so granted to be determined by
lot, and the Company to pay a rateable share of the survey
expenses, not exceeding 8 cents Canadian an acre. The Company
may defer the exercise of their right of claiming their
proportion of each township or district for not more than ten
years after it is set out, but their claim must be limited to an
allotment from the lands remaining unsold at the time they
declare their intention to make it.
6. For the purpose of the last article the fertile belt is to
be bounded as follows: -- On the south by the United States'
boundary; on the west by the Rocky Mountains; on the north by
the Northern Branch of the Saskatchewan River; on the east by
Lake Winnipeg, the Lake of the Woods and the waters connecting
them.
7. If any township shall be formed abutting on the north bank
of the northern branch of the Saskatchewan River, the Company
may take their one-twentieth of any such township, which, for
the purpose of this article, shall not extend more than five
miles inland from the river, giving to the Canadian Dominion an
equal quantity of the portion of land coming to them of
townships on the southern bank of the said river.
8. In laying out any public roads, canals or other public
works through any block of land reserved to the Company, the
Canadian Government may take without compensation such lands as
is necessary for the purpose, not exceeding one-twenty-fifth of
the total acreage of the block; but if the Canadian Government
require any land which is actually under cultivation, which has
been built upon, or which is necessary for giving the Company's
servants access to any river or lake, or as a frontage to any
river or lake, the said Government shall pay to the Company the
fair value of the same, and shall make compensation for any
injury done to the Company or their servants.
9. It is understood that the whole of the land to be
appropriated within the meaning of the last preceding clause,
shall be appropriated for public purposes.
10. All titles to land up to the eighth day of March, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, conferred by the Company,
are to be confirmed.
11. The Company is to be at liberty to carry on its trade
without hindrance in its corporate capacity; and no exceptional
tax is to be placed on the Company's land, trade or servants,
nor any import duty on goods introduced by the said Company
previously to such acceptance of the said surrender.
12. Canada is to take over the materials of the electric
telegraph at cost price; such prices including transport, but
not including interest for money, and subject to a deduction for
ascertained deterioration.
13. The Company's claim to land under agreements of Messrs.
Vankoughnet and Hopkins to be withdrawn.
14. Any claims of Indians to compensation for lands required
for purposes of settlement shall be disposed of by the Canadian
Government in communication with the Imperial Government; and
the Company shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect
of them.
And whereas the surrender hereinafter contained is intended
to be made in pursuance of the agreement, and upon the terms and
conditions hereinbefore stated.
Now know ye, and these presents witness, that, in pursuance
of the powers and provisions of the Rupert's Land Act, 1868, and
on the terms and conditions aforesaid, and also on condition of
this surrender being accepted pursuant to the provisions of that
Act, the said Governor and Company do hereby surrender to the
Queen's Most Gracious Majesty all the rights of Government, and
other rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, powers and
authorities, granted or purported to be granted to the said
Governor and Company by the said recited Letters Patent of His
late Majesty King Charles the Second; and also all similar
rights which may have been exercised or assumed by the said
Governor and Company in any parts of British North America, not
forming part of Rupert's Land, or of Canada, or of British
Columbia, and all the lands and territories within Rupert's Land
(except and subject as in the said terms and conditions
mentioned) granted or purported to be granted to the said
Governor and Company by the said Letters Patent. In witness
whereof, the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England
trading into Hudson's Bay, have hereunto caused their Common
Seal to by affixed, the nineteenth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO
Northern Department, Rupert's Land
===========================================================
District | Post | Acres of Land
-----------------------------------------------------------
English River....... |Isle à la Crosse. | 50 |Rapid
River..... .| 5 |Portage La Loche..|20 say 10 acres each |Green
Lake....... | 100 end of |Cold Lake.........| 10 portage.
|Deer's Lake.......| 5 | |----- 190 acres in | | English River |
| District. | | Saskatchewan |Edmonton House......|3,000 |Rocky
Mountain House| 500 |Fort Victoria.......|3,000 |St.
Paul............|3,000 |Fort Pitt...........|3,000 |Battle
River........|3,000 |Carlton House.......|3,000 |Fort
Albert.........|3,000 |Whitefish Lake......| 500 |Lac La
Biche........|1,000 |Fort Assiniboine....| 50 |Lesser Slave
Lake...| 500 |Lac St. Anne........| 500 |Lac La Nun..........|
500 |St. Albert..........|1,000 |Pigeon Lake.........| 100 |Old
White Mud Fort..| 50 | |-- 25,700 acres in | | Saskatchewan | |
District. | | Cumberland..........|Cumberland House....| 100
|Fort La Cocue.......|3,000 |Pelican Lake........| 50 |Moose
Woods.........|1,000 |The Pas.............| 25 |Moose
Lake..........| 50 |Grande Rapid Portage|100 50 acres at | |
each end of | | portage. | |--- 4,325 acres in | | Cumberland |
| District. | | Swan River..........|Fort Pelly..........|3,000
|Fort Ellice.........|3,000 |Qu'Appelle Lakes....|2,500
|Touchwood Hills.....| 500 |Shoal River.........| 50
|Manitobah...........| 50 |Fairford............| 100 | |-- 9,200
acres in | | Swan River | | District. | | Red
River...........|Upper Fort Garry and| | Town of Winnipeg...|.
Such number of |Lower Fort Garry |. acres as may be | (including
the farm|. agreed upon | the Company now |. between the | have
under |. Company and the | cultivation).......| Governor of
Canada |White Horse Plain...|... in Council. | | Manitobah
Lake......|Oak Point...........| 50 | | Portage La
Prairie..|....................|1,000 | |-- 1,050 | | Lake La
Pluie.......|Fort Alexander......| 500 |Fort Frances........|
500 |Eagle's Nest........| 20 |Big Island..........| 20 |Lac du
Bonnet.......| 20 |Rat Portage.........| 50 |Shoal
Lake..........| 20 |Lake of the Woods...| 50 |Whitefish
Lake......| 20 |English River.......| 20 |Hungry Hall.........|
20 |Trout Lake..........| 20 |Clear Water Lake....| 20 |Sandy
Point.........| 20 | |-- 1,300 acres in | | Lac La | | Pluie | |
District. | | York................|York Factory........| 100
|Churchill...........| 10 |Severn..............| 10 |Trout
Lake..........| 10 |Oxford..............| 100 |Jackson's
Bay.......| 10 |God's Lake..........| 10 |Island Lake.........|
10 | |--- 260 | | Norway House........|Norway House........| 100
|Berens' River.......| 25 |Grand Rapid.........| 10 |Nelson's
River......| 10 | |-- 145 | | ------ Total in Northern
Department... ..| 42,170 acres. |
------------------------------------------------------------
Southern Department, Rupert's Land
==========================================================
District | Post | Acres of Land
---------------------------------------------------------- | |
Albany..... .......|Albany Factory......| 100 |Martin's
Falls......| 10 |Osnaburg............| 25 |Lac Seul............|
500 | |----- 635 | | East Main...........|Little Whale River..|
50 |Great Whale River...| 50 |Fort George.........| 25 | |-----
125 | | Moose...............|Moose Factory.......| 100 |Hannah
Bay..........| 10 |Abitibi.............| 10 |New
Brunswick.......| 25 | |----- 145 | | Rupert's
House......|Rupert's House......| 50 |Mistassing..........| 10
|Temiskamay..........| 10 |Woswonaby...........| 10
|Meckiskum...........| 10 |Pike Lake...........| 10
|Nitchequou..........| 10 |Kamapiscan..........| 10 | |----- 120
| | Kinogumissee........|Matawagamique.......| 50
|Kuckatoosh..........| 10 | |----- 60 | | ------ Total in
Southern Department........ | 1,085 acres. |
------------------------------------------------------------
Montreal Department, Rupert's Land
============================================================
District | Post | Acres of Land
--------------------------------------------------------- | |
Superior............|Long Lake...........| 10
Temiscaminque.......|Kakababeagino.......| 10 | |----- 20 | |
Labrador............|Fort Nascopie.......| 75 |Outposts,
ditto.....| 25 |Fort Chimo (Ungava).| 100 |South River,outposts|
30 |George's River......| 50 |Whale River.........| 50 |North's
River.......| 25 |False River.........| 25 | |----- 380 | |
----- Total in Montreal Department........ | 400 acres. |
------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Department, North-West Territory
===========================================================
District | Post | Acres of Land
----------------------------------------------------------- | |
Athabasca...........|Fort Chippewyan.....| 10 |Fort
Vermilion......| 500 |Fort Dunvegan.......| 50 |Fort St.
John's.....| 20 |Forks of Athabasca | | River..............| 10
|Battle River........| 5 |Fond du Lac.........| 5 |Salt
River..........| 5 | |--605 acres in | | Athabasca | | District.
| | McKenzie's River....|Fort Simpson........| 100 |Fort
Liard..........| 300 |Fort Nelson.........| 200 |The
Rapids..........| 100 |Hay River...........| 20 |Fort
Resolution.....| 20 |Fort Rae............| 10 |Fond du
Lac.........| 10 |Fort Norman.........| 10 |Fort Good
Hope......| 10 |Peel's River........| 10 |Lapierre's House....|
16 |Fort Halkett........| 100 | |--- 900 acres in | | McKenzie's
R. | | District. | | ----- Total in North-West Territory...... |
1,505 acres |
------------------------------------------------------------
Recapitulation
-------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
Northern Department, Rupert's Land................. 42,170
Southern " " ................. 1,085 Montreal " "
................. 400 Northern Department, North-West
Territory.......... 1,505 ------ 45,160