Enclosure 4 in No. 16.

Concerning Division Lists in the Legislative Council or in General Committee thereof; also particulars concerning the said Council.

During the Sessjon of 1892 the Legislative Council's strength was thirty-five (35), but from absence and indisposition only twenty-seven (27) were present.

Forty (40) Government measures were introduced in the Legislative Council; of these thirty seven (37) were passed, one (I) was dropped, and only two (2) were rejected, and these only after conference with the other House.

The Governor is empowered under the Constitution of the Colony to call to the Legislative Council such persons as he shall think fit, and no limitation has been made to the number, although on one occasion a Committee of the Council reported in favour of limiting the Council to one-half the strength of the House of Representatives. That was in 1887 when, in deference to public opinion, the strength of the House of Representatives was reduced from ninety-five (95) to seventy-four (74) members. At that time the strength of the Legislative Council was forty-nine (49), or a fraction more than half of the other House. From that date till 1891 no appointments were made, and the strength of the Council fell to thirty-nine (39), or a fraction over half the other House. After reduction in 1891 the late Governor (Lord Onslow) granted Sir Harry Atkinson seven (7) appointments; the number now granted makes the strength of the Council forty-seven (47), or only two (2) less than when the other House numbered ninety-five (95), as against seventy-four (74) now.

Whereas the unbiassed opinion of the Council as it existed before reinforcement gave the Government a majority in only ten (10) divisions, although all the Government measures were carried except three.

List of Divisions in the Legislative Council and in the Committee of the whole Council, during the Session of 1892, in which the Government possessed a majority.

The following is the only Division which took place during the Session when the Opposition would have retained a majority, had the twelve (12) appointments been made.

List of Divisions in the Legislative Council and in Committee thereof, during the Session of 1892, in which an addition of twelve (12) appointments to the Council would have put the Government in the majority, instead of the minority.