444 Out North Land. 



wan. It was expressly agreed that the rights of the Indians and 

 Half-breeds of the territory were to be respected, and the 1st of 

 October following was fixed as the date of transfer. Such being 

 the terms agreed upon, they now received the sanction of the 

 Dominion Parliament, which passed an Act providing a Territorial 

 Government for the country soon to be acquired. The immense 

 tract was designated by the general name of " The North -West 

 Territories," and it was enacted that the affairs thereof should be 

 administered by a Lieutenant-Governor to be appointed by the 

 Governor-General in Council. Provision was made for the appoint- 

 ment of a Council to assist in carrying on the administration. All 

 laws then in force in the territories, and not inconsistent with the 

 British North America Act or the terms of admission, were to 

 remain in force until amended or repealed. The Supply Bill 

 provided for the borrowing by the Dominion Government, under 

 Imperial guarantee, of the sum necessary to complete the purchase ; 

 and provision was also made for an unguaranteed loan of such 

 sums as might be needed for surveys and other public improve- 

 ments. The Territorial Government, it will be understood, was a 

 mere temporary expedient, and the intention was that a regular 

 Provincial Government, similar to that of the other Provinces, should 

 be established at as early a date as possible."* 1 



Soon after prorogation Lieutenant-Colonel Dennis, afterwards 

 Deputy Minister of the Interior, was dispatched to the North-West 

 to make certain surveys, and to feel the pulse of the inhabitants 

 regarding annexation to the Dominion, and not long after Hon. Mr. 

 McDougall, a member of the administration, was appointed Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor of the North-West Territories. This appointment 

 was apparently a fitting reward for Mr. McDougall's public services 

 in bringing about the acquisition of that vast territory, but it 

 resulted more to his political downfall than to his advantage. The 

 appointment was made to take effect after the formal transfer of the 

 country to Canada. The transfer, owing to a temporary difficulty 

 with reference to the payment of the purchase money, was post- 

 poned for two months. " It would seem," says Mr. Dent, " that the 



* Dent's "Last Forty Years." 



