PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR BROOME THAT SEPTIMUS BURT BE APPOINTED AS MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

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Smith, Matthew Skinner. Broome, Frederick Napier

1886

Overview

Proclamation by Governor Broome that Septimus Burt be appointed as one of the non-elected members of the Legislative Council of Western Australia.
Dated 18 June 1886.
Printed form with some handwritten text on a single sheet of cream paper. The paper is folded in half vertically (like a book), the text appearing on the front page only.
The printed text refers to the Legislative Council Act Amendment Act of 1882 and the power of the Governor to nominate non-elected members of the Council.
The handwritten text includes at top right Governor Broome’s name and titles, at the end of the main body of printed text mention of AP Hensman having resigned his seat on the Council and at the beginning of the final paragraph the name of Septimus Burt with the qualification “so long as he shall lawfully continue to hold the appointment of Acting Attorney General”. At the bottom of the page the date is added along with the signature of MS Smith, Acting Colonial Secretary. Governor Broome’s signature is at top left of the page.

Historical information

The appointment of Septimus Burt to the Executive Council of Western Australia followed on from his appointment as Acting Attorney General, after the resignation of AP Hensman who had also resigned his position on the Executive Council.
This document is a public proclamation of the Governor's intention to appoint S Burt in Hensman's place on the Executive Council while he continued in the role of Acting Attorney General.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1976.56

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Paper

Width

205 mm

Height or length

330 mm

Contextual Information

The document is of historical interest as it demonstrates one of the mechanisms by which the Governor exercised his power immediately prior to the adoption of full self-government of the colony of Western Australia in 1890. The document is complete and in original condition.

The Honourable Septimus Burt KC (1847-1919), son of Sir Archibald Paull Burt, was born in St Kitts Island (formerly known as St Christopher in the West Indies) and came to Western Australia in 1861. S Burt became a prominent lawyer, politician and grazier. His political work was central to the achievement and development of the Western Australian constitution as the first Attorney General after self-government was achieved. The Hon Septimus Burt rejected knighthood and offers to be a Supreme Court Judge.

Keywords

Smith, Matthew Skinner

Broome, Frederick Napier

Burt, Septimus

Executive Council Of Western Australia

Place made

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Year

1886

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance