Orange River Colony Legislative Council Debates (English and Dutch). 1910

Introducing the session, the Governor (Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams) sent a message to the Council of which the following is an extract:

• "In view of the near approach of Union, and the consequently brief period my Ministers have at their disposal to prepare for the handing over of the various Departments under their control to the Union and Provincial Governments, and to the fact that I have, in the expectation of Parliament being able before the end of the month to dispose of all the legislative work requiring attention before Union [31 May], made arrangements to leave the Colony on the 31st March, I trust that Parliament may see its way clear to confine its labours of this Session exclusively to the subjects above referred to, and to such other measures as the Government may submit to the Legislature as requiring immediate attention.
• "Anticipating therefore that the session will be but a brief one, I am not communicating this message to you in the usual formal manner. I hope, however, when your labours terminate to be able to meet you, and personally to thank you for the arduous labours undertaken by you in the interests of the people of this Colony during the existence of this, the first and only Parliament of the Orange River Colony."

The Governor was not to have his wish, however, as the session continued until 15 April, when an Acting Governor (unnamed) undertook Goold-Adams's function of proroguing the Council.

Red pebble-cloth boards with gilt lettering to the spine. Top edge gilt. Plain oatmeal endpapers. English: [viii] + 198 pp (396 columns) of debates + [ii] + vi pp of index. Dutch: [viii] + 214 pp (428 columns) of debates + [ii] + vii pp of index.

CONDITION NOTES. The copy is in near-fine condition, covers unblemished, binding tight, gilding not dulled, endpapers unmarked but lightly sunned. Text complete, unmarked and undiscoloured. A few leaves near the middle were folded down, but this fault has been corrected.