Colonial Despatches

I have duly received your Despatch of the 30th December 1858, No 61, acknowledging receipt of my Despatch No 6 of 26th October last, and detailing your views upon one or two topics, in connection therewith, which seemed to you to deserve aa separate notice.

2. In reference to your remarks upon Mr Pearkes' proposal for the administration of the Law, I would beg to observe that I have placed the judicial organization in the hands of Mr Begbie, and he is now most assiduously devoting his time to that important object.

3. The principle you have laid down that the amount to be expended on Judicial and legal Establishments is to be regulated by the Income of the Colony, will bebe strictly adhered to. You may rest assured that no expensive undertakings will be engaged in without consulting and obtaining the approval of Her Majesty's Government, and that every prudence and caution will be exercised in the application of the Public Money. I cannot conceal my fear, however, that such a course may have the effect of retarding the advancement of the Colony, and of impairing the character of my administration of public affairs, but the instructions of Her Majesty's Government shall, nevertheless, be observed with thethe closest attention.

4. I have read with much consideration your remarks, impressing upon me the advantages arising to a Colony which is self-supporting, and reminding me of the aid which has been contributed to British Columbia from England. I trust I have not conveyed to you the idea that I had any cause for complaint. On the contrary I have always admitted, and I now also acknowledge, that your attention and promptitude in supplying the wantswants of the Colony in its infant state have been extreme; and as a consequence thereof there is now a considerable Naval and Military Force present, but the Paper addressed to me by Colonel Moody, and of which I transmitted a Copy to you in my Despatch of the 9th Ultimo No 96, will shew that the Royal Engineers are incapable of accomplishing the whole of the works contemplated, and assigned to them on their departure from England. In fact Colonel Moody is of opinion that they will be ableable to do little more than to attend to the Survey of Town Lots, and that the rural Surveys, the construction of Roads and Bridges, and opening the great communications of the country must be otherwise provided for, unless the development of the Colony be retarded to an extent that would prove most disastrous to its prosperity. The Colony will thus have to incur a heavy outlay before any return can be derived from sales of Land, and before the difficulties of access, which now constitute the greatgreat impediment to the opening out of the Mining regions, can be removed. It is only to get through these early difficulties that I requested the aid of the Imperial Government. The resources of the Country are undoubtedly, great, but an immediate Revenue is indispensable to render those resources available, and I therefore trust that my representations regarding our pecuniary requirements may obtain favorable consideration.