Colonial Despatches

On the 10th instant I received a Telegram from Your Lordship as follows—

Offer Alston appointment of Queen's Advocate at Sierra Leone. Salary One thousand. Fees average two hundred and private practice allowed. Wire reply.On On the 13th instant I replied by telegraph—

Alston accepts. When will Union take place? On the 19th instant I received another Telegram from you in answer—

Date of Union fixed by Order in Council for the 20th July.

2. As I have therefore already reported, Mr Alston gratefully accepts the appointment offered by Your Lordship. He, however, besides his Office as ActingAttorney Attorney General, holds appointments as Member of two Commissions established under Acts of last Session—one "relating to proceedings under the Tax Sale Repeal Ordinance, 1867," and the other "for compiling and printing a new Edition of the Laws of the Colony." It is important that the duties of these Commissions should be completed before the Union of this Colony with the Dominion and the services of Mr Alstoncannot cannot very well be spared.

It is therefore desirable that he should not leave the Colony before Union takes place; but he will proceed to England on his way to "Sierra Leone" by the first Mail Steamer in August going direct to San Francisco.