Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to inform Your Grace that I closed the third Session of the second Parliament of Vancouver Island by prorogation on the 22nd day of the present month; and Iforward forward herewith a copy of my address to the Legislature on that occasion.

2. The object I have in view, in, at this time, taking that step, is to bring forward the estimates for 1863 previous to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly which will close by limitation, on the 28th of Februarynext next, and I feel there would be a degree of irregularity in having the estimates for two successive years voted in the same Session of Parliament. It is moreover obvious, that, there should be no delay in providing supplies for the coming year to relieve one from the unpleasant dilemma of being Compelled,either either to expend the public moneys without authority, or, altogether to suspend the public works in progress. To await the meeting of a new Parliament would involve several months delay, as the time occupied in the registration of voters renders the completion of the lists, in the manner prescribed by Law, impossible before the first week in March,so so that we could hardly be through with the Elections, and get a new Parliament into the regular course of business, before the month of June next. It was, therefore, indispensably necessary to take the course which I have adopted, though, under less urgent circumstances, I should have preferred the alternative offered by the meeting of a new Parliament.

3. The Legislature is Convened for the transaction of business on the 2nd of January next, as there are measures of the utmost importance to the Colony, for instance—the Grant of a Charter authorizing the Construction of a Rail-road from Esquimalt Harbour to Victoria, demanding immediate attention.

4. Having, in myreports reports, accompanying the several acts passed during the late Session, apprized Your Grace of the object and character of our recent Legislation, I will not now trespass, at much length, on Your Grace's time.

5. Twenty one acts including two Supply Bills, have altogether been passed by both Houses, and receivedmy my assent during the Session.

6. The Act incorporating the Town of Victoria is a measure from which much practical good is anticipated, and it will also have the desirable effect of relieving my Government from a vast amount of labor and responsibility, and of awaking a lively interest, and enlisting, in a peculiar degree, the sympathiesand and energies of the public at large on behalf of the improvement of the Town.

7. In preparing the Incorporation Act the greatest care has been taken to place a check on the improper or improvident expenditure of the City Funds by empowering the Governor, for the time being, absolutely to disallow, or, at his option, torefer refer any By-Law to the Municipal vote, thereby investing rate-payers with the fullest powers for self protection.

8. The "Stamp Act," and the "Victoria and Esquimalt Harbour dues Act," are properly speaking, revenue Acts imposing taxes for defraying the annually accruing interest, and forming a Sinking Fund expresslyapplicable applicable to the gradual repayment of the principal of the Loan of £40,000 which, it is proposed to raise by virtue of the "Vancouver Island Road and Harbour Act" 1862. These taxes will yield an amount of revenue fully equal, I believe to the object proposed.

9. The "Real Estate Amendment Act" 1862 and the "Trades Licence AmendmentAct Act" 1862, are merely repetitious of former acts, modified and rendered at once practical and more productive of Revenue.

10. The "City of Victoria Representation Act," 1862, increases, from two to four, the number of Members to be returned hereafter by the City for the Legislative Assembly, with the view of reducing the existing disparity inthe the ratio of population to representation in the City and Country Districts.

11. An Act has been passed for establishing a decimal Currency in Vancouvers Island: a necessary and very useful measure, as the system has, for years past, been practically adopted in all Commercial transactions, and will now be introduced,with with advantage, into the public accounts.

12. Copies of the acts referred to in this Despatch, excepting such as have been already forwarded, are herewith transmitted with the Attorney General's reports.