Colonial Despatches

I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to request that you will inform Mr Secretary Cardwell that My Lords have had under their consideration the Act of the Legislature of Vancouver Island passed in March last and intituled No 89 "An Act to establish Pilots for the Port of Victoria and for other purposes relating thereto", with the Extract of observations thereon of the Attorney General of that Colony which were enclosed with your letter of the 16th of this month.

My Lords observe that the Act appears to make it compulsory on some vessels bound inward to the Port of Victoria in that Island to employ a pilot or pay the half pilotage rate.

This provision having been considered by the Colonial Authorities desirable for shipping in the present circumstances of the Port My Lords do not now see in it or in any other provision in the Act reason why the Act may not properly be submitted for the sanction of Her Majesty.

At the same time I am to suggest for the consideration of Mr Cardwell that it might be well that the attention of the Governor of the Colony should be directed with a view to future legislation to the provisions relating to Pilotage contained in the Acts of the Imperial Parliament, 17 & 18 Vic: C 104 and 25 & 26 V. C 63and and more particularly to those which enable Pilotage Authorities to extend exemptions from compulsory pilotage to reduce Pilotage rates and to authorise Masters and Mates when found competent to pilot the vessels to which they belong in waters where pilotage is compulsory.