Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two plain Copies of an Ordinance of the present Session of the Legislature of this Colony, entitled; No. 1. An Ordinance to extend the term of theSteam Steam Traction Engine Ordinance of 1864.

2. The Attorney General is so wholly engaged with his Legislative duties that I am unable to obtain from him the usual Legal summaries of the Acts of the Session, I therefore propose, rather than retard public business, to forward all the simpler laws supported only by my own report.

3. The Duke of Newcastle's despatch directing me to appointMr Mr Joseph Trutch to be Surveyor General of this Colony found that gentleman on the point of starting for England to purchase Traction Engines for the Upper Country. Mr Trutch being extremely anxious to secure the situation intended for him by His Grace delayed his departure. Considerable time however, as stated in my despatch No. 6 of 19th May, 1864, elapsed before I could put him in possession of it, and, once installed, I thought it desirablethat that he should conduct certain surveys in the Cariboo district. Thus many Months were lost in procuring the Traction Engines. The present Ordinance is therefore to extend the term of the monopoly granted to the Company of which Mr Trutch was a member and the Agent.

4. The second clause of the Ordinance of 1864 provided that no traction engine should come below Lytton on the one road,and and Lillooet on the other, without the consent of the Surveyor General and Chief Commissioner of the Lands and Works. As the Office is now held by Mr Trutch, who may retain some interest in the Traction Engines, the third Section of the present Ordinance provides that this consent shall not be given without the written consent likewise of the Governor.

5. I am unwilling toLegislate Legislate further in this matter in the absence of Mr Trutch, but I have given him notice that I do not think traction Engines can possibly be allowed to come even as far as Lytton.