Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to inform you that I closed the Session of the Legislature of this Colony on the 11th Ultimo. I enclose copy of my proroguing address.

2. The Standing Orderswhich which I framed for the Adoption of the Council have been already laid before you. I am happy to say that they worked extremely well. The press and public were admitted to the deliberations of the Board, and it tells well for the labours of the Nominated Legislators of this Colony that neither within the Council chamber nor without, by press or public, was an expression uttered in favourof of applying for more liberal institutions. Not a single instance occurred during the Session in which the members nominated on the election of the people were arrayed against those who sat by virtue of their official position.

3. I shall report separately on the various Ordinances passed. I now simply forward aList List of them [printed]: No. 1. An Ordinance to extend the term of the Steam Traction Engine Ordinance, 1864; No. 2. An Ordinance to amend the Law of Evidence; No. 3. An Ordinance to amend the Duties of Customs; No. 4. An Ordinance in aid of the Trustees' Relief Act; No. 5. An Ordinance to encourage the construction of a line of Telegraph, connecting the Telegraphs of British Columbia with the Telegraph lines of Russia, the United States, and other Countries, and for other purposes; No. 6. An Ordinance for the construction of a Toll Bridge across Thompson River at Lytton; No. 7. An Ordinance to amend the First Telegraph Ordinance, 1864; No. 9. An Ordinance to apply the sum of £225,946 12s 8d sterling out of the General Revenue of the Colony of British Columbia and its Dependencies to the service of the year 1865; No. 10. An Ordinance to amend the Dues leviable at the Port of New Westminster; No. 11. An Ordinance for the formation and regulation of Municipalities in British Columbia; No. 12. An Ordinance to amend the Excise Laws; No. 13. An Ordinance for imposing a duty on Gold; No. 14. An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Gold Mining Laws; No. 15. An Ordinance for the regulation of the Harbours of British Columbia; No. 16. An Ordinance to prohibit the sale or gift of intoxicating Liquors to Indians; No. 17. An Ordinance to prohibit the unseasonable destruction of Game; No. 18. An Ordinance to exempt certain articles from Road and Ferry Tolls, and for other purposes; No. 19. An Ordinance to prevent the violation of Indian Graves; No. 20. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency in British Columbia; No. 21. An Ordinance respecting Marriage in British Columbia; No. 22. An Ordinance for regulating the amount and application of the Fees to be taken in the Supreme Court of Civil Justice, from suitors therin; No. 23. An Ordinance respecting Arrest and Imprisonment for debt; No. 25. An Ordinance to facilitate the creation of Ports of Entry in British Columbia; No. 26. An Ordinance to declare the limitation of Foreign Suits and Actions; No. 27. An Ordinance for regulating the acquisition of Land in British Columbia; No. 28. An Ordinance further to facilitate the construction of the Overland Telegraph; end

In addition to the above, which have already become Law, there were two Ordinances passed with suspending clauses. The one, proposes to raise the Governor's Salary to four thousand pounds ayear year, the other, to introduce a decimal system in the keeping of the Public Accounts.