Colonial Despatches

I have had the honor to receive Your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 31st December, last, respecting the question of enabling the Courts of one Colony to try offences committedwithin within the jurisdiction of another, and transmitting a copy of a Draft Bill founded on one prepared by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to effect that object.

2. Such a measure would have scarcely any effect as regards this Colony. It is so far removed fromany any other British Possessions that the expense of obtaining evidence would in most cases be far greater than that of sending the accused person for trial to the place where the offence was committed, under the provisions of the 6 & 7 Victoria, C. 34. And as nearly all persons coming to,or or going from British Columbia pass through the United States, no evidence as to the disposition of stolen goods is likely to be obtained here, or in any British Possession to which an accused person might proceed from hence. I readily, however, perceive the value of the proposed measure as regards agroup group of British Possessions like the Australian Colonies.