Colonial Despatches

In relation to the subject of my Despatch No 24 dated 26th March 1866 and preceding Despatches, I have the honor now to enclose further newspaper reports of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly from which it will appear that that Body has onfurther further consideration decided that the Police Force shall not be placed under municipal control in the Towns of Victoria and Nanaimo—thus nullifying the decision of the House in that behalf arrived at in dealing with the Estimates.

It will also be seen that a Bill to give municipal institutions to Electoral Districts and to the two non electoral Districts of Comox and Cowichan has been introduced, being part apparently of the general scheme of dealingwith with the Estimates of Expenditure.

The effect of this Measure would be simply to confer powers of local self Government upon Districts in which from their extent and very sparse population, such powers could not even at great cost, be beneficially exercised.

Between the date (21st March 1866) of the last debate, of which I transmitted reports in my Despatch No 24 dated 26th March 1866, and the date of this Despatch, being a period of 25 days, the Assemblyhas has met on seven occasions only, and on four days appointed for meeting a quorum of Members failed to attend.

During that period little, if any, progress can be said to have been made in the financial business of the Colony.