No. 60, Legislative
[2590, CO 305/19, p. 305; received 17 March 1863
]
30 December 1862
I have the honor to inform Your Grace that I closed the third Session
of the second Parliament of Vancouver Island by prorogation on the
22nd day of the present month; and Iforward forward herewith a copy of my
address to the Legislature on that occasion.
2. The object I have in view, in, at this time, taking that step, is
to bring forward the estimates for 1863 previous to the dissolution
of the Legislative Assembly which will close by limitation, on the
28th of Februarynext next,
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and I feel there would be a degree of irregularity in having the
estimates for two successive years voted in the same Session of
Parliament. It is moreover obvious, that, there should be no delay
in providing supplies for the coming year to relieve one from the
unpleasant dilemma of being Compelled,either either to expend the public
moneys without authority, or, altogether to suspend the public
works in progress. To await the meeting of a new Parliament would
involve several months delay, as the time occupied in the
registration of voters renders the completion of the lists, in the
manner prescribed by Law, impossible before the first week in March,so
so that we could hardly be through with the Elections, and get a new
Parliament into the regular course of business, before the month of
June next. It was, therefore, indispensably necessary to take the
course which I have adopted, though, under less urgent
circumstances, I should have preferred the alternative offered by the
meeting of a new Parliament.
3. The
3. The Legislature is Convened for the transaction of business on
the 2nd of January next, as there are measures of the utmost
importance to the Colony, for instance—the Grant of a Charter
authorizing the Construction of a Rail-road from Esquimalt Harbour to
Victoria, demanding immediate attention.
4. Having, in myreports reports, accompanying the several acts passed
during the late Session, apprized Your Grace of the object and
character of our recent Legislation, I will not now trespass, at much
length, on Your Grace's time.
5. Twenty one acts including two Supply Bills, have altogether been
passed by both Houses, and receivedmy my assent during the Session.
6. The Act incorporating the Town of Victoria is a measure from
which much practical good is anticipated, and it will also have the
desirable effect of relieving my Government from a vast amount of
labor and responsibility, and of awaking a lively interest, and
enlisting, in a peculiar degree, the sympathiesand and energies of the
public at large on behalf of the improvement of the Town.
7. In preparing the Incorporation Act the greatest care has been
taken to place a check on the improper or improvident expenditure of
the City Funds by empowering the Governor, for the time being,
absolutely to disallow, or, at his option, torefer refer any By-Law to the
Municipal vote, thereby investing rate-payers with the fullest powers
for self protection.
8. The "Stamp Act," and the "Victoria and Esquimalt Harbour dues
Act," are properly speaking, revenue Acts imposing taxes for
defraying the annually accruing interest, and forming a Sinking Fund
expresslyapplicable applicable to the gradual repayment of the principal of the
Loan of £40,000 which, it is proposed to raise by virtue of the
"Vancouver Island Road and Harbour Act" 1862. These taxes will yield
an amount of revenue fully equal, I believe to the object proposed.
9. The "Real Estate Amendment Act" 1862 and the "Trades Licence
AmendmentAct Act" 1862, are merely repetitious of former acts, modified
and rendered at once practical and more productive of Revenue.
10. The "City of Victoria Representation Act," 1862, increases, from
two to four, the number of Members to be returned hereafter by the
City for the Legislative Assembly, with the view of reducing the
existing disparity inthe the ratio of population to representation in
the City and Country Districts.
11. An Act has been passed for establishing a decimal Currency in
Vancouvers Island: a necessary and very useful measure, as the
system has, for years past, been practically adopted in all
Commercial transactions, and will now be introduced,with with advantage,
into the public accounts.
12. Copies of the acts referred to in this Despatch, excepting such
as have been already forwarded, are herewith transmitted with the
Attorney General's reports.
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I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient
and humble Servant
James Douglas