No. 28

I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two
plain Copies of an Ordinance of the recent Session of the
Legislature of this Colony, entitled;
No. 3. An Ordinance to amend the duties of Customs.

2. The Attorney General is so much engaged in
Legislative work as to be unable to furnish the usual legal summary.

3. I really feel that I can scarcely report more fully
upon this measure than by referring you to the Despatches
I am about to write. The one forwarding a petition got up
in Victoria against the Ordinance; The other commenting
upon Resolutions passed and statements made by the Chamber
of Commerce of that Town respecting it.

4. The measure which has now passed was recommended
to me, unanimously (I believe) by the late Council. When
introduced this year it likewise passed without a dissentient
voice, although I left every Government Officer perfectly
free to vote as he pleased.

5. As stated in my reply to the so called Miners'
petition the Act is tentative and I would beg leave very
respectfully to recommend that even if it should appear to
you to have defects you will allow it to remain in force
until the Legislative Session meets again.