No. 45

I transmit to you herewith copies of a correspondence between this
department and the President of the Society of Solicitors before the
Supreme Court of Scotland relative to the admission of Members of that
Society to practice before the Supreme Court of Vancouver's Island.

The Solicitors before the Supreme Court of Scotland are at present
excluded from practice in Vancouver's Island by the terms of the Order
in Council of 4th April 1856, for establishing
Courts of Justice in the
Island, which only admits to practice Attorneys, Solicitors and Proctors
of the English and Irish Courts and Writers to the Signet of the
Scottish Courts. I have no doubt, however, that this phraseology was
not adopted with any intention of excluding Solicitors of the Scotch
Courts, and they appear to me fairly entitled to the privilege of
practising in Vancouver's Island.

The Local legislature has power to amend the existing Order in
Council conferred on it by the Act 12 and 13 Victoria Cap 48, Section
2, and I have to instruct you to bring before that body a measure for
the purpose of admitting Solicitors before the Supreme Court of
Scotland to practice in the Courts of Vancouver's Island.