No. 9, Legislative

I have the honour to inform Your Grace that the second Session of the
Second Parliament of Vancouver Island was closed by Prorogation on
the 3rd day of the present month (February), and I herewith enclose
a Copy of my speech to the Legislature on that occasion.

2. Twenty Bills have, in all, been introduced during the late
Session, Seventeen of which have passed both Houses and received my
assent, and three are now before the Council, and will probably not
pass without material alterations.

3. The Estimates submitted to the House at the opening of the
Session were voted, with a few unimportant alterations: the whole
sum granted for the service of the Year 1861 being £20,460, or £75 in
excess of the estimated Expenditure; the House having increased the
sums allowed for Schools and other objects.

4. The Public Revenues for the same period have produced the sum of
£20,687 and there remains to be collected a further sum of £1300,
being arrears of Taxes for 1861, and applicable to the service of
that year.

5. Bills were introduced early in the Session for the purpose of
quieting Titles derived through Aliens—and for enabling Aliens to
hold Real Estate—and to enjoy, after a certain residence in the
Colony, all the rights and capacities of British Subjects, saving
only that of serving as Members of either branch of the
Legislature—and also for amending the present practice and pleadings
of the Civil Courts. These were all duly passed, and the several
Acts have since been forwarded to Your Grace for Her Majesty's approval.

6. These Acts are essential to the proper growth and development of
the Colony, and are much appreciated by the foreign population who
have become residents of the Country.

7. Acts have also been passed for preventing frauds on creditors by
secret Bills of Sale—and unnecessary Expense and delay in recovering
on Bills of Exchange—and for declaring the Law relating to
Bankruptcy and Insolvency; these latter Acts being simply adaptations
of the Imperial Statutes for the same purposes.

8. The other Acts of the session are of merely local importance, or
of a private nature.

9. The Legislative Assembly throughout the Session have exhibited a
tone and spirit worthy of their position, as well as a sincere desire
to promote the public welfare.

10. Copies of all the Acts referred to in this Despatch, excepting
those previously forwarded, and the Bankruptcy Act, which has not
been received from the Printers, are herewith transmitted to Your
Grace with the Attorney General's Report, and the accompanying Schedule.