No. 86

I have the honor to transmit a copy of Resolutions passed by the
Legislative Assembly of this Colony relative to the appointment of a
Chief Justice together with a copy of my Message in reply thereto.

A Bill to make permanent provision for the salary of this officer has
been introduced and will doubtless pass the Legislative Assembly, but
I am unable to say whether it will be adopted in its present form by
the Legislative Council.

It is proper for me to remark that though the Legislative Assembly
has been in Session for days the subject of a Civil List or Crown
Lands has not been yet taken up though prominently brought under the
notice of the Legislature in my opening speech as communicated to you
in my Despatch No 54 dated 16th August 1864.

The course adopted by the Legislative Assembly in dealing with a part
of the Civil List question only is in my opinion inconvenient and
unsatisfactory but as much importance is attached by the Assembly to
the transmission of these Resolutions I send them accordingly.