No. 22, Legislative

I have the honor to inform your Grace that the Parliament of
Vancouvers Island met according to summons on the 19th Ultimo, and I
enclose herewith a copy of the Speech with which I opened the
Session, and of the Address in reply.

2. My Speech presents the Programme of Measures which it is proposed
to bring forward in course of the present Session. Last year the
attention of the Legislature was devoted chiefly to the adaptation of
certain of the Imperial Statutes to the actual circumstances of the
Colony. This year it will be directed to objects of a somewhat more
practical character—the settlement of the Native claims upon public
Land—the investigation of the mineral resources of the Colony—some
desirable modifications in the Land Act—the improvement of Victoria
Harbour and the Incorporation of the Town of Victoria. It is also
desirable to make some reduction in the Fees payable in the Law
Courts, and to increase the Number of representatives for Victoria,
which city is at present inadequately represented in the Assembly.

4. [3.] It is also proposed to raise a sum of money by loan for
internal improvements, and to provide for the payment of the annually
accruing interest and the gradual repayment of the principal by
imposing a small duty chargeable by stamps on Legal Instruments and
on Receipts.