No. 84

I have had the honor to receive your Despatch No. 36, of the
27th September informing me that the Ordinance "for the
regulation of the Inland navigation of British Columbia," passed
in 1864, cannot be submitted to Her Majesty for confirmation in
its present shape.

2. You are aware that the proposed measure did not meet with
much approval from me. It was introduced by the Attorney General
previous to my arrival in the Colony, and passed more with
indifference than approval through the Council. On the receipt of
your despatch I made that Officer acquainted with its contents
and advised him to prepare the required amendments. He however
found the matter excited so little interest, and that little
not generally in its favour, that he preferred to let the matter
drop. I think in these early days of the Colony that is about
the most satisfactory conclusion he could have arrived at.