No. 2, Legislative

I have the honor of transmitting herewith a copy of my speech to the
Legislature of this Colony on opening the Chambers upon the second
day of the present month, and also copies of the addresses of the
Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly in reply thereto.

2. In opening the Session I strongly recommended that steps should
be immediately taken to expedite the passage through the Legislature
of the preliminary measures affecting the construction of the
Victoria and Esquimalt rail-way, that no time may be lost in
commencing so important a work; And I propose in the course of a few
days to bring forward the Estimates for the service of the year 1863,
and to introduce a Bill intended to modify the procedure and reduce
the cost of collecting small debts which will complete the programme
of Government business for the present brief session which, as I
announced in a former despatch, will close by limitation on the 28th
day of February next.