No. 31

On the 15th instant I sent Your Lordship a Message by Telegraph
as follows—

Has Needham's Warrant gone Trinidad? Wishes to know. Ready to
start.

2. Mr Needham had some hesitation in relinquishing his office
until he received some intimation that the necessary authority
has been issued for his appointment as Chief Justice on his
arrival at Trinidad. All his arrangements had been made for
departure, and if he had lost the opportunity afforded by a
Steamer going direct to San Francisco, on the 16th instant,
he would have been detained here for another month or perhaps
longer. Under these circumstances I consented to give him a
short leave of absence, nominally for three months, with the
understanding that he would await at San Francisco a Telegraphic
Message from me with Your Lordship's reply to the enquiry I had
made, and that if the Warrant has been forwarded he would
transmit his resignation of the Chief Justiceship of Vancouver
Island from San Francisco.

3. As the Merger of the two Courts of the Mainland and
Vancouver Island under the Supreme Courts Ordinance, 1869 would
not take place until Mr Needham's resignation had been
received, I, in the meantime, appointed Mr Begbie to act as
Chief Justice of Vancouver Island.

4. On the 27th instant I received Your Lordship's reply to my
Telegram, as follows—

Needhams Warrant will go to Trinidad mail of 1st April.
Appointment already notified to Governor.

I forwarded this by Telegraph to Mr Needham at San Francisco,
and have received from him to-day a Message in reply—

I resign, will write.