3.
429
Consideration has confirmed me in that opinion, that a Colonial Government (except in matters of a purely local nature) cannot do better than take as its basis Imperial legislation, and so far as is consistent with the requirements of a Colony follow it even in the language of its Enactments, for, what is of especial importance, a Colony thereby has the advantage of the decisions of the English Courts.
In illustration of this opinion I may state that when I was constituted a Commissioner together with Mr Alexander for compiling a new Edition of the Ordinances of the Colony under Ordinance No. % of 1864, I took the liberty of urging upon the then Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, the great advantage to be derived in consolidating the Criminal law of this Colony, not only from adopting the principle of the Acts of 24 and 25 Vict. but the language also. His Excellency having acceded to the suggestion, the result has been that during the many years that I have acted as Chief Justice, I have been relieved from considerable difficulties which must otherwise have attended my position.