Enclosure 2.
Opinion of the Attorney General.
19
This is a private Ordinance. Such Ordinances in conferring special privileges on some, may infringe the rights of others. The Standing Orders require, therefore, the publication of Ordinances of this kind, before they are brought before the Legislative Council in order that any who may consider their interests injuriously affected thereby, may bring forward their objections.
(Standing Order No.49.)
Notice of Intention to bring forward this Ordinance was given in the Gazette and the Ordinance itself was duly published in the Gazette of 15th March, see also Gazette of 22nd March. It was read a first time on the 22nd March. I only arrived in the Colony on the 15th of March. The Bill was then in print and published and I knew nothing of the circumstances of its origin. I assumed its becoming law was desired by every one interested in it, as no opposition was made. Indeed my opinion as to the propriety of the Bill was never asked nor were any papers submitted to me on the subject. Had any one opposing the Bill written to me, I should have considered the matter and brought it to the notice of His Excellency. It seems very strange that Mr. Francis should have waited until after the third reading before opposing the Bill and pointing out his objections.
As the second reading, the Committee stage, and