Sir,
G..
8 Just before William Des Vœux went on leave in February last, he passed the papers connected with the matter, requesting me to deal with it as I thought proper.
I have since the Governor's departure submitted the question for the consideration of the Executive Council on more than one occasion, and all the papers connected with it were sent to the Attorney General to deal with. M. Goodman, however, had so much work to get through previous to his departure that he left this matter unattended to. The Acting Colonial Secretary obtained the papers from him and another Draft Bill has been prepared, which I have submitted for report to the Police Magistrates.