CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3] — Page 263

of

of the local Governments, I intend to --- nominate ten additional Magistrates from the Increantile Community which will with the two already in the Commission of the Peace, make twelve in all. This arrangement ought, and I have no doubt will make this tribunal for the speedy

settlement

of minor Crimes a popular and useful institution, and be entitled to the

confidence both of the public and of the

the summary

Government. In this Ordinance

provision is also made for

the

disposal of all simple debts not exceeding in amount of $50 either by the Court Magistrate deputed by Petty Sessions, or by the Governor for that purpose.

8. The 8th clause represents that the

inhabitants have no share in

the

legislation of the Colony. - On this subject I have only to say that I see no

objection

whatever to the nomination of two of the

principal inhabitants to a seat in the Legislative and Executive Councils respectively.

On

the

contrary

I think that the admission

of two Gentlemen of the Commercial Body would prove extremely useful

in many respects, for they possess, from

a more

and constant intercourse among

with

themselves and the native inhabitants than

the Government Officers conveniently

have, the

means

of acquiring information of the requirements of the Colony and of changes and amendments to be desired which from their position is denied to the members of the Council as at present constituted. The adoption of this

measure would moreover

afford opportunities at all times of enabling the public generally

to make their wishes and desires known to the local Government. This alone,

if it

were

of no

other

use,

would prove