Submission of authenticated copies of eleven Acts [Acts are not in item], with the...

Submission of authenticated copies of eleven Acts [Acts are not in item], with the Reports of the Attorney General thereon [reports for nine of the eleven acts]. Information relating to the Consolidating Acts [Acts No. 477 to 483], Act No. 486 and Act No. 463a are included in this despatch. Two financial acts, No. 484 and No. 485 required a separate despatch [see CO321/6/4] for comment. However, Acts No. 484 and 485 are commented upon in the minutes of this despatch. Act No. 477, An Act to Consolidate and Amend the Laws Relating to the Limitation of Actions and Suits as well as Summary and Other Proceedings; Act No. 478, An Act to Consolidate the Laws Relating to the Establishment and Regulation of a Registrar's Office; Act No. 479, An Act to Consolidate and Amend the Law Regulating the Execution of Deeds by Married Women and Deeds to Operate Fines and Recoveries; Act No. 480, An Act to Consolidate and Amend Certain Acts Respecting Wills; Act No. 481, An Act to Authorize Holding the Sittings of the Courts of Justice and the Legislature of these Islands in the Building known by the name of York-House; Act No. 482, An Act to Consolidate the Laws Relating to the Colony Hospital Corporation; Act No. 483, An Act to Consolidate the Laws Relating to the Recovery of Possession of Tenements after due Determination of the Tenancy; Act No. 484, An Act to Authorize a Loan in Aid of the General Revenue of this Colony [see 1682/1875, CO321/6/4]; Act No. 485, An Act for Granting unto Her Majesty and Aid by Rates Taxes and Assessments [see 1682/1875, CO321/6/4]; Act No. 486, An Act to Amend the Immigration Act 1869; Act No. 463a, An Act to Amend an Act entitled 'An Act to Regulate and Provide for the Disestablishment and Gradual Disendowment of the Church of England in the Island of Grenada.' [Regarding Act 463a, see Act No. 463 in Gov 5448/1874, CO321/2/13; 9565/1874, CO321/2/23] In the Colonial Office notes, Acts No. 477 to 483 are sanctioned. Colonial Office minutes stated Acts No. 486 and No. 463a.should also be sanctioned. [For Act No. 486 see 1683/1875, CO321/6/5] Referring to Acts No. 484 and 485 [which are the subject of the minutes of 1682/1875, CO321/6/4] Colonial Office minutes state 'these two acts are loan and taxation acts - to provide for the Public Expenditure - They were insufficient for the purpose and the Lt. Gov [?] received his complaints against the Assembly for not making adequate provision for the administration of Govt. the Colonial Legislature had been warned by Lord Carnarvon in a Despatch No. 15 36 of the 29th of August 1874 that if they did not make proper provision for maintaining public credit it would become a question whether the Constitution should not be changed. This announcement appears to have infuriated leaders of the Opposition & the discreditable scene which took place on the debate on the Despatch is described in 1793/[1875]. It being reported that a Bill was about to be introduced to turn Grenada into a Crown Colony matters remained at a stand still - but we now learn by 7987 [1875] that the measure has been lost, a resolution having been carried that the Bill was"subversive of political rights & liberties" and should be"torn to pieces & trampled under foot" In the meanwhile the agitation has done good because the Assembly have since passed an Act No. 505 which has just arrived in 7904"for granting certain Duties in and of Several Revenues" and Mr. Rawson reports that this measure will probably supplement the Revenue by £2000 and enable the Govt to make sufficient provision for all necessary services [see 6070/1875]. Under all the circumstances it may now be thought sufficient to sanction Nos 484 & 485 and No. 505 in the same Despatch without comment, and to reserve any remarks which Lord Carnarvon desires to make on the Constitution of Grenada for his reply to the expected Despatch Officially announcing the defeat of the Crown Colony Bill.'

Rawson William Rawson, Governor of Windward Islands, Grenada No. 4, Folios 12 - 26.