Northcote to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
23 April 1859
Sir,
I am desired by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to state, for the information of Secretary Sir E.B. Lytton, with reference to your letter of the 14th February last, that My Lords have for some time had under their consideration the necessity of endeavouring to procure a regular Postal Service between San Francisco Manuscript imageand British Columbia and are of opinion that the establishment of such a Service is imperatively called for at as early a period as circumstances will allow.
My Lords, however, are of opinion that there is no sufficient reason for departing, in this instance, from the principle of competition, and they, have therefore, requested the Admiralty to take the necessary steps for advertising for tenders for this service Manuscript imageto be performed fortnightly between San Francisco and Victoria, Vancouver's Island and Fort Langley, on the Frazer River.
The Vessels are to be required to leave San Francisco within say twelve hours of the arrival at that Port of the American Mail Steamers, and to allow a sufficient interval at Victoria and Fort Langley for preparing the Return Mail.
Minutes by CO staff
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Lord Carnarvon
There is a letter in circulation from Mr Stamp—who is desirous of being the Contractor for this service—which may now be ansd in this sense.
Acquaint the Governor of B.C. with what H.M. Govt are doing for the establishment of postal arrangements for the Colony.
The letter above referred to from Mr Stamp has just been returned.
ABd 26 Apl
Write to Mr Stamp as proposed & to the Govr by the mail of the 1st May.
C Apl 26
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Colonial Office to E. Stamp, 3 May 1859, advising that tenders would be called for the new postal contract and therefore the tender already made by Stamp could not be accepted.
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Draft, Carnarvon (in the absence of Lytton) to Douglas, No. 56, 28 April 1859.