Colonial Despatches

The Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury having had under Their consideration Mr Elliot's Letter of the 5th Instant, enclosing a copy of a Despatch from the Governor of British Columbia forwarding a suggestion by the Treasurer of that Colony, that the Governor should receive a Travelling Allowance, at the rate of £5 a day, during the periods for which he may be absent on Official Duty, from the Seat of Government Government, I am directed by their Lordships to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that, in the opinion of this Board, it will be better to postpone fixing a rate of allowance for Travelling, until some experience shall have been obtained of the Cost of Travelling in British Columbia; and that the system of furnishing accounts of actual Disbursements made by the Governor, should be persevered in, until sufficient data exist for establishing a daily rate.

The instance of Ceylon, quoted as a parallel case, can hardly be so considered, having reference to the amount of pomp and display inevitable in such a Country.