Peel to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
8 March 1862
With reference to your letter of the 4th Ult. I am directed by the Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that My Lords are of opinion that the duties of the Registrar of the Supreme Court and of the Registrar of Titles to land in British Columbia should, for the present,beManuscript image be discharged at a less cost than £800 a year, and They concur with His Grace in thinking that the same Officer might fill both offices and be sufficiently remunerated by a Salary of £500.
My Lords observe that the Registrar of Lands is required to appoint a Deputy Registrar, who may perform the duties of the office and receive a Salary not exceeding £300, but They trust that, if such an appointment is made, none but a nominalManuscript image Salary will be attached to it.
I am Sir
Your obedient Servant
F. Peel
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
The Act creates the Office of Registrar General with a Salary not exceeding £500 per annum. I see no reason for not confirming that Act—which Sir F. Rogers has pronounced unobjectionable—& instructing the Governor that the combined Situations of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, & the Registrar General should not for the present cost more than £500 a year.
With regard to the 2d Par. of the Treasury Letter I own I cannot go along with it. If a Deputy Regr is requisite, & he is called upon to discharge public duties, he ought to be paid a proper & not a "nominal" Salary. Supposing the Regr Genl is ill for any length of time is the Deputy to receive nominal pay for his services?
The Act proposes to assign him £300 per annum. I cannot think that amount too high for an Officer who has to perform trustworthy duties, especially in so expensive & rough a country as B. Columbia.
ABd 8/3
I entirely agree with Mr Blackwood, but if the Treasury is to have any control in the matter, it will be of comparatively little importance what conclusion may be adopted here. But then B. Columbia, from this time forth is to receive no aid to it's Civil Government from this Country, except the Salary of the Governor alone. I think therefore that we may make to the Governor whatever intimation may be deemed best by you and the Duke of Newcastle on this matter of detail.
TFE 10 March
I suppose we may ask the Govr whether a Deputy Registrar is necessary, and, if so, whether the duties can be performed for less than £300 a year?
CF 11
Write to Govr accordingly.
N 12
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 112, 17 March 1862, suggesting that the positions of Registrar of the Supreme Court and Registrar of Titles to land in British Columbia should be filled by one person at a salary of £500, asking whether the position of Deputy Registrar of lands is required, and asking whether the position can be filled at a salary of less than £300.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I think you had better see this before it is sent.
If Mr Bushby declines the term (retaining with his present office £300 of what is to make up the £500 salary of the Registrar of Deeds) a difficulty arises—and for the land buyers a very practical & pressing one.
FR 13/3
Mr Fortescue
Perhaps you will consider whether any further precaution is necessary, and what figure to adopt in the blank in the margin of page 5. We are acting under the control of the Treasury in the matter.
TFE 15/3