Colonial Despatches

I duly received Your Grace's Despatch No 44 of the 9th August last, transmitting an extract from a Report of the Commissioners of Audit, upon the subject of the disallowance of a sum of Sixty pounds (£60) from the accounts of British Columbia forthe the year 1861, and calling upon me for a report in respect of the circumstances under which credit for that sum was claimed.

2. The sum in question formed a portion of the Revenue collected by Constable Seymour in May 1861, under instructions from Mr Nind, the Magistrate in charge of the Alexandria District, and was stolen from his person while sleeping at a way side House near the Forks of Quesnelle. The circumstances of the loss were declared to on oath by Constable Seymour, and were verified,so so far as they could be, by Mr Nind; from inquiries which he subsequently made. When therefore, the claim for credit on this account was first brought forward, I saw no reason to doubt the truth of the statements made, and having a full appreciation of all the difficulties attending the collection of revenue in a wild and desolate country, I approved of the claim for credit being allowed.

3. Since the receipt of Your Grace's Despatch now under reply, I have called upon Mr Nind for a special report inrespect respect of this matter, and I have personally examined Mr Seymour upon the same subject. I forward herewith Mr Nind's report for Your Grace's information, and I can only express my own conviction that the loss occurred solely as represented, and was, under the circumstances, not the result of carelessness or neglect of precaution, but simply the result of the risk the custodian was compelled to incur.

4. I trust this explanation may prove satisfactory to Your Grace, and that the disallowanceof of credit entry may now be removed.

5. In accordance with the requirements of the Commissioners of Audit, I forward herewith a Certificate from Mr Nind that the amount has been included in the sums brought to account as Revenue.

6. I have to apologize for not earlier replying to Your Grace's Despatch; but I deferred making any report upon the matter until I could personally gather the particulars from Mr Seymour, who is, Ibelieve believe a most respectable and trustworthy man, and who left the service of the Government about twelve months ago for the purpose of bettering his condition.