No. 15
3rd March 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your despatch No. 5 of 16th January, on the subject of an application made on behalf of Mr A. Waddington for assistance in constructing a Road from Bute Inlet to the interior of British Columbia.
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2. Previous to the receipt of Your Despatch I had brought the subject before my Executive Council on a similar application made to me by Mr Waddington. I enclose copies of that Gentleman's letter together with the reply which, with the advice of my Executive Council, I caused to be addressed to him.
3. It may possibly be considered that the last Paragraph of the Acting Colonial Secretary's letter does not convey the reasonable encouragement you desire should be afforded. I will only stateinManuscript image in explanation that Mr Waddington based his claim to be re-imbursed his previous outlay in this speculation on the grounds that the then Governor encouraged him to commence and continue the work. It was the opinion of my Executive Council that any encouragement Mr Waddington might now receive from this Government would be used as an Advertisement to obtain capital in England for an undertaking considered by all best informed on the subject a most hazardous speculation.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant
Arthur N. Birch
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
This will enable us finally to answer Mr Churchill. See 12264.
ABd 16 May
I annex drafts to Mr Churchill & the Acting Governor.
TFE 18 May
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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A. Waddington to Colonial Secretary, 9 November 1865, discussing his intention to continue road construction with the aid of capital from England, upon certain conditions being conceeded by the government.
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H.M. Ball, Colonial Secretary, to Waddington, 15 November 1865, advising that the government could not meet the conditions proposed.
Other documents included in the file
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Colonial Office to James Churchill, 21 May 1866, forwarding copy of the colonial secretary's letter.
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Draft reply, Cardwell to Acting Governor Birch, No. 31, 31 May 1866.