I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying Copy of a
Petition to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from Mr. Alfred
Waddington of Victoria, Vancouver Island, in regard to his claim for
compensation on account of the loss of his scow on the Homathco River,
during certain operations against the Indians in 1864, and I enclose a
copy of a letter received from their Lordships at this Office on the
subject.
You will inform Mr. Waddington that their Lordships view the claim
as a subject to be dealt with by the local Government, and that I concur
in this opinion. Mr. Waddington cannot expect that he should induce
Authorities resident in this Country to undertake to assess the value of
a boat in Vancouver Island.
I forward in original the enclosures of Mr. Waddington's petition.