No. 29
16th January 1867
My Lord,
I have had the honor to receive Your Lordship's despatch No. 11 of the 1st October, directing me to report officially my opinion as to whether Mr Trutch should be allowed to hold the officeofManuscript image of Surveyor General of this Colony while in possession of considerable interests in a bridge and road.
2. Mr Trutch, I have already reported, to be a good and useful public servant. I have therefore discussed the question again with him. He informs me that he will positively be able to dispose of all his private interests in the Public Works of the Colony early next year. Under thesecircumstancesManuscript image circumstances I am disposed to recommend, that the question should be allowed to rest as it is for another year. If Mr Trutch were confirmed it might possibly be difficult to secure the sale of his property. As matters now are the case will come again under Your Lordship's consideration in 1868, and may then, I think, be finally disposed of.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your most obedient, humble Servant
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Defer decision on Mr Trutch's apptment as proposed until 1868?
ABd 20 March
Manuscript image
Mr Trutch is well adapted to his work in B. Columbia and it is often found very difficult to get men well suited to the functions of Surveyor General & Chief Engineer in a new Colony.
Acknowledge and express general concurrence in the Governor's recommendation that the case should stand over for a time.
TFE 20 March
CBA 21/3
Manuscript image
But that it will be desirable that the Governor should report in the course of the present year what progress Mr Trutch has been able to make towards finding a purchaser for the bridge &c as it is not desirable that the arrangement or rather omission of all definite arrangement as to the discharge of the duties Surveyor General shd continue long.
B&C 21/3
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 15, 30 March 1867 agreeing with Seymour to have Trutch remain as Surveyor General, while “holding on to his private interests, until 1868, but requesting progress reports regarding Trutch relinquishing “his private holdings.”