Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Carnarvon, Earl 18 March 1867, CO 60:27, no. 4398, 333.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Seymour addresses Carnarvon’s concerns over public expenditures that occurred without official consent from the
Legislatureon Vancouver Island under Kennedy and encloses a report from Young regarding these funds. Seymour reports his
intention to introduce a Bill of Indemnityafter the
Public Accounts of Vancouver Islandare audited. Rogers’s minute approves no longer pursuing the reasons for the unsanctioned expenditure and acknowledging Seymour’s despatch.
No. 44
18th March 1867
My Lord,
I have had the honor to receive Your Lordship's despatch
Vancouver Island No. 21 of the 16th of November 1866
addressed to Governor Kennedy. Your Lordship states thatyou
you
do not understand from the information before you how it is that
certain public Monies under the control of the Legislature have
been expended without the requisite Legislative sanction, and
further that if they have been so expended, it will have been
a grave irregularity on which you would desire a full report and
for which it will be necessary to seek a remedy at the hands of
the New Legislature of the Colony.
2.
you
do not understand from the information before you how it is that
certain public Monies under the control of the Legislature have
been expended without the requisite Legislative sanction, and
further that if they have been so expended, it will have been
a grave irregularity on which you would desire a full report and
for which it will be necessary to seek a remedy at the hands of
the New Legislature of the Colony.
2. I was in England at the time when these payments were made, and
I therefore referred for information to Mr Young the late Colonial
Secretary of Vancouver Island, whose report I have the honor to enclose.
3. It was my intention to introduce a Bill of Indemnity to the
Legislative Council. The fourth paragraph of my opening address is
as follows: "I place prominently on the list of the Measures I wishyou
you to pass, Bills of Indemnity to My predecessor in Office in
Vancouver Island and myself for money expended without an
appropriation act. The circumstances of the case are sufficiently
familiar to all and I have no doubt that you will legalize Acts of
supreme necessity." The Council replied: "The Acts of Indemnity
referred to by Your Excellency shall receive our most favorable
consideration."
you to pass, Bills of Indemnity to My predecessor in Office in
Vancouver Island and myself for money expended without an
appropriation act. The circumstances of the case are sufficiently
familiar to all and I have no doubt that you will legalize Acts of
supreme necessity." The Council replied: "The Acts of Indemnity
referred to by Your Excellency shall receive our most favorable
consideration."
4. I sent down the Auditor General to Victoria. He foundthat
that
the Public Accounts of Vancouver Island had not been Audited for a
considerable time and I am thus compelled to defer to another
Session the introduction of the Indemnity Bill. The Auditor's Report
will be found enclosed in my despatch No. 40 of the 8th Instant.
that
the Public Accounts of Vancouver Island had not been Audited for a
considerable time and I am thus compelled to defer to another
Session the introduction of the Indemnity Bill. The Auditor's Report
will be found enclosed in my despatch No. 40 of the 8th Instant.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
The Report of the late Colonial Secretary of V.C. Island explains how it happened that Govr Kennedy was compelled by the dead lock in the Legislature to incur a considerable unauthorized expenditure. As however V.C. Island no longer exists as a separate Colony it could answer no useful purpose to pursue the subject further—and I presume the Despatch may be acknowledged with an expression of regret that the state of the Audit of the Accounts has compelled Govr Seymour to defer the introduction of the Indemnity Bill? See 4394.
The Report of the late Colonial Secretary of V.C. Island explains how it happened that Govr Kennedy was compelled by the dead lock in the Legislature to incur a considerable unauthorized expenditure. As however V.C. Island no longer exists as a separate Colony it could answer no useful purpose to pursue the subject further—and I presume the Despatch may be acknowledged with an expression of regret that the state of the Audit of the Accounts has compelled Govr Seymour to defer the introduction of the Indemnity Bill? See 4394.
VJ
7 May
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.A.G. Young to Seymour, 5 February, reporting on public
expenditures made by the Legislative Assembly "without the requisite
legislative sanction."
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 24, 11 May 1867 acknowledging Seymour’s despatch explaining why public money was spent without the Legislature’s consent
and expressing regret that the state of Vancouver Island’s public affairs is delaying Seymour passing an Indemnity Bill.