Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Carnarvon, Earl 6 April 1867, CO 60:28, no. 5080, 29.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Seymour discusses the circumstances that led Seymour to dismiss Watson from service in British Columbia and places Watson’s claim
for reemployment beforethe Colonial Office. Cox minutes that the Treasury’s approval is required to grant Watson’s
payment of Passage & the 6 months full Salaryand that there is a clerk position available in Singapore. Elliot’s and Buckingham’s minutes discuss the possibility of Watson’s re-employment with the Colonial Office.
No. 58
6th April 1867
My Lord,
The situation of Treasurer of Vancouver Island necessarily
ceased to exist when the Colony was merged into that of British
Columbia. I had, when in England, recommended to YourLordship
Lordship
that Mr Franks, the Treasurer of the continental portion of
the Colony should relieved from his duties and Mr Watson
appointed Treasurer of the United Colony. You were pleased
generally to assent.
Lordship
that Mr Franks, the Treasurer of the continental portion of
the Colony should relieved from his duties and Mr Watson
appointed Treasurer of the United Colony. You were pleased
generally to assent.
2. On my return to the Colony however, I found the financial
embarrassment much greater than I anticipated and also that the
light duties of the office of Treasurer could be performed without
troubleor
or increase of pay by the Collector of Customs.
or increase of pay by the Collector of Customs.
3. The late Assembly of Vancouver Island having refused to
grant any remuneration for a clerk to the Treasurer the work of that
Department was much in arrear at the time of Union and the Revenue
from direct taxation suffered largely in consequence of these
arrears. I therefore offered to continue Mr Watson in charge of
the Treasury Departmentat
at Victoria with the same Salary as
heretofore receiving and disbursing money as sub accountant. I
promised at the same time to consider his claims to the appointment
of Treasurer in the event of that office being continued. Mr
Watson replied,
I regret that I should be called upon to discharge duties of
an inferior position of trust to that which I have so long held
in the Colony. I do not object to performthose
those duties if
necessary, simply, as an interim arrangement for the convenience
of the Government but it must be under a distinct Official
Guarantee that the position which I now hold under Her Magesty's
Commission will be fully recognized under the contemplated alteration.
Mr Watson has lately addressed another letter to the Colonial
Secretary in which he requests that I will
will make sucharrangements
arrangements as will relieve me from the
anomalous position in which solely for the convenience of the
Public Service I have placed myself.
at Victoria with the same Salary as
heretofore receiving and disbursing money as sub accountant. I
promised at the same time to consider his claims to the appointment
of Treasurer in the event of that office being continued. Mr
Watson replied,
I regret that I should be called upon to discharge duties of
an inferior position of trust to that which I have so long held
in the Colony. I do not object to performthose
those duties if
necessary, simply, as an interim arrangement for the convenience
of the Government but it must be under a distinct Official
Guarantee that the position which I now hold under Her Magesty's
Commission will be fully recognized under the contemplated alteration.
Mr Watson has lately addressed another letter to the Colonial
Secretary in which he requests that I will
will make sucharrangements
arrangements as will relieve me from the
anomalous position in which solely for the convenience of the
Public Service I have placed myself.
4. I regret Mr Watson's disinclination to continue in an
appointment of equal pecuniary value to the one recently held by
him. While holding a high opinion of Mr Watson as an
accountant I do not consider his services as an executive officersufficiently
sufficiently valuable to justify me in continuing the appointment
of Treasurer merely with a view to retaining Mr Watson in the
Colony. I therefore have offered him, for himself, wife and
family a free passage to England and full salary for six months.
I have further promised to place his claims for reemployment
before your Lordship. Mr Watson was for some time accountant
in the Bank of BritishNorth
North America at Victoria, and was induced
by Sir James Douglas to relinquish that employment for the
appointment of Treasurer of Vancouver Island. He has now been
four years in the Government Service and I can confidently
recommend him as a Gentleman of strict integrity—very valuable
in any financial matters, but on the other hand I ought to state
that his information on matters beyondthe
the scope of his present
department is not very extensive.
sufficiently valuable to justify me in continuing the appointment
of Treasurer merely with a view to retaining Mr Watson in the
Colony. I therefore have offered him, for himself, wife and
family a free passage to England and full salary for six months.
I have further promised to place his claims for reemployment
before your Lordship. Mr Watson was for some time accountant
in the Bank of BritishNorth
North America at Victoria, and was induced
by Sir James Douglas to relinquish that employment for the
appointment of Treasurer of Vancouver Island. He has now been
four years in the Government Service and I can confidently
recommend him as a Gentleman of strict integrity—very valuable
in any financial matters, but on the other hand I ought to state
that his information on matters beyondthe
the scope of his present
department is not very extensive.
Minutes by CO staff
The payment of Passage & the 6 months full Salary will
I conclude require Treasury sanction—he will get Salary for
two months longer than he wd receive as compensation
for
abolition of Office, namely a months Salary for each years—4—service.
for
abolition of Office, namely a months Salary for each years—4—service.
I suppose he will be considered a Candidate for Office,
tho' he appears to me to have damaged his claim on the Secy
of St: by throwing his last employment.
A Clerk in the Auditors Office at Singapore £500 a year is wanted.
CC
30 May
I think that the passage and 6 months salary may be
recommended to the Treasury. Although there is a little
excess in the number of months, the Governor should in such
matters be supported.
With regard to the future, I think that Mr Watson has
altogether denuded himself of any claim on the Office.
He has voluntarily thrown up an Appointment of equal emolument
to his original one.
I should therefore employ him or not exactly as he may
happen to appear the best candidate for any particular Office.
The place at Singapore is worth £100 less than his place at
Vancouver, and it is also a subordinate one; which facts
induced him to throw up the appointment at Vancouver. I
apprehend therefore that either he would not go to Singapore
or would only go with discontent for fear of being altogether dropped.
I shd not hold out any prospect of reemployment to him.
I doubt him being [remainder cut off microfilm]
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Secretary to the Treasury, 8 June 1867, forwarding
copy of the despatch for consideration and recommending that the
governor's terms be sanctioned.