Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 3 July 1867, CO 60:28, no. 8559, 189.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Seymour forwards
Copies of an Ordinance … to establish a standard of Weights and Measuresand the Attorney General’s report. Seymour advises that
the Magistrates of [British Columbia] should have [the] power to punish … users of false weights.Holland’s minute advises that Seymour’s ordinance should be sanctioned if British Columbia has
authorized copies of the Imperial Standards of Weights and Measuresfor others to create standard weights and scales. Adderley’s minute discusses whether the British system should be used so close to the United States.
No. 84
Victoria
3rd July 1867
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two plain
Copies of an Ordinance of the recent Session of the Legislature,
entitled;
No. 14. An Ordinanceto
to establish a standard of Weights
and Measures.
to establish a standard of Weights
and Measures.
It will be seen from the Report annexed that the
Attorney General approves of this measure. So do I. I likewise
agree with him that the Magistrates of the Colony should have
power to punish in a summary way the users of false weights.
Attention shall be given to this matter at the next meeting of the
Legislative Council.I
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Ordinance to regulate Weights & Measures. This Ordinance is a very beneficial one, but before sanctioning it, would it not be well to know whether there are now in the Colony authorized copies of the Imperial Standards of Weights and Measures; & whether again there are verified copies of these, with which the Inspectors can form weights & scales? I have drafted a Despatch for consideration, pointing out that if such Copies are not in existence, provision should be made for them; & calling attention to one or two other matters of detail.
Ordinance to regulate Weights & Measures. This Ordinance is a very beneficial one, but before sanctioning it, would it not be well to know whether there are now in the Colony authorized copies of the Imperial Standards of Weights and Measures; & whether again there are verified copies of these, with which the Inspectors can form weights & scales? I have drafted a Despatch for consideration, pointing out that if such Copies are not in existence, provision should be made for them; & calling attention to one or two other matters of detail.
While more uniform & better Wts & Measures are under
discussion, & [one word off microfilm] extending over the Commercial
World is it not worthy of consideration whether this strict
assimilation to our own faulty system is wise [so near to the States?].
CBA
3/9
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Seymour, 17 May 1867,
reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 56, 10 September 1867 advising Seymour on the changes required in the ordinance before Buckingham can approve the ordinance.