Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hamilton, George Alexander to Adderley, Charles Bowyer 27 March 1867, CO 60:31, no. 3060, 42.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
Hamilton discusses debts, credits, and methods of payment regarding British Columbia, the
Crown Agentsfunds, and the presence of Royal Engineers in British Columbia. Elliot’s minute suggests informing the Treasury to wait until British Columbia has paid
Messrs Clarke & Skinner, Contractors for the supply of Meat for the Troops in British Columbia,before making a payment to the
Crown Agentson behalf of British Columbia and informing Seymour, once British Columbia pays the contractors,
the same amount will be paid to the Crown Agents to the credit of the Colony.
Hamilton to Under-Secretary of State
Treasury Chambers
27th March 1867
Sir,
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's
Treasury to state, for the information of the Duke of Buckingham
that under the circumstances represented in your letter of the
18th Inst, My Lords will not object to the payment to Messrs
Clarke & Skinner, Contractors for the supply of Meat for the Troops
in British Columbia of the sum of £568 which has been awarded to
them as compensation for losses sustained by an unexpected withdrawal
of the Troops in 1863; and the consequent abrupt termination of their
contract, before the expiration of the term for which it was made.
My Lords concur with His Gracethat
that this sum is chargeable to
Imperial Funds.
that this sum is chargeable to
Imperial Funds.
My Lords observe, that, in consequence of the decision conveyed
to His Grace's Department in the letter of 22nd December last
No 19020/66, that no further payments should be made to the
Colonial Government in respect of their claims for arrears of
expenses of the Royal Engineers for previous years, there is a
balance to the credit of the Grant for British Columbia of about
£2000—being portion of the Supplementary Vote taken last
Session under the impression that the arrears claimed were properly
payable to the Colony, out of which Balance the sum of £568 can now be
paid.
If the Secretary of State sees noobjection
objection, My Lords will
direct the issue of this sum to the Crown Agents on behalf of the
Colonial Government on the understanding that the Governor will
satisfy the claim by a corresponding payment out of the Colonial Chest.
objection, My Lords will
direct the issue of this sum to the Crown Agents on behalf of the
Colonial Government on the understanding that the Governor will
satisfy the claim by a corresponding payment out of the Colonial Chest.
Minutes by CO staff
It will perhaps be satisfactory to the Duke of Buckingham to see
that the Treasury admit the claim of these Contractors in B.
Columbia, and will be able to pay it out of Imperial Funds without
a fresh Parliamentary vote.
But the B. Columbia Govt has been so
lax and untrustworthy in financial matters,
that whilst expressing
a general concurrence in the course proposed by the Treasury, I
would express an opinion to them that instead of their now paying the
money to the Crown Agents to the Credit of the Colony, the payment
should only be made after the Governor has reported that he has paid
the amount
to the Contractors. The correspondence should then be sent to him for
his information and guidance with instructions to make the payment and
an intimation that immediately on it's being reported, the same
amount will be paid to the Crown Agents to the credit of the Colony.
Other documents included in the file
Colonial Office to Hamilton, 6 April 1867, agreeing to the
payment but suggesting it be delayed, with explanation.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 18, 6 April 1867 informing Seymour that, once British Columbia’s government pays the contractors that supplied meat to troops in British Columbia, then the Treasury will make a payment on behalf of British Columbia to the Crown Agents.