Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Law, William to Adderley, Charles Bowyer 10 June 1868, CO 60:34, no. 6051, 378.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
Law requests Buckingham to instruct the Crown Agents to retain funds from British Columbia to pay
the Interest on the Debentures of that Colony…and to postpone all payments to the Sinking Fund until fresh remittances have been received.Law discusses the consequences of British Columbia’s financial difficulties and the
culpability on the part of the local Administration.Cox’s minute suggests sending Law’s despatch to the Crown Agents and discusses
what further instructions should be sent to Govr Seymour.Minutes by Rogers and Buckingham discuss the state of salaries for public officials in British Columbia.
Law to Under-Secretary of State
Treasury Chambers
10th June 1868
Sir,
The Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury have
had before them your letter of the 30 ulto, inclosing a
letter from the Crown Agents for the Colonies respecting
the mode of meeting the Dividend shortly falling due on the
British Columbia Debentures.
My Lords desire me to state that, under the circumstances
mentioned in Mr Sargeaunts letter of 21st ulto They consider
that there is practically no alternative to the course proposed
by the Secretary of State; and They accordinglyrequest
request that
His Grace will direct the Crown Agents to retain the Funds now
in their hands to the credit of British Columbia, towards
meeting the Interest on the Debentures of that Colony falling
due in the course of next month; and to postpone all payments
to the Sinking Fund until fresh remittances have been received.
request that
His Grace will direct the Crown Agents to retain the Funds now
in their hands to the credit of British Columbia, towards
meeting the Interest on the Debentures of that Colony falling
due in the course of next month; and to postpone all payments
to the Sinking Fund until fresh remittances have been received.
Their Lordships much regret that the representations already
made to the Colonial Government by the Secretary of State
should have proved so ineffectual.
His Grace will recollect that, in the Letter from this
Department of 18 May 1867, it was observed that"the
"the
Governor should be directed to consider Liabilities in respect
of Loans to stand in the position of primary charges on the
Revenue, even before the Salaries of Public Officers."
Although this rule is, in effect, no other than that laid down
by the Colonial Acts No 5 of 1862 Sect 6; No 5 of 1863 Sect 6;
& No 7 of 1864 Sect 4, it is but too clear that it is not being
adhered to; and My Lords feel it necessary to add that its
non-observance implies serious culpability on the part of the
local Administration, and an indifference to the punctual
discharge of just liabilities which cannot fail to havea
a
most prejudicial effect as regards the future credit of this Colony.
"the
Governor should be directed to consider Liabilities in respect
of Loans to stand in the position of primary charges on the
Revenue, even before the Salaries of Public Officers."
Although this rule is, in effect, no other than that laid down
by the Colonial Acts No 5 of 1862 Sect 6; No 5 of 1863 Sect 6;
& No 7 of 1864 Sect 4, it is but too clear that it is not being
adhered to; and My Lords feel it necessary to add that its
non-observance implies serious culpability on the part of the
local Administration, and an indifference to the punctual
discharge of just liabilities which cannot fail to havea
a
most prejudicial effect as regards the future credit of this Colony.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
A copy of this letter & of ours to which it is an answer should be sent to the Crown Agents for their information & guidance & as the answer to their letter 5303.
A copy of this letter & of ours to which it is an answer should be sent to the Crown Agents for their information & guidance & as the answer to their letter 5303.
And it then remains to
decide what further instructions
should be sent to Govr Seymour as to the non-remission of
funds to meet the liabilities of the Colony—the last despatch
to him was the 14 June 1867—see Ty 4858.
decide what further instructions
should be sent to Govr Seymour as to the non-remission of
funds to meet the liabilities of the Colony—the last despatch
to him was the 14 June 1867—see Ty 4858.
But at the same time it must be remembered that nothing has yet
been done on Govr Seymour's despatch of the 13 Dec. last in
which he applied for help to enable the Colony to meet its
Financial difficulties.
CC
11 June
It seems to me that unless the Government
employs (and pays)
at least those public officers concerned in the collection
of the Revenue & the maintenance of order, the Revenue will
not accrue & be collected, and instead of the Sinking Fund
payments falling into arrear, the whole debt of the Colony
will have to be repudiated.
employs (and pays)
at least those public officers concerned in the collection
of the Revenue & the maintenance of order, the Revenue will
not accrue & be collected, and instead of the Sinking Fund
payments falling into arrear, the whole debt of the Colony
will have to be repudiated.
I also doubt to what extent the salaries have been paid to
a period beyond that which the payments to the Sinking Fund
have been kept up. I remember Mr Seymour, writing,
privately or publicly,
that his own salary was greatly in arrear, I think 9 months.
Since writing the above I have received a private letter from
the Govr in wh he says that he has recd no
salary for 6
months.
salary for 6
months.
I should be disposed to say that H.G. hesitates to
communicate their Lps letter to the Colony for two reasons
1. because unless certain of the officers of Govt are paid
they cannot be required to do their work, and if they were to
neglect that work, the Revenue to which the public creditors
must look for payment will not be collected, 2ndly because H.G.
is not informed how far the Salaries of public officers
have been paid, and is led to believe that the Govrs salary at
least has not been paid for the last 10 months.
And has also reason to believe that the Salaries of the Judges
are largely in arrear.
(Sir W. Borill showed me a letter of Needham's a short time
since.
B&C
17/6
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Crown Agents, 22 June 1868, advising that the
Treasury had agreed funds on hand should be directed
toward meeting the interest on the debentures, postponing all
payments to the sinking fund until further funds received.
Rogers to Secretary to the Treasury, 22 June 1868,
advising funds received would go towards interest payments,
but explaining why their letter would not be directed to Seymour.