Lugard to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
23 December 1861
With reference to those portions of your Letter of the 22nd November, and its enclosure, from Lieutenant Colonel Foster, Commanding the Vancouver Island Volunteers, which relate to the mode of appointing officers of the Corps, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request that you will acquaint the Duke of Newcastle that Sir George Lewis is of opinion that it would not be expedient to adopt the suggestion of inserting the names ofofficersManuscript image officers belonging to Colonial militia or Volunteer Corps, in the London Gazette. They are doubtless duly notified in the Local Gazette.
With regard to Colonel Foster's further suggestion that the appointments should have permanent effect, and be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corps in this Country, I am to state that Sir George Lewis conceives that it must rest with the Local Authorities to decide how far those rules can properly be adopted in the several Colonies.
I have etc.
Edward Lugard
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
The War Office say nothing about the issue of superior Rifles.
VJ 24 Decr
I shd tell Col: F. that before the receipt of his letter, the Brunswick Rifles to which he alluded had already been despatched. On the other points I would tell him that the S. of State for War, to whom his letter was referred, has expressed his opinion &c &c (embodying the substance of the several decisions in the War Office letter).
The Gov. should be apprized of the Correspondence about the gazetting of officers and the Rules & Regulations. In these times I shd not be disposed to send to him any [deprecation?] of it. [Six words illegible] were being taken by some hand that ensured its not being seen by [one line off microfilm].
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 83, 31 December 1861, informing him that Foster's requests have been denied. Officers of the Vancouver Island Volunteer Corps will not be announced in the London Gazette and the terms of their appointment will be decided by authorities within the colony, not by the rules and regulations promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corps in Britain.
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Rogers to Foster, 1 January 1862, advising him of the views of the War Office in respect to his suggestions.