Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Kennedy, Arthur to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 27 August 1863, CO 305:21, no. 8393, 287.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Other documents (2).
Kennedy to Newcastle
I have the honor to request His Graces consideration and decision on
the Subject of the Passage Allowance to the Governor proceeding to
Vancouvers Island, for which there does not appear to be any fixed
rate.
In deciding upon this question, I would state the following facts for
Your Graces consideration.
The Passage to Vancouver Island, will be quite, if not more
expensive, than that to "Western Australia," for which £800 is the
fixed Allowance; and my experience taught me that it was no more than
sufficient.
The expense of transporting Servants, to Vancouver
Island is very heavy; and in addition to this, all Baggage (over and
above a small allowance) from Southampton to Vancouvers Island is
charged at the rate of "£22 pr ton and 5 p cent [for masse?]."
When Insurance is added it amounts to a Serious item upon the
Quantity of Baggage necessary when proceeding to so distant a Colony.
The expense of transporting Servants, to Vancouver
Island is very heavy; and in addition to this, all Baggage (over and
above a small allowance) from Southampton to Vancouvers Island is
charged at the rate of "£22 pr ton and 5 p cent [for masse?]."
When Insurance is added it amounts to a Serious item upon the
Quantity of Baggage necessary when proceeding to so distant a Colony.
To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle K.G. &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The decision on this application will have to be carefully considered, before recommending it to the Treasury—inasmuch as it will constitute a precedent to be followed on future occasions.
The decision on this application will have to be carefully considered, before recommending it to the Treasury—inasmuch as it will constitute a precedent to be followed on future occasions.
My own idea is that it is more troublesome—so many transhipments
being involved—And as
many miles have [three words off microfilm]
over in going to V.C.Isd as there wd be in going to our most
distant dependencies; for which the sum of £800 is allowed. Mr
Kennedy says that it cost him that sum to return, I suppose, from
Western Australia. As no outfit is allowed by this Office to
Governors, as is customary at the For: Office for their Chief
Officers, I think we ought not to fix a sum less than is actually
necessary for defraying the reasonable expenses of a Governor when
assuming his post.
many miles have [three words off microfilm]
over in going to V.C.Isd as there wd be in going to our most
distant dependencies; for which the sum of £800 is allowed. Mr
Kennedy says that it cost him that sum to return, I suppose, from
Western Australia. As no outfit is allowed by this Office to
Governors, as is customary at the For: Office for their Chief
Officers, I think we ought not to fix a sum less than is actually
necessary for defraying the reasonable expenses of a Governor when
assuming his post.
ABd
28 Augt/63
Mr Fortescue
To all the Australian Colonies & also to Ceylon £800 is allowed & £700 to Mauritius. For practical purposes I suppose that Vancouver & B. Columbia are about the two most remote spots on the Globe from England. I should be much disposed therefore to advise you to grant one of these two highest rates of allowance. One advantage is that if there be a little surplus, it helps towards outfit which is burthensome on all Colonial Governors.
To all the Australian Colonies & also to Ceylon £800 is allowed & £700 to Mauritius. For practical purposes I suppose that Vancouver & B. Columbia are about the two most remote spots on the Globe from England. I should be much disposed therefore to advise you to grant one of these two highest rates of allowance. One advantage is that if there be a little surplus, it helps towards outfit which is burthensome on all Colonial Governors.
TFE
1 Sep
I think £800 may be granted.
CF
3
I agree.
N
8
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 14 September 1863,
recommending that £800 in passage allowance be granted to Governor
Kennedy.
Rogers to Kennedy, 14 September 1863, advising that £800 had
been recommended to Treasury as an appropriate passage allowance to
Vancouver Island.