Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 4 June 1864, CO 305:22, no. 6970, 265.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Kennedy forwards a letter from the Surveyor General of Vancouver Island in which the Surveyor General requests an audit of the Land Office accounts, and
asks to be relieved of the financial responsibilities of the office.
[I]n view of all the defalcations which have occurredwithin the Land Office accounts, Kennedy submits his report on the letter. He observes that the
result of this shortsighted and mistaken economy is that the public accounts of the Colony which in [Kennedy’s] opinion ought to be audited monthly have not yet been audited for 1864, thus throwing additional trouble upon the Treasurer, and opening the door to great irregularities.
No. 31, Financial
4th June 1864
My Lord Duke
1. I have the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a letter
addressed to me by the Surveyor General of this Colony which in view
of all the defalcations which have occurred I deem it my duty to lay
before you.
2. I may shortly state the origin of this letter. An advance
warrant for the large sum of$10,000
$10,000 was lately submitted for my
approval, which I was informed was the usual course. I questioned
the propriety or necessity of making such large advances to an
officer who was not under bond for pecuniary trust and on making
further inquiries ascertained that the Surveyor General (or his
office) was virtually a colonial accountant, that he was the Officer
who judged whether accounts coming into his office were correct, and
then paid them himself, thus destroying the usual, and proper check,
had they been paid by the Treasurer.
3. A
$10,000 was lately submitted for my
approval, which I was informed was the usual course. I questioned
the propriety or necessity of making such large advances to an
officer who was not under bond for pecuniary trust and on making
further inquiries ascertained that the Surveyor General (or his
office) was virtually a colonial accountant, that he was the Officer
who judged whether accounts coming into his office were correct, and
then paid them himself, thus destroying the usual, and proper check,
had they been paid by the Treasurer.
3. A conversation with the Surveyor General resulted in his writing
the accompanying letter.
4. I have informed the Surveyor General that I will take immediate
steps to have his accounts audited and all pecuniary responsibility
as far as possible transferred to the proper office, that of the
Treasurer.
5. While addressing you on this subject, it is proper for me to
inform you that there is no Auditor in this Colony, Mr Ker late
Auditor for the two Colonies having resigned, and the provision made
for the salary of an auditorby
by the local Legislature in the
Estimates for 1864 (seven hundred and twenty five dollars) wholly
inadequate to secure an efficient Officer to replace him. I therefore
propose to employ Mr Ker at the salary I have at my disposal (if he
will accept of the office) till more suitable arrangements can be
made.
by the local Legislature in the
Estimates for 1864 (seven hundred and twenty five dollars) wholly
inadequate to secure an efficient Officer to replace him. I therefore
propose to employ Mr Ker at the salary I have at my disposal (if he
will accept of the office) till more suitable arrangements can be
made.
6. The result of this shortsighted and mistaken economy is that the
public accounts of the Colony which in my opinion ought to be
audited monthly have not yet been audited for 1864, thus throwing
additional trouble uponthe
the Treasurer, and opening the door to great
irregularities.
the Treasurer, and opening the door to great
irregularities.
7. The Treasurer concurs in my views, and I only bring the subject
under your notice to guard myself from any responsibility resulting
from a system of which I disapprove.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
The Governor is quite right, I think, in appointing an Auditor, and the Surveyor Genl also judges rightly in seeking to be relieved from money responsibility. But I conceive that if an Auditor is appointed the Ho: of Assembly must pay his salary. No provision was made for such an Officer in the desph proposing to surrender the Crown Revenue to the Assembly in exchange for a Civil List. I hope the Govr does not contemplate making payments out of the Crown funds which were not contemplated in that desp. He will have enough to do to pay his way as it is out of the Crown Estate. At present, however, his intention seems to be only to appoint an Auditor on the salary appropriated for the Office by the Legislature. See 6971.
The Governor is quite right, I think, in appointing an Auditor, and the Surveyor Genl also judges rightly in seeking to be relieved from money responsibility. But I conceive that if an Auditor is appointed the Ho: of Assembly must pay his salary. No provision was made for such an Officer in the desph proposing to surrender the Crown Revenue to the Assembly in exchange for a Civil List. I hope the Govr does not contemplate making payments out of the Crown funds which were not contemplated in that desp. He will have enough to do to pay his way as it is out of the Crown Estate. At present, however, his intention seems to be only to appoint an Auditor on the salary appropriated for the Office by the Legislature. See 6971.
ABd
27 July
So do I, but I am not able to verify the impression.
ABd
2 Augt
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
J.D. Pemberton, Surveyor General, to Acting Colonial Secretary,
23 May 1864, requesting an audit of the Land Office accounts, and
asking to be relieved of the financial responsibilities of the office.
