Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 7 July 1864, CO 305:22, no. 7928, 314.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Other documents (1).
Kennedy reports his plans to
remedy [the] evilof
drunkenness, and violations of the Law, endangering the lives and property of the citizens and settlerson Vancouver Island by increasing the size of the police force. The Colonial Office minutes their discussion over colonial funds for the police.
No. 39
7th July 1864
Sir
1. It is unnecessary for me to preface this communication by
detailing the very great importance of an efficient Police Force in
this as in other portions of Her Majesty's Dominions.
2. The necessity for such a force sufficient in number and efficient
in organization becomes still more important in thisColony
Colony where
there are no regular Troops.
Colony where
there are no regular Troops.
3. I find that the whole Police Force in this Island consists of
eight Constables, two Serjeants, and one Superintendent who are
stationed and employed in the City of Victoria.
4. There are neither Police nor Magistrates in the outlying
Districts, with the exception of Nanaimo where there is one paid
Magistrate and an insufficient allowance for one constable.
5. It is needless for me to enlarge upon the inevitable consequencesof
of this state of things—drunkenness, and violations of the Law,
endangering the lives and property of the citizens and settlers.
of this state of things—drunkenness, and violations of the Law,
endangering the lives and property of the citizens and settlers.
6. The men obtainable for the Police Force in this colony are of a
most undesirable class and hence constant changes are occurring in
the Force by the introduction of new and untrained men who are of
little use and frequently compromise its character.
7. With a view to remedy this evil I am desirous of obtaining some
trained men from the IrishPolice
Police, or men who have retired on pension
from that Force.
Police, or men who have retired on pension
from that Force.
8. Some of these men, were on my application sent to Western
Australia some years ago and acquitted themselves very creditably.
9. The inducements I can offer to such men to take service in this
colony are as follow: The pay for constables is one dollar and a
quarter per day, with clothing, namely, coat, trousers, hat. If they
live in barracks they have a cook found them, with fuel and soap.
Serjeants receive one dollar and three quarters per day.
10. Their
10. Their duties would be principally confined to the City of
Victoria.
11. The climate is equal to that of the South of Ireland, and public
lands are obtainable for one dollar per acre with a highly
remunerative price for produce.
12. The Colony will bear the expense of the passage of the men, (but
not that of their families) on condition of their entering into bonds
with the Agent General that they will refund the amount of passage
money so paid in the event of their quitting the service or beingdismissed
dismissed for misconduct, within a period of two years after arrival.
dismissed for misconduct, within a period of two years after arrival.
13. I will further authorize the Agent General to defray the cost of
passage for the
families of such men on condition of their entering into bonds
for the repayment of such advances by quarterly payments of one sixth
of the sum so advanced to be deducted from their pay.
14. The number of men immediately required would be six and they may
be sent as soon as arrangements can be completed by the Agent
General.
15. I
15. I need hardly impress upon the Officer entrusted with the
selection of the men that steadiness and good character are all
important requisites. Their duties will be light compared with those
they have been trained to, and it will be my desire to make their
position comfortable and respectable.
16. I would wish two of the six men to be selected if possible from
the mounted branch of the Police.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Copy to Home Office requesting that Dt to communicate on the subject with the Irish Govt & inform Mr Cardwell of the result.
Copy to Home Office requesting that Dt to communicate on the subject with the Irish Govt & inform Mr Cardwell of the result.
ABd
23 Augt
Mr Cardwell
I think that this may be done. There are many precedents.
I think that this may be done. There are many precedents.
TFE
23/8
Mr Cardwell
On the question whether the Governor has available funds for the purpose, I annex a memo by Mr Ebden. On the one hand the Governor writes with apparently not a misgiving as to the measure's being within his power. On the other hand it does not appear that the papers which we have in this office contain any proof of the fact. It will be for you therefore to decide what is to be done on the subject.
On the question whether the Governor has available funds for the purpose, I annex a memo by Mr Ebden. On the one hand the Governor writes with apparently not a misgiving as to the measure's being within his power. On the other hand it does not appear that the papers which we have in this office contain any proof of the fact. It will be for you therefore to decide what is to be done on the subject.
If on the whole you should be for referring back the question to the
Governor, it might perhaps serve as a lesson to all parties in the
Colony of the inconvenience of not having a good understanding on
financial matters. In that case
write out, saying that the measure
appears in itself desirable, but that adverting to the discussions
which have taken place on financial matters in the Colony, and not
seeing in the Estimates which have come home any appropriation by the
Legislature for such a service, you feel it necessary to refer to
him, in order to ascertain that the requisite funds are duly placed
at his control before you take any steps for procuring and sending
out the required Policemen?
write out, saying that the measure
appears in itself desirable, but that adverting to the discussions
which have taken place on financial matters in the Colony, and not
seeing in the Estimates which have come home any appropriation by the
Legislature for such a service, you feel it necessary to refer to
him, in order to ascertain that the requisite funds are duly placed
at his control before you take any steps for procuring and sending
out the required Policemen?
TFE
30 August
Write accordingly to Govr.
EC
1 Sep
Gov. 7928 Vancouver I. Friday 26 Aug
It is not perhaps clear whether the policemen asked for by the
Governor are wanted
instead of the present force or in
addition to it.
If the latter is the case, and perhaps on general grounds, it is
worth observing that the estimated Revenue for 1864 including Crown
Revenue was
$385869.43
& the estimated expenditure 295309.5
& therefore the estimated surplus 90569.93
But the supply act appropriates only $257279.5 the House of
Assembly having struck out of the estimates $38030. The $38030 so
struck out comprises the following reductions
(1) Entire salaries proposed by
Duke of Newcastle $28130
(2) Other salaries & establishments 1800
(3) Governors house rent 1000
(4) Works and buildings 3600
(5) Miscellaneous 3500
38030
The 1st and 3rd items with one or two other items not in the original estimates will be paid as far as possible out of the Crown Revenue but the 2nd, 4th and 5th amounting to $8900 swell the original estimated Surplus to $99459.93 = £20513.12. 21125
at 4.1 1/2 per dollar, the present exchange.
$385869.43
& the estimated expenditure 295309.5
& therefore the estimated surplus 90569.93
But the supply act appropriates only $257279.5 the House of
Assembly having struck out of the estimates $38030. The $38030 so
struck out comprises the following reductions
(1) Entire salaries proposed by
Duke of Newcastle $28130
(2) Other salaries & establishments 1800
(3) Governors house rent 1000
(4) Works and buildings 3600
(5) Miscellaneous 3500
38030
The 1st and 3rd items with one or two other items not in the original estimates will be paid as far as possible out of the Crown Revenue but the 2nd, 4th and 5th amounting to $8900 swell the original estimated Surplus to $99459.93 = £20513.12. 21125
at 4.1 1/2 per dollar, the present exchange.
Police Establishment
Commissioner $1750
Superintendent including
allowance for horse hire 1500
Clerk & Storekeeper 800
Two Sergeants at $1.75 per diem 1277.50
Eight constables at $1.50 per diem 4380
Cook at $1.50 per diem 547.50
One Sergeant for the town of
Esquimalt at $2 per diem 730
Contingencies 100
Extra constables on emergencies 500
