Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 30 July 1864, CO 305:22, no. 8756, 385.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Kennedy acknowledges receipt of despatches regarding the granting of a monopoly to an US-based
telegraph company. He assures Cardwell that he will inform the president of the California State Telegraph Company that
it will not be possible for Vancouver Island to grant
exclusive privilegesto the company. This document includes two Acts regarding a telegraph line between Vancouver Island and the United States.
No. 48, Legislative
30th July 1864
Sir
1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches
named in the margin relative to certain Bills passing or passed by
the Legislatures of British Columbia and Vancouver Island granting
certain exclusive privileges to an American Telegraph company who are
about to construct a line from San Francisco.
2. In
2. In reply thereto I have now the honor to transmit copies of two
Acts passed by the Legislature of this Colony bearing upon this
subject.
3. The former of these you will observe received the Assent of my
Predecessor and was transmitted a few days previous to my arrival in
this colony, and the latter
which was assented to by me prior to the receipt of your Despatches,
does not contain any clause of the objectionable nature to which you
direct myattention
attention.
Not recd at this date.
ABd
19 Sepr/64
attention.
4. I will immediately communicate with the President of the
California State Telegraph Company and inform him that it is not
probable that the exclusive privileges granted to the Company in the
5th section of the Act (a copy of which I now enclose) will receive
Her Majesty's confirmation, this Act having been passed, not only in
ignorance, but in violation of the policy of the Imperial Government
which is opposed to the grant ofany
any monopoly of telegraphic
communication.
any monopoly of telegraphic
communication.
5. I will also bring this Act under the notice of the Legislative
Assembly of this Colony at an early period with a view to its repeal
or modification.
Minutes by CO staff
Ackne.
It is satisfactory that the Govr makes no difficulties about
amending the Electric
Telegraph Act—giving exclusive privileges to the Californian
Company.
The other Act may be considered when it comes properly authenticated.
FR
19/5
Governor Kennedy shd be informed that the
Act which he supposes we
have received, & Mr Blackwood says we have not, has not been
transmitted to us: care being taken that we are accurate & that the
receipt has not been overlooked.
Act which he supposes we
have received, & Mr Blackwood says we have not, has not been
transmitted to us: care being taken that we are accurate & that the
receipt has not been overlooked.
EC
25
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"An Act for the regulation of Electric Telegraphs within the
Colony of Vancouver Island and to secure secrecy and fidelity in the
transmission of Telegraphic messages," passed by the Legislative
Assembly 24 March 1864, by the Legislative Council 15 June 1864, and
given Kennedy's assent 7 July 1864.
Minutes by CO staff
Authenticated Act not yet recd.
[ABd]
19 Sep/64
