No. 71, Separate
23rd August 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit the copy of a correspondence which has passed between Governor Seymour, the Colonial Secretary of Vancouver Island and myself on the subject of a claim made by me for repayment to this Government of a moiety of the costofManuscript image of maintenance of the Race Rock and Fisgard Island Lighthouses.
The letter of Sir James Douglas dated 11th April 1864 is very clear as to his intention and decision upon the distribution of the liability and the question is can it be now departed from?
I do not see any satisfactory result likely to accrue from a continuance of the correspondence between myself and Governor Seymour who has doubtlesslocalManuscript image local difficulties to contend with and local prejudices to combat.
It would be an additional source of irritation to permit this claim to become a subject of discussion in the local Legislature of either Colony which can only be prevented by the intervention and decision of Her Majesty's Secretary of State.
I will only further remark that Captain Richards R.N. willIManuscript image I am sure be glad to furnish any information on the subject which these papers fail to convey.
Any apparent delay in pressing this claim upon the Government of British Columbia is accounted for by the absence of the Colonial Secretary of Vancouver Island in England during a portion of 1864 and 1865.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
Having lately examined the past correspondence respecting the construction & maintenance of these Lighthouses I am of opinion that V.C.I. has a strong & valid claim to repayment from B.C. for their maintenance.
ABd 12 Oct
Mr Cardwell
A memorandum of the facts wd be necessary before forming any judgment on the merits. The impression left on my mind by the correspondence is certainly not favourable to B. Columbia nor to the positionManuscript image assumed by Mr Seymour. But evidently the papers shd be in the first instance referred to him, and ought to have been communicated to him by Govr Kennedy at the same time as they were sent home.
I think Gov Kennedy shd be told that the dphes had been sent to Mr Seymour for his report & ought to have been sent to him by Mr K. in order that Mr C. mt have both sides of the case before him with the least possible delay.
Also send copies to Mr Seymour for report.
I should be much inclined to observe that his dph of the 22nd Aug. did not appear to be written in that spirit of accommodation which ought to subsist between Govts of neighbouring Colonies, and especially of where differences already existed wh it was extremely desirable not to embitter or multiply.
I should think it most probable that Gov. Douglas' division was unfair to B.C. But then B.C. should have made an offer & not repudiated in toto.
As Governor Seymour is on his way home, the natural course wd seem to be to call on him officially for a Report as soon as he arrives. His intended journey home was known to Govr K. and I should be disposed to spare the latter, who hasManuscript image much to contend with anything like rebuke at present.
EC 14
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(Recd the 20.)
Other documents included in the file
 
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Kennedy to Seymour, 30 June 1865, forwarding a statement of expenditure on account of maintenance of the lighthouses for 1864 and requesting that British Columbia's share, amounting to $3,222, be remitted to Vancouver Island as per agreement.
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Seymour to Kennedy, 13 July 1865, advising that he knew "absolutely nothing respecting the management of the Light Houses" and that he understood the Legislative Council of British Columbia had "refused to place at the disposal of my predecessor, any sum for their support.
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But there were abundant means in the Colony for procuring infn on
the subject.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
*
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Kennedy to Seymour, 17 July 1865, referring the governor to past correspondence on the subject and the fact that "the moiety of the cost of maintaining these Light Houses has been repaid by the Colony of British Columbia from their first establishment down to the 31st December 1863."
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Kennedy to Douglas, 5 April 1864, forwarding a despatch from Cardwell on the subject of sums advanced for the construction of lighthouses, and asking what provision had been made for repayment and what proportion of the total sum was to be paid by Vancouver Island.
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Douglas to Kennedy, 11 April 1864, advising that it had been decided that Vancouver Island and British Columbia should "defray an equal proportion of the liability on account of construction and also of the cost of maintenance."
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Seymour to Kennedy, 17 August 1865, advising that Douglas had subsequently doubted the fairness of the division in the face of extreme opposition within the colony, and thus he was again declining to submit the sum asked for, with extended explanation.
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W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, to Kennedy, 22 August 1865, commenting at length upon the merits of Seymour's refusal to recognize and discharge the claim.
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Cardwell to Seymour, 31 October 1865, forwarding copy of despatch and enclosures for his report.
Minutes by CO staff
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To be sent to Mr Seymour on his arrival in England.
[ABd]