Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 4 August 1866, CO 305:29, no. 8964, 60.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 4 August 1866, CO 305:29, no. 8964, 60.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
No. 57
4th August 1866
Sir,
Referring to my Despatches named in the margin
on the subject of irregularities and defalcations in the Probate
Court prior to my assuming the Government of this Colony, I have the
honor to inform you that I furnished full and explanatory Returns to
the Legislative Assembly on the 9th March 1866 embodyinga
a
particular statement of all the unclosed and unbalanced accounts of
that Department.
No 38, 15th June 1865.
No 43, 26th June 1865.
No 43, 26th June 1865.
a
particular statement of all the unclosed and unbalanced accounts of
that Department.
Though these Returns were furnished in compliance with a Resolution
of the Legislative Assembly at a cost of $400 for their compilation,
no action has up to this time been taken, and I have reason to
believe that none will be taken during the existence of the present
Legislative Assembly.
Circumstances may and probably will arise necessitating furtherinvestigation
investigation but at present and under the peculiar circumstances of
this case I think it would be inexpedient for me to pursue the
subject.
investigation but at present and under the peculiar circumstances of
this case I think it would be inexpedient for me to pursue the
subject.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Acknowledge. There is nothing we can do to purify this Court. The remedy is with the Colony.
Acknowledge. There is nothing we can do to purify this Court. The remedy is with the Colony.
ABd
18 Sep
Vancouver certainly affords as striking an example as I can remember
of the abuses of Representative Institutions when they are conferred
upon a Community too small, and of too inferior a stamp, to be fit
for that form of Govt. The original Settlers of South Australia
wisely got it provided by Act of Parliament that they would not have
a popular Assembly until their numbers were sufficient to constitute
a people.
TFE
18 Sepr
I think it was the antecedents, & nature of this Community not its
smallness that caused failure. Our N. American settlement had free
Legislatures from their outset—all the freemen
at first. Representation afterwards when ns increased.
CBA
19/9
