Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Gosset, Captain William Driscoll to
Carnarvon, Earl 26 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 10965, 120.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (6), Other documents (1).
Gosset suggested equipment for a saw mill be sent immediately to BC as well as a lithographic press.
The minutes lament that “there is no end to the wants” of the Royal Engineers but
agree that both requests would be useful.
Enclosed is a draft from the Colonial Office to the Treasury recommending the purchase
of a skeleton gear and lithographic press if the expense does not exceed £200.
Gosset to Under-Secretary of State
The Cloisters
Windsor
Octr 26 1858
Windsor
Sir,
As Commissary for British Columbia, and I presume therefore
(as in Ceylon) responsible for the supply of rough and sawn timber
to the various Departments, I beg to suggest that the skeleton
gear of a powerful water wheel and the machinery of a circular
sawing mill be forthwith provided & sent out without delay.
There is no one article, I deem more necessary, or more economical,
for a Colony, where wood abounds, wherelabour
labor is so scarce that "a
Carter
1
earns 10£ a day", and where sawn timber will be required for innumerable
purposes of general utility, to an extent which will repay the cost of
this simple & not costly tool, even were the Colony to last but a couple
of years.
labor is so scarce that "a
Carter
1
earns 10£ a day", and where sawn timber will be required for innumerable
purposes of general utility, to an extent which will repay the cost of
this simple & not costly tool, even were the Colony to last but a couple
of years.
2. On the same principle of saving manual labor in an
expensive labor market, though in an infinitely less degree than
above, I would suggest the supply of a lithographic pressfor
for the
production of such forms and documents as are likely to be
required from the Commissariat for the general purposes of Government.
for the
production of such forms and documents as are likely to be
required from the Commissariat for the general purposes of Government.
3. Being ignorant of the amount of provisions transmitted with the
force which has proceeded to Vancouvers Island, it is out of my power to
offer any suggestions on this head.
P.S. If ordered from Mr Fenn 105 Newgate St2,
such
sawing gear as I've described, may be prepared for less than
200£; and could be sent out (if the Euphrates has sailed,) as is
merchants' freight, as part cargo of any ordinary trading vessel.
W.D.G.
such
sawing gear as I've described, may be prepared for less than
200£; and could be sent out (if the Euphrates has sailed,) as is
merchants' freight, as part cargo of any ordinary trading vessel.
W.D.G.
The Rt Honble
The Under Secy of State
for the Colonies
The Under Secy of State
for the Colonies
Minutes by CO staff
There is no end to the wants of R. Engineers. The force is an
expensive one in itself, & in its requirements, and an Engineer
Officer having been chosen for the situation of Treasurer and
Commissariat Officer to the Detachment he too proposes the purchase
of articles which will help to swell a bill I am frightened even to
think of. In the end I have little doubt that
it will prove an
economy of time labor, & money to comply with this request—if Sir
Edward is prepared to incur the first expense.
it will prove an
economy of time labor, & money to comply with this request—if Sir
Edward is prepared to incur the first expense.
ABd
26 Oct
Lord Carnarvon
I think that the two first requests should be complied with. But with regard to provisions, glanced at in the last paragraph, I have never yet heard it surmised that we are to feed either the functionaries or the population of British Columbia from England, and I think that the allusion may be dismissed in silence.
I think that the two first requests should be complied with. But with regard to provisions, glanced at in the last paragraph, I have never yet heard it surmised that we are to feed either the functionaries or the population of British Columbia from England, and I think that the allusion may be dismissed in silence.
TFE
27 Octr
Sir Edward Lytton
I am quite alive to the importance as far as possible of keeping down the estimates: and I fear that Mr Blackwood is not wrong when he looks to a very heavy
bill for B. Columbia next year: but
I sd on the whole sanction the purchase & shipment of the articles
recommended by Captn Gossett: as it is clear that the saving effected
by machinery, where manual labour is so costly, will be very large.
I am quite alive to the importance as far as possible of keeping down the estimates: and I fear that Mr Blackwood is not wrong when he looks to a very heavy
bill for B. Columbia next year: but
I sd on the whole sanction the purchase & shipment of the articles
recommended by Captn Gossett: as it is clear that the saving effected
by machinery, where manual labour is so costly, will be very large.
As regards the Provisions, these have been furnished on Col. Moody's recommendation & he alone is responsible for them. I hope
& believe that this portion of our preparation is complete.
C
Oct 27
We have no choice—order the articles, limiting the expence to
within 200£. Draft a letter to Cap. Gossett of short instruction
to Consider that he is Treasurer as well as Commissary, & that his
first object shd be the treasure from wh to defray
supplies—observe complimentingly that in appointing a person of
his abil[it]y & dedication what I most looked to was his aid in
effecting economy & securing revenue under the important department
to wh he was appointed.
EBL
Oct 28
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to C.E. Trevelyan, Treasury, 9 November
1858, recommending purchase of skeleton gear and lithographic press
if the expense did not exceed £200.
For fear of disappointment, I would venture to suggest that the
limit towards the end of this draft might be so far extended as to
say "from £200 to £300."
Minutes by CO staff
If the Treasury assent an intimation should, in the absence of
Captain Gossett and Colonel Moody, be forthwith made to Capn
Elphinstone, R.E. at the Topographical Office, who has kindly
undertaken to see after any further business connected with this
service, which requires
personal superintendence.
personal superintendence.
The Euphrates is loading & will sail this month. Before ordering
these things Capn Elphinstone will, I daresay, ascertain that
there is stowage for them.
ABd
3 Novr
Let Captn Elphinstone be written to about the Stowage, &
make sure of it.
EBL
Novr 5
Footnotes
People in this document
Elphinstone, Captain Howard Crawfurd
Gosset, Captain William Driscoll
Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer