Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 9 February 1859, CO 60:4, no. 3269, 145.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (2).
Douglas forwards a report from Moody on the activities of the Royal Engineers in British Columbia. He informs Lytton that, based on Moody’s recommendation, he has appointed John Miles accountant for the Department of Land and Works.
The minutes agree that if the colony can pay for additional appointments, they should
be made.
Included in the documents is a draft reply from Carnarvon to Douglas, 12 April 1859, accepting Moody’s suggestions for appointments as “valuable additions” but regret that there will
be no financial assistance from the Colonial Office; and Moody, "Notes on the Departments of Lands and Works," 31 January 1859, reviewing the qualifications of his men and requesting further assistance.
No. 96
I beg to submit to you herewith the Copy of a Paper I
have received from the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works
in British Columbia, containing some notes made by him upon
various subjects connected with his Department, and the
employment of the detachment of
of Royal Engineers to carry out
the duties of that Department.
of Royal Engineers to carry out
the duties of that Department.
2. I forward this Document to you, as I deem it may be
of interest, and it will serve to convey to you the exact position
in which we are placed with regard to the Surveying and other
important operations which it is so desirable should be prosecuted
with the utmost vigour to expedite the development of the Country, so
that the advantages which must result therefrom may be reaped at the
earliest period practicable.
3. I would desire to request your
your attention to the following
points which are brought to my notice by Colonel Moody.
your attention to the following
points which are brought to my notice by Colonel Moody.
4. He states that the Surveying Party of his Detachment,
drawn from the Ordinance Survey Department in England, and specially
spared for the service, though few in number would, with the addition
of a first rate draughtsman, be very capable, and would be valuable
for laying out Towns, and in surveying lines of communication
throughout the Country, determining trigonometrical points for
the general survey, and more particularly for checking the accuracy
of Civil Surveyors, whom it
it will be necessary to employ to lay
out the rural allotments; for the Survey Party are too few in
number to execute the last description of work, and indeed their
peculiar training for more scientific and careful work would be
thrown away were they employed on such duty. The remainder of the
Detachment, are principally Artificers and will be found a most
useful body of men in executing the Public Works of the Colony,
although from the necessarily numerous pressing requirements of
a new Colony in this particular, this body is too small to meet
all demands
demands, and much must consequently be done by Contract in
Civil labour.
it will be necessary to employ to lay
out the rural allotments; for the Survey Party are too few in
number to execute the last description of work, and indeed their
peculiar training for more scientific and careful work would be
thrown away were they employed on such duty. The remainder of the
Detachment, are principally Artificers and will be found a most
useful body of men in executing the Public Works of the Colony,
although from the necessarily numerous pressing requirements of
a new Colony in this particular, this body is too small to meet
all demands
demands, and much must consequently be done by Contract in
Civil labour.
5. Colonel Moody represents the necessity which exists for
the services of a Clerk of the Works, and submits that Sir John
Burgoyne should be solicited to select and to send out such a
person. I beg to add my own approval of this proposition, and
I trust you may see fit to adopt it.
The Colony must pay.
6. Colonel Moody also requests that he may be furnished
with the services of a gentleman to act as an Accountant, and
to take charge of the correspondence of the Department.
To prevent confusion
confusion and to check and regulate expenditure by a lucid
and well kept up system of Accounts are matters of the highest
importance to the Department in particular and to the Colony in
general. I have therefore acceeded to Colonel Moody's request
and have nominated Mr John Miles for the office in question.
Mr Miles is the gentleman referred to in your Despatch of the
25th October 1858, No 33 upon the subject of the grant of a
certain gold quartz vein in British Columbia; he is well fitted
by previous training for an appointment of the nature described,
and
and he is on the spot desirous of obtaining Government employment.
No objection I shd imagine if the apptment is really
necessary, & the Colony can pay.
confusion and to check and regulate expenditure by a lucid
and well kept up system of Accounts are matters of the highest
importance to the Department in particular and to the Colony in
general. I have therefore acceeded to Colonel Moody's request
and have nominated Mr John Miles for the office in question.
Mr Miles is the gentleman referred to in your Despatch of the
25th October 1858, No 33 upon the subject of the grant of a
certain gold quartz vein in British Columbia; he is well fitted
by previous training for an appointment of the nature described,
and
and he is on the spot desirous of obtaining Government employment.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
It seems to me that if the Colony can afford to pay for these additional appointments it wd be advisable that they sd be made. I would not sanction them otherwise. If Sir Edward Lytton took this view of the application the Governor might be so told. The Engineers are undoubtedly an excellent Force, & being accustomed to do their work in a first-rate manner they naturally wish to have in Columbia the means of keeping up their reputation. But this can be accomplished only by two modes—By this Country paying for such assistance, or else the Colony having to do so. And, all things considered, I should prefer the latter alternative.
It seems to me that if the Colony can afford to pay for these additional appointments it wd be advisable that they sd be made. I would not sanction them otherwise. If Sir Edward Lytton took this view of the application the Governor might be so told. The Engineers are undoubtedly an excellent Force, & being accustomed to do their work in a first-rate manner they naturally wish to have in Columbia the means of keeping up their reputation. But this can be accomplished only by two modes—By this Country paying for such assistance, or else the Colony having to do so. And, all things considered, I should prefer the latter alternative.
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Moody, "Notes on the Departments of Lands and Works," 31
January 1859, reviewing the qualifications of his men and requesting
further assistance.