Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Booth, James to Merivale, Herman 7 April 1859, CO 60:6, no. 3721, 78.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5), Other documents (2).
Booth regrets that lighthouses required in Juan de Fuca Strait and Esquimalt Harbour cannot be paid for by the Home Government.
The minutes debate whether the Colonial Office is obligated to assist in the building
of the lighthouses. The CO also observes that the Board of Trade is “very anxious”
to have these lighthouses built.
Booth to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
Whitehall
7 April 1859
Whitehall
Sir,
I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 31st Ultimo, transmitting copies of two Despatches
from the Governor of British Columbia calling attention to
the urgent necessity for the erection
erection of Lighthouses in Fucas
Straits, and the approaches to the Harbour of Esquimalt, and
stating that as the Colonial Office cannot apply to Parliament
for a grant of money for these necessary public works and as the
Colony has not at present the means of paying for them, Sir E.B.
Lytton is desirous of being informed whether My Lords cannot
include the required Lighthouses within "the class of Imperial
Lights," and give the Colony some
some assistance towards their
erection out of the funds placed at their disposal for such services.
erection of Lighthouses in Fucas
Straits, and the approaches to the Harbour of Esquimalt, and
stating that as the Colonial Office cannot apply to Parliament
for a grant of money for these necessary public works and as the
Colony has not at present the means of paying for them, Sir E.B.
Lytton is desirous of being informed whether My Lords cannot
include the required Lighthouses within "the class of Imperial
Lights," and give the Colony some
some assistance towards their
erection out of the funds placed at their disposal for such services.
In reply My Lords direct me to state that, whilst there
can be no doubt of the importance of the proposed Lights,
they are required for the Trade of the Colony, and not, as
in the case of the Lights in the Bahamas and elsewhere, for
the Trade which merely passes the Colony.
Under these circumstances they are Lights which should,
My Lords
Lords think, if practicable, be erected and maintained
by and at the cost of the Colony rather than the Home Government.
Lords think, if practicable, be erected and maintained
by and at the cost of the Colony rather than the Home Government.
But even if the Lights in question could be said to
belong to the class of Imperial Lights, i.e. of Lights which
the Home Government is bound to erect or maintain for the
purposes of the general passing Trade, their Lordships could
still have no funds at their disposal out of which to erect
or maintain them.
The only
The only funds out of which My Lords can pay the
expenses of Colonial Lights are first, sums raised by levying
Tolls under the Act 18 & 19 Vict: c. 91, and secondly,
sums voted by Parliament.
The present case does not appear to be one in which it
is desirable to levy Tolls under the Act in question, since
the only Trade which would pay the Tolls is the Trade of
the Colony and the Colony can itself, if so disposed, levy
Tolls on account of the Lights in its
in its own Ports.
in its own Ports.
And as regards monies voted by Parliament it is to be
observed that the only votes are votes taken by the Treasury
on the responsibility of this Department for the services of
special Lighthouses mentioned in the votes.
If, notwithstanding the fact that these Lights cannot
be classed as Imperial Lights, the circumstances of the
Colony of British Columbia are such as to make it proper
that these Lights should be erected with
with Imperial instead
of Colonial Funds, those circumstances are matters within
the cognizance of the Colonial Office rather than of this
Department; and if it is thought right that a vote for the
purpose should be taken by the Treasury, the vote should
My Lords think be taken on the responsibility of the Colonial
Office, and the application to the Treasury for the
purpose should be made by that Office.
with Imperial instead
of Colonial Funds, those circumstances are matters within
the cognizance of the Colonial Office rather than of this
Department; and if it is thought right that a vote for the
purpose should be taken by the Treasury, the vote should
My Lords think be taken on the responsibility of the Colonial
Office, and the application to the Treasury for the
purpose should be made by that Office.
If it should be decided to take
to take a vote for the purpose My Lords
will be glad to give their best advice and assistance in the matter.
to take a vote for the purpose My Lords
will be glad to give their best advice and assistance in the matter.
At the same time they could not without obtaining further
local information state with accuracy and certainty what the
expense to be incurred in the Colony in erecting these Lights will be.
A copy of a further memorandum by Captain Sulivan, R.N.
on the character and probable cost
cost of these Lights is
enclosed for Sir E.B. Lytton's information.
cost of these Lights is
enclosed for Sir E.B. Lytton's information.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The reasoning of the Board of Trade seems irresistible: & the question resolves itself into two considerations. Is the case sufficiently strong to justify Sir E. Lytton in recommending the T-y to take a vote for setting up the lights
should we tell the Governor we cannot help him, & that if lights are so necessary he must himself raise the funds for the purpose.
The reasoning of the Board of Trade seems irresistible: & the question resolves itself into two considerations. Is the case sufficiently strong to justify Sir E. Lytton in recommending the T-y to take a vote for setting up the lights
or
should we tell the Governor we cannot help him, & that if lights are so necessary he must himself raise the funds for the purpose.
The view I take is adverse to an application to Parlt
for as the trade is only a Colonial one, & at present moderate
in extent, it will be difficult to support the request by
reference to those general principles which guide Parlt in
granting funds for Colonial Lights. If this is a correct view
the alternative is to adjourn the establishment of the Lights
until the Colony can itself find the means of paying for them.
And perhaps this is the most wholesome policy in the end.
ABd
8 Apl
I have no doubt the Bd of Trade is right in
saying that it is our business at the Colonial Office to put
the expense of these lights on our estimates, if they are to
be paid for out of Imperial funds at all. 
I suppose therefore
the subject must be adjourned, although it is a pity that
the Americans have so much the start of us.
I suppose therefore
the subject must be adjourned, although it is a pity that
the Americans have so much the start of us.
HM
Apl 11
See Capt Sulivan's letter to Mr Merivale & Mr
M. minute annexed. A draft I think may be prepared on
Capt Sulivan's Letter to the Govr.
Meanwhile the Admiralty & the Bd of Trade will write
officially to us on the subject.
C
Apl 17
Other documents included in the file
B.J. Sulivan, memorandum on the necessity of installing the lights.
Minutes by CO staff
Ld Carnarvon
Capt Sulivan of the Bd of Trade is very anxious about these lighthouses and with good reason. He says the loss of a single vessel would cost this country very probably much more than their expense, and moreover we stand in
discredit as compared with the
Americans.
Capt Sulivan of the Bd of Trade is very anxious about these lighthouses and with good reason. He says the loss of a single vessel would cost this country very probably much more than their expense, and moreover we stand in
discredit as compared with the
Americans.
I told him our difficulty with respect to any addition to our
B. Col. Estimates, but said that if the Admiralty took on
themselves, to urge it as a question of public security we might
be perhaps persuaded. 
Or if he could suggest any way of fairly
throwing it on the colony, we might write by Mail of 15th.
Or if he could suggest any way of fairly
throwing it on the colony, we might write by Mail of 15th.
He has accordingly sent here this note which might serve (if
you think proper) as the basis of a despatch to the Governor. You
see 
the cost is reduced to 7000, i.e. for
two lights only.
the cost is reduced to 7000, i.e. for
two lights only.
HM
Apl 12
The Bd of Trade will write to us—also Admiralty on this
subject. But Capn Sulivan requests that his note to Mr
Merivale may be regarded only in the light of a private communication
& not to be used officially.