Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Tennent, Sir James Emerson to Merivale, Herman 17 June 1859, CO 60:6, no. 6319, 90.
Abstract
Tennent, Sir James Emerson to Merivale, Herman 17 June 1859, CO 60:6, no. 6319, 90.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Tennent to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade
Whitehall
17 June 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 8th.
Instant transmitting for their observations, by the direction of
Secretary Sir E.B. Lytton a copy of a despatch from the Governor
of British Columbia on the subject of a monopoly which has been
established by certain owners of Steam Vessels in the traffic
of Fraser's River.
in reply
In reply I am to request that you will state to the Secretary
for the Colonies that unless the proceedings to which the Governor
adverts are of an illegal character, (a point upon which the
opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown appears to have been asked)
My Lords are unable to suggest any remedy for the evils which they
occasion.
They would, however, observe that these evils are of a nature
which under a system of free competition will gradually produce
their own remedy by attracting more capital into so profitable a
a
field of employment as the traffic on Fraser's River is described
by the Governor to be.
a
field of employment as the traffic on Fraser's River is described
by the Governor to be.
I am to add that My Lords will be glad to be favoured with
the opinion of the Law Officers upon this question so soon as it
shall have been received.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Reserve for opinion of the Law Offrs of the Crown. (Will the late Law Officers now report such opinion, or shd we address a fresh reference to the new ones. Perhaps ask the Clerk of the late Law Officers what they will do in the matter.)
Reserve for opinion of the Law Offrs of the Crown. (Will the late Law Officers now report such opinion, or shd we address a fresh reference to the new ones. Perhaps ask the Clerk of the late Law Officers what they will do in the matter.)
ABd
18 June
Mr Blackwood
I think we shall probably hear from the late Law Advisers respecting all their arrears. Keep a little.
I think we shall probably hear from the late Law Advisers respecting all their arrears. Keep a little.
HM
June 19
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to James Booth, Board of Trade, 2 July 1859,
forwarding copy of a report of the Law Officers concerning the power of
the governor of British Columbia to withhold British
register from foreign vessels.