Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 7 January 1861, CO 60:10, no. 2040, 4.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to ascertain suitable pay for “Colonel Moody, and “the Officers of
Royal Engineers under his Command,” when the same are “upon duties,” and “absent from
their fixed residence.” Douglas then lists current pay rates, and notes increased compensations for work done in
“remote Districts.”
In the minutes, Blackwood cannot recall a “fixed rule” for “the amount of travelling allowance to civilians
in the Colonies,” and suggests that Elliot consult the War Office on the matter. However, Elliot's minute to Fortescue asserts that this is not a War Office matter, and that the pay follow suit for other
“Civil Servants in the Colony,” the amounts for which Elliot lists.
No. 2, Civil
7 January 1861
Questions having arisen as to the fitting amount of personal
allowance to be granted to Colonel Moody, and to the Officers of
Royal Engineers under his Command, when absent from their fixed
residence upon duties connected with their Civil Services, I
should feel much obliged if your Grace would inform meof
of what is
usual in such cases, and also whether officers, or what officers,
are entitled to the privilege of charging the Public with the
cost of the travelling Expenses and board of their Servants,
when accompanying them upon such occasions.
of what is
usual in such cases, and also whether officers, or what officers,
are entitled to the privilege of charging the Public with the
cost of the travelling Expenses and board of their Servants,
when accompanying them upon such occasions.
2. In the case of the Civil Officers of the Government, the
sums I have hitherto sanctioned in the few cases which have
occurred have been
To the principal Officers of the Government,
or Superior Civil Servants................ £1 per night
Inferior Officers........................... £0.15 "
Subordinates in Departments, such as
Clerks, Junior Clerks, Constables... From 0.12.0. to 0.6.0. per night
To the principal Officers of the Government,
or Superior Civil Servants................ £1 per night
Inferior Officers........................... £0.15 "
Subordinates in Departments, such as
Clerks, Junior Clerks, Constables... From 0.12.0. to 0.6.0. per night
In some of the more remoteDistricts
Districts, I have been obliged to
increase these rates somewhat, according to necessity, for the
bare necessaries of life are sometimes only obtainable at a cost
of from 12/s to 16/s per diem.
Districts, I have been obliged to
increase these rates somewhat, according to necessity, for the
bare necessaries of life are sometimes only obtainable at a cost
of from 12/s to 16/s per diem.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
We have no fixed rule, with which I am acquainted, governing the amount of travelling allowance to civilians in the Colonies. Indeed the expenses of living & moving about in the Colonies vary so much that we cd scarcely arrive at a fixed conclusion on the subject. But we might send this desph to the War Office & ask that Dt if they can furnish us with any infn wh. wd enable the Duke of Newcastle to tell the Governor what is the practice of the War Office with Officers of Colonel Moody's rank, & Corps.
We have no fixed rule, with which I am acquainted, governing the amount of travelling allowance to civilians in the Colonies. Indeed the expenses of living & moving about in the Colonies vary so much that we cd scarcely arrive at a fixed conclusion on the subject. But we might send this desph to the War Office & ask that Dt if they can furnish us with any infn wh. wd enable the Duke of Newcastle to tell the Governor what is the practice of the War Office with Officers of Colonel Moody's rank, & Corps.
ABd
7/3
Mr Fortescue
The question is what allowances these Officers of the Engineers should have when absent on their civil duties. I do not think that this is a matter for the War Office. I should answer that Colonel Moody should have the same allowances as principal Civil Servants in the Colony, vizt £1 per night, and that the subordinate Officers should have the allowances of Civil Servants in analogous positions, vizt 15s/- per night. No allowance for servants is ever granted in this Country to Officers travelling on the public service and I should express an opinion that it ought not to be granted in British Columbia, and that the claim is not a reasonable one. A Military Officer who cannot make a trip without his valet is rather a luxurious man for his profession.
The question is what allowances these Officers of the Engineers should have when absent on their civil duties. I do not think that this is a matter for the War Office. I should answer that Colonel Moody should have the same allowances as principal Civil Servants in the Colony, vizt £1 per night, and that the subordinate Officers should have the allowances of Civil Servants in analogous positions, vizt 15s/- per night. No allowance for servants is ever granted in this Country to Officers travelling on the public service and I should express an opinion that it ought not to be granted in British Columbia, and that the claim is not a reasonable one. A Military Officer who cannot make a trip without his valet is rather a luxurious man for his profession.
