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 30 November 1861, CO 60:11, no. 1163, 167.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to forward the “Estimates of the Civil Expenditure of the Colony of British Columbia for the year ending 31st December 1862.” Douglas then reiterates with examples his need for expenditures for, essentially, colonial
infrastructure, in light of the gold rush and the subsequent and inevitable population
boom.
In the extensive minutes, both Blackwood and Elliot criticize Douglas's estimates, particularly their dearth of detail on the critical expenses of “roads”
and “Works,” and both agree that it is necessary to cap Douglas's apparently rampant spending.
The first of the three documents included in the file is missing: this would be Douglas's estimates of expenditures; the second is a draft reply from Newcastle to Douglas, which calls for further details in key areas of expenditure; the third is another
draft replay from Newcastle to Douglas, which asks that future estimates be written upon the same sized paper as used for
despatches.
No. 74, Financial
30 November 1861
I have the honor to forward herewith the Estimates of
the Civil Expenditure of the Colony of British Columbia for
the year ending 31st December 1862, framed as closely in
accordance with rule as is practicable under the existing
circumstances of the Colony.
I
2. I have so fully placed before Your Grace in other
Despatches the exact present condition of the Colony, the
recent discoveries of immense auriferous wealth in the newly
opened District of Carriboo, the almost certain large increase
to the population in consequence, and the general confidence
established in the richness and future of the Country, that
it is not necessary I should revert to the subject here,
further than to remark that I trust these circumstances will
have their weight with Your Grace in leaving me free, as
heretofore, to devote the whole Revenue of the Colony,after
after
deducting the ordinary expenditure, to the important object
of opening up the communications with the distant gold fields,
so as to cheapen the transport of Provisions; a matter which
just now demands all our energies, and absorbs all my attention.
after
deducting the ordinary expenditure, to the important object
of opening up the communications with the distant gold fields,
so as to cheapen the transport of Provisions; a matter which
just now demands all our energies, and absorbs all my attention.
3. The large tract of country embraced in these new gold
fields will cause a heavy increase in the civil expenditure in
providing for adequate Magisterial supervision. Such however
is indispensable to the order and good Government of the
Country, and I have consequently made provision for the same
in the Estimates.
In
4. In my Despatch of the 16th July last, "Separate",
I mentioned that I had found it necessary to establish a
Gold-Escort. In the accompanying Estimates provision is consequently
made for its maintenance during the year 1862, but as, from
the great distance it has to travel, and the nature of the
country, it has proved very costly I propose to abandon the
scheme for the present, if I can carry out one part of it,
viz. that of periodically strengthening the hands of the
Magistrates in distant localities, in some equally efficient,
but less expensive manner.
5. I have also, at the earnest solicitation of some of
theSubordinate
Subordinate Officers in the different Departments, made
a slight increase to their Salaries. The additional charge
upon the Revenue caused thereby will be comparatively
insignificant, some Six Hundred Pounds (£600) only, and in the end
will, I believe, be fully repaid; for the consideration thus
shewn may I trust, render the present incumbents contented
with their position amidst the many instances before them of
suddenly acquired wealth, and will consequently secure to the
Government the continuance of their services now that they
have, as it were, become remunerative by possessing a knowledge
of their particular duties. With scarce an exception none had
any previousexperience
experience of public business, and all had to be
carefully trained, and here we have no field to select from
to fill vacancies with qualified men.
Subordinate Officers in the different Departments, made
a slight increase to their Salaries. The additional charge
upon the Revenue caused thereby will be comparatively
insignificant, some Six Hundred Pounds (£600) only, and in the end
will, I believe, be fully repaid; for the consideration thus
shewn may I trust, render the present incumbents contented
with their position amidst the many instances before them of
suddenly acquired wealth, and will consequently secure to the
Government the continuance of their services now that they
have, as it were, become remunerative by possessing a knowledge
of their particular duties. With scarce an exception none had
any previousexperience
experience of public business, and all had to be
carefully trained, and here we have no field to select from
to fill vacancies with qualified men.
6. With the foregoing exceptions the Estimates do not
differ materially from those submitted for the present year,
and I trust that they may meet with Your Grace's concurrence
and approval.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The only remark which it occurs to me to make on these Estimates—which are very clearly drawn out—is that I think Governor Douglas ought not to be allowed to incur, or introduce into his Estimates, any expenditure exceeding some specified sum—say £2 or 300—without the previously obtained consent of the Secy of State. If he is not restricted in this way he will always find some convenient reason for spending every
sixpence of the Colonial Revenue, & he will leave this Country to pay for the Engineers,
or any other charge
his skill in writing will persuade us to bear, without thought
or remorse. I am rather induced to say this much because I
observe in this, as in the previous years Estimate, a charge,
or appropriation of £3000 for a Govt House at New Westminster,
& smaller items for Govt houses at Hope, Yale, Lytton, & so
on. It is very proper if a Governor were fixed at N. West. that
he shd have a suitable residence: but there is no Governor there yet, or projected so far
as I know. Nor has the proposed
appropriation for his house ever been specifically asked for or
sanctioned, that I can remember. Nevertheless the sum of £3000
figures as an expenditure making the balance of revenue so much
the less. Then the item for roads is very large seeing that at
the same time the Governor is asking for & this Office is backing
at the T-y a Loan of £100,000 for that very service. I do not
contend that the item for roads is too large: I merely refer to
it as an example to show that, if we are not very careful, the
Governor will not refrain from spending the Col: Revenue &
borrowing from us at the same time.
The only remark which it occurs to me to make on these Estimates—which are very clearly drawn out—is that I think Governor Douglas ought not to be allowed to incur, or introduce into his Estimates, any expenditure exceeding some specified sum—say £2 or 300—without the previously obtained consent of the Secy of State. If he is not restricted in this way he will always find some convenient reason for spending every
sixpence of the Colonial Revenue, & he will leave this Country to pay for the Engineers,
or any other charge
his skill in writing will persuade us to bear, without thought
or remorse. I am rather induced to say this much because I
observe in this, as in the previous years Estimate, a charge,
or appropriation of £3000 for a Govt House at New Westminster,
& smaller items for Govt houses at Hope, Yale, Lytton, & so
on. It is very proper if a Governor were fixed at N. West. that
he shd have a suitable residence: but there is no Governor there yet, or projected so far
as I know. Nor has the proposed
appropriation for his house ever been specifically asked for or
sanctioned, that I can remember. Nevertheless the sum of £3000
figures as an expenditure making the balance of revenue so much
the less. Then the item for roads is very large seeing that at
the same time the Governor is asking for & this Office is backing
at the T-y a Loan of £100,000 for that very service. I do not
contend that the item for roads is too large: I merely refer to
it as an example to show that, if we are not very careful, the
Governor will not refrain from spending the Col: Revenue &
borrowing from us at the same time.
ABd
5 Feb
The fault of these estimates is, that whilst the enormously
bulky sub-estimates state all the salaries in great detail, they
furnish no detail whatsoever of such services as Works, amounting
to £7500, or Roads, amounting to £31,749. The seeming
copiousness of information therefore is somewhat illusory.
I should order the Governor in future to furnish the summaries
on paper of the same size as his despatch and should remark to him
that whilst the salaries are exhibited in almost superfluous detail,
those heads of expenditure which most demand scrutiny and deserve
explanation are exempted by him from all supervision by means of
his merely stating them in a single large sum such as £31,749
for roads and £7500 for Works.
I should also take notice of the disposition continually to
augment the expenditure so as to exceed the growing revenue.
The rest of the answer mustpartly
partly depend on the decision
about 1164 (on cost of the Royal Engineers) which is circulated
today. I should tell the Governor that he must so far curtail
some of the different services proposed in his Estimate as to
admit of paying out of the revenue of the Colony the charge
apportioned to it in respect of it's military expenditure:
that charge will be decided by the minutes on 1164.
partly depend on the decision
about 1164 (on cost of the Royal Engineers) which is circulated
today. I should tell the Governor that he must so far curtail
some of the different services proposed in his Estimate as to
admit of paying out of the revenue of the Colony the charge
apportioned to it in respect of it's military expenditure:
that charge will be decided by the minutes on 1164.
Whatever views be adopted, they must be proposed for the
concurrence of the Treasury in transmitting the Governor's
despatch to that Department.
I had not read this when I minuted 1164. This despatch confirmed the view I have there
taken.
N
9
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Not in file.
Other documents included in the file
