With reference to your letter of the
4th Ult. I am directed
by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you,
for the information of the
Duke of Newcastle, that My Lords are of
opinion that the duties of the Registrar of the Supreme Court and of
the Registrar of Titles to land in
British Columbia should, for the present,
be be discharged at a less cost than £800 a year, and They concur with His Grace in
thinking that the same Officer might fill
both offices and be sufficiently remunerated by a Salary of £500.
My Lords observe that the Registrar of Lands is required to appoint
a Deputy Registrar, who may perform the duties of the office and
receive a Salary not exceeding £300, but They trust that, if such an
appointment is made, none but a nominal
Salary will be attached to it.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The Act creates the Office of Registrar General with a Salary not
exceeding £500 per annum. I see no reason for not confirming
that Act—which
Sir F. Rogers has pronounced unobjectionable—&
instructing the Governor that the combined Situations of the
Registrar of the Supreme Court, & the Registrar General should not
for the present cost more than £500 a year.
With regard to the 2d Par. of the Treasury Letter I own I cannot go along with it. If a Deputy Regr is requisite, & he is
called upon to discharge public duties, he ought to be paid a proper
& not a "nominal" Salary. Supposing the Regr Genl is ill for
any length of time is the Deputy to receive nominal pay for his services?
The Act proposes to assign him £300 per annum. I cannot think
that amount too high for an Officer who has to perform trustworthy
duties, especially in so expensive & rough a country as
B. Columbia.
I entirely agree with
Mr Blackwood, but if the Treasury is to
have any control in the matter, it will be of comparatively little
importance what conclusion may be adopted here. But then
B. Columbia,
from this time forth is to receive no aid to it's
Civil Government
from this Country, except the Salary of the Governor alone. I think
therefore that we may make to the Governor whatever intimation may be
deemed best by you and the
Duke of Newcastle on this matter of detail.
I suppose we may ask the Govr whether a Deputy Registrar is
necessary, and, if so, whether the duties can be performed for less
than £300 a year?
Write to Govr accordingly.