Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Grace's Circular Despatch of the 30th April last, acquainting me, that, on account of inconvenienceslately lately experienced in an important Colony, Your Grace had laid down the rule there, that no public Servant employed in the receipt, issue, or custody of public monies ought to be concerned in the management of any Bank, Railroad, or other Commercial undertaking: leaving however a discretionary power with the Governor towaive waive the prohibition in the case of other Government Officers, who may be already engaged in the management of Commercial enterprises, so long as they shall retain their existing appointments: and Your Grace desires to be informed whether there is any objection to establishing the same rule in the Colony of British Columbia.

2. With respect to the subject of this inquiry it is only necessary to refer Your Grace to my Despatch No 45 of the 4th November 1862, enclosing a copy of instructions which I then caused to be issued for the direction of the Assistant Gold Commissioners and their subordinates, on the subject now under consideration. It beingreported reported that some of these Officers were connected with Mining speculations, and other business transactions on their own account: the object of these instructions was to inform them that such practises were considered incompatible with the proper and efficient discharge of their public duties, and must be, at once, relinquishedor or they must be prepared to resign their official appointments.

3. The rule contemplated by Your Grace is one of obvious utility, if not of positive necessity, and may, I conceive, be established without inconvenience, and made at once applicable to every public Servant in British Columbia.