No. 111
16th September 1865
Sir,
In the Autumn of 1862, a Constable travelling with Mr O'Reilly, the Gold Commissioner of the Cariboo District was robbed of a sum of Public Money amounting to five hundredandManuscript image and eighty six pounds 5s/10d (£586.5.10). Since that date Mr O'Reilly has been held responsible for the amount and it still appears as a balance against his Collectorate in the Books of the Treasury.
2. Mr O'Reilly has recently applied to me to know if the Secretary of State has relieved him of his liability in this matter but I cannot find that the subject has ever beenbroughtManuscript image brought before the Colonial Office although in a Minute attached to the original correspondence Sir James Douglas desires that Mr O'Reilly may be informed that the matter will be referred for the favorable consideration of the Secretary of State.
3. I forward herewith copies of the whole correspondence which will fully explain the facts of the case and I beg to recommend thatauthorityManuscript image authority may be given to enable the Treasury to pass the amount in Mr O'Reilly's collectorate account.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
Frederick Seymour Arthur N. Birch
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
We have no information on the subject of this robbery. If it should be decided to relieve Mr O'Reilly from the liability the Papers should go to the Treasury with a recommendation to that effect?
VJ 6 Nov
It looks like very discreditable carelessness on allManuscript image sides and I do not see reasons which would justify our offering to the Treasury a favorable recommendation. I would suggest that we send the papers to them for their consideration and request to be favored with their Lordships' opinion on the decision which it would be proper to take upon the subject.
TFE 7 Novr
EC 8
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Peter O'Reilly, to W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, 6 November 1862, explaining how the money had been lost.
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Affidavit of Constable Stephen Edwards, 15 October 1862, describing how the money came to be stolen from him.
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Young to O'Reilly, 26 November 1862, questioning his failure to ascertain personally whether the money was secure.
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O'Reilly to Young, 27 November 1862, explaining that he had become temporarily separated from Edwards in the performance of his duties, and advising that he considered the prior care the constable had shown as sufficient security.
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O'Reilly to Colonial Secretary, 1865, referring back to the incident and asking whether the Secretary of State had been consulted and had agreed to relieve the charge from Treasury accounts.
Other documents included in the file
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Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 11 November 1865, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosures for consideration.
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 16 September 1865, CO 60:22, no. 10733, 366. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B65111.html.

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