No. 15
               
            
            
            
            
               I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your despatch
               No. 5 of 
16th January, on the subject of an application made
               on behalf of 
Mr A. Waddington for assistance in constructing a
               Road from 
Bute Inlet to the interior of 
British Columbia.
               
 
            
            
               2.  Previous to the receipt of Your Despatch I had brought
               the subject before my Executive Council on a similar application
               made to me by 
Mr Waddington.  I enclose copies of that Gentleman's
               letter together with the reply which, with the advice of my
               Executive Council, I caused to be addressed to him.
               
               3.  It may possibly be considered that the last Paragraph of
               the Acting Colonial Secretary's letter does not convey the
               reasonable encouragement you desire should be afforded.  I will
               only state
in
 in explanation that 
Mr Waddington based his claim to
               be re-imbursed his previous outlay in this speculation on the
               grounds that the then Governor encouraged him to commence and
               continue the work.  It was the opinion of my Executive Council
               that any encouragement 
Mr Waddington might now receive from
               this Government would be used as an Advertisement to obtain
               capital in England for an undertaking considered by all best
               informed on the subject a most hazardous speculation.
               
               I have the honor to be,
               Sir,
               Your most obedient humble Servant
               
Arthur N. Birch
               
               
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
                
                  
                  
                     A. Waddington to Colonial Secretary, 
9 November 1865, discussing
                     his intention to continue road construction with the aid of capital
                     from England, upon certain conditions being conceeded by the government.
                     
 
                   
                  
                  
                     H.M. Ball, Colonial Secretary, to 
Waddington, 
15 November 1865,
                     advising that the government could not meet the conditions proposed.
                     
                     
 
                   
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
                
                  
                  
                     Colonial Office to 
James Churchill, 
21 May 1866, forwarding copy
                     of the colonial secretary's letter.