Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Birch, Arthur Nonus to
Carnarvon, Earl 29 September 1866, CO 60:25, no. 10628, 87.
Abstract
Birch, Arthur Nonus to
Carnarvon, Earl 29 September 1866, CO 60:25, no. 10628, 87.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (13), Other documents (2).
No. 61
29th September 1866
My Lord,
On the receipt of Mr Secretary Cardwell's despatch No. 41 of
13th July 1865, I forwarded a copy of Mr J. Cooper's explanation
of his conduct as Honorary Treasurer of the Royal Columbian Hospital
tothe
the Board of Management of that Institution for their information
and report. After a careful enquiry the President reported, in a
correspondence which I herewith enclose, that the Board were not
satisfied with the explanation offered by Mr Cooper.
the Board of Management of that Institution for their information
and report. After a careful enquiry the President reported, in a
correspondence which I herewith enclose, that the Board were not
satisfied with the explanation offered by Mr Cooper.
2. No official intimation was conveyed to me that Mr Cooper's
leave had been extended beyond July 1865. From Mr Cooper's friends
I learnt that he had resigned the Public Serviceand
and would return
to the Colony at the close of 1865, in some private capacity.
and would return
to the Colony at the close of 1865, in some private capacity.
Under these circumstances I considered it needless to trouble
the Secretary of State further on the subject, until, after an
examination of the Documents in the possession of Mr Cooper I
was enabled to report on the justice of the accusation brought
against him by the Board of Management.
3. It is impossible to arriveat
at any satisfactory result
in this matter until Mr Cooper produces the Documents which
he acknowledges to be locked up in certain packing cases. I
cannot therefore recommend that Mr Cooper be allowed to receive
Salary due to him while these accounts remain unsettled.
at any satisfactory result
in this matter until Mr Cooper produces the Documents which
he acknowledges to be locked up in certain packing cases. I
cannot therefore recommend that Mr Cooper be allowed to receive
Salary due to him while these accounts remain unsettled.
4. I am not aware what position Mr Cooper now holds. No
communication excepting the one now under reference has been
received from him since hisdeparture
departure from the Colony. I have
considered his appointment vacant since the 1st of January
last, and reduced the Office which he formerly held.
departure from the Colony. I have
considered his appointment vacant since the 1st of January
last, and reduced the Office which he formerly held.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Mr Birch states (Par 2) that no official intimation was given him of Mr Coopers extended leave from June 1865, but it will be seen that he was duly informed of it by Desp of 11 May/65. See 4386. It appears from this Desp. & the enclosures that the matter of the Hospital Accounts cannot be cleared up till Mr Cooper returns to the Colony & produces the Vouchers. A brief statement of the case will be found appended to 5886. Mr Cooper has received further leave without Salary till the 26 Inst. See 10600.
Mr Birch states (Par 2) that no official intimation was given him of Mr Coopers extended leave from June 1865, but it will be seen that he was duly informed of it by Desp of 11 May/65. See 4386. It appears from this Desp. & the enclosures that the matter of the Hospital Accounts cannot be cleared up till Mr Cooper returns to the Colony & produces the Vouchers. A brief statement of the case will be found appended to 5886. Mr Cooper has received further leave without Salary till the 26 Inst. See 10600.
VJ
10 Nov
It is true that, as recorded by Mr Jadis, the Actg
Governor was informed that Mr Cooper's leave had been extended—but
only to 31 December 1865, & it is from that
date that
Mr Birch says that he considered the Office as vacant.
Practically therefore he is right. Everything connected
with Mr Cooper shows him to be a shuffling and untrustworthy
character. His conduct about some unsettled accounts which
he left behind him has been very unsatisfactory. The abolition
which has taken place of his Office is a good thing, and he
can have no ground of complaint. I submit a draft which
furnishes a narrative of the facts about his leave of absence.
date that
Mr Birch says that he considered the Office as vacant.
Practically therefore he is right. Everything connected
with Mr Cooper shows him to be a shuffling and untrustworthy
character. His conduct about some unsettled accounts which
he left behind him has been very unsatisfactory. The abolition
which has taken place of his Office is a good thing, and he
can have no ground of complaint. I submit a draft which
furnishes a narrative of the facts about his leave of absence.
TFE
3 Jany
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Charles Good, President, to Birch, 17 October 1865, stating that
the Board was not satisfied with Cooper's explanation.
H.M. Ball, Colonial Secretary, to James Cooper, 3 November 1866,
advising that in John Cooper's response to the charges against him,
he reported turning over certain documents to the then President of
the Board, and requesting his response to the statement.
Copy, Evidence of John Robson, late Vice President, taken at a
meeting of the Board of Management, informing that prior to his
departure Cooper was several times asked to produce papers connected
with the accounts but refused to do so.
Thomas McMicking, Auditor, to Board of Management, 29 September
1865, advising that he had asked Cooper for the papers and accounts
but that he refused to hand them over to anyone but the President of
the Board.
Copy, Memorandum, W.E. Cormack, Finance Committee of the late Board,
to the present Board of Management, 25 September 1865, advising that
the finance committee could not prepare satisfactory statements as
Cooper refused to supply the necessary documents.
James Cooper to Good, 29 September 1865, recommending that the
matter be allowed to stand over pending Cooper's return to the colony.
James Cooper to Colonial Secretary, 4 November 1865, describing
what information Cooper turned over prior to his departure from the
colony and enclosing extract of a private letter received from Cooper
in England.
Extract, John Cooper to James Cooper, 25 April 1865, clarifying
the confusion over the subscription list.
[Forwarded at a later date:]
D.C. Maunsell, Private Secretary, to Jadis, 6 October 1866,
private letter forwarding amendments and memorandum to the enclosures
sent with the original despatch.
Charles Good to Maunsell, 6 October 1866, forwarding financial
information relative to the investigation into James Cooper's conduct.
"Memorandum of Correction to Enclosure in Despatch,"
providing certain figures missed in the original, signed by Maunsell.
Other documents included in the file
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
*
Elliot to John Cooper, 9 January 1867, advising that during his
absence from the colony, "the place you held has been reduced. Your
official connection with the Colony is therefore at an end."