Hunt to Under-Secretary of State
               
            
            
               
               
                     Treasury Chambers
                     
                  
               18th May 1867
               
               Sir,
                
            
            
               The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had
               before Them your letter of 
14th February last inclosing
               correspondence on the subject of the refusal of the Bank of
               
British Columbia to discount a Bill which the Acting Governor
               proposed should be drawn by the Crown Agents on the Government
               of that Colony for the Interest and Sinking Fund due on the
               Loans to 
31st December last, and requesting to be informed
               whether Their Lordships can suggest any particular method of
               remittance as most fitting for placing the requisite funds in the
               hands

 of the Crown Agents at each half yearly period.
               
               My Lords request that you will inform the 
Duke of Buckingham
                  and Chandos that, in the absence of a Treasury Chest in 
British
                  Columbia, My Lords consider that Bank Bills of short date should
               be purchased in the Colony and sent to the Crown Agents early
               enough to mature before the payments of interest and sinking
               fund fall due in 
London.
               
               The Governor should be directed to consider liabilities in
               respect of loans to stand in the position of primary charges on the
               Revenue, even before the Salaries of Public Officers; and to
               purchase

 at least three months in advance, good Bank Bills, and to
               send them forthwith to the Crown Agents.
               
               My Lords desire me to express Their regret that their reply
               has been so long delayed; which has resulted entirely from an
               accidental oversight.
               
            
            
            
            
            
            
               Minutes by CO staff
               
                
                  
                  
                     Mr Elliot
                     I suppose a Desp: should now be sent to the 
Govr—founded on
                     this letter—but see your Minute attached to 497.
                     
 
                  
                  
                   
                  
                  
                     The oversight at Treasury was unlucky.  I annex a draft
                     founded on the Minutes on 497.
                     
                  
                  
                  
                   
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
               
                  
                  
                  
                     Minutes by CO staff
                     
                      
                        
                        
                           Submitted for approval.  The 
B. Columbia neglect of it's public
                           obligations is a very serious subject indeed.  It has been before
                           the Duke on another occasion, who adopted this view, which had
                           previously been taken by Lord Carnarvon & by Treasury.
                           
 
                   
               
                
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
               
                  *
                  
               
                
                  
                  
                     Elliot to 
G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 
18 June 1867, forwarding
                     copy of instructions to governor regarding remittances.