Sargeaunt to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Offices of the Crown Agents for the Colonies
Spring Gardens, London, S.W.
21st May 1868
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
4th
Instant, transmitting for any observations which may occur to
the Crown Agents for the Colonies copy of a Despatch from the
Governor of
British Columbia, with a letter from the Auditor
General, suggesting that the Sinking Fund of
British Columbia
Loans should be invested in the purchase of the Debentures of
that Colony which he states are selling below par.
In reply I have the honor to state, for the information of the
Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, that
it it appears to the Crown
Agents that the proposal of the Colonial Authorities might with
advantage be sanctioned, and the Debentures of
British Columbia
added to the list of Colonial Government Securities in which the
Sinking Funds of that Colony may be invested.
It is desirable to vest this discretionary power in the
Trustees,
because because if the investments were in future to be
confined to the re-purchase of
British Columbia Debentures, the
steady demand thus created would result in an increase of price
and deprive the Colony of any profit from the arrangement.
The Crown Agents see no grounds to fear that the public credit
of the Colony would suffer, even in the least degree, by the
proposed re-purchase.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
W.C. Sargeaunt
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
This information was asked for by the Treasury in 4244.
Send them a copy?
At once.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Secretary to the Treasury,
29 May 1868, forwarding
copy of the letter from the Crown Agents for consideration.