Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hill, Frederic
to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 15 June 1868, CO 60:34, no. 6282, 258.
Abstract
Hill, Frederic
to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 15 June 1868, CO 60:34, no. 6282, 258.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (2).
Hill to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
General Post Office
15 June 1868
Sir,
In a letter to the Treasury dated the
12th August last the Postmaster General suggested that
certain proposals should be made, through the Colonial Office,
to the Government of British Columbia for the improvement of the
postal service between the United Kingdom and that Colony.
These proposals had in view the establishment of a uniform rate
of postage onletters
letters, newspapers, Books and Patterns, combining
both the British and Colonial rates, with an arrangement that
each Office should retain the postage it collects. The
Postmaster General further recommended that the cost of conveyance
of the Mails across the Atlantic, and through the United States
should be equally divided between the Mother Country and the
Colony, and that the Mother Country should also pay half the
reasonable expense of conveyance between San Francisco andBritish
British Columbia.
letters, newspapers, Books and Patterns, combining
both the British and Colonial rates, with an arrangement that
each Office should retain the postage it collects. The
Postmaster General further recommended that the cost of conveyance
of the Mails across the Atlantic, and through the United States
should be equally divided between the Mother Country and the
Colony, and that the Mother Country should also pay half the
reasonable expense of conveyance between San Francisco andBritish
British Columbia.
The Postmaster General requests that you will be good enough to
inform him whether the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos has
received any reply to these proposals from the Government of
British Columbia.
From a communication received from the Acting Postmaster General
of British Columbia dated the 16th January last, it appears
that preparations were then being made in the Colony for
carrying the new arrangements into operation;and
and since that time
letters have arrived in the Mails from New Westminster, which
have been paid to the amount of 25 cents each, under the
impression seemingly that the postage could be prepaid to
England; but, in the absence of any acceptance by the Colonial
Government of the Duke of Montrose's offer, such letters could
not be regarded by this Office as paid to destination, and have
been charged on delivery with the usual British postage.
This
and since that time
letters have arrived in the Mails from New Westminster, which
have been paid to the amount of 25 cents each, under the
impression seemingly that the postage could be prepaid to
England; but, in the absence of any acceptance by the Colonial
Government of the Duke of Montrose's offer, such letters could
not be regarded by this Office as paid to destination, and have
been charged on delivery with the usual British postage.
This charge has given rise to numerous complaints from the Public,
and the Duke of Montrose is anxious, therefore, to learn as soon
as possible that the Colonial Government agree to the arrangements.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Answer that a copy of their letter of the 12 Aug last referred to was sent to the Govr of B. Columbia on the 24th of that month, but that no answer has been recd. A further despatch will therefore be addressed to the Govr on the subject.
Answer that a copy of their letter of the 12 Aug last referred to was sent to the Govr of B. Columbia on the 24th of that month, but that no answer has been recd. A further despatch will therefore be addressed to the Govr on the subject.
See 54 from Post Office herewith—& draft proposed to Govr.
CC
16/6
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Secretary to the Post Office, 22 June 1868, advising
a further despatch had been sent to the governor on the subject.