Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 28 April 1870, CO 60:38, no. 6114, 384.
Abstract
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 28 April 1870, CO 60:38, no. 6114, 384.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
No. 51
28th April 1870
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship an authenticated
and two plain Copies of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative
Council entitled—
An Ordinance to create a further duty of Customs for the Public
service.
2. It has been passedspecially
specially to provide the means of
maintaining the Telegraph, from the lower Fraser to Cariboo,
which was about to be abandoned by the Western Union Telegraph
Company, who offered the line to the local Government if the
working of it would be undertaken. Much pressure was brought to
bear upon me for this purpose; but I regarded myself as
precluded from assuming this new service in the present
financial position of the Colony without some special provision
for the expense. It was importantto
to establish the principle
that disbursements must not be promised when there are no funds
from which to make them. But I brought the subject before the
Council in my opening Address as Your Lordship will have seen.
specially to provide the means of
maintaining the Telegraph, from the lower Fraser to Cariboo,
which was about to be abandoned by the Western Union Telegraph
Company, who offered the line to the local Government if the
working of it would be undertaken. Much pressure was brought to
bear upon me for this purpose; but I regarded myself as
precluded from assuming this new service in the present
financial position of the Colony without some special provision
for the expense. It was importantto
to establish the principle
that disbursements must not be promised when there are no funds
from which to make them. But I brought the subject before the
Council in my opening Address as Your Lordship will have seen.
2. The result after much discussion, is the imposition of an
additional duty of half a dollar per gallon upon Spirits which I
think the least objectionable mode of raising the required
funds, and it will probably furnish more than the required
amount.
3.
3. Great importance is attached to the maintenance of the
Telegraph by the people of the Mainland, and not unnaturally.
For purposes of Police, and the transmission of official
intelligence it is very valuable. And on many occasions it
might save greater expenditure than it will cost.
4. Under these circumstances I have no hesitation in
recommending the Ordinance for Her Majesty's confirmation, and
herewithI have
I have the honor to annex the Attorney General's Report
to the same effect.
I have the honor to annex the Attorney General's Report
to the same effect.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Holland
As the Legislature are willing to tax the Colony specially for this Telegraph Service I [see] no reason why they should not be allowed to do so. It possibly may pay its way some time.
As the Legislature are willing to tax the Colony specially for this Telegraph Service I [see] no reason why they should not be allowed to do so. It possibly may pay its way some time.
CC
8/6
I see no objection to this Ordinance, but as it imposes an
Import Duty it should be sent to the Treasy & B of Trade.
HTH
9/6
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Three printed copies of ordinance not on microfilm.
H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Musgrave, 25 April 1870,
reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
Holland to Assistant Secretary, Commercial Department, Board of
Trade, 11 June 1870, forwarding copy of the ordinance and
report for opinion and comment.
Holland to Secretary to the Treasury, 11 June, 1870, forwarding
copy of the ordinance and report for opinion and comment.