No. 74
23rd May 1870
My Lord,
At the request of Mr Thomas Lett Wood, late Acting Attorney General of Vancouver Island, I forward to Your Lordship copies of some correspondence which has passed between that Gentleman and myself respecting a claim which he regards himself aspossessingManuscript image possessing for employment from Her Majesty's Government.
2. Mr Wood's service was antecedent to my acquaintance with the Colony, and as it was temporary in its character, I do not consider it as constituting any very strong claim. Mr Wood however is an English Barrister of Education and local position. But for the Union of the Colonies he might probably have been confirmed in the appointment of Attorney General of Vancouver Island.AndManuscript image And under the circumstances of his case Your Lordship may consider his claim as worthy of some consideration.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
A. Musgrave
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Herbert
A question of Patronage. I know nothing of Mr Wood myself. To Mr Meade who may like to consult Mr Birch.
CC 25/6
RGWH June 27/70
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RM 4/7/70
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Mr Meade
I do not think that Mr Woods has any special claims for employment. He was one of the early settlers in Vancouver & practised at the bar in that Colony where I believe he was not very successful. On the resignation of Mr Cary in 1864 Mr WoodManuscript image was selected provisionally by Mr Kennedy as Acting Attorney Genl pending an appointment from Home—but it was decided not to fill up the Office until the question of the Union of the Colonies had been decided. At that time the Assembly refused to vote any Salary for the Att Genl but Mr Wood undertook the duties & I understood at the time that the mere fact of holding the office of Att Genl threw more private practice into his hands.
On the Union of the Colonies the amount of Work before the newly constructed Legislature was so heavy that the Att. Genl Mr Crease applied for assistanceManuscript image & Mr Wood accepted the position of Solicitor Genl for the Session—it being clearly understood that at the close of the Session his Services would be dispensed with. During the time he was thus employed he received the full salary of the Office he had held in Vancouver & also an allowance for drawing Bills. There were many more capable men of the Colonial bar anxious for the position Mr Wood held during the Session but he was selected by Mr Seymour on account of his previous service & as some compensation for the loss of his provisional appointment. I do not think for a moment that if Union had not taken place Mr Wood would have been recommended for the permanent office of Att GenlManuscript image of Vancouver. At the same time Mr Wood is a painstaking hard working man.
ANB 5/7
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I think we should concur with the Governor's answer.
K July 8
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See subsequent from Mr Wood 7264 July 5, 1870.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Thos. L. Wood to Musgrave, 2 December 1869, seeking re-employment in the colonial government.
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A. Musgrave Jr., Private Secretary to Musgrave, to Wood, 21 December 1869, advising that there was little likelihood of a suitable position becoming available for him in the colony.
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Wood to Musgrave, 3 January 1870, clarifying certain points relative to his previous appointment, and explaining that his claim for employment was put forward not "on any ground of right but solely on the score of merit."
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Musgrave Jr. to Wood, 5 January 1870, referring to the decision of his previous letter as noted above.
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 23 May 1870, CO 60:38, no. 6783, 535. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B70074.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)