I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 39 dated the
31st March last, forwarding Copies of the
British Columbia Act No. 16 of
1871, "to provide for a permanent civil list." I have also received
your further Despatch No. 45 of the
8thApril April enclosing a copy of a letter
addressed to you[r] private Secretary by the Mayor of
Victoria with a
resolution against the Act passed at a public meeting held in that Town
on the
31st March last.
Although I am not disposed to deny that there are advantages in
placing the civil List on a more permanent footing than that of a money
vote and looking to all the circumstances of the case I cannot disallow
the Act by Her Majesty, I cannot but regret that such
an an occasion should
have been taken to increase salaries.
The necessary Order in Council will be forwarded as soon as it has
passed the Council.