Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Colvile, Andrew Wedderburn to
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
18 July 1854, CO 305:5, no. 6186, 244.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Colvile writes to Grey to propose “an alteration” to the scheme for “the maintenance of the Ministers of
Religion” on Vancouver Island. Colvile discusses the financial details of the changes, and argues for a second clergyman
for the “Nanaimo District.”
The minutes mention Reverend Staines’s recent death and note that his vacancy makes it possible to implement a new payment
scheme.
The file includes a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Colvile, which states that clergymen-pay is under review, and asks for details on current
regulations for land sales on Vancouver Island.
Colvile to Grey
Hudson's Bay House
4 Fenchurch Street
18th July 1854
4 Fenchurch Street
Sir
I have to submit for your consideration a proposal for an
alteration in part of the arrangement for the Colonization of
Vancouver's Island which was sanctioned by Lord Grey who was at
that time Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The part of the arrangement to which I allude is that for the
maintenance of the Ministers of Religion. The provision made
for this purpose, was, the reservation of a certain portion of
the Wilderness land a plan which has not been found to answer in
other places, and which at Vancouver's Island does not afford an
inducement for a respectableclergyman
clergyman to undertake the charge
of a Parish or District.
clergyman to undertake the charge
of a Parish or District.
I have therefore to request your consent to the provision for
the Clergyman being altered to a money stipend to be charged to
the Trust Fund arising from the nine tenths of the price of
land sold, from the Lordship of 2/6 per ton on Coals that may be
raised and sold and of 10 per load of timber cut under Licences
for Exportation from unappropriated lands.
The Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company are of
opinion that the Trust fund is in a condition to meet this charge.
At present they would propose that one clergyman of the Church
of England should be appointed to the charge of the Victoria
District to whom the Fur trade branch of the Hudsons Bay Company
will contribute an allowance of £100 per annum: whilst he may
act aschaplain
chaplain to their Establishment at that place.
chaplain to their Establishment at that place.
It is expected that a Stipend of £300 per Annum from the Trust
fund with the above mentioned allowance and with the addition of
a free passage to the Island for himself and family, and the
use of a moderate residence with a glebe of fifty or sixty acres
of land during his incumbency will be found sufficient to induce
a respectable Gentleman to undertake the charge.
The Nanaimo District where the Coal mining operations are
carried on will also require a clergyman, and Mr Douglas has
been requested to report whether a clergyman of the Church of
England, or of what other Denomination would be most
satisfactory to the Inhabitants.
In the event of your giving your consent to this proposal, I
would take immediate steps to procure a Gentleman suitable for
the
the charge of the Victoria District whose name would be
submitted for your approval.
the charge of the Victoria District whose name would be
submitted for your approval.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
You will remember that accounts have recently reached this office of the Shipwreck of the vessel on board of which the Revd Mr Staines had taken his passage for England. The vacancy thus created affords an opportunity for making an alteration in paying the Salary of the Chaplain of the Settlement. The plan suggested certainly seems an improvement on the old mode of supporting the Clergymen. But before anything is said upon the subject a report from the Land Board would, I think be useful. I conclude the regulations marked in the accg volume (V.C.I. /46 to /48) are those in force. We are not in possession of any other regulations of the Co respecting the disposal of Land to Clergymen, or the public in V. Couver's Island, though we ought to have a copy.
You will remember that accounts have recently reached this office of the Shipwreck of the vessel on board of which the Revd Mr Staines had taken his passage for England. The vacancy thus created affords an opportunity for making an alteration in paying the Salary of the Chaplain of the Settlement. The plan suggested certainly seems an improvement on the old mode of supporting the Clergymen. But before anything is said upon the subject a report from the Land Board would, I think be useful. I conclude the regulations marked in the accg volume (V.C.I. /46 to /48) are those in force. We are not in possession of any other regulations of the Co respecting the disposal of Land to Clergymen, or the public in V. Couver's Island, though we ought to have a copy.
ABd
21 July
Other documents included in the file
Draft,
Colonial Office to Colvile, 24 July 1854, stating the question
of payment to clergymen was under review and
asking for details of the current regulations regarding the sale
of land on the island.