Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shepherd, Captain, HBC Governor John to Labouchere, Henry 24 February 1858, CO 305:9, no. 1987, 440.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (4), Other documents (3).
Shepherd supplies the CO with records of accounts for reimbursement to the HBC by the Crown
in the land transfer of Vancouver Island.
The minutes discuss whether these accounts are reliable and suggest that a third party
“with power to arbitrate” would be ideal in examining these accounts.
Enclosed is a draft from the CO to the Land and Emigration Commissioners forwarding
a copy of the accounts for examination and report; a draft from the CO to the Attorney
General and Solicitor General for an opinion on the obligation of the government to
compensate the HBC; draft from Carnarvon to Shepherd advising of the government obligation as detailed by legal advisors; as well as three
account statements with an accompanying list.
Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudsons Bay House
24th February 1858
Sir
In accordance with the request expressed in Mr Merivale's
letter of the 20th Ultimo,
that the Directors of the Hudson's
Bay Company will at their earliest convenience furnish Her
Majesty's Government with a Statement of the Sums for which they
may claim repayment as laid out and expended by them in and upon
Vancouver's Island and premises, and of the value of their
establishments, property and effects thereon, according to the
terms of the grant,
I have the honor to transmit the accompanying accounts, in
continuation of those forwarded on the 16th September 1856,
shewing the amount to be reimbursed to the Company by Her
Majesty's Government on the transfer of Vancouver's Island, so
far as can be ascertained at the present time.
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Carnarvon
These accounts will not be finally settled until May 1859 when the Company's property in Vanc. Id is to cease. I scarcely know what steps we are to take, in order to check them. For we have no officer of our own on the island: the Governor himself is a servant of the Company.
These accounts will not be finally settled until May 1859 when the Company's property in Vanc. Id is to cease. I scarcely know what steps we are to take, in order to check them. For we have no officer of our own on the island: the Governor himself is a servant of the Company.
Perhaps the first step might be to refer to the Land & Emn
Coms who often aid us with their advice in matters of this
description. They might at all events examine the account, &
call for explanation either verbal or written where they deem it
required.
HM
Mh 4
This seems very advisable—some of the charges such as those for
sending out Settlers engaged as servants to the HBC but not
required for trading operations appear to me to be prima facie
questionable.
C
March 5
Refer to L & E Commissrs in first instance. Probably some
reference to a third party, with power to arbitrate, will be the
best way of settling this.
S
M 6
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Land and Emigration Commissioners,
11 March 1858, forwarding copy of correspondence and enclosures
for examination and report.
Draft, Colonial Office to Attorney General and Solicitor General, 31
May 1858, forwarding copy of correspondence and enclosures, with
explanation, for opinion on the obligation of the government to
compensate the Hudson's Bay Company.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
List of accounts rendered by the Hudson's Bay Company to Her
Majesty's government:
No. 1. Vancouver Island Trust Account, 31 January 1858.
No. 2. Statement of colonial property at Vancouver Island,
and of amount outstanding on sales of land to 31 October 1857.
No. 3. Statement of amount to be reimbursed to Hudson's Bay
Company by government in accordance with the terms of the grant of
Vancouver Island, 13 January 1849.