Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 5 December 1860, CO 305:14, no. 943, 420.
Abstract
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 5 December 1860, CO 305:14, no. 943, 420.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
No. 50
5 December 1860
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Graces Despatch
No 31 of the 28th August, acquainting me that the Lords
Commissioners of the Treasury will not object to the acceptance of
Bills for the expenditure in the Colony on Light
Light House Service, to
the extent of £7751.16.10, but instructing me to limit the
expenditure, if possible, to that Amount.
Light House Service, to
the extent of £7751.16.10, but instructing me to limit the
expenditure, if possible, to that Amount.
2. I am happy to inform Your Grace that both Lighthouses are now
completed. The Light in the one on Fisgard Island has been exhibited
for the last fortnight, and has already proved of much utility. The
fitting of the Lantern on the Race Rock Tower is rapidly progressing,
and I trust that the Light will be displayed in about a week or ten
days.
Yesterday
3. Yesterday, accompanied by Captain Richards of the Plumper, I
inspected both the Lighthouses, and the condition in which I found
them, and the manner in which the work has been executed afforded me
unqualified gratification; for considering the many difficulties
against which we had to contend we at one time almost despaired of
carrying out the undertaking satisfactorily: in fact had it not been
for the valuable aid rendered by Admiral Baynes in furnishing a
working party for some months the Tower at the Race Rocks could
could not
have been completed for the really moderate amount it has cost. The
Contractor for that work much miscalculated it. Building in Stone
was an experiment in this Country, and, indeed, as is now apparent,
had his offer been £6000 instead of £4100, the sum would not have
been remunerative. As it was he broke down and could not carry out
his Contract. Consideration and calculation made it manifest that
the foreiture of his Sureties, and the continuance of the work either
under a fresh Contract, or by hired labor, would involve serious
delays
delays, and a considerable increase in expenditure; we, therefore, as
the best expedient, decided to afford all reasonable assistance to
the Contractor to enable him to complete the work; and I am sure Your
Grace will be pleased to learn that it is one calculated to stand for
ages, and such as would reflect credit upon any Country. Indeed as I
viewed the massive Structure I could scarcely realize that, in a
young Colony like this, with chance labor, and with but the rude
appliances at hand, such a work could be produced
produced. Part of the
Stone of which the Tower is built was hewn upon the spot, but from
its extreme hardness the quarrying was found to be ruinously
expensive, and the remainder had to be brought from a distance. The
Tower has a diameter of 19 feet at the base, and 12 feet at its
summit, with a thickness of solid stone wall 6 feet 3 inches at
bottom and 2 feet 3 inches at top; and an elevation of 118 feet above
the Sea Level.
could not
have been completed for the really moderate amount it has cost. The
Contractor for that work much miscalculated it. Building in Stone
was an experiment in this Country, and, indeed, as is now apparent,
had his offer been £6000 instead of £4100, the sum would not have
been remunerative. As it was he broke down and could not carry out
his Contract. Consideration and calculation made it manifest that
the foreiture of his Sureties, and the continuance of the work either
under a fresh Contract, or by hired labor, would involve serious
delays
delays, and a considerable increase in expenditure; we, therefore, as
the best expedient, decided to afford all reasonable assistance to
the Contractor to enable him to complete the work; and I am sure Your
Grace will be pleased to learn that it is one calculated to stand for
ages, and such as would reflect credit upon any Country. Indeed as I
viewed the massive Structure I could scarcely realize that, in a
young Colony like this, with chance labor, and with but the rude
appliances at hand, such a work could be produced
produced. Part of the
Stone of which the Tower is built was hewn upon the spot, but from
its extreme hardness the quarrying was found to be ruinously
expensive, and the remainder had to be brought from a distance. The
Tower has a diameter of 19 feet at the base, and 12 feet at its
summit, with a thickness of solid stone wall 6 feet 3 inches at
bottom and 2 feet 3 inches at top; and an elevation of 118 feet above
the Sea Level.
4. Notwithstanding that we have been obliged to allow the Contractor
compensation for many unforeseen
unforeseen expenditures that he was called upon
to make, and for many unavoidable losses that he incurred, I am told
that he still will be a loser on the work by about a thousand pounds,
in fact being a man of but small means he is all but ruined. We have
drawn within a few pounds of the sum named in anticipation in my
despatch of June last, but it is found that when all accounts are
settled we shall still have to make a further expenditure of about
One Thousand pounds; and I trust, under the circumstances herein
narrated, that
that the Bills which I shall have to draw for that amount
may be duly accepted, for I can assure Your Grace that in addition to
the difficulties with which we have been beset, I have kept the most
watchful eye upon the whole proceedings, and have caused the most
rigid economy, consistent with efficiency, to be practiced on every
hand.
unforeseen expenditures that he was called upon
to make, and for many unavoidable losses that he incurred, I am told
that he still will be a loser on the work by about a thousand pounds,
in fact being a man of but small means he is all but ruined. We have
drawn within a few pounds of the sum named in anticipation in my
despatch of June last, but it is found that when all accounts are
settled we shall still have to make a further expenditure of about
One Thousand pounds; and I trust, under the circumstances herein
narrated, that
that the Bills which I shall have to draw for that amount
may be duly accepted, for I can assure Your Grace that in addition to
the difficulties with which we have been beset, I have kept the most
watchful eye upon the whole proceedings, and have caused the most
rigid economy, consistent with efficiency, to be practiced on every
hand.
5. I enclose herewith Copy of Notice to Mariners of the exhibition
of the Fisgard Light; and, in conclusion, I trust Her Majesty's
Government, and Your Grace individually, will
will accept the cordial
thanks of the Colony for the generous assistance extended to us, by
means of which a signal benefit has been conferred not only upon this
Colony, but also upon that of British Columbia, and a national work
completed worthy [of] the great character of our Country.
will accept the cordial
thanks of the Colony for the generous assistance extended to us, by
means of which a signal benefit has been conferred not only upon this
Colony, but also upon that of British Columbia, and a national work
completed worthy [of] the great character of our Country.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The cost of the Light Houses at Van Couver Island was estimated at £7000, and in the year 1860-61 a Vote for this amount was taken, on the understanding that one half, or £3500, should be repaid to the Imperial Treasury by Van Couvers Island & British Columbia jointly (see 4647 Treasury).
The cost of the Light Houses at Van Couver Island was estimated at £7000, and in the year 1860-61 a Vote for this amount was taken, on the understanding that one half, or £3500, should be repaid to the Imperial Treasury by Van Couvers Island & British Columbia jointly (see 4647 Treasury).
In June 1860 the Governor reported (7738) that the entire sum
required for the Works
in the Colony would be £7751.16.10—but this amount did not
include the cost of the Lanterns &c sent from England vizt £3266.4.1
(see Brd of Trade & Treasury 1110 & 7664).
The sanction of the Treasury was obtained for this excess of
expenditure beyond the Vote of £7000, and they informed us that it
would be inserted in the Estimates to be submitted to Parliament for
the year 1861-2. See 8306.
The Governor now applies for an additional £1000, for the completion
of the Works and it therefore becomes necessary to obtain the
sanction of the Treasury for this further expenditure.
The total cost of the Light Houses will be £12018.
VJ
6 Feby/61
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Not in file.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Rogers to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 16 February 1861,
forwarding copy of the despatch and recommending the additional sum
be paid.
People in this document
Baynes, Rear Admiral Robert Lambert
Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes