Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to acquaint you that Lieut. Colonel Foster, Commanding the Vancouver Volunteers has addressed to me a letter on the subject of the mode of appointing the Officers of the Corps. Colonel Foster suggests that they should be appointed permanently and subject to the same rules as in England instead of as in the United States being liable to annual election, and he also requests that the names of the Officers may be inserted in the London Gazette.

The Secretary of State for War to whom I referred Colonel Foster's letter has expressed his opinion that it would not be expedient to adopt the suggestion of inserting the names of Officers belonging the Colonial Militia or Volunteer Corps in theLondon London Gazette, the appointments being doubtless duly notified in the Local Gazette. With regard to Colonel Foster's suggestion that the appointments should have permanent effect and be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corps in this Country, Secretary Sir G.C. Lewis conceives that it must rest with the local authorities to decide how far those rules can properly be adopted in the several Colonies.

I have caused this decision to be communicated to Col. Foster in answer to his letter.