Colonial Despatches

May I venture to ask Your Grace kindly to consider and decide upon the following matter personal to myself.

In my capacity of Surveyor General of Vancouver Island I am here under orders (dated April 3.63, copy of which was as usual forwarded to Colonial Office) from His Excellency The Governor "to procure machinery required for the improvement of Victoria Harbour, and to Superintend its construction". I further had orders to accomplish this and to return within six months from the date of my departure from the Island (4 April).

I pay my own travelling and personal expenses but my salary runs on as usual, and His Excellency the Governor made ample arrangement to supply my offices in the Colony during my absence.

With every exertion on my part—to procure this Machinery has taken rather more time than was expected.

The Agents General have afforded me so much assistance in the discharge of this duty, and are so conversant with all that has been done, that they could complete arrangements requisite without further assistance from me.

But I humbly submit to Your Grace that the public service would be more benefited by my remaining a few months longer, in order that I may acquire a more complete knowledge of the details and working of these machines, than by my abrupt departure: always provided, I arrive in the Colony in time to receive the machinery; and, as the time does not admit of my addressing His Excellency the Governor on the point perhaps Your Grace will be pleased to decide it.