No. 40, Separate
1. I have the honor to transmit the Blue Book of
Vancouver Island
for the year
1863 being the first that has ever been compiled for
this Colony.
2. I received this Book from the Colonial Secretary a few days
before his departure from the Colony in the middle of
May, and a
pressure of business has prevented me from verifying its
contents contents
until now.
3. It is not my intention to offer any lengthened comments upon
tables and statistics which I do not think very reliable, and, this
being the first Blue Book of
Vancouver Island, there are no
comparisons to make.
4. I must, however, offer some observations with a view to correct
erroneous statements which have been placed before Her Majesty's
Government in reference to the finance and taxation of this colony.
5. It has been stated authoritatively
that that this Island is
"overburdened" by taxation. I will therefore recapitulate the taxes
levied.
Real Estate Tax which produced in
1863 £8854
Trade Licences 3687
Liquor Licences 4914
Harbour Dues 3563
The details and rates of these taxes will be found at pages 1 and
2 of the Blue Book.
6. The Ports of the Island are
free, and there are no import or export duties of any kind.
7. The Real Estate Tax of one per cent per annum upon the assessed
market value of all
real real estate is that which has been dwelt upon as
most oppressive and "burdensome".
8. I have no intention of discussing the policy of this Tax, but it
can hardly be considered "burdensome" when compared with the tax for
selling liquors (I think
too low) which realized £4914, or more than
half that paid by the whole real estate of the Colony.
9. When the amount raised by Trade Licenses, £3687 (including
various
various professions and callings) is compared with the value of
Imports, I think it will be apparent that the commercial interest is
not overburdened with taxes.
10. I believe the following may be taken as a nearly correct value
of the imports:
But are they Imports for Consumption, or only goods brought into
this free Port
in
[illegible]?
1861 1862 1863
$2,018,424 $2,550,242 $3,860,430
£ 416,299 £ 525,987 £ 796,213
11. There being no import duties the bulk of the population escape
taxation in any form whatever, while the merchants and traders pay a
tax of £3687 for Trades
Licenses Licenses being less than one half per cent
upon their sales.
12. There has been a net increase of Revenue including loans in 1863
as compared with 1862, of £26,343, while there has been an increase
of expenditure of £22,689.
13. The state of the Roads and land communication is very defective
though an expenditure of £18,000 has been incurred in
1862 and
1863
and a large outlay voted for the current year. The law and practice
in connection with this important subject stand greatly in need of
amendment
amendment and will occupy my immediate attention.
14. The same may be said in reference to the survey, sale, leasing
and general management of Public Lands.
15. A project for dredging and deepening the
Harbour of Victoria has
been entered upon, I think unadvisedly, and without sufficient data,
which will I fear result in the useless expenditure of a large sum of
money.
16. The
16. The population are orderly loyal, and prosperous. Pauperism is
unknown.
17. The condition of the Indian population is very lamentable.
Drunkenness and prostitution being the prevailing and prominent
characteristics. I refrain from further notice of this matter which
will be made the subject of a separate Despatch at an early period.
18. The capability of this Colony to support a population has been
much discussed, and very opposite views expressed. There is in my
opinion sufficient
agricultural agricultural land of fine quality to support a
million of people and the climate is unexceptionable and most
salubrious.
19. Expensive and defective postal and other communication are the
great bar to progress, and reflect but little credit upon two great
nations, England and America. A "Times" newspaper costs fourpence
postage, and that for a book is entirely prohibitory.
20. It is surprising how little is known of the resources and
interior of this Island. Loose
assertion assertion and surmise have been
accepted in lieu of accurate examination or survey. To remedy this
great want I have recently despatched an exploring party under an
intelligent leader, liberally supported by private subscription in
aid of the Government expenditure. The first report from this party
is highly encouraging.
21. I can see nothing to retard the steady progress and prosperity
of this Island if the colonists are prudent and true
to to themselves.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your very obedient Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Print this
desph, as usual, with other Blue Book reports. Blue
Book to Library.
This despatch very much confirms the impression I have entertained &
which I have frequently stated that the taxation of
V.C.I. might be
easily increased without undue pressure. There are, however, local &
municipal taxes, raised for special [purposes],
which the community
has to bear.
If there is sufficient good land to sustain a population of a million
of people—as stated by the Govr at Par: 18—and as that Land
belongs to the Crown, the Colony will make a very good bargain if it
gives the Crown a Civil List of £5800 per ann: which we have asked
for, in exchange for the proceeds of the Land sales.
Mr Fortescue
A Blue Book report is generally assumed to be merely for information.
The passage in this, however, about heavy postage makes me think
whether anything could be done. I fear not, for that the cause must
be our being in the hands of Americans
both for the transit across
the Isthmus, and for the Steam navigation on the Pacific side.
Print as usual?
N.B. I have seen
Mr Frederic Hill of the Post office today, and he
tells me that the
Vancouver Postage via
New York & California is only
1
s/ from England, which does not seem much to practically the most
inaccessible Colony or possess[ion]: the postage on Newspapers by
that route from England is 2
d/. This is all that England charges.
The rest if more is paid, must be a Colonial charge,
by that route. But via Panama (which is
not the quickest) the letters cost 2
s/4
d and the Papers
4
d/.
TFE
[date cut off microfilm]
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)