Colonial Despatches

In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter to Mr Barnard of the 2nd Instant, 1 I have now the honor to enclose estimates, amounting to £223, for the Mill gear and Lithographic Press, ordered by you on the requisition of Captn Gosset the Treasurer of British Columbia.

These estimates have been obtained from Mr Fenn of Newgate St 2 agreeably to Captain Gosset's suggestion, and they exceed by £23 the sum authorized by your letters; but as Mr Fenn is not himself a maker of Mill Machinery we may in all probability obtain it at less cost by going direct to the manufacturer. I do not therefore write this with the view ofobtaining obtaining your sanction for the disbursement of the small additional sum, but I feel called upon to point out what I consider the uselessness of complying with that part of the demand which refers to the "Skeleton gear of a powerful Water Wheel."

There are many varieties of the Water Wheel, both as regards size, or power, and description. There is the Overshot, Undershot, Horizontal &c, varying from 3 to 76 feet in diameter, but the requisition gives us no idea of the fluid or size wanted in this instance, and I should infer that Captain Gosset was himself in ignorance as to the requirements of the locality where the operation of sawing is to becarried carried out. Under these circumstances I most respectfully submit that it will be a mere waste of money to send out the Skeleton of a powerful wheel. I have had some experience with Saw Mills in the Backwoods of America and I never heard of the slightest difficulty occuring in getting a Water Wheel made on the spot by an ordinary Carpenter, (that most commonly used is a small horizontal wheel made almost entirely of wood) nor is there any difficulty to be apprehended, in my opinion, in getting a similar wheel made in British Columbia, if it be really required.

It occurs to me however that the Steam Carriage (Boydell's) 3 already sent you with the Detachmentof of Royal Engineer's, and which most practical men agree in thinking will not answer the purpose it was intended for, in a new Country without roads; (it was found most difficult to keep it in working order in Woolwich Yard) might with little or no ingenuity be profitably employed to drive the Circular Saws which Captn Gosset requires; and the adoption of this plan would entirely supersede the use of Water power. But under no circumstances would it appear necessary to send out the "Skeleton Wheel. I would therefore submit for your consideration whether it will not be better to furnish such things only ascannot cannot be made on the spot, vizt Saws, Axles, Pullies, and Driving Bands, with the Tools generally used in working a Saw Bench, and a Lithographic Press.

I should have had some hesitation in making this proposal were it not that my views are acquisced in, and fortified by the opinion of, Mr Anderson the Inspector of Machinery at the Royal Arsenal, a practical Engineer of high standing to whom I referred the question and whose reply is herewith enclosed.