Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Peel, Frederick to Rogers, Frederic 23 October 1862, CO 60:14, no. 10430, 296.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Peel writes Rogers on behalf of the Treasury to inform
Newcastle that the Treasury, while it does not approve of the actions taken by
the Gentlemen of the Assay Dt at New Westminster in British Columbia,or their request for increased pay, will leave it to Douglas to decide how to proceed. The Treasury expresses concern about the cost of operating the assay office, which it describes as a
failure,and asks for a report reviewing the office's operations and future prospects.
Peel to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
23 October 1862
I am directed by The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's
Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of The Duke of
Newcastle, that They observe with regret the tone exhibited by
the Gentlemen of the Assay Dt at
New Westminster in British Columbia, in the correspondence enclosed in the Despatch
of theGovernor
Governor of that Colony, which accompanied Mr Elliot's
letter of the 22nd Ultimo, particularly as it will be seen
by the observations of The Master of the Mint in his letter of
the 3 Inst, copy of which is forwarded herewith, that the terms
of their engagement do not support their right to any increase of
Salary beyond what they have already received.
Governor of that Colony, which accompanied Mr Elliot's
letter of the 22nd Ultimo, particularly as it will be seen
by the observations of The Master of the Mint in his letter of
the 3 Inst, copy of which is forwarded herewith, that the terms
of their engagement do not support their right to any increase of
Salary beyond what they have already received.
My Lords would have been
disposed to have expressed, in the
strongest terms, Their sense of the impropriety of the course
taken and the language used by these Gentlemen, and which, as
stated in Governor Douglas' letter of 28 July, appeared to bear very much the complexion of an attempt upon their part to coerce
the Government into a compliance with their demands at a moment
when they believed their services to be indispensable.Such
Such a
course and language on the part of any Servants of Her Majesty
would not, under ordinary circumstances, be tolerated in the
Public Service.
disposed to have expressed, in the
strongest terms, Their sense of the impropriety of the course
taken and the language used by these Gentlemen, and which, as
stated in Governor Douglas' letter of 28 July, appeared to bear very much the complexion of an attempt upon their part to coerce
the Government into a compliance with their demands at a moment
when they believed their services to be indispensable.Such
Such a
course and language on the part of any Servants of Her Majesty
would not, under ordinary circumstances, be tolerated in the
Public Service.
Having regard, however, to the inexperience of these Gentlemen,
and to the fact that their aid has been ultimately given to the
Mintage operations, My Lords will leave to GovernorDouglas
Douglas the
decision as to the propriety of complying with Captain Gossett's
recommendations for an increase of Salary to the several Members
of the Assay Department in consideration of the additional
Duties now devolving on them.
Douglas the
decision as to the propriety of complying with Captain Gossett's
recommendations for an increase of Salary to the several Members
of the Assay Department in consideration of the additional
Duties now devolving on them.
Their Lordships think it right to re-call the attention of the
Secretary of State to the former correspondence on the subject of
the establishment of a Mint in BritishBritish
Columbia, and more
particularly to the grounds upon which My Lords were pleased to
waive the objections which They entertained to the establishment
of an Assay and Refinery Department, under Government Control,
instead of leaving such work to private enterprise.
Columbia, and more
particularly to the grounds upon which My Lords were pleased to
waive the objections which They entertained to the establishment
of an Assay and Refinery Department, under Government Control,
instead of leaving such work to private enterprise.
The grounds upon which My Lords came to the conclusion that this
might be permitted
under the circumstances were:
under the circumstances were:
1st That no private Establishment would command the
confidence of the Miners.
2nd That the Government Offices would very soon become self
supporting.
It now appears that the Public has not to any great extent
availed itself of the Government Assay Office, and, consequently,
so far from its being self-supportingthat
that a loss of upwards of
£6000 has already accrued.
that a loss of upwards of
£6000 has already accrued.
There is no information contained in the Papers before this
Board as to what has led to a result so different from what was
anticipated, and Their Lordships request that a Return may be
furnished showing what amount of Work has been performed in the
Assay Office, month by month, since it came intofull
full operation,
the actual current cost of the Office up to the latest period, and
the receipts, accompanied by explanations of the causes which
have led to the apparent failure of the project, and the views
of the Governor with regard to its prospects for the future.
full operation,
the actual current cost of the Office up to the latest period, and
the receipts, accompanied by explanations of the causes which
have led to the apparent failure of the project, and the views
of the Governor with regard to its prospects for the future.
My Lords would also be glad to have the Governor's opinion
as to retaining the office at New Westminster or removingit
it to Victoria.
it to Victoria.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The Treasury consider that Offices of a Mint or Assay Establishment in a Crown Colony are under their control. And if so they must have the deciding voice in matters relating to their own Establishment.
The Treasury consider that Offices of a Mint or Assay Establishment in a Crown Colony are under their control. And if so they must have the deciding voice in matters relating to their own Establishment.
It is perfectly true that amongst other considerations
we were induced to urge the establisht of an
Assay Office in B.C. on
the strong representations
of Capn Gosset, the Treasurer, that after the first
year the concern would be self supporting. The reverse
has been the fact. As Capn G. is now in England he
might be able to furnish some explanations.
the strong representations
of Capn Gosset, the Treasurer, that after the first
year the concern would be self supporting. The reverse
has been the fact. As Capn G. is now in England he
might be able to furnish some explanations.
ABd
24 Oct
I think that the best course will be to send out our
letter and the answer from the Treasury to the Governor
for his information and guidance, and to say that the
result, as His Grace understands it, is to leave it open
to the Governor to deal with the case according to his
discretion. Request him to furnish the general
information called for by the Treasury.
TFE
25 Octr
And then request Captn Gosset to give any explanation
in his power.
N
26
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to W.D. Gosset, 30 October 1862, concerning
the establishment of the assay office and asking for an explanation
of its failure to become self supporting. (For Gosset's reply, see
Correspondence.)
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Thomas Graham, Royal Mint, to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury,
3 October 1862, denying that he made promises to the staff of the
assay office in regard to position and salary.