I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 19 of the
               10th of April last on the subject of the Assay Department in British
               Columbia.
               
            
            
               Her Majesty's government are prepared to sanction the continuance
               for the present of the Assay Establishment at 
New Westminster with the
               reduced staff of one Chief
Assayer
 Assayer and one Assistant or operative
               Melter. I have to request that you will furnish me with an annual
               Return similar to that enclosed in your present despatch of the work
               performed by the Assay Department in order that Her Majesty's Government
               may have the materials necessary for reconsidering the question of
               retaining
the
 the Establishment.