Colonial Despatches

At the earnest prayer of Mr Thomas James Skinner I have the honor to forward a petition which he has addressed to the Secretary for War, praying for compensation for loss he states himself to have sustained by the sudden withdrawal of the detachment of Royal Engineers from this Colony.

2. I am informed that inApril April 1863 Messrs Skinner and Clark entered into an agreement to supply the Engineers at New Westminster with meat and vegetables for one year. At the expiration of eight months however Colonel Moody gave notice to the contractors that the Engineers were ordered home, and that the contract would have to be terminated in a fortnight.

3. The contractors complain that they were deprived of four months privilege of supplying the troops during the winter months, when their principal profits would have been made, the Engineers being all in Camp at that Season. Also, that they were compelledat at great expense to open butchers' shops at New Westminster: That, shortly before the notice given to them by Colonel Moody, an embargo had been placed on the exportation of cattle from the United States, which compelled them to purchase cattle at a great price to enable them to fulfil their contract, and that, on the sudden termination thereof by Colonel Moody, these cattle were left on their hands to be disposed of at a loss, the embargo having been as suddenly removed. I am disposed to think that on these grounds they are entitled to some compensation.

4. The contractors further urge as a matter of complaint, that,having having memorialized Colonel Moody they received no reply.