Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 27 November 1865, CO 60:22, no. 1195, 464.
Abstract
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 27 November 1865, CO 60:22, no. 1195, 464.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Other documents (3).
No. 124
27th November 1865
Sir,
I have had the honor to receive your despatch No. 52 of
2nd August, informing me that the amount due from the Imperial
Treasury for the excess of Advances made by the Colonial Governmentin
in respect of the Regimental Pay of the Royal Engineers lately
serving in British Columbia had been placed to the credit of
the Colony in its account with the Crown Agents.
in respect of the Regimental Pay of the Royal Engineers lately
serving in British Columbia had been placed to the credit of
the Colony in its account with the Crown Agents.
2. On the receipt of your despatch, I called upon the Auditor
General to furnish me with a Return showing the state of the
Accounts under the head of Military Expenditure. I enclose a
Report from that Officer by which it would appearthat
that the sum
of nine thousand and fifty-one pounds 18s/1d (£9,051.18.1),
still stands as a debt due by the Imperial Government to this Colony.
that the sum
of nine thousand and fifty-one pounds 18s/1d (£9,051.18.1),
still stands as a debt due by the Imperial Government to this Colony.
3. In support of the Statement of the Auditor General I
beg to refer you to the Duke of Newcastle's despatch No. 123
of 13th May 1862, in which the Governor is instructed, that,
after the arrears of 1859/60, have been adjusted by the payment
from the Local Revenue of the sum of tenthousand
thousand seven hundred
and four pounds (£10,704), the amount estimated as the expenditure on
account of the Camp Buildings, the Colony would in future be required to
defray one moiety of the cost of maintaining the detachment of
the Royal Engineers, the other moiety being contributed by the
Imperial Government.
thousand seven hundred
and four pounds (£10,704), the amount estimated as the expenditure on
account of the Camp Buildings, the Colony would in future be required to
defray one moiety of the cost of maintaining the detachment of
the Royal Engineers, the other moiety being contributed by the
Imperial Government.
4. I trust you will authorize the Crown Agents to defer making
the payment of the ten thousand seven hundredand
and four pounds (£10,704)
to the Imperial Treasury, until a final settlement of the Accounts
for Military expenditure has been arrived at by the Lords Commissioners
of Her Majesty's Treasury.
and four pounds (£10,704)
to the Imperial Treasury, until a final settlement of the Accounts
for Military expenditure has been arrived at by the Lords Commissioners
of Her Majesty's Treasury.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This claim for the R. Engineers takes me by surprise. The arrangement as to the expense of this force was that England shd defray the Regimental pay, whilst the Colonial pay & allowances were to be borne by the Colony. But in /62 in consequence of continued grumbling the Treasury consented to pay the moiety of the cost of maintaining the Engineers. The charge was £11,000. Is it meant by this desph that the Governor never drew for the money? It seems strange, & I see nothing else except a reference to the T-y, recalling to their notice the C.O. Letter to them of the 21 Feb./62, & their ansr of the 27 of the same month.
This claim for the R. Engineers takes me by surprise. The arrangement as to the expense of this force was that England shd defray the Regimental pay, whilst the Colonial pay & allowances were to be borne by the Colony. But in /62 in consequence of continued grumbling the Treasury consented to pay the moiety of the cost of maintaining the Engineers. The charge was £11,000. Is it meant by this desph that the Governor never drew for the money? It seems strange, & I see nothing else except a reference to the T-y, recalling to their notice the C.O. Letter to them of the 21 Feb./62, & their ansr of the 27 of the same month.
The correspce is collected for reference.
ABd
6 Feb/66
I agree with Mr Blackwood both as to the strangeness
of the claim and also the necessity of referring
to the
Treasury. It is in reality a question which can only be
expected to be cleared up by the Auditors. I annex a draft.
to the
Treasury. It is in reality a question which can only be
expected to be cleared up by the Auditors. I annex a draft.
TFE
8 Feby
Other documents included in the file
We paid the £10,704 to the Treasury on the 22 Novemr last.
We advised British Columbia that we should do so on the 14th of
the preceeding month, and in our accounts with the Colony up to the
end of the year forwarded Early in January, we debited them with the
amount.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Robert Ker, Auditor General, to Colonial Secretary,
24 November 1865, forwarding statements relative to the status of
the colonial accounts.
Statement of receipts and expenditures in connection with
the Royal Engineers while stationed in British Columbia.
Statement of the sums received and advances made for Her
Majesty's government and which have been hitherto charged in the
general account.
Return of the amount paid on Her Majesty's government account
for pensions during the years 1859 to 1863.
Statement explaining the difference between the balance now
claimed and that shown in the account rendered in July 1864.
Other documents included in the file
Schedule of despatches from British Columbia and the secretary
of state on the expenses of Royal Engineers referred to in the
statement of the auditor general, prepared by F.W. Fuller, 7
February 1866.
Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 15 February 1866, forwarding
copy of the despatch and requesting a report on the claim now submitted
by the colony.