Colonial Despatches

I have had under my consideration your Despatch No. 111, of the 16th September, enclosing an application from Mr. O'Reilly, the Gold Commissioner of Cariboo, to be relieved from liability on account of a sum of public money amounting to Five Hundred and Eighty Six Pounds Five Shillings and Ten Pence, of which he had been robbed in 1862 by a Constable travelling with him.

Taking into consideration the immediate steps adopted by Mr. O'Reilly for the investigation of the matter, and the alleged difficulty of transporting money in safety through the upper part of the Colony,I I have to authorise you to relieve him from any further responsibility in respect of this sum: but in communicating to him this decision you will not fail to caution him to exercise more vigilance for the future over persons accompanying him to whom he entrusts public monies.

I take this opportunity of transmitting to you the enclosed Copy of a Report of the Commissioners of Audit, shewing how far Mr. O'Reilly stands charged with this sum as part of a larger sum of three Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Five Pounds Thirteen Shillings and Three Pence as Collectors Balances not passed through the Treasurer's Cash Books for 1864.

I regret that the late Governor did not bring this subject under the consideration of the Secretary of Stateat at an earlier period, when more light might have been thrown by him upon the question of Mr. O'Reilly's responsibility, and with reference to the statement of the Commissioners of Audit that the sum stolen in 1862 is outstanding against the Accountant in the Accounts of 1864 as part of a larger sum, I would remark that this shews the existence of an unreasonable delay in bringing up the Accounts of Sub-Accountants in British Columbia. I have therefore to request that you will give the necessary instructions for obtaining a system of earlier Account for public monies.