Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 18 March 1868, CO 60:32, no. 6293, 141.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (6), Other documents (1).
Regarding an ordinance
conferring certain privileges on the Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Companyand passed in 1866, after consulting British Columbia’s executive council, Seymour recommends leaving the Flume Company ordinance
to its operation.Holland minutes that Seymour did not supply a satisfactory report after a delay of two years. Birch’s minute discusses why the ordinance was created and how it has benefited British Columbia. Rogers minutes Buckingham’s intention to allow the ordinance
to remain in operation.Buckingham’s minute describes how the reply to Seymour should be written.
No. 21
New Westminster
18th March 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have had the honor to receive Your Grace's despatch of the 10th
of January, calling for my promised report on an Ordinancepassed
passed by the Legislature of this Colony in 1866 and entitled;
No. 10. An Ordinance conferring certain privileges on the
Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Company.
passed by the Legislature of this Colony in 1866 and entitled;
No. 10. An Ordinance conferring certain privileges on the
Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Company.
2. The Ordinance having been passed during my absence I thought
it prudent to consult the Executive Council before offering to
Your Grace an opinion on the subject.I
I was unanimously advised
to recommend that the Ordinance should be left to its operation.
Which advice I likewise beg to tender to Your Grace.
I was unanimously advised
to recommend that the Ordinance should be left to its operation.
Which advice I likewise beg to tender to Your Grace.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
The only report that the Govr gives is that his Executive Council unanimously advised him to recommend that the Ordinance should be left to its operation.
The only report that the Govr gives is that his Executive Council unanimously advised him to recommend that the Ordinance should be left to its operation.
This is not a very satisfactory answer to the request for a
report made so far back as 28 June 1866, ie 2 years ago.
HTH
18/6
Sir F. Rogers
I have no hestitation in recommending that the Ordinance be left to its operation. I took great pains to arrive at a full knowledge of the subject on my visits to the Mining District of Cariboo & I must have received more than 20 deputations on the matter. Although the Bill may be considered as a Private Bill granting privileges to a company of speculators the successful carrying out of the undertaking will be of immense Public Advantage to the Colony & give employment to hundreds.
I have no hestitation in recommending that the Ordinance be left to its operation. I took great pains to arrive at a full knowledge of the subject on my visits to the Mining District of Cariboo & I must have received more than 20 deputations on the matter. Although the Bill may be considered as a Private Bill granting privileges to a company of speculators the successful carrying out of the undertaking will be of immense Public Advantage to the Colony & give employment to hundreds.
The origin of the speculation
was this—
was this—
"Williams Creek" which has proved the richest mining ground in
the Cariboo district is a small Mountain stream some 4 miles
in length. A mile & half of the upper portion runs through a
comparatively level bed & the soil on either side is deep bog &
no pumps hitherto sent up have been able to drain the water from
the several claims recorded on this mining ground. It has
consequently remained undeveloped and below this again there are
many "faults" in the bed rock preventing the ground being
worked. It was the opinion of Engineers that by taking the
lowest level of the "Bed Rock" and blasting & cutting a ditch or
"Flume"
through the entire length of the Creek the whole ground
wd be drained & the hitherto unprofitable ground worked to
advantage. All the best Miners combined to carry this work out,
but a few idlers managed to possess themselves of Some of the
ground useless to them without the drainage & refused to part
with it (the portion required for the ditch)—thus
without Legislative Assistance Williams Creek must have
remained partly undeveloped. I gave nearly a year's notice of
my intention to allow an Ordinance to be introduced. I may have
had some half dozen individual Petitions against the measure. I
was careful to have Enquiries made into each case & if I
remember rightly with one exception the Petitioners had obtained
their interest in the ground
after it was known that a combined
attempt was to be made to drain the ground. I received hundreds
of signatures in favor of the Ordinance.
through the entire length of the Creek the whole ground
wd be drained & the hitherto unprofitable ground worked to
advantage. All the best Miners combined to carry this work out,
but a few idlers managed to possess themselves of Some of the
ground useless to them without the drainage & refused to part
with it (the portion required for the ditch)—thus
without Legislative Assistance Williams Creek must have
remained partly undeveloped. I gave nearly a year's notice of
my intention to allow an Ordinance to be introduced. I may have
had some half dozen individual Petitions against the measure. I
was careful to have Enquiries made into each case & if I
remember rightly with one exception the Petitioners had obtained
their interest in the ground
after it was known that a combined
attempt was to be made to drain the ground. I received hundreds
of signatures in favor of the Ordinance.
I visited Cariboo after the Ordinance had become Law. I do not
remember a complaint & this coupled with the fact that the Ex
Council are unanimously in favor of the Act after watching its
operation for two years is I think sufficient to justify the
Allowance of the Ordinance.
ANB
19.6.68
I should write that as HG infers that the Ordinance has
been in force for two years witht producing inconvenience or a
complaint it will be allowed to remain in operation.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 39, 26 June 1868 conveying “Her Majesty's Gracious Confirmation and allowance of…Ordinance No. 10,
of 1866, conferring certain privileges on the Williams Creek, Bed Rock Flume company.”