Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Seymour states that the Ordinance No. 32 of 1867, An Ordinance to give to Mortagees certain powers now commonly inserted in Mortgages…was thrown out towards the end of the session of the legislative council. Seymour reports how members of the executive council viewed the proposed ordinance. Seymour recommends not bringing the ordinance into operation.Holland’s minute discusses how Buckingham’s recommendations for the ordinance were adopted and suggests how to respond to Seymour.
Buckingham’s minute concurs with Holland’s suggestions and recommends describing how the ordinance would operate without Buckingham’s previous suggestions.
No. 89
Victoria
5th August 1868
My Lord Duke,
I directed a Bill to be brought before the Legislative Council
to effect the amendments in the Ordinance No. 32of of 1867, "An
Ordinance to give to Mortagees certain powers now commonly
inserted in Mortgages," suggested in Your Grace's despatch No.
80 of the 13th November 1867. The Bill was thrown out
towards the end of the session. It now then rests with Your
Grace to determine whether the Ordinance No. 32 of 1867, which
contains a suspending clause, shall be brought into operation or not.
2. Having a slight feelingof of objection to the measure in its
present shape, I consulted the Executive Council as to the
nature of the advice I should tender to Your Grace on the subject.
The Attorney General was in favour of the Bill.
The Surveyor General was opposed to it.
The Collector of Customs said he knew nothing about it.
The Colonial Secretary was against the Bill, so was the Police
Magistrate ofNewNew Westminster. But neither supporters nor
opponents appeared to care much about the matter. It created
but little interest. If therefore it contains provisions
objectionable to Your Grace I do not see that the Ordinance
should be brought into operation.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient,
humble Servant. Frederick Seymour
Mr Elliot
The amendments which were suggested by HG have not been made,
and as the Ordinance gives a mortagee power to purchase—a power
which requires careful checks to be placed upon it to prevent
injustice being worked upon the mortgagor—and the Legislature
have not chosen to guard this power in the way suggested by the
Attorney General & approved by HG, I wd inform the Govr
that HG is not prepared to advise HM to sanction the Ordinance.
The result will be that the Ordce which has a suspending
clause will not come into operation. There does not seem to be
any strong feeling in favor of the Ordinance.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 76, 21 September 1868 informing Seymour that Ordinance No. 32 of 1867 will not receive Her Majesty's sanction and describing the negative impacts the ordinance would have on British Columbia without Buckingham’s recommended amendments.