Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Sclater Booth, G. to Adderley, Charles Bowyer 30 March 1868, CO 60:34, no. 3274, 366.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Sclater Booth informs the Colonial Office that the Treasury has approved the revenue and expenditure estimates for 1866 and 1867 and the appropriation ordinances no.13 and no.27 of 1867. Sclater Booth discusses the measures British Columbia’s government is expected to make to bring expenditures within the bounds of the revenue.
Cox’s minute summarizes the despatch from the Treasury and relates the impact of British Columbia’s financial difficulties on the governing process on the colony. Rogers’s minute suggests how to correspond with Seymour regarding Sclater Booth’s despatch.
Sclater Booth to Under-Secretary of State
Treasury Chambers
30th March 1868
Sir,
The Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had
before them your letter of the 19th ulto enclosing copies of
two Despatches from the Governor of British Columbia; the first
enclosing the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1867 and
the Appropriation Ordinance No 13 1867, and the second, the
SupplementaryEstimates
Estimates for 1866 with an ordinance No 27, 1867.
Estimates for 1866 with an ordinance No 27, 1867.
I am to state, for the information of the Secretary of State,
that adverting to the date at which these Estimates have been
submitted to this Board—it appears to My Lords that there is no
alternative but to signify their approval of them.
They observe with regret that the same sum is inserted for
repayment ofTemporary
Temporary Loans as that specified in the estimates
of 1866—and, although some explanation is afforded in the
Report of the Assistant Colonial Secretary (which is
enclosed)—from the financial difficulties which have resulted
from the union of the two Colonies—they trust that the
Secretary of State will call the attention of the Governor to
the extreme importance of bringing the Expenditure within the
Revenue—andthat
that that officer should be urged to make further
reductions in salaries and other items of expenditure so as to
relieve the Colony from this temporary liability.
Temporary Loans as that specified in the estimates
of 1866—and, although some explanation is afforded in the
Report of the Assistant Colonial Secretary (which is
enclosed)—from the financial difficulties which have resulted
from the union of the two Colonies—they trust that the
Secretary of State will call the attention of the Governor to
the extreme importance of bringing the Expenditure within the
Revenue—andthat
that that officer should be urged to make further
reductions in salaries and other items of expenditure so as to
relieve the Colony from this temporary liability.
With this understanding My Lords will not refuse their assent to
the Estimates vizt:
Revenue $675,350
Expenditure 701,710 to the Ordinance No 13 Mar 11 1867, appropriating the sum of $566,658.30 for the year 1867, and to the OrdinanceNo 27
No 27 Apr
2, 1867 appropriating a further sum of $96,918.11 for the
service of the year 1866.
Revenue $675,350
Expenditure 701,710 to the Ordinance No 13 Mar 11 1867, appropriating the sum of $566,658.30 for the year 1867, and to the OrdinanceNo 27
No 27 Apr
2, 1867 appropriating a further sum of $96,918.11 for the
service of the year 1866.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
The Estimates for 1867 must be sanctioned & also the Supplementary ones for 1866—& the two Appropriation Ordinances must be confirmed.
The Estimates for 1867 must be sanctioned & also the Supplementary ones for 1866—& the two Appropriation Ordinances must be confirmed.
The Financial state of B. Columbia is in abeyance—& it appears
from letters from Govr Seymour to the two leading Representative
Members of the Council (the letters are in a newspaper of Jany)
that Govr Seymour does not intend to call the Council together
until he receives some important financial despatches from the
D. of Buckingham which he is expecting. The result is that
whatever payments are being made out of the local Ty are being
made without Estimate, Vote of Council or Appropriation
Ordinance. Whether Govr Seymour would proceed with his
Estimates on the receipt of His Grace's
despatch of the 14 Dec. remains to be seen. But I should think
not. The postal question is also in abeyance.
CC
1 April
I wd send this out and request a definite report upon the
retrenchments wh have been made in order to meet the
difficulties of the Colony, and the periods at [which] they were
made—whether by way of reducing salaries & offices, or by way
of stopping public works, and also the steps wh have been taken
to increase the Revenue either by imposing fresh Taxes or by
providing for their better collection.
they were
made—whether by way of reducing salaries & offices, or by way
of stopping public works, and also the steps wh have been taken
to increase the Revenue either by imposing fresh Taxes or by
providing for their better collection.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 22, 10 April 1868 conveying “Her Majesty's confirmation and allowance of the Ordinances in question,”
transmitting “a letter from the Lords Commissoners of the Treasury,” and requesting reports on how Seymour is reducing expenditures and increasing the revenue of British Columbia.