No. 43

I have had under my consideration the copies of three letters of
the dates noted in the Margin,

*

which have been addressed to you by Colonel Moody, requesting
that some assistance may be given to the Wives and Children and also the
intended Wives of certain non Commissioned Officers and men belonging to
the detachment of Royal Engineers to enable them to join their husbands
&c in British Columbia.

No report having reached this office from you on this subject, I
request that you will inform me whether this application

meets with your
approval. I observe that Colonel Moody states that the men understand
that the Colony shall not be put to any expense on account of the
transmission of the Women; and that arrangements can be made for the
repayment to Her Majesty's Government by monthly stoppages from the
Men's pay of the amount which it will be necessary to advance in this
Country to defray the charge of the voyage. If you think that the Women
should be sent out, the Men should be required to sign an undertaking to
repay the expenses incurred and should state in writing that, if their
wishes are complied with, they intend to remain in British Columbia
after their discharge from the service. If I learn that the project
obtains your

approval, I shall take immediate steps for complying with
the recommendation of Colonel Moody.