Julyan to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

In accordance with the instructions contained in your
letter to Mr Barnard of the 2nd
Instant,

I have now the honor to enclose estimates, amounting to £223, for
Commissariatsupplies for
Lithographic presscost of
the Mill gear and Lithographic Press, ordered by you on the
requisition of Captn Gosset the Treasurer of British Columbia.

These estimates have been obtained from Mr Fenn of Newgate
St

agreeably to Captain Gosset's suggestion, and they exceed by £23 the sum
authorized by your letters; but as Mr Fenn is not himself a maker of
Fenn, Mr.
Mill Machinery we may in all probability obtain it at less cost by going
direct to the manufacturer. I do not therefore write this with the view
of obtaining your sanction for the disbursement of the small additional
sum, but I feel called upon to point out what I consider the uselessness
of complying with that part of the demand which refers to the "Skeleton
gear of a powerful Water Wheel."

There are many varieties of the Water Wheel, both as regards size,
or power, and description. There is the Overshot, Undershot, Horizontal
&c, varying from 3 to 76 feet in diameter, but the requisition gives us
no idea of the fluid or size wanted in this instance, and I should infer
that Captain Gosset was himself in ignorance as to the requirements of
Gosset, Capt. William D.inappropriateness of requisition
the locality where the operation of sawing is to be carried out. Under
these circumstances I most respectfully submit that it will be a mere
waste of money to send out the Skeleton of a powerful wheel. I have had
some experience with Saw Mills in the Backwoods of America and I never
heard of the slightest difficulty occuring in getting a Water Wheel made
on the spot by an ordinary Carpenter, (that most commonly used is a small
horizontal wheel made almost entirely of wood) nor is there any
difficulty to be apprehended, in my opinion, in getting a similar wheel
made in British Columbia, if it be really required.

It occurs to me however that the Steam Carriage
(Boydell's)

Steam carriageunsuitability of for BC
already sent you with the Detachment of Royal Engineer's, and which most
practical men agree in thinking will not answer the purpose it was
intended for, in a new Country without roads; (it was found most
difficult to keep it in working order in Woolwich Yard) might with little
or no ingenuity be profitably employed to drive the Circular Saws which
Captn Gosset requires; and the adoption of this plan would entirely
supersede the use of Water power. But under no circumstances would it
appear necessary to send out the "Skeleton Wheel. I would therefore
submit for your consideration whether it will not be better to furnish
such things only as cannot be made on the spot, vizt Saws, Axles,
Pullies, and Driving Bands, with the Tools generally used in working
a Saw Bench, and a Lithographic Press.

I should have had some hesitation in making this proposal were it
Anderson, John
not that my views are acquisced in, and fortified by the opinion of,
Mr Anderson the Inspector of Machinery at the Royal Arsenal, a
practical Engineer of high standing to whom I referred the question and
whose reply is herewith enclosed.