No. 25

In reply to your Despatch No 14 of the 2nd of September 
*

transmitting copy of a letter which you addressed to Colonel Moody on the
subject of granting land, on certain conditions to the Non Commissioned
Officers and men of the Royal Engineers who are to be employed in British 
Columbia, and instructing me to report to you my opinion whether it would
be desirable to grant
remissions

on the purchase of land—to retired Officers of the Army and Navy, as was
formerly the custom in many of the British Colonies—I have the honor to
state, that without having had opportunities of acquiring information on
the subject of your Despatch, I am strongly biased in favor of extending
the system of locating retired Officers of the Army and Navy in British 
Columbia, and of making grants to the men of the Royal Engineers, of
small portions of agricultural land, on condition of residence and
military service within the Colony, if called upon.

2. I think it especially desirable to introduce the remission
system into British Columbia, for the purpose of adding a respectable
British element to the population, and thereby infusing and encouraging
sentiments of attachment and loyalty to the Crown. I think the
advantages greatly outweigh any inconvenience that may in future arise to
the Colony from the introduction of the system, seeing as suggested in
your Despatch, that the privilege of granting remissions on the purchase
of land to retired officers, might for a time be secured to Military
settlers, even should the Crown lands be hereafter made over to the
Colony.

3. I now submit a list of the officers for civil situations
immediately required in the New Colony—feeling assured however, that
circumstances will soon render it necessary to allow a complete civil
staff.

4. Mr Begbie will as you have so kindly arranged lend his
general aid for the compilation of the necessary laws and other legal
business, properly coming within the range of duties discharged by the
Attorney General, but as he cannot engage in conducting suits on the part
of the Crown; it is obvious that the appointment of a Law Officer for the
Crown is immediately required. I would thus suggest the following
appointments

An Attorney General

A Colonial Secretary

A "
Treasurer

**

A "
Accountant

***

The pay of those officers must necessarily be regulated by the expense of
living in the Colony. A gentleman may live in England on an income of
£1000 a year, with far more comfort than an income of £1800 would command
in this Country.

5. As the Attorney General and Colonial Secretary will
hold offices which should be filled by gentlemen of the best
education and ability, I think that such men may not be disposed
to accept of a less valuable appointment and perhaps the
Treasurer,

****

who will have to find heavy securities, may be included in the
same category.

6. The pay of the Accountant may be regulated by the pay
allowed to the higher appointments, and probably about
£700 a year, may be considered a fair compensation for that official.

7. I will take the liberty of addressing you further
on the wants of the Colony as they occur.

8. The want of efficient assistance, the multiplicity of the duties
devolving on me, and the journeys I have been compelled to make into the
gold regions—for the enforcement of law and order—must plead my excuse
for not addressing you more frequently on the affairs of the Colony,
though the reports of my two journeys to Fraser's River, embody almost
the whole amount of reliable information that can yet be given in respect
to the value and extent of the gold fields.

I will however hereafter prepare a brief report on that subject by
every mail.