No. 20

Great inconvenience is Experienced in dealing with the postal
arrangements both in this Colony and in British Columbia in
consequence of our not being provided with Colonial Postage
Stamps. Checks cannot be applied to guard against fraud without
inconvenience, delay and expensive machinery; and indeed so long
as the prepayment of postage is made in coin no check or
supervision is really effectual.

2. Partly to correct the evil we have hitherto employed the
Postage Stamps of the United States, but for obvious reasons the
use of them in a British Colony should not be continued longer
than really necessary.

3. I am therefore induced to apply to you with the hope that
you will kindly issue the necessary directions that we may be
supplied with Stamps from Her Majesty's Stamp Office, designed
to serve both for Vancouver's Island and British Columbia. The
expense, which I understand would not be heavy, we would gladly
repay, and the plates could remain in England so that a fresh
supply of Stamps could be obtained when the first stock was
exhausted.

4. To lessen expense we propose to have only one description of
Stamp, of the value of Two Pence Halfpenny and of such design as
may be deemed most fit by those competent to judge. A rough
sketch is forwarded herewith.

5. We would ask for a Thousand Sheets of Stamps as a first
supply, presuming there will be about 240 in each Sheet,

*

and if the Post Office Authorities in England would kindly permit
a supply of about Three Dozen obliterating Dies, with a
proportion of Ink & Boxes, to accompany the Sheets, it would add
greatly to the benefit conferred upon the Colonies, and would
increase the obligations we should feel.