No. 64, Military

I have the honor to enclose herewith copy of a letter
addressed to me by Colonel Moody R.E. asking for the remission
of the sum of One Hundred and five pounds (£105), passage money,
required from Sergeant McColl R.E. on account of the conveyance
of his Wife and Family to this Colony.

2. The circumstances of the case are shortly these.
Sergeant McColl was sent to British Columbia with the first
party of Royal Engineers viâ Southampton and Panama. His Wife
and Family were to have followed him in the Troop Ship carrying
the bulk of the Detachment viâ Cape Horn. Ill health prevented
her availing herself of the opportunity; and a passage was
obtained for her, afterwards, together with certain other
women of the Detachment, by the Emigration board under the
sanction and direction of the Secretary of State, the movement
originating in an application made by Colonel Moody, and which
is adverted to in the Secretary of State's Despatch addressed to
me, and dated 21st July 1860, No 43.

3. In a further Despatch dated 11th August 1860, No 46,
the Secretary of State informs me that "the Secretary of State for
War will be consulted as to the propriety, under the circumstances
of allowing the wife and family of Sergeant McColl to be sent
to the Colony at the Public Expense," but I am not aware as to
the decision that was arrived at in the matter; and I therefore
have now informed Colonel Moody that I do not feel at liberty
to authorize the course he recommends, but that I will represent
the case to Your Grace.

4. Viewing the case in all its bearings I am inclined to
submit that, if the passage of Mrs McColl and Family would have
been at the public expense in the first instance, it might
fairly be borne by the public now; or at all events that
Sergeant McColl should only be required to repay the excess, if any,
existing between the cost of the passage by the Troop Ship, and
by the Ship which ultimately brought his family.