Booth to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 31st Ultimo, transmitting copies of two Despatches
from the Governor of British Columbia calling attention to
the urgent necessity for the erection of Lighthouses in Fucas
Straits, and the approaches to the Harbour of Esquimalt, and
stating that as the Colonial Office cannot apply to Parliament
for a grant of money for these necessary public works and as the
Colony has not at present the means of paying for them, Sir E.B.
Lytton is desirous of being informed whether My Lords cannot
include the required Lighthouses within "the class of Imperial
Lights," and give the Colony some assistance towards their
erection out of the funds placed at their disposal for such services.

In reply My Lords direct me to state that, whilst there
can be no doubt of the importance of the proposed Lights,
they are required for the Trade of the Colony, and not, as
in the case of the Lights in the Bahamas and elsewhere, for
the Trade which merely passes the Colony.

Under these circumstances they are Lights which should,
My Lords think, if practicable, be erected and maintained
by and at the cost of the Colony rather than the Home Government.

But even if the Lights in question could be said to
belong to the class of Imperial Lights, i.e. of Lights which
the Home Government is bound to erect or maintain for the
purposes of the general passing Trade, their Lordships could
still have no funds at their disposal out of which to erect
or maintain them.

The only funds out of which My Lords can pay the
expenses of Colonial Lights are first, sums raised by levying
Tolls under the Act 18 & 19 Vict: c. 91, and secondly,
sums voted by Parliament.

The present case does not appear to be one in which it
is desirable to levy Tolls under the Act in question, since
the only Trade which would pay the Tolls is the Trade of
the Colony and the Colony can itself, if so disposed, levy
Tolls on account of the Lights in its own Ports.

And as regards monies voted by Parliament it is to be
observed that the only votes are votes taken by the Treasury
on the responsibility of this Department for the services of
special Lighthouses mentioned in the votes.

If, notwithstanding the fact that these Lights cannot
be classed as Imperial Lights, the circumstances of the
Colony of British Columbia are such as to make it proper
that these Lights should be erected with Imperial instead
of Colonial Funds, those circumstances are matters within
the cognizance of the Colonial Office rather than of this
Department; and if it is thought right that a vote for the
purpose should be taken by the Treasury, the vote should
My Lords think be taken on the responsibility of the Colonial
Office, and the application to the Treasury for the
purpose should be made by that Office.

If it should be decided to take a vote for the purpose My Lords
will be glad to give their best advice and assistance in the matter.

At the same time they could not without obtaining further
local information state with accuracy and certainty what the
expense to be incurred in the Colony in erecting these Lights will be.

A copy of a further memorandum by Captain Sulivan, R.N.
on the character and probable cost of these Lights is
enclosed for Sir E.B. Lytton's information.