No. 125

I have had the honor to receive Your Lordship's Circular
Despatch of the 1st August, calling my attention to Earl
Granville's Circular of the 12th July 1869 and the instructions
therein contained on the subject of certain Returns relative to
Hospitals and Lunatic Asylums.

2. The Despatch referred to was received here before I assumed
the Government. It was not brought specially to my notice; and
I regret that it altogether escaped my observation as being
unanswered, amidst the pressure of other business on my first
arrival.

3. With reference to Your Lordship's recent Circular of 1st
August I have lately called for Reports upon the condition of
the Hospitals. The Report upon that at Barkerville in Cariboo
has not yet been received. When that is obtained I shall
endeavour to furnish the required Returns; but the circumstances
of a Colony like this render it so impossible to comply with
regulations easily established in older and more populous
Colonies that I fear the particulars I may be able to furnish
will be of little value.

4. There is no Lunatic Asylum in the Colony.