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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 jn RETURN TO ADDRESS. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND Mb. T. C. DUPONT, OR ANY OTHER PARTIES, WITH REFERENCE TO HIS INSPECTION or rni CUSTOMS ST^TIOISrS MTWIIK VICTORIA AND KOOTENAY w 1876; WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND REPORT. |rlnte4 bg (®rdcr of Jarlianwnt. OTTAWA: PRIMTCD ' MAOLBAN ROOBR A CO., WBLLmOTON 8TRBBT, 1877. RETURN 1^ va Adpbesb of the House of Commons, dated i2th March, 18*7*7 ; — For copies of all correspondence between the Government and Mr. T. 0. Dnpont, or any other partiea, with reference to his inspection of the several Customs Stations between Victoria and Kootenay in 1876; also, copy of instructions to Mr. Dnpont, as well as his report on his return. By command. DErA.BTJyiENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, Ottawa, 28th March, 1877. R. W. SCOTT, Secretary of State. 5th November, 1875. Sir, — ^I am instructed by the Minister of Customs to enclose to you tbti files of this Department, Noe. 3361, 1874, and 465 and 2264, 1815, and to request you to proceed to Kootenay as soon as jx>88iblc, and make an investigation into the business of that out^port. ' You will endeavour to ascertain the general correctness or othenvise of Mr. Sub- Collector Soelye's accounts, and specially as to the justice of his claims for contingent expenses which have not yet been allowed him, details of which you will find in Piles Nos. 3351, 1874; and 465, 1875. You will also report upon his application for leave of absence, giving particulars of the state of his bodily health; and, in connection therewith, your views as to the neceosities and moans of supplying his place during his absence, with any particulars which your own judgment will suggest as being impoi-tant in the interests of the i-evenue at that locality. I have obtained the sanction of Mr. Commissioner Brunei to your undertaking this mission. I am. Sir, Your obedient servant (Signed) I C. T. DupoNT, Esq., Inspector of Inland Eevenue, Victoria, B.C. 133— IJ JOHNSON, Commissioner of Custonu. UZiVM) Ottawa, Ist February, 1876. Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 4th Dec^ explaining the difficultieH, &o., in the way of your visiting Kootcnay, and requesting an advance of $600 on account of travelling expenaen. I am now instructed by the Minister of Customs to enclose to you the desired cheque, and to request you to make the trip subservient, as far as possible, to the bouineHH of both Departments, visiting any Customs or Bxcise Stiitions that you can take on your route, and making a Atlf inspection of the business transacted at each. You will, please, in rondoring your account for expenses, keep in view the relative proportion which should be boi'ne by each Department, ns Mr. Commissioner Brunei Las consented to the division of such expenses accoixling to the service performed. 1 am also to inclose file 265, ISIS, being ^ ••onowalof the claim of the officer at OfloyooH Lake for repairs of house occupied by him. You will please report upon tho necessity of the case, and also upon tho roasonablenos^t or otherwise of tho itiems of the account, with such information reH])ecting the out-post us you may judge useful to this Department. I am. Sir, Your obedient servant, C. T. Ddpont, Esq., (Signed) J. JOHNSON. Inspector of Inland Bevenue, Victoria, B.C. Victoria, B.C., 3rd March, 1876. Sir, — I have the honour of acknowledging tho receipt of your communication, No. 1, of the first ultimo, containing file 253, 1876 and Departmental cheque for six hundred dollars, being an advance on account of travelling expenses. I propose to leave this place about the 20th of April, which will be as early as the condition of the country will admit of travelling, except under great difficulties, and which will enable mo to reach Kootenay by or before the season opens for tho conveyance of goods or stock from across tho boundary into British Columbia. On my route I shall pass through New Westminster and can take in Burrai-d Inlet and, in accordance with your instructions, " to visit any Customs Station that I can take on my route and make a full inspection of the business transacted at each " I shall inspect at those places. 1 would rospoctfuUy request that the Collector of Customs .it this port, Mi*. Hawley, be certified of any instructions to do this duty and requested to give mo Buch information and assistance as I may require. From reliable information I have received, I believe Mr. Sub-Collector Seelye's state of health to bo such us to render him quite incapable of discharging his duties, and that it will be imperative that a temporary appointment of some person be immediately made for tne protection of the revenue, pending a permanent appointment being made. I am uleo led to believe that, to bo of any avail in restoring his health or oven saving his life, Mr. Scclye should come out to whoi'c he can obtain medical assistance tho moment travelling is possible. So long a time must elapse before my report cnn reach you and bo acted upon, that I would respectfully suggest that authority be given me to act both in respect to Mr. Seelye's leave of absence, and the temporary appointment of some person to fill his position, as tho emergency of the case may require. There should be just about time for a reply to this letter to roach me before my ' depai'turo, your letter, now acknowledged, having been an exceptional time on the way in consequence of snow blockades on the railroad. I have the honour to be, Sir, To J. Johnson, Esq., Your obedient servant, Commissioner of Customs, (Signed) C. T. DUPONT, Ottawa. Inspector of Inland Revenue. \ 1876*. If 4th Dec, roqueHtin^ Ithe desired lible, to the lat j'ou can rod at each, the relative ker Brunei Irformed. pho officer at )rt upon tho- 10 items of judge useful NSON. 1, 1876. mttnication, ique for six as early as t difficulties, ons for tho nmbia. On d Inlet and, I can take Jh" I shall 8 port, Mr. '{ to give mo :tor Seelye's his duties, I person be ippointment : his health ain medical icted upon, I in respect > person to > before my ; time on the i evenue. i Ottawa, 31st March 187G. Sib, — In reyly to your lettnr of the 3ni inst. I bo;? leave to inform you that you are authorized to allow Mr. Soelye ioavo of absence for the purpose of looking after his health, and to place Mr. Wm. Fernie, of Wild Hoi-ae Creek, in charge during that officer's absence. Mr. Pernio is constable at Kootonay, but it is reprosonted that ho can attend to the Customs work. , I am, Sir, "lour obedient servant, (Signed) J. JOHNSON. C. T. DcpoNT, Esq., Victoria, B. C, Cfnada. Victoria, B. C, 8th July, ls76. Sib, — I have the honour to report that, in accordance with instructions contained in your lettoraNo. 1 of the 5th Nov., 1875, and No. 1 of tho 1st Fob. 1876, I left this city on the 28th April last for Kootonay to " make a full inspection of the Cuh- " toms business transacted at that place and all tho stations that 1 could take on my " way to it." The reasons which prevented any earlier compliance with your instructions have been given in my communications of December 1st, 1875, or M!arch 3ixJ, 1876. I returned to this city on the 28th ultimo, having occupied two months in making the trip, and since my return I have visited Now Westminster a second time to complete my inspection of that out-port. The outporls and stations that I have visited are New Westminster, Burrard Inlet, Osoyoos Lake and Kootenay, these being all, with the exception of Fort Shephei"d, that I was enabled to take on the way to Kootonay. The reason for my not Doing able to visit Fort Shepherd is given on page No. 16 of this Eoport. As you have already been made aware by Mi-. Collector Hambly, Mr. Sub-Col- lector Seelyo died at the Custom House, Kootenay on the 28th March last. The files enclosed in your letter of the 5th Nov. relating to certain oxponsos incurred by the late Mr. Soolyo I return in a separate special report. I reached Kootonay on Satui-day the 27th of May and found Mrs. Seelyo in charge of the office. Prior to the decease of her husband she had discharged the duties of the office. (Tho late Mr. Seelyo having been both mentally and physically so great a sufferer aa to render him incapable of doing any work) and up to the date of my visit bho had continued to attend to Customs matters. I have occasion further on to remark upon certain irregularities permitted at this out-port — permitted before the late Mr. Seelye was appointed, and from inexperience on his part and want of instructions allowed by him to continue. I therefore feel that I should also state that Mrs. Seelye has boon most conscientious in discharging her duties, and attended to them with zeal under afflictions and circumstances of tho most trying character. She is particularly qualified and competent (with instructions) to fill satisfactorily such positions as may be open in the Civil Service to her sex. On my arrival at Kootenay, I sent for Mr. W. Firnie, whose place of residence (Wild Horse Creek) was fifteen miles from the Custom House, and on the 1st June placed him temporarily in charge of tho business of this out-port, in accordance with authority contained in your letter. No. 2, of the Slst March last. I would respectfully report that the duties of constable (the office held by Mr. Firnie under tho local Government) are incompatible with those of the sub-collector of Customs. The constable is required to live at the miniig camp of Wild Hoj-se Creek, fifteen miles from the Custom House at St. Joseph's Prairie ; and although by building a new CuHtomHouHO at Wild Homo Creek, this difficulty could be overcome, the more serious one, namely, that the constable has to execute warrants and summonseH in an exten- sive district, and may ft'equently be away fur days at a time, would interfere seriously with his attention to Customs biu«inesH. If, however, even this objection could be provided for, the Pi-ovincial Government seem to be opposed to such a combination of oiBcee, for on the rumour that Mr. Firnie had been appointed, and before it was possible for any communication on the subject to have reached the proper authority, Jlr. Firnie's successor as constable was appointed and dispatched to assume the duties of that position. Mr. Fimio has, therefore, coasetl to hold any offl(!o imder the Provincial Government. He appears to me to be a competent and suitable person for the position of sub-Collector at Kootenay the non-keeping of proper Dooki', insufficiency of information in those kept, method of taking entries, and balance of any document, or copy ot entry by ' >h the books could be checked, was a feature common to each of tne stations I visited, I will i-oport gonorally upon these iiTegu- laritios farther on, and, to avoid repotiticn in dealing separately with an out-port, refer only to those matters which are special to it. At Kootenay I found that pack trains, with goods, were permitted to pass on into the country, and the goods to bo distributed to the importers, and allowed to go into consumption without payment of duty, or without a bond of any description being taken. The packer simply reported at the Custom IIouso, and the owners of the goods made entries and paid duties when placed in sufficient funds from the sale of the goods. Mrs. Seelye and others informed mo that this was the practice before the late Mr. Seelye took charge at this outrport, and when duties were collected bv the Colonial Government, and Mrs. Seelye stated that it had the sanction of Collector Hnmloy, as on Mr. Seelye attempting at one time to collect duty in advance of deliveiy of goods, a trader named Montgomery, at Pevov Creek, wrote a formal complaint to Collector Hamley, who, in writing, replied to him to the effect that he bad given Mr. Seoljo no instructions to discontinue the old credit system and to enforce prepayment of duty (which as a matter of fact Mrs. Seelye says he never had) and that consequently, and for want of the moral support of his superior officer, he, Seelye, had been unable to collect duties at the proper time. One conseauence of this system was that goods were soatterad about the country or consumea without previous comparison with invoice or appraisement, and from what I observed I think it almost certain that false entries wore frequently made. Neither the original nor copies of invoices were left at the Custom House, and of coui-se no invoices waa ever forwarded with entry to ihe Collector at Victoria, who indeed must have taken the correctness of all returns and entries sent him from all the out-ports for granted, AS in no case have invoices, or any date by which entries fVom outr ports cc >M be checked, been forwarded. I specially instructed Mr. Firnie that the practice of giving credit for duty must cease — that whether " ex warehouse " or ex pack train, duties must be paid before goods were allowed to pass out of his custody. That he must obtain original invoices and check goods by them, using his best judgment (in his isolate-i position, it being impossible to obtain the assistance of appraisei-s) in determining whether correct values were given, and that he must forward the original invoices, with duplicate entries, to the Collector at Victoria, and file a third copy at his station. At Kootenay goods have b< en considered a*- bonded without any entry for ware- bouse having been taken, or without any crown lock upon door of warehouse. The key of the only lock on door being kept by the owner of the goods aud warehouse. Simply because certain warehouses haU been accepted and used as bonded warehouses anterior to this Province having entered Confederation, it was considered that goods were bonded if placed in them, and that the duty was secured by virtue of general bonds given years ago, some of the pai-ties to which have become insolvent or left the countiy. From time|to time the owner of the goods made " Ex Warehouse Entries " for duty, one copy of which was forwarded to the Collector of Victoria, who does not seem to have required that a " for warehouse " entry should have been taken. I these war no wareh Custom II ofm^ ^ over to 1. aAid to c'. {rn%n hm i •' • ehou;. I lull instr' • recur reT<» i '' Olu \ Thevo ri I raxa\)b at I turerspt from tne j women ( ' persons, 111 Britis ranges o by the I , of Wild easy acci • through a couatr drawn o and pi*o' nothing ; of gold 1 compete its creei The Cue ■ should I { at any i , to this d ! In; report i Haynes Mr been sei of offlo< ; V/Soyoo is an in of duty referen could b the dut \ copy ol filed at invoice them. Fc acting retunii Colvill Britisl This 8] more serious in an exten- Jro H«rioueljr ■on could be nbination of foro it was or autborltv, aHsunte toe under the table person roper booki', id balance of rns a feature 1680 iiTegu- an out-port, to pass on Mowed to go description le owners of i-om the sale bro the late cted bv the of Collector advance oif >te a formal lect that he K«tem and to le nerer had) r officer, he, isequence of nod without ived I think the original invoices wa« have taken for granted, [ts CO ;'d W ice of giving ;i'ain, duties in|^ his best ^sistance of it he must ictoria, and y for ware- i louse. The j warehouse, warehouses I that goods I of general I ^ont or left I Warehouse j Jtoria, who I have been t taken. In the absence of any invoice or "for warehou«e" entry, by which means these wurehourte transactions were checked I am at a loss to conceive. There being no warehouse book, uor invoice, nor copy of entry " for" or " Ex Warehouse " ut the Cu-tlonri House at Kootenay, I could not check in any way these matters. At the time ofm^ > ott a trader warned Elixa F. Hicks, owning one of those wai-ehouses, sent over to \. < Custom House and made an ex warehouse entry and paid duty which waa said to c'uar the warehouse, and which Mrs. Soelyo said was correct, as she knew fmin i*n informal book sho had kept. I visited Wild Horso Creek and examined the " ' ebouL^, but, UA T expe^.ted, foun'l the goods already rk kept in lieu of the warehouse book, the following packages of goods short by actual stock taking : — In Mr. Holbrook's warehouse, four cases ale (three dozen cacli) and six cases of brandy. In Mr. lii-own's warohou«e, three chests of tea, three cases old tora gin, six cases brandy, ^o explanation could Ije offered as to how or when those goods had boon removed from the warehouse without any entry having been made ; but it is, no doubt, due to the latitude allowed (not alone at New WestminsttM-) to merchants. The owners expressed their readiness to make entries and pay duty. At the time of my visit, a Mr. Fisher was in default for duties on goods obtained " ex wurohouso " by him nearly two months previously. Having in the meantime become insolvent, he could not pay the amount (although small, of S187.66) and Mr. Sub-Collector Lowe stated that he would himself pay the amount without any further «g, raooessfal in 18, entries of tion at Fort where the This would )k tnules and ty upon the nited States iffect of this he has had lis goods, to him. As packer has lad to enter irtation from ext trip into importation. of animals, ipon them I , and beff to collected on the packer upon it, in consumer of 1 any official ■eceived any this out-port irehouse, or ermine what n, and the qualities or )y had been houses were I bond, xMr. ies, I found a yeare since, 8 Act, and warehouse " warehouse," i ownei-s to ie book, the \ six oases of < j in, six cases j s had boon ' It it is, no \ merchants. ds obtained ) meantime 16) and Mr. iny further j ! delay. Mr. Lowe forwards the duties collected at JJew Wesminster to Mr. Collector Hamley, weekly, but does not send any copy of entry or return until the end of each month; when he does send entry, he does not forward with it the invoice, and as a rale, the affirmation or oath, if signed at all (on back entry), is sio^ed in blank even as to date. There is a mail twice a week from New Westminster to Victoria, and I would respectfully recommend that all entries received, accompanied by invoice, as well as duties collected, should be forwarded by each mail. I could not, from the absence of information in books, the non-iiling at Westminster of a copy of any entry paper, check the correctness of transactions at this out-])ort. I visited the station at Burrai-d's Inlet, which by Oi"dcr in Council of Ist May, 1874, is made a poi'tion of the out-port of New Westminster. Mr. Collector Hamley has, however, removed it from being under Mr. Sub-Collector Liwe's survey and instructed Mr. Landing Waiter Clarkson to report direct to him at Victoria. Burrard's Inlet is only 9 miles from New Westminster, and there is a daily stage and mail between the two places. I would respectfully report that a more efficient survey of the station at Burrard's Inlet could be had by its remaining apart of, and making returns through the out-port of New Westminster, then by its lieing constituted .-i sepamte ou^port. There are at Bnrrara's Inlet two extensive lumbering establishments, and a number of vessels are annually entered there. There is at present no office for the Customs, and much inconvenience is caused by parties having to seek the officer at his house. I would respectfully g-ecommend that he be authorized to rent an office. A suitable one could be obtained for a rental of from %h to $7.50 per month. The remarks made as to informality of books kept and absence of information, or entries on file, in respect to the places I have already mentioned, apply also to Burrard Inlet. Before starting on my tour of inspection T addressed a fetter to Mr. Collector Hamley, of which I enclose a copy. To it, as to other communications I have made him, I received no reply whatever, and was therefore unaided by any sug- gestion or information from him. I have to supposj that he is satisfied with the form and manner in which Customs business is transacted. To me it appoai-s that there is no check whatever upon the officer, but that the solo dependence is upon his honom*. Entries " for duty" are taken only in duplicate, general!}' in hand writing of officer and without oath or affirmation of owner. No entry of particulars is made in any book at out^port. One copy of entry accompanied by invoice is forwarded to the Collector at Victoria, and the other copy is retained and carried away by the importer. Nothing is filed at the out-port and there is nothing by which an inspect- ing officer can check the correctness of the business done. How any chock is exer- cised by the Collector at Victoria I cannot perceive. Nothing would be easier than for an officer to withhold al together forwai-ding certain entries and to retain the duty, or to substitute an entry for the one taken, changing the date by which for long Eeriods he might retain the duty. I have no s.ispicion that anything of tlio kind has een done, and I have great confidence in the officer of the Department, notwltstand- ing, I feel it my dnty to remark upon the want of system evident. In respect to the method of taking entries and dealing with warohousos, the out- ports have only done what is permitted at the chief port of Victoria, at which place two copies of entry are taken, one of which is returned to the party making it, signed for the Collector, instead of a delivery order, and which, instead of being given to the landing waiter or locker, is retained. Without further authority, in the absence of a locker or anj' officer, goods have been taken and delivered, ex-warehouse, by the wiirchousemon, the entry paper signed by the Collector not being retained by the warehouseman, or over seen by the locker. It follows, as a matter of courej, that owners of warehouses have access to them in the absence of any officer. So far as the officers at the out-ports are concerned, they appear to have fulfilled the requirements of Collector Hamley. To have attempted to nave established more system, would, in the absence of any authority to do so, have in me Imjou useless, and have led to a condict of authority with Mr. Hamley. 10 1 could only point out the irregularities to the officer, and urge strict complianoe with Departmental regulations. Your instructions being to make a full inspection of the business transacted at each station, and mine being the drat Customs inspection since Confederation, I have entered somewha-". minutely into particulars for your information. I have the honour to forward herewith a map of this Province, showing the position of the different Custom Stations, and the trails by which goods are brought in from adjacent portions of the United States. The ti-ail dotted r^ across the Shep* hei-d Mountains ceased to be travelled, as, in consequence of the height of Shepherd Mountain, the snow lies so deep and for so long a period of the year that only for a very short season could it be used ; and such a quantity of timber falls across th© track during the time it cannot be used, involving such labour in cutting it out that the more frequently travelled, although longer i-oute through Washington Territory and a portion of Idahoe, is pref^i*red. In consequence of the deep snow on the Hope Mountain at the season of my trip^ I was obliged to proceed via Yale per waggon road (marked yellow) to Kamloops, from whence I made the journey over traifmarked red vid Colville and Spookane on horseback, encountering the greatest freshets and highest waters that has been known b}' white settlers on this coast, greatly increasing the distance by the necessity for frequent detoui's. I returned to Victoria by way of the Columbia Eivor and Puget Sound, that route being the one by which I could most expeditiously get back. In all I travelled — by steamer and railway, 800 miles ; by stage, 475 miles ; on horseback, 1,022 miles. • I have the honour to be, Sir, Tour obedient servant, (Signed) C. T. DXJPONT, Acting Inspector of Guatomt. J. Johnson, Esq., Commissioner of Customs, Ottawa. »ng; Inland Revknub, District B.C., Victoria, 21st April, 1876* Sir, — I am instructed by the Commissioner of Customs to make a l:\ill inspection of the business of that branch of the public service at each of the out-ports and stations that I can take on my way to Kootenay. I propose to start from here in the discharge of this duty next Friday (the 28tb instant), and I beg to ask whether there are any matters to which you desire to call my attention, affecting the interests of the revenue, at any place I can take on my route. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) 0. T. DUPONT. W. Hahlkt, Esq., Collector of Customs, Victoria, B.C. iomplianoe nsacted at ion, I have owing the ■e brought the Shep- Shepherd only for a aci-oss the t out that Territory of my trip, Eamloops, )ookane on has been e necessity and Puget back. In horseback. tatoma. 1S19: inspection d stations (the 28tb ire to call ke on my )NT. ii Ottawa, August, 31st, 1876; Mr. Dupont authorised by letters fVom this Department, of 5th November, 1875, and Ist July, 1876, to pi-ocoed and make a full inspection of the Customn, at the oat- port of Kootenay and intermediate stations between Victoria and that place. From various causes, however, he did not start on the mission until the 28th April, follow- ing ; and he returned to Victoria on the 28th June, thus occupying a period of two months in the excui-sion. The bill now rendered for travelling expenses by Mr. Duport, amounts to a total of $1,321.36. This large bill embraces the expenses of a guide and two men to assist, with a considerable amount expended in the purchase of a horse and camp equipage. In Mr. Dupont's letter accompanying his account, he enters very fully into explanationof the various items of expenditure, and if all the appliances which he saw fit to call into requisition were absolutely essential to the journey, the under- signed thinks there will bo nothing extravagant in the charges made. The question is, however, whether such elaborate preparations and accompani- ments were nocessaiy for his pui-pose; this is doubtful, as he says himself that by choosing a proper season of the year, the same services could be performed for about the sum of $600, travelling expenses. The necessity, therefore, for more than one half the expenditure comprisetl in the account, seems to have arisen from his having started on the mission at an unfavourable time of the year. The necessities of the case, however, were urgent, — Mr. Seelye, the collector at Kootenay, was disabled by sickness, and actually died before the arrival of Mr. Dupont ; there were a number of important accounts unsettled in connection with the Customs there; and many questions which I'equired the presence of a competent Inspector at the different stations, in order that a proper explanation could be given to this department, enabling it to nndoi*stand the situation. The camp outfit proposed by Mr. Dupont appears to have cost nearly $200, and the horse $125, and Mr. Dupont reports that this outfit is on hand in good oi*der, and ready for future occasions, tne horse being placed oat at pasture for the purpose of recovery after the effects of the journey, preparatory to being sold. The undersigned, in view of all the facts ami circumstances respectfully recom- mends that Mr. Dupont's account be allowed. He having received an advance of $600, there remains due to him the sum of $721.36. But, in any future engagement, temporary or permanent, for services of this kind in British Columbia, ho thinks that the system of an adequate per diem allowance on the same principle as that in which inspectors in other provinces are paid for travelling expenses, would be a more judicious and economical arrangement than leaving the description of expenses to be inCtirred to the discretion of the gentlemen employed. Humbly submitted. (Signed) J. JOHNSON. To the Minister of Customs. Inspector's Office, Inland Ekvenue District of B. C. Victoria, 4th December, 1875. Sir, — Ihavethehonoar of acknowledging the receipt of your communication No. 1 of the 6th ultimo, enclosing files Nos. 3351 of 1874 and 465 and 2264 of 1875 of the Customs' Department, and instructing mo to proceed to Kootenay and make an investigation into the business of that out-port. I have delayed a few days acknowledging t ^ the receipt of your letter fo/the pur- pose of obtaining accurate information as "to The possibility of immediately procetiaing on my mission, the winter season having already set in with anufiual severity. I I 12 ii find by the nearest route (vid i*^ope on the Fraser Biver) the distance going and comine would be 1,640 miles, of which about 1,200 milea would have to Ira done on enow-flhoea over raoantains 4,000 and 5,000 feet in height, from 200 to 300 milea interveni^ig in places between any houaes or stopping places. Vid Portland, Oregon and the Golumbia Biver, the distance, though considerably greater, would be easier of aooomplishment, as there are atage routes to within about 260 miles of Kootenay, reducing the distance to be walked going and coming to 600 milea. I propoae, therefore, to go by this route as soon as the weather sufficiently settles to make it possible, the ezpenac in the end not being greater than via Hope, and the time occupied considerably less. At the shortest the journey will occupy nearly two months, and the moat econo* mical eatimate of the outlay involved is $600, for which amount I would request that a check to be accounted for may be sent over, as I hare not that amount of contin- gent funds in my possession. The journey in summer would be not much less expensive, guides being then equally necessary, and horses for packing, instead of men, as would be requisite now. On enquiry I find that the winter season puts an embargo on traffic across the southern boundary, and that the interest of the revenue will not be preiudiced by a short delay in my pi"0ceeding thither, nor could Mr. Sub Collector Seelye, however essential to his health, take advantage of my leave before summer, the dangers and difficulties of the journey being too great for an invalid to surmount. I believe, from information I have obtained, that it is highly desirable, however, that an inspection should be made at the earliest possible moment. At Osoyoos Lake, on the route to Kootenay, there is a Customs Officer, Sub- Collector Haynes, and if any inspection is desired at that out-port it could be made at the same time, and so avoid the very heavy expense which a separate visit, it required, would entail. I beg very respectfully to say in this oonnoction, that if generally authorized to make inspections of Customs out-ports, I coulQWmO^ OF CANADA. CXTSTOMB DePABTHINT, :^ooT«NAY, July 26th, 1874. J. T. Galbeaith k Bao.,— 0!r. Date. 1t«mi in Detail. Rate of each Article. cti. 1874. l|§re)> 16 i 'Ma hay Sept., '73, to| Julj, 1874 Ferriage, from Sept^S^r, 1973, to Ji)l^ let, 1874. < Oet., 1873 lUjr and June, 1874 Mmj 1 July 33 do 22 Ranching Oorernment horse one month .. do do two months . Shoeing ». 8 tons of hay ^ ton sheaf oats The amount of this claim reduced by two tons hay talien baclc Messrs. Galbraith ft Bros., at fSO per ton Amount due Messrs. J. T. Oalbraith k Bros. 2S 00 31 00 3 00 6 00 13 OO 100 09 50 00 217 00 100 00 117 00 Certified correct. (Signed) H. B. SE15LYB. Beceived fi-om 1(7.1118)11167 the above sum of two hundred and seventeen dollars. (Signed) JNO. T. GALBEAITH k Beo. KooTENAT, August 22nd, 18'74. Sir, — I regret to say that Mr. Galbraith's voucher that went down by the July mail was wi'ong, he having made h mistake in his bill for ranching by charging for my own horse as well as for the Government horse, and misunderstootl me about the quantity of hay. I was ill at tbo time and did not discover the misuike till after the mail left, when I pointed it out to him and made a correct voucher for $217, which I now send for approval, this being the first opportunity of sending out a letter since the mail left. Pleaac pay the amount of the voucher to W. C. Wai-d, Bank B.C. I have the honour to be W. Hamley, Esq., Collector of Customs. Your obedient servant, (Signed) H. E. SBBLYE. 1874. Gtl. 26 00 31 00 300 600 12 00 100 00 60 00 jYB. een dollare. Buo. , 1874. )y the July larging for 3 about the mail left, t now send :e the mail ILYE. 16 GOVERNMENT OP DOMINION OF CANADA. Clll70«|B DKPABTJIJUfT, Thomas Kkh,y,— (7r. Date. Items in Detail. Rate of eaeh Article. f «ts. March and Auril. 1B74 Tendinsr OoTernment hone two months «.... 30 00 Certified correct. Beceiyed from William Hamlej, Dollars. (Signed) H. E. SEELYE. the above sum of (Signed) THOMAS KELLY. CvsTOUs Dbpa&tmbnt, Ottawa, 12th November, 1814. Sib, — In acknowledging your letter of 22nd ultimo, with an account of Mr. Officer Seelye, of Kootenay, for expense of keeping Government horses, tic, I am to request you to institute further enquiry as to the usual prices of hay and oats in that locality, and also to what extent it is necessary to feed horses in that way. The prices named $50.00 per ton of hay, and sheaf oats appear to be excessive, under almost any cir- cumstanoes, but from the statements of the expressman as mentioned by you, the whole bill appears to be of a most extraordinary chai-acter, and certainly the De- partment cannot sanction its payment without further information. I am, Sir, Y^our obedient servant, (Signed) J. JOHNSON. Hon. W. Hamlet, Collector of Customs, Victoi'ia, B.C. Kootenay, 24th November, 1874. Sib, — I beg leave to call your attention to a letter I wrote you some four momths since, respecting Mr. Hamley's reftisal to allow me the expenses of my o^ce. If you would refer to that letter and have the kindness to instruct Mi. Hamley to allow my claims you would confer upon me a great favour. Mr. Ilamley referred a voucher for horse keeping to Ottaws, naying it was too large. The reason of its being larger this year than last is thin, there was not enough hay last year, and I had to get half a ton in the spring. Mr. Galbraith put that half ton in this year's voucher, and the horse will need as much this year as last. The voucher was paid last year and no notice given me of any intention not to keep a horse until I had provided for it this year. Hay and oats are very high, but I cannot get any cheaper. It would be much less expense to the Department to hire a horae than to keep one. Mr. Hamloy, this mail, points out a discrepancy in my account of May, IStS, of which I was not aware. I may have made a mistake in a landing warrant given to Mr. Montgomery and may have corrected it before sending a duplicate to Mr. Hamley, but 1 have no recollection of it now. If it can bo shown thai I have made a mistake I am willing to rectify it. I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, (Signed) The Hon. the Minister of Customs, Ottawa. H. E. SEKLYB. . KooTKNAY, B. C, 27th November, 18t4. Sir, — You will perhaps excuse mo for troubling you with my complaints when I explain. I am a farmer and traopar r>ii oC Htuvc wa Ir. Fornio will luiro. I wont [construction I nd tho charg fno a privatj liod that lio ha !eolyt)'n roque l"C'urtt<»in,s) ha nm:o that thij aim HO von wij >'t< making tb •espect. Thorj and with Ic tld rospoctlujj ce some repaid can cortify not attended i PONT, of CuMtoma. tl umbia tho su ■ claim again H & BRO. e 194.00 re. Thb Cubtoms Dbpabtmint, kootinat, To John T. GALnnAiTH & Bao., Dr. Twenty-three monthH ranching Government horse, from tho iBt July, 1874, to Ist June, 1876, at $3.00 per month.. $69 00 Ferriage, Ac, for 1875 8 00 KooTiNAT, Junejlst, 1876. $77 00 St. Joseph's Prairie, KooTENAT, May 31st, 1876. I am personally aware and hereby certify that the sum of sixty dollars was paid by the late H. E. Seelye, Collector of Customs at the port, to Wra. Coad for labour aod material used in constnicting a wood-shed for Custom House. (Signed) JOHN J. GALBRAITH, J. P., Kootenay District, GOVERNMKNT OF DOMINION OP CANADA. Customs Department. — Cr. Date. Items in Detail. I I 1873. H^... iStove for Custom House Packing do Lamp Paid Win. Ooad, for building woodshed for Custom House.. Rate of each Article. October. Mr. Coad not being in the country, his voucher cannot be obtained, but Mr. J. T. Qalbraith's certificate is attached hereto. ! Touchers for atOTe and lamp were forwarded to Mr. Hamley in May 1873. Total. f cU. 40 00 37 84 7 00 60 00 $ GtS. 144 84 144 84 Certified correct. Place where paid, Kootenay, B.C. Date of payment, May and October, 187H, (Signed) L. D. SEBLYB, 23 GOVBRNitENT OF DOJilNION OP CANADA. Customs Dipabtmint. — Cr. Date. Itenu in Detail. Rate of each Article. • 1873. Jane To sawing 600 feet of lamber... Tol«l f ott. 12| ( CtB. 62 60 62 60 Sia,— 1 have againi iootenay, very're9pe( {he Depart OoUebtor o byJMtr. Du tfe trust t delay in o for our coi the amouB whom we TheC that he h£ Cei-tifled correct. (Signed) H. B. SBELYB. Place where paid, Custom House, Kootenay, B.O. Date of payment, 2ik1 July, 1873. Keceived from H. £. Seelye the sum of sixty-two doUarti and fifty cents ($62.50). (Signed) WmLIA-M GOODRIDGE. GOVRRNMENT OF DOMINION OF (liNJi^DA. CuSTOMfl DSPABTMSNT. — Or. Date. 1873. 4 July. Itenu in Detail. Rate of each Article. I paralys 20 rolls wall paper.. 6 do 1 do 49J yards House lining.. _^ 1^ doxen papers of tackle 80 lbs. freight...... ^t Total. % cts. 26 60 1 16 12| 11 f cti. 5 00 2 60 1 36 6 1» 75 880 )4 «» Certified correct. (Signed) H. E. SEBLY3. Place where paid, Custom House, Kootenay, B.C. Date of payment, 20th August, 1873. Beeeivea from H. £. Seeivo the sum of twenty-four dollars and fort^'-nine cents (•24.49). (Signed) FEANK McMAHON. ^ $ ctg. 62 CO •• 62 60 3ELYB. Its ($62.60). MDGE. — 1 cti; 500 280 1 as \ S 19 75 880 34 «ft ILYS. nine conts aoN. 28 VicTOBiA, B. C, 9th Dec, 1876. Sib, — In reference to a claim of one hundred and ninety-four dollars which we have against the Customs' Department for various supplies to the Custom House at "f iootenay, British Columbia, when under the charge of Mr. H. E. Seolye. We beg 'very' respectfully to submit that our claim having been enquired into on behalf of the Department (in consequence oi its previous inadmission on the part of the Collector of Customs at Victoria) and having, as we understand, been fully approved by Mr. Dupont upon his inspection may now be ordered for payment in due course, tre trust tnat the circumsU nee of our having already suffered nearly three years' delay in obtaining a settlement of this matter may be regarded aa sufficient excoNi for our communicating direct with the Department, and that an eai'ly remittance of the amount may be made to us through the Bank of British Columbia at Victoria to whom we had given an order for its receipt on our behalf. The Collector of Customs here to whom we appealed on this subject, advises us that he has received no advice thus far as to the matter. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, (Signed) GALBRAITH & BRO. The Hon. the Chief Commissioner of Customs, &c., &c., Ottawa. The undersigned is unable to recommend payment of this account, as it appears exorbitant, and is obliged to state that he hns reason to fear that Mr. Seelye if in a state which must disqualify him for the performance of his duty. His letters are not written by himself, and his signature is like that of a man afflicted with palsy or paralysis. The undersigned respectfully'suggests that a special inspection by some reliable person not now belonging to British Columbia, should be ]made of all the Customs stations in that Province. To the Minister of Customs. Humbly submitted. (Signed) J. JOHNSON. CasTOMs Depabtmbnt, Ottawa, 27th December, 1876. Sib, — Adverting to the claim of Messrs. John T. Galbraith & Bro. for various articles supplied to the late Mr. Seelye for the use of the Custom House at Kootenay, I liav^o to authorize your paying over to the parties through the Bank of British Columbia, their authorized agent, the sum of $19^.00 in full of their claim, taking & receipt therefor from the 7?ank accordingly, and charge the amount in your con- tingent account. I am, Sir, The Jlon. W. Hajilet, Collector of Castoms, Victoria, B. C. Your obedient sei-vant, (Signed) J. JOHNSON 24 KooTKNAY, B. C, 24th July, 1875. Deab Mr. Johnson. — T am very much out of health and have written Mr. Hamley thib mail requesting leave of abwence for the winter months. I tind it impossible to b© successfully treated by my physician, Dr. Bowell, of Victoria, at such a distance, the mail only coming once in two months. There is no doctor in Kootenay, I can return to my station in the spring before any pack train can arrive, or if 1 am not able to return, can let you know in time to send some one. Mr. Gillmor wrote me that you would try to send me an assistant if my health does not improve, and allow me to retain my position and salary. Should the necessity jirrive, I should be most grateful for such consideration, as well as needful of it, for I have no other means of subsistence, and, as you know, have no son to provide for me. When I came here I placed my adopted daughter at school, but at the end of a year and a half found that I could not anord to keep her there. On informing the- feculty they at once offered her the benefit of a free schoolship which she i<» now enjoying, and expects to gi'aduate in a year from the present. I find the expense of living here very gi'eat, and my being kept out of my wood voucher, and Mr. Galbraith's vouchers for hay, oats, ranching, horse shoeing and femnge, oblige me to hire money to meet my,obligations, which I find very hai"d as woH as unjust, and I must earnestly beg to you to use your influence to have me paid wliat is due me from the Department. Ml'. Hamlej' can have out one object in view in referring such oi-dinary matters to Ottawa, and that is to embarrass me by keeping mo out of my pay as long as pos- sible, he never loses an oppoitimily of persecuting me. You are aware that Mr. Tilloy and Mr. Tupper both intended that I should bo allowed $100 for lining, papering and furnishing the Custom House, beside other expenses, sueli as stove, light, etc., is there no way for me to obtain it ? This will be mailed at Spokane, W. I., with the hope that it may reach you in time to instruct Mr. Hamle}- oy the Ist of Septomlx))" to allow me leave of absence for the winter. Will you pleii^o telegraph to him. I need a little time to make the^ needful arrangement, and the November mail comes in too late. Hoping to hear from you at your earliest convenience. I remain. Yours very truly, (Signed) II. E. SEELYE. Jas. Johnson, Esq., Commission of Customs, Ottawa. P.S. — Mr. Booth, Eecoi-ding Clerk here, tells mo that he is allowed from 8 140 to $160 per year for wood. I paid «n2.50 for wood last fall (it is cheaper hoi-o than Mr. Booth gets it), and I have only recoivod $80 from tho Department for wood since 1 came here in August 1872, and nothing for light. (Signed) H. E. S. Customs DsPAaTMENT, Ottawa, 20th August, 1875. Sip, — I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of you" letter of the 24th ultimo, applyii g for leave of absence onaccdunt of ill health, whichlwill receive due consid- ©ration. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) J. JOHNSON, Commiisioner of Cmtoms. H. E. Skiltx, Esq., Kootenay, B.C., Canndn. 25 ily, 1875. I Mr. Hamley possible to be distance, the tenay. I caa if 1 am not if my healtli the necessity ul of it, for I ovide for me. he end of a iforming the^ she )•* now ; of my wood shoeing and very hai-d as have me paid nary matters * long as pos- I should bo beside other each you in if absence for to make the 3ELYE. romSUO to uro than Mr. ood since 1 I. E. S. t, 1875. tth ultimo, duo consid- CusTOM House, KooTZNAY, 17th July, 1876, Dear Sib, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, stating that my request for leave of absence would be considered. I wish to call your attention to Mr. Galbraith's voucher, that was forwarded to your Department from Victoria some time ago, and haa not since been heard from. Owing to my illness, and the probability of my leaving Kootenay, for a time at least, I am anxious to have my affairs settled, and would feel much obliged if you would' let me know what action, if any, has been taken. I have the honour to be, Sir. Yom- obedient servant, (Signed) H. E. SEEL YE. J. Johnson, Esq., Commissioner of Customs, Ottawa. UHtoms. British Columbia, VinTOKiA, 14th July, 1876. Sir, — I have the honour of returning to you enclosed file 255, 1876, beingarenewar of the claim of the officer at OsoyoosLako, for repairs of house occupied by him, upon which in your letter of Februaiy Ist. 1876, you instruct me to report Ist, — As to the necessity of the case, I have the honour of reporting that prior to the expenditure — repayment of which is now asked — there was a building at Osoyoos, not much better than a shanty, scarcely snfficins; in accommodation for a single man, which, until Mr. Haynes' recent maniago, was his and his predecessor's position. The silo of a Ciihioni House at Osoyoos and the neighbourhood for miles around, is so worthless for agiicultural or other purposes, that no one could have any object in settling there, anil I think it fairly devolves upon the Department to bear the expense of constructing a residence for the oiRcer. The building is still quite a small one and of the plainest description, unpainted outside and inside; but it is reasonably comfortable, and much more so than the still more isolated station at Kootenay, about which I have reported in another letter. Mr. Haynes holds certain offices under the Local Government, and is also the joint pro- prietor of one of the largest stock ranches in the upper country. Ho has, therefbio, other objects besides his position in the Customs to cause him to reside in that section, if not at the place, where the interests of the revenue require the Custom House to bo located. I would rospectfidly recommend that tJie sum of $1,200 would, under all the circumstances, be a fair allowance to him. I think the principle of allowing officers to incur expenditure in advance of authority, is to bo deprecated, and that Mr. Haynes should l>e cautioned that any payment made by him in this instance should not be- allowod as a precedent in future cases. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obediant servant, (Signed) C. T. DUPONT. J. Johnson, Esq., Couiinissionor of Customs, Ottawa. 26 Custom House, Osoyoos Lakx, Squthibn Boundary, 31st December, ISTS. Sib, — I have the honour to forward to you herewith, through E. Dewdney, Esq., M.P., vouchers in detail for, repairs of this hous9, trusting that the absolute necessity of the outlay, the building being uninhabitable and there being no possibility of obtaining a house in this vicinity either for the transaction of the public business or the residence of myself and family, coupled with the fact of my having repeatedly Applied since 1872 for sanction of the work, will be sufficient excuse for the expendi- ture without the usual authority. Begging your approval and sanction of the above, with a reftind of the money, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) J. C. HAYNBS. "The Honourable The Minister of Customs, Ottawa. GOVEBNMENT OF DOMINION OF CANADA. Customs Dkpaktmknt. J. McCanlet and J. McCoNNELL, OF Osoyoos, — Cr. Date. 187S. Items in Detail. For the following material used in repairs to the Custom House at Osoyoos Lake, S.B., British Columbia, via. : — 7,333 feet of lumber per foot 1,000 do do 4 pairs of window sashes per pair Freight from New Westminster, 109 lbs 2 door locks m Screws, bolts. &c m. 300 lbs. of nails 17,200 shineles 6 days' bauling a distance of 9 miles 40 rolls of wall paper 1 duz. papers of tacks 2 squares zinc Rate of each Article. ToUl $ eta. 07 06 4 00 06 1 00 17 10 00 3 00 60 2 60 $ eta. 613 31 60 00 16 00 6 54 2 00 2 60 51 00 172 00 18 00 20 00 2 60 6 00 868 96 Certified correct. (Signed) J. C. HAYNES, D.C. Place where paid, Osoyoos, B.C. Date of payment, 13th September, 1875. Beceived from J. C. Haynos, for Government of Dominion of Cana so large a sequence of )mpolled to t my placo attended to- Q is taken^ of proceed - ' to Walla ad a camp out-port r transacted the trails it these it itself inta 29 I pui'chascd two tents, one for myself, and one for mv men. Tluco jiairs of Iblankctti, being one pair for each man, and one pair for myself, having in aildition a buifalo robe of my own, and costing the Department nothing. I imrchiised cimvas jsheets or tarpaulins to lay on the wet ground under the blankets. Sacks and boxes in which to pack blank«t« and provisions, without which they couM not have been fastened on the horses, or kept from getting filthy. I also pnrciiased necessary ■camp cooking materials, and two axes. How this can bo chai-ac.oriHcd as an " elaborate outfit," I am at a loss to understand, with less I could noL have gone or ix>en a«iked to make such a jourqey, and if its costs ($198.31) seems large, you must .ascribe it to correct cause, the costliness of everything in ihis P/ovinco. In addition to this camp outfit I purchased one horse for myself to ride, at a cost of $125, believing that on so long and fatiguing a journey I hac' a right to secure an easy riding horse, especially as should there l)o a loss upon him when sold, it -would not amount to more than it would have cost for hiring. The camp outfit and the horHe, a« I havea!readysaid,areonhand, the property of the Customs Department. In i-espect to the attendants I took with mo, two men, — one a wliito man and one .an Inf the year, i^er at New lid make a ties in the completing the Hope, md at the >nger than i, notwith> 31 standing the greater distance I had to travel, and difficulties I had to encounter, would not have been more than one-third greater than they wore, or say $1,761, as the same camp outfit, with the addition of blankets, and the same attendants that I had, would have answered for a party of three or four, although invariably necessary for one alone. As further evidence of the character of this trip and the expenses attendant on it, I bog to enclose you a certified copy of an account paid by the Local Government to James Wardlo, the expressman, for bringing from Kootenay to Victoria on his October trip (the best season of the year for making it) a writ of some papers, all of which were containetl in a good sized envelope. The amount paid him w^as $300. In respect to the number of horses I took with me, there can be no complaint by the Customs Department. As far as Osoyoos I had seven horses, one for myself and one for each of my men to ride, and four to pack. Six of them, being, from previous hard work, unfit for the railway sei-vice, \wre lent ♦o me by John Eobson, Esq., Pay- master and Purveyor of the Southern Pacific Eailway Survey, and did not cost tho Customs Department one cent for hire or feed, as in this method of travelling th© horses have to find their own feed. The seventh horse was the one I purchased. I had to send back tho Canadian Pacific Railway Survey horses from Osoyoos, and from tlat point 1 ccmtinued my journey with four horses and one man, having sent one of my men (Seymour) back to Kamloops with the Canada Pacific Eailway Survey horses, and being assisted the remainder of my journey by VVardle, the' expressman, and his men. In every way I endeavoured to keep down expenses. I used my own saddle and bridle and borrowed others as jU as "Aparajoes" for the pack horses. I have charged $5 per day for hotel expenses (a sura barely insufficient to cover them) whereas the rate allowed in this Province is $J per day. It is quite apparent tho nature of the trip I had to make was not and is not understood when I am told my " mode of travelling or, was such as was never contemplated much less sanctioned by the Department." I can only repeat that I had no means of knowing what were the ideas of the Depai-tment, on the subject, or I would not have started on the trip without receiving the sanction to the mode of travelling I adopted, there being no other mode by which I could properly have been asked to make it. I trust these explanations will be satisfactory, and that not only will I bo re-imbursed the outlay I have incurred, but also be remunerated for the service rendered. I have the honour to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, J. Johnson, Esq., (Signed) C. T. DUPONT. Commissioner of Customs, Ottawa. GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. Department. James Wardle, Kootenay Express Company for the undermentioned, on account of Requisition No. Services in bringing down writ and papers from Kootenay to Victoria, in October, 1875 $300. Certified correct. CHARLES GOOD. Place where paid, Date of payment, 11th September, 1876. Received from the Treasury thp above sum of three hundred dollars. Signature of witness if recipient cannot sign his name. (Signed) JAMES WARDLE. True copy certified. W. C. Bbrkley, Provincial Auditor. 32 Okkice of the Inspector ok Inland Eevknue, Victoria, B.C., 18th Soptoinhcr, 187(). Sir, — I have tlie honour of oncKisin^ a copy of my account for oxponHCH incurred -on tour of inspection on the mainland of this province for the Customs Department, in conformity with instructions contained in your communications No. 1 of 6th November, IRTf), and No. 1 of Ist February, 1876. I have also the honour of enclos- ing n copy of my letter explanatory of the said acco\int. The originals of this account and letter were mailed at this place on the 18th February, and my reports upon the various matters into which I was directed to enquire some days previously. Two months having elapsed without acknowledg- ment of receipt of any of them, I am apprehensive lest they may have miscarried. J have the honour to bo. Sir, Your obedient servant, J. Johnson, Esq., (Signed) Commissioner of Customs, Ottawa. C. T. DUPONT, Inspector of Inland .Revenue. Victoria, 18th July, 187o. Sir, — I have tlio honour of enclosing herein contingent account with vouchers for expenses incurred on tour of inspection for Customs Department on the mainland of this province. My route on this occasion did not tnko me to any places at which bnsincsis subject to excise was carried on, so that I cannot apportion any part of any expenses to the Inland Revenue Department. Had I been authorized to do so 1 could have inspected and been otherwise of service to the Post Office Department, and in view of the great expense of travelling in this Province I would very respect- fully suggest the advisability of the appointment of one General Inspector who could, •when occasion required, make at one and the same expense an examination of the business of the several Departments. In no one of them is there sufficient work to occupy fully the time of an Inspecting Officer, and on the other hand I feel warranted in saying, that in no province of the Dominion is there as much need of at least an annual inspection. My expenses on this trip have exceeded the estimate I sent you for the following rea.rwho could, lation of the icnt work to lel warranted >f at least an he following ing by stage uld not cross )on the trail, involved the J. Barnard & ' guide, C. T. fitever being ich included [ show that I an outfit of Jros'. account hoi*se for my thers, as well )nal expense, e horse being in the upper before endea- to calculation roper season d tne amount Two men are a necessity as assistants on such a trip, one man alone being unable to " pack " a horse, and the labour of attending to sovon horses. The number required for such a trip (three for saddle and four for packing) to keep them from sLi-aying, hunting them in the morning, attention to " ajiparajocs" to save their b.auks, making camp and cooking, besides riding from thirty-hvo to fifty miles per day, fully occupied myself and men from 3:30 a.m., the hour at which my camp was struck in iho morn- ing, until 6 p.m., and sometimes as late a-i 8 p.m., my usual hour for camping again. The exceptional high water of this season bus contributed to increase the expense of my trip — by delays — rivers having had to bo swam and rafted, and miles of country (almost swimming depth for horses) having had to bo forded — horses becoming 80 exhausted that to get on I was obliged to hire frequent changes. I enter into these lengthy explanations that you may porcoivo that the cxpondiiuro on this trip has been exceptional. By choosing the proper season of the year the same services could be performed for about the sum of $600 travelling expenses. J. Johnson, Esq., Commissioner oj Gwsioms, Ottawa. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) C. T. DUPONT, Acting Intpcttor of Customs. (Youckcr jXo. 1.) K.\MPL()op8, April 25th, lS7ti. $125.00— liecoivod fi-om C. T. Dupont. Esq., the sum of oiio hundro'. t due for sixteen S. ELLIS. May, 1876. Hty-five dolK«'f ay, 1876, up to :JINDIAN rk. $20.00 ( Vintcher No. 14.) Walla Walla, Washington Territory. 13th June, 1876. Received from Mr. C. T. Dupont twenty dollars for conveying him, by waggon, ~ ■ '" 11a. irom Ports Ranch to Walla Walla. (Signed) HEEMAUN TINKE. 38 C. T. DUPONT, Esq., ( Voucher No. 15.) OsoTooa, B.C., 13th June, 1876. To Theo. Kbttqer. IS lbs. flour 4 lbs. bacon ^ lb. Congou tea 1 tin yeast powder ....... 3 lbs. Long Island sugti Total. $ cts. 1 75 1 50 62 50 76 M f cts. 6 12 5 12 • Two] tone Beceived payment. (Signed) THEODOEE KEUGER. C. T. DupoNT, Esq., ( Voucher No. 16.) To P. J. Baenard & Co. 1S76. April 3., do 28.., do 28... do 28.. do 28.. Hay 27... April 3.. To paid freight or liorse, V'u ' Jr). », Pass self and Seymour, \ .Ic Freight 326 lbs., Victoria to K .■ do 78 lbs., Yale to Kamio do 133 lbs., do Paokaffe 12 lbs., Seymour to vou. ,1 .oops.. ! .ops ^ . ic'.oria. Horse fetd hay and grain, 3rdr A .iril to date, 31 days, at J1.50, 1 $ cts. 10 00 56 40 65 20 19 60 26 60 2 60 46 60 Total . f cts. 226 40 236 40 18' July 1 Paid 19th July, 18t6. (Signed) P. J. BARNAED & Co. pro. G. A. Saeqison. ( Voucher No. 17.) lioo,:>o . ^ Victoria, 12th July, 18T6. Idcel'.od fVora C. T. Dupont ono hundred dollars for services as guide and assistant on trip to Kootenay. (Signed) C. T. SEYMOUR. h June, 1816. $ eta. f cts. 1 75 1 50 62 50 76 — — — 6 12 5 12 C KEUGER. $ eta. f Cts 10 00 55 40 65 20 19 60 26 60 2 60 46 60 226 40 225 40 rAED & Co. 30N. 1 July, 18tfi. iOB OS guide and SEYMOUR. Mr. DuPONi, 39 ( Voucher No. 18.) To Steamer Enterprise. — Dr. 8th July, 1816. * Two packageB and one passenger t One do do Total * Self and Mr. Seymour per route to Eootenay. t Self alone, 2nd trip to Westminster and back. Received payment. (Signed), GEO. HARDISTY, $ cts. 10 00 7 60 17 60 ( Voucher No. 19.) Purser. Customs Department. C. T, DuroNT, Esq., To E. Mallandaine, Architect. 1876. July 13, 14... For map of British Columbia, showing in colors, the waters, trails, waggoU' roads Custom Houses, with reference, as ]>er instructions, Ac $ cts. 10 00 * Forwarded with report. Received payment same time. (Signed) EDWARD MALLANDAINE. . . Victoria, B.C., July 14th, 1876. Thk Customs Department, To C. T. DupoNT, Acting Inspector of CustomH. For cxponses incurred in tour of inspection on mainland of British Columbia. Date. o e *j2 1876. ^d':,"^ 26 24 1 2 do 25 3 Hay do 4 4 4 5 do 13 6 do 15 7 do 18 8 du 19 9 do 26 10 do 26 11 June 10 12 du 10 13 do 13 14 do 13 15 do 29 16 July do 12 8 17 18 do 14 19 Particulars. Mara & Wilson, for liorse for journey for self to ride E. Molum, for tent and canvas sheet Opponheimer k Bros.^ outfit for camp and proTisiuua Mara & Wilson, provisions, &c Hudson Bay Company, provisions, Ac T. Kruger, tent and sugar do provisions M. Oppcnheimer & Co., provisions T. Ellis, bacon «. , Indian, for services, self and horse, Kamloops to Osoyoos Mcintosh k McPhaden, board of C. T. Seymour Sensible, as cook, from 3rd May to 30th June, at $40 per month., Jas. Wardle, hire of horses used in trip Hermann Tinke, conveyance from Ports Ranch to Walla Walla. 15 T. Kruger, provisions. F. J. Barnard, stage fares to Kamiuops C. T. Seymour, services as gu de and packer Steamer Enterprise, fares to New Westminster E. Mallandaine, map of British Columbia I* Hotel expenses at New Westminster, 7 days i* Meals on steamer from Victoria, New Westminster, self and Seymour.... • Hire of conveyRnce to Burrard Inlet ' Expenses at Burrard Inlet ' Steamer, fare tc Vale^ -lelf and Seymour, including meals • Hotel expenses on road from Vale'to KamJoops, self and Seymour, .") day at $5 per day each • Steamer, fare, Savona's Ferry to Kamloops • Hotel expenses at Kamloops • Expenses at Dack's, from which place camped out • Provisions purchased on route not included above, and sundry minor expenses • Shoeing horses and ferriages en ruiile • Steamer and roilway fares, Walla Walla to Victoria Hotel expenses between Walla WiiUa and Victoria, 12 days Conveyanee, self and baggage, to and from home at Victoria Cr.— By amount of advance.. To balance Amount. $ cts. 125 00 35 00 163 31 21 95 6 92 10 41 5 00 7 50 4 00 25 00 6 00 70 00 130 75 20 00 5 12 225 40 100 00 17 50 .10 00 35 00 8 00 6 00 4 00 19 00 50 00 8 00 10 00 7 00 47 511 29 00 40 00 60 Oil 3 00 1,321 36 600 00 721 36 • These items paid in small sums at ditfereat limes; vouchers unobtainable or omitted to be taken. C.T.D. I hereby solemnly and in my conscience dccl.-ire !liat lh« forci^oing account is just and true, aud that the expenditure was made wholly lui- the public servico. Declared to at Victoria this 20th "| day of July, 1876, before mo. > K. P. ElLHET, J.P. ) (Signed) C. T. DUPO^'T.