§ COLONEL ARBUTHNOTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, What was the date of the promise by the Imperial Government to grant £50,000 on completion of the Esquimalt Dock, a promise referred to in a Paper printed and laid before the Legislature of British Columbia on 7th February 1878, under the title "Graving Dock Correspondence;" what sum has already been expended on the dock at Esquimalt by the province of British Columbia; whether, as a doubt exists as to Esquimalt being the best site for a dock in the Pacific Station, he will state what other site or sites are now available; and, whether, by the Act of Incorporation of British Columbia with the Dominion of Canada in 1871, the Dominion Government is bound to "use its influence to secure the continued maintenance of the Naval Station at Esquimalt?"
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, the sanction of the Treasury to a grant of £50,000 to British Columbia on the completion of the Esquimalt Dock was communicated by letter to the Colonial Office from the Admiralty, under date December 19, 1874. The sum expended and the liability incurred on this work by the Province up to December 31 last was $208,998, or, roughly speaking, £41,799. What other sites may be available for a dock on the Pacific Station is a question which I do not think it would be for the advantage of the Public Service that I should discuss. I have only to add that I believe there was an undertaking on the part of the Dominion Government to use its influence to secure the maintenance of the Naval Station at Esquimalt.
§ MR. CHILDERSasked, Whether the promise in 1874 was to make a grant or a loan?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, there had been a previous promise of £30,000 as a grant on the completion of the docks, and it had since been extended to £50,000.