Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
22 March 1861
I have to acknowledge your letter of 14th instant, enclosing a Despatch from the Governor of British Columbia, on the subject of the arrangement to be made with the Hudson's Bay Co for the settlement of their claims to land in that Colony.
2. Governor Douglas suggests, that in any arrangement that may be come to a proviso should be inserted, that if any Land which has been alienated by the GovernmentManuscript image should be adjudged to have been the property of the Co compensation for it should be given by an equivalent in Land elsewhere. I apprehend that the only question which will be submitted to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council & on which they will give a decision, will be the legal title of the Company to Land in British Columbia by reason of occupation or other circumstances—but that the question as to the particular lands to which they may be entitled, if any—and, if their Title is established, as to the compensation to be given for anyManuscript image that may have been alienated, will have to be settled subsequently between the Executive Government and the Company. It would be impossible under these circumstances to insert the proviso which Governor Douglas recommends—but he might be informed that the point will not be lost sight of when the proper time arrives for considering it.
I have etc.
T.W.C. Murdoch
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
So write?
ABd 22/3
Sir F. Rogers
Write as proposed?
TFE 22/3
FR 25/3
CF 26
N 30
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 73, 11 April 1861, assuring Douglas that the question of compensatory land for the HBC will be illuminated “when the proper time arrives.”