Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 22 August 1868, CO 60:33, no. 11068, 334.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Seymour forwards a report from British Columbia’s surveyor general regarding British Columbia’s laws on
the disposal of…public lands.Seymour describes how the current laws for disposing of public land have helped British Columbia’s economy during the colony’s current financial difficulties. Robinson’s minute discusses the impact of the policy of preemption in British Columbia and recommends sending the despatch to the Land Board. Rogers’s minute recommends sending Seymour’s despatch to the
To E.C. at once.
No. 106
New Westminster
22nd August 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have had the honor to receive Your Grace's despatch No. 26 of
12th May respecting the state of the laws regardingthe
the
disposal of the public lands in this Colony.
the
disposal of the public lands in this Colony.
2. I beg leave to forward a report from the Surveyor General on
the subject and would add my own testimony that the present law
works well. During the severe commercial crisis from which we
are just emerging the settlement of land in the Upper Country
continued, and the farmers were the chief support of the Colonywhen
when heavy adversity fell on the shop keepers of Victoria and
New Westminster.
when heavy adversity fell on the shop keepers of Victoria and
New Westminster.
3. During the last year in one district alone, that of Yale,
forty six preemption claims were recorded by persons who have
stocked their farms and partially brought them under cultivation.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
It would appear from this Report that the Sale of Crown Lands by Auction is not suited to the circes of the Colony, whilst the preemption system has secured a certain amount of permanent settlement.
It would appear from this Report that the Sale of Crown Lands by Auction is not suited to the circes of the Colony, whilst the preemption system has secured a certain amount of permanent settlement.
To the Ld Bd with a copy of the despatch to which it is
an answer.
WR
12/10
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
J.W. Trutch, Surveyor General, to Colonial Secretary, 12
August 1868, reporting on the land laws in force in the colony
(fifteen pages).
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Emigration Commissioners, 21 October 1868, forwarding
correspondence with regard to settlement of crown lands in the
colony for observations and suggestions.