Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Wodehouse, John to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 14 July 1868, CO 60:34, no. 7486, 273.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
Kimberley transmits an extract from Tolmie and encloses a letter from Lowenberg to Tolmie, both regarding concerns over the
the title toKimberley requests Buckingham to instruct Seymourlot Z.
to withdrawthe government of British Columbia’s claim to lot Z. Cox’s minute discusses the validity of Lowenberg’s claim to lot Z. Rogers minutes how to reply to Kimberley and how to inform Seymour of the current situation regarding lot Z. Included documents discuss disputing claims over lot Z from Lowenberg and the government of British Columbia.
Kimberley to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
Hudsons Bay House
London
14th July 1868
London
Sir,
I beg to transmit to you the accompanying Extract of a letter
from Mr W.F. Tolmie the Hudsons Bay Company's principal Officer
in Vancouvers Island dated Victoria 28th May 1868 in reference
to the title to a lot of land in that Town known as "lot Z,"
which has been the subject of previous correspondence between
the Colonial Office and the Company.
I also enclose a copy of a letter to Mr Tolmie dated Victoria
May 27th last from Mr Lowenberg the owner of the said lot.
By
By these documents you will observe that upon the title to "lot
Z" there appears still some doubt in the minds of the Colonial
authorities in British Columbia, although the matter was
understood to have been finally settled by the Secretary of
State as announced in your letter to the Governor of the Company
dated November 22nd 1865.
I have therefore to request you will move His Grace the Duke of
Buckingham and Chandos to instruct the Governor of British
Columbia to withdraw the claim on the part of the Colonial
Government to the land in question.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
It was decided by Mr Cardwell that Mr Lowenberg's claim to lot Z could
not be impeached & on the 18 Dec Govr Seymour was
informed that that decision must be adhered to.
It was decided by Mr Cardwell that Mr Lowenberg's claim to lot Z could
not be impeached & on the 18 Dec Govr Seymour was
informed that that decision must be adhered to.
CC
16 July
Send this to the Govr for report adding that H.G. takes
for granted that Mr Lowenberg's statements of what passed betn
him and Mr Young results from some misunderstanding—as it seems
incredible after the correspondence wh has passed that an
officer of Govt shd have told Mr L that his title to Lot Z
wd be disputed.
Ansr Lord Kimberley that his letter has been sent out to Gov
Seymour for his report & that it is very unfortunate, if Mr L.
considered that he had anything to complain of, that he did not
address the Secy of State through the Govr, as in that case HG
wd probably have been able in reply to send out some positive
instructions,
wh he is unable to do on the mere report of a
conversation.
wh he is unable to do on the mere report of a
conversation.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract, W.F. Tolmie to W.G. Smith, Secretary, Hudson's Bay
Company, 28 May 1868, relating to dispute over title to Lot Z.
L. Lowenberg to Tolmie, 27 May 1868, reporting he had been told
by the Colonial Secretary that his title "would be again disputed."
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 56, 28 July 1868 transmitting a letter from Kimberley, Kimberley’s letter’s enclosures related to the title to lot Z, and Buckingham’s reply to Kimberley.