Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Musgrave, Anthony to Wodehouse, John 10 December 1870, CO 60:41, no. 286, 290.
Abstract
Musgrave, Anthony to Wodehouse, John 10 December 1870, CO 60:41, no. 286, 290.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2).
No. 156
10th December 1870
My Lord,
I have hitherto postponed my reply to Earl Granville's Circular
Despatch of 23rd March last, respecting the Census to be taken
simultaneously throughout the Empire in 1871, until the time
should arrive formaking
making arrangements for the next Legislative
Session. After consultation now with my Council I coincide in
their opinion that it would be inexpedient for several reasons
to attempt to take a Census at this time under the circumstances
of this Colony. Public attention is now engaged with the
arrangements proposed for Union with Canada and it is not
desirable to bring forward any other measureswhich
which can be
avoided. In a Colony like this where distances are so great and
settlers are sprinkled over large areas, it would be difficult
as well as very expensive to take a Census, and a great deal of
trouble would be entailed on official departments just when in a
state of transition and rearrangement. A large proportion of
the population are migratory and unsettled, the returns would
not be very accurate, and for purposes of comparison would be of
little value, asthose
those in the Appendix to the General Report of
1861 were only estimated.
making arrangements for the next Legislative
Session. After consultation now with my Council I coincide in
their opinion that it would be inexpedient for several reasons
to attempt to take a Census at this time under the circumstances
of this Colony. Public attention is now engaged with the
arrangements proposed for Union with Canada and it is not
desirable to bring forward any other measureswhich
which can be
avoided. In a Colony like this where distances are so great and
settlers are sprinkled over large areas, it would be difficult
as well as very expensive to take a Census, and a great deal of
trouble would be entailed on official departments just when in a
state of transition and rearrangement. A large proportion of
the population are migratory and unsettled, the returns would
not be very accurate, and for purposes of comparison would be of
little value, asthose
those in the Appendix to the General Report of
1861 were only estimated.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Herbert
Perhaps they are just as well pleased not t[o] have their Population known at the present moment.
Perhaps they are just as well pleased not t[o] have their Population known at the present moment.
To Mr Robinson.