Murdoch and Wood to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
13th May 1856
Sir
We have to acknowledge your letter of 10th instant enclosing a letter from the Governor of the Hudsons Bay Company, accompanied by a communication from Mr Douglas the Governor of Van Couvers Island proposing to sell a tract of Land in that Island known as the Governor's Reserve.
2. Mr Douglas expresses his opinion that the sale of theManuscript imagethe Governors Reserve would be advantageous to the Island, as at present it remains unproductive and a hindrance to settlement, and without a large expenditure must continue so. He proposes, therefore, to take advantage of an offer made to him by Mr Pemberton, a gentleman who has recently arrived in the Island, for the purchase of a portion of the Reserve.
3. The documents in this Office afford no information on the subject of the Governor's Reserve at Van Couver's Island. As a general rule, however, weManuscript imagewe have no doubt that such Reserves, if of any extent, are objectionable. We think, therefore, that the application of the Governor and of the Hudson's Bay Company in this matter may properly be complied with.
We have the honor to be Sir
Your Obedient humble Servants
T.W.C. Murdoch
Alexander Wood

Herman Merivale Esq.
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
mr Merivale
Write a letter accordingly to the Governor of the H.B. Coy approving of his suggestion to dispose of land known as the Governor's reserve by sale?
TFE 14 May
Annex dt.
HM May 15