Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
May 9th 1856
Sir,
I have the honour to Enclose for your information the accompanying Extract from a letter recently received from Governor Douglas dated Victoria, Vancouver's Island, 5th March 1856, by which you will perceive that he is anxious to dispose of the tract of land on the Island, known as the Governor's reserve.
The Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company see no objection to the proposed sale, the proceeds of which would of course have to be carried to the credit of the Vancouver Island Trust Fund; on the contrary, they consider it very desirable that this Reserve should be disposed of for the benefit of the Colony, as it has been found "a hindrance toManuscript imageto the Settlement of the Country," and may prove, as with similar reserves in other Colonies, a frequent subject matter of dispute hereafter.
Upon receiving your sanction to the proposed Sale, I shall cause Governor Douglas to be instructed to complete the conveyance.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your most obedient humble Servant,
John Shepherd

The Right Honble Henry Labouchere
&c &c &c
Colonial Office
Govr
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
Land Board?
ABd 9 May
Asking for a speedy report. Annex draft.
HM May 8 [9]
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Merivale to Shepherd, 19 May 1856, expressing Labouchere's approval of Douglas's proposal to sell the governor's reserve.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Extract, Douglas to W.G. Smith, Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company, 5 March 1856, asking permission to sell part of the governor's reserve, "which remains unimproved and unproductive," to Augustus Pemberton.