No. 50
22 October 1859
I have the honor to transmit herewith the Copy of an Address received by me from the House of Assembly of Vancouver's Island, requesting me to forward Manuscript imageto your Grace the accompanying Petition from the inhabitants of Vancouver's Island, praying for an alteration in the present Land System, and the copy of an Address from the House of Assembly to your Grace upon the same subject.
2. At the present moment I do not desire to offer any opinion upon the representations made in these Documents, for I purpose shortly to lay before your Grace my views in connection with Manuscript imagethe Land System. I may however state that I am fully aware that the matter is one of such vital importance to the progress of the Colony, that it can only be dealt with upon the most mature consideration; and I may further state that I am strongly of opinion that no unrestricted control of Colonial Lands should be placed in the hands of the House of Assembly until that body provides for Manuscript imagethe Civil List required by the Colony.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
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HTI 20/Dec
Acknowledge, and wait for the Governor's further report. But he seems quite right in his last paragraph?
HM D 20
CF 20
N 22
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Petition to the House of Assembly asking for changes to the system of land distribution, 2 July 1859, signed by a committee of five members appointed at a public meeting on the subject.
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Petition from the House of Assembly to Newcastle forwarding the petition as described above, with extensive explanation in support of a change to the land system.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 3, 7 January 1860.