Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 25 April 1861, CO 305:17, no. 5472, 161.

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Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 25 April 1861, CO 305:17, no. 5472, 161.

Abstract

Despatch to London. Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3), Other documents (2).

Douglas forwards Newcastle two untitled proclamations designed to promote the settlement of Country Land on Vancouver Island, and explains their intent.

No. 31, Legislative

25 April 1861

I have the honour to inform Your Grace that I lately issued the two Proclamations mentioned in the accompanying Schedule, and Copies are herewithtransmitted

transmitted for the information of Her Majesty's Government.

2. The first of these Proclamations carries out the instructions conveyed in Your Grace's several Despatches, No 10 of the 21st of February 1860, and No 26 of the 28th of June 1860, authorising me to reduce the upset price of Country Land to 4s/2d an acre; and to permit Settlers as a provisional arrangement, pending the legal difficulties which at present impede the grant of land in VancouverIsland

Island, to occupy certain tracts of waste or inferior land within the surveyed Districts, with a pre-emption right.

3. The second Proclamation extends those provisions to the whole Colony of Vancouver Island and its Dependencies, as the surveyed Districts were found not to afford the means of settlement, and as Your Grace's Despatch—British Columbia, No 64 of the 6th of December 1860—conveyed to me the sanction of HerMajesty's

Majesty's Government to the Pre-emption Act of British Columbia, and Despatch—Vancouver Island No 27 of the 16th of July 1860—communicated the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the practice adopted in one Colony should also be established in the other.

4. These measures have given great satisfaction to the public at large, and will, I have no doubt, promote the settlement andprosperity

prosperity of the Colony.

I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient
and humble Servant
James Douglas

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Schedule of proclamations, as per despatch.

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Elliot
Sir F. Rogers.

ABd 20 June

Mr Blackwood

TFE 20 June

Land Board at once.

FR 21/6

CF 22

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Proclamation by Douglas, 19 February 1861, "prescribing the terms on which settlers may occupy land within the surveyed Districts of Vancouver Island, with a right of Pre-emption."