No. 35, Separate
1st June 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No 12 dated 6th April 1866 referring to the proceedings of Captain Turnour of Her Majesty's Ship "Clio" against Indians at Fort Rupert in December last.
A short narrative of theseproceedingsManuscript image proceedings (as far as they are within my knowledge) will I trust to some extent, if not altogether, excuse me for having omitted to report them.
Towards the end of November or beginning of December 1865 Captain Turnour (I believe) received instructions from the Government of British Columbia to proceed to the north coast of that Colony to apprehend and bring to justice some Indians accused of murder.
HavingManuscript image
Having visited Metlacatla for that purpose he ascertained that the accused belonged to the Fort Rupert tribe of Indians, and he accordingly went there to arrest them.
Captain Turnour had no instructions from this Government, nor was I aware of his intention of going northward or visiting any part of this Colony till I received his report dated 29th December 1865 (herewith).
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A subsequent interview with Captain Turnour did not add to the information contained in that Report.
The "Statement of Lieutenant Carey R.N. H.M.S. "Clio" (herewith) was handed to me by Lieutenant Hankin, Superintendent of Police, after I had seen Captain Turnour, and I believe contains an accurate account of the affair.
I may here remark that the Fort Rupert Indians are aturbulentManuscript image turbulent tribe and have on several occasions given much trouble.
I therefore on consideration of the facts before me, expressed my thanks to Captain Turnour for the service he had rendered to this Government, and more particularly to Lieutenant Carey to whose coolness and forbearance I attributed the absence of bloodshed.
The Chief "Jim" and Indians brought down by the "Clio," I liberated and sent back to FortRupertManuscript image Rupert with a suitable caution, there being no legal case against them, and considering they had been sufficiently punished.
These proceedings having been initiated by, and undertaken on account of the British Columbian Government, I presumed they would have been fully reported,
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No report from B.C.
and that it was inexpedient for me to do so on a part of them only, but on future occasions I will in obedience to your instructionsreportManuscript image report as directed.
I cannot close this communication without recording my opinion that sound policy and humanity demand vigorous measures to prevent whiskey selling—a course in which all influential and well disposed Indians would assist, were there suitable resident Agents of the Government to encourage and assist them.
The miscreants who carry on the "whiskey trade" are a disgracetoManuscript image to humanity whatever nationality they profess.
I shall have occasion to bring this subject under your notice at an early period.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
I do not see that any thing practical arises on these papers.
The evil of whiskey selling to the Indians has formed the subject of complaint by this Office, and by the Governor, but the present Ho: Assembly of V.C.I. do not see this question from the same point of view. Probably a differently constituted legislature willManuscript image take a decided line.
ABd 14 July
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I know nothing on wh it is more hopelessly difficult to form a judgment than a European account of the Grounds on wh strong measures were taken agst savages. I see no ground for assuming that Capt Turnour was wrong.
I would be inclined to say that Lord C. would cordially support the Governor in any well considered measure for preventing the sale of spirits to the Indians.
FR 16/7
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At once.
CBA 17/7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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N.B. Turnour to Kennedy, 29 December 1865, reporting that "in consequence of the Indians at Fort Rupert having threatened my men, I burnt the Ranch to the ground, destroyed about one hundred canoes and a quantity of spirit."
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Statement of Lieutenant Carey, R.N., H.M.S. Clio, reporting on his landing at Fort Rupert to apprehend three Indians accused of murder and the subsequent altercation with the natives.
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Kennedy to Turnour, 5 January 1866, expressing thanks for the actions of his men at Fort Rupert and "the effective manner in which you punished the turbulent tribe of Indians residing there."
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Carnarvon to Kennedy, No. 2, 31 July 1866.