Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 18 April 1867, CO 305:30, no. 3926, 213.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Murdoch transmits
the reconveyance to the Crown of Vancouvers Islandand encloses
the original Letters Patent of 13th Janry 1849 granting the Island to the Company.Holland minutes that a record should be kept on Vancouver Island that ownership of Vancouver Island has passed from the Hudson’s Bay Company to the British government but the official documents do not need to be preserved on Vancouver Island.
Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
I have the honour to transmit herewith the reconveyance to the
Crown of Vancouvers Island, which has been executed by the Hudsons
Bay Co under their Corporate Seal, and under the sanction of the
authority contained in your letter of 29th ultimo, by us on the
part of Her Majesty.
2. As it did not appear whether or not the transaction came within
the scope of the Stamp Acts, we applied to the
Commissioners of
Inland Revenue, and got the Deed impressed with a Stamp denoting
that it was adjudged as not chargeable with any duty. This will
prevent any question on the point.
Commissioners of
Inland Revenue, and got the Deed impressed with a Stamp denoting
that it was adjudged as not chargeable with any duty. This will
prevent any question on the point.
3. I also enclose the original Letters Patent of 13th Janry 1849
granting the Island to the Company, which have now been delivered
up to us by the Company.
4. We presume that these documents will be forwarded to the Colony
in order that they may be recorded there.
5. I enclose a copy of the reconveyance for
record in the Colonial
Office.
record in the Colonial
Office.
Minutes by CO staff
Acknowledge rect of letter & state that the documents will be sent
to British Columbia to be recorded—& Send out the Deed & Letters
Patent to the Govr to be recorded.
This is suggested by Mr Murdoch & would seem correct. I take it
that the record should be made of the Original Letters Patent & of
this Reconveyance.
HTH
20/4
Proceed accordly.
FR 20/4
Duke of Buckingham
Why send to B Columbia, which represents neither of the Parties? Should be kept here I think.
Why send to B Columbia, which represents neither of the Parties? Should be kept here I think.
CBA
23/4
B&C
24/4
Duke of Buckingham
I think that a record shd be made of these documents in the records of Vancouvers Island wh: is now part of British Columbia. The document need not be kept there, when once registered.
I think that a record shd be made of these documents in the records of Vancouvers Island wh: is now part of British Columbia. The document need not be kept there, when once registered.
HTH
26/4
So proceed.
B&C
27/4
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy of the reconveyance of Vancouver Island from the Hudson's
Bay Company to the crown, dated 3 April 1867, signed by W.G. Smith,
T.W.C. Murdoch and S. Walcott.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 23, 11 May 1867 transmitting a copy of the reconveyance of Vancouver Island to the British government.