Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 27 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 12725, 301.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Douglas provides Lytton with the requested information on the disposal of land on Vancouver Island and along the Fraser River. He includes a report by Pemberton and offers his own opinion on some of Pemberton’s recommendations such as immediate payment for Crown lands as opposed to annual
instalments.
Douglas also promises to adhere to Lytton’s “views” regarding the naturalization of foreigners, favoritism for HBC servants
and the repression of “speculation and land-jobbing.”
The minutes forward “at once” to the Emigration Commissioners for their insight.
Enclosed is a draft reply from Lytton to Douglas enquiring whether a fixed price or sale by auction would be preferred for the sale
of land on Vancouver Island; Pemberton to Douglas reporting on the systems of land disposal on Vancouver Island; and Elliot to the Emigration Commissioners forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosure for
suggestions and observations.
No. 7
1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch
No. 9 [Vancouver Island],
of the 14th of
August,
1
and I hasten to attend to your
requisition for information on the subject of the disposal of land
in British Columbia, to Companiesor
or private individuals.
or private individuals.
2. In order to meet your instructions more fully on that
subject, I directed Mr Surveyor Pemberton to draw up a report
describing in a general manner the existing arrangements for the
sale of land on Vancouver's
Island,
2
and the proposed arrangements
for the sale of land in British Columbia. That report I have now
the honor of herewith transmitting to you. It embodies my own views
on the subject of land sales, except on one or two points.
3. Mr Pemberton for instance suggests that the system of
receiving payment for CrownLands
Lands by four annual instalments; instead
of immediate payment, should be abandoned, on account of the trouble
and difficulty of collecting the instalments, but reasons equally
cogent may be urged in support of the existing system, such as the
benefit and relief it gives to poor settlers, and I am therefore of
opinion that the same system may be extended with advantage to
British Columbia in all sales of country lands exceeding 50 acres,
but not in sales of Town Lands, which are always paid for on
receiving the Title Deeds.
Lands by four annual instalments; instead
of immediate payment, should be abandoned, on account of the trouble
and difficulty of collecting the instalments, but reasons equally
cogent may be urged in support of the existing system, such as the
benefit and relief it gives to poor settlers, and I am therefore of
opinion that the same system may be extended with advantage to
British Columbia in all sales of country lands exceeding 50 acres,
but not in sales of Town Lands, which are always paid for on
receiving the Title Deeds.
4. We propose to sell country land in Fraser's Riverand
and
other mining Districts at the fixed price of £1 per statute
acre, and Town Land according to the public value of the site.
I think however, it might be advisable to adopt a lower selling
price than £1 per acre, in purely Agricultural Districts, where
no minerals are found, for the purpose of encouraging early
settlement. That however is an arrangement which may be reserved
for further consideration.
and
other mining Districts at the fixed price of £1 per statute
acre, and Town Land according to the public value of the site.
I think however, it might be advisable to adopt a lower selling
price than £1 per acre, in purely Agricultural Districts, where
no minerals are found, for the purpose of encouraging early
settlement. That however is an arrangement which may be reserved
for further consideration.
5. I propose for the present to reserve all Mineral Lands,
which are generally speaking unproductive under cultivation, for
the purpose of revenue, such as a great part of the narrow belt
of table land, extending fromthe
the River to the mountains, on the
banks of Fraser's River, between Forts Hope and Yale.
the River to the mountains, on the
banks of Fraser's River, between Forts Hope and Yale.
6. A series of meteor[o]logical observations would no doubt
be highly interesting to the public and we propose to have them
taken at the Surveying Office as soon as they are established,
and we are supplied with the proper instruments.
7. With those few observations I will close my remarks on
Mr Pemberton's report.
8. I beg also to assure you that we shall attend to the
instructions contained in your said despatch, concerning the
disposal of land; preventing persons from squatting on the
Public
Public lands; keeping separate accounts of all Revenue derived
from the sale of land, and its applications at present to the
purposes of survey and communication, and the necessary accounts
will be furnished from time to time after the public lands are
brought into the market.
Public lands; keeping separate accounts of all Revenue derived
from the sale of land, and its applications at present to the
purposes of survey and communication, and the necessary accounts
will be furnished from time to time after the public lands are
brought into the market.
9. I shall also not fail to give effect to your views in
regard to the naturalization of foreigners, and you may rest
assured that there will be no just cause of complaint, for
favors shewn to the Servants of the Hudson's Bay Company; and that
every precaution will be taken to repress speculation and
land-jobbing, and to protectthe
the public interests committed to my care.
the public interests committed to my care.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The Emigration Commissrs: could no doubt offer useful suggestions on this subject of the disposal of lands?
The Emigration Commissrs: could no doubt offer useful suggestions on this subject of the disposal of lands?
VJ
14 Decr
E. Com. at once for a report.
C
Dec 15
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Joseph D. Pemberton, Colonial Surveyor, to Douglas, 26 October 1858,
reporting on the systems of land disposal in Vancouver Island, as
per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Emigration Commissioners, 21 December 1858,
forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosure
for suggestions and observations.
Footnotes
- Lytton to Douglas, No. 9, 14 August 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 174.
- According to Pemberton's report, land on Vancouver Island was then divided into four categories, namely, country, municipal, town, and suburban lands, and land could be purchased on instalments over a four year period. Pemberton recommended that the instalment system be abandoned, that mineral and other ?? lands should be reserved for government purposes, and that land offices be opened throughout the colony. Check??