No. 165
Government House Victoria
Vancouvers Island
6 June 1859
Sir
The sale of building Lots at the new Town of Queensborough, took place on the 1st and 2nd of the present month at Victoria.
2. The result has provedManuscript imageproved most satisfactory as a financial operation, and indicates a general confidence in the future of the Colony.
3. The actual amount of sales was rather over Eighty-nine thousand dollars ($89,000) on which a deposit of 25 per cent was made on the purchase, the remaining balance to be paid in three equal instalments on the first day of July, August, and September next respectivelyManuscript imagerespectively.
4. Three hundred and eighteen lots were offered for sale, and Three hundred and ten were sold. One hundred and Ten Lots are reserved for future sale. The largest sum realized for a single lot was One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars ($1925) and the average price of the Lots sold was nearly Two Hundred and Ninety dollars ($290).
5. The accompanying statementManuscript imagestatement, from the Department of Lands and Works, is transmitted for your information. It distinguishes the actual sums of money received and due, on the Sale from the amounts already paid on Langley Titles, which were transferred to Queensborough under the provisions of the Proclamation of 14th Feby last. It is notManuscript imagenot impossible that this concession, led in some manner to the high prices obtained for the Queensborough lots.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
This is a very satisfactory proof of the estimation in which this new Colony is held by persons resident in the Country—when, in a two days sale, land is sold at the proposed Capital for about £19,000.
Forward to Land Bd and print for Parlt in the next Series of British Columbia papers.
HM July 26
CF 27
N 28
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Colonial Office to Emigration Commissioners, 10 August 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosed statement of monies received.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Statement of account for the sale of land in Queensborough, 4 June 1859, showing amount received at $89,170.00.
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 6 June 1859, CO 60:4, no. 7336, 434. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B59165.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)