Colonial Despatches

I have to acknowledge Mr Merivale's letter of 26th ultimo, enclosing a Despatch from Governor Douglas proposing the reservations of some land in British Columbia for the use of certain of the Indians of that Colony.

2. Governor Douglas encloses a correspondence which has passed between Mr Cridge, the District Minister of Victoria, and Mr Duncan, a Gentleman who has devoted himself to the work of Christianizing the Indians, from which it appears that Mr Duncan is anxious to obtain some land on which to locate the younger Members of the Tribe who have been under his instruction, in order that by separating them from the older Indians they may be rescued from the danger of relapsing into vicious habits. Governor Douglas in consequence proposes to reserve several hundred acres of land for this purpose about 20 Miles South of Fort Simpson to be conveyed to the Governor of the Colony for the time being in trust for the Indians, but not to be in any degree subject to their disposal.

3. This proposition appears to me well deserving of approval, and I would recommend that it should receive the sanction of the Duke of Newcastle.