Colonial Despatches

I have to acknowledge your letter of 9th instant enclosing a Despatch from Governor Douglas on the subject of the inconvenience caused by the uncertainty as to the claims put forward by the Hudsons Bay Co to certain lands in British Columbia.

2. Governor Douglas encloses a correspondence with the Hudsons Bay Cos Agent, from which it appears that certain Lands which have been been sold by the Government to individuals are claimed by the Company, and that there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining the exact boundaries of the Company's claims. There can be no doubt that this is extremely inconvenient but until the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is obtained, which can scarcely be before next Spring, no effectual remedy can be applied. But it would be desirable in the meantime that the Local Government should abstain as much as possible from dealing with Land claimed by the Company—so as to avoid increasing their claim to compensation should their Title to the Land be eventually affirmed.