No. 47
               
            
            
            
            
               I had the honor to receive in 
London a despatch marked
               "Separate" of the 
15th of January 1864, from the 
Duke of
                  Newcastle, forwarding to me, amongst other enclosures, a letter
               from 
Sir Edmund Head complaining that the Government of this
               Colony did not issue the grants to the Hudson's Bay Company
               of the lands assigned to them under the Agreement
of
 of the 
11th
                  of October 1861.  His Grace directed me to give my early [attention] to
               the matter.
               
               2.  I do not find that my predecessor is to be blamed for
               the delay which has occurred.  Under the Land Act now in force
               no grant can be issued for a piece of land until the "Government
               Survey shall extend to the land claimed."  This general Government
               Survey has reached some of the lands claimed by the Hudson's Bay
               Company, and in such cases the grants have been issued to them.
               There are many persons aggrieved by the non receipt of their
               grants, and as the "Government Survey"
will
 will not probably for
               very many years be extended over the Colony, I propose making some
               changes in the Law at the next Session.
               
               3.  Even, however, if the Law be amended so as to allow of
               isolated surveys, I presume that there are many of the blocks
               of land claimed by the Company, which are not worth the expense
               which the survey would entail.
               
            
            
               4.  The Hudson's Bay Company will always find in me a desire
               to meet their wishes.
               
            
            
            
            
            
            
               Minutes by CO staff
               
                
                  
                  
                     Mr Elliot
                     Communicate a Copy of this Despatch to Sir Ed. Head?
                     
 
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                     And also to the Emigration Commissioners.
                     
                  
                  
                   
               
               
                  
                  
                     Mr Jadis
                     The drafts:  send to 
Sir E. Head for his inf
n, & to
                     the Comm
rs for any remarks they may have to offer.
                     
 
                  
                  
                  
                   
                
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
                
                  
                  
                     Elliot to Emigration Commissioners, 
13 December 1864, forwarding
                     copy of the despatch for suggestions and observations.
                     
 
                   
                  
                  
                     Rogers to 
Sir E. Head, Hudson's Bay Company, 
14 December 1864,
                     forwarding copy of the despatch for information.