Colonial Despatches

My Predecessor and myself have had on many occasions to report respecting the great injury inflicted upon the Indians by the traffic in whisky carried on by some traders in Victoria on the North West Coast of thisColony. Colony. It is not long ago since I informed you of the killing of one native Constable and the wounding of others by Whisky smugglers at Metlakahtla. With the deepest regret I now report the murder, under somewhat similar circumstances, of Mr Ogilvy, the Collector of Customs at Bella Coola, North Bentinck Arm. I enclose Copy of the depositions taken before Mr Brew, the Police Magistrate of New Westminister. They will give you a correct idea of themanner manner in which the Whisky trade is carried on and show that the deceased gave no provocation which could palliate in any way the attack which was made on him.

2. Mr Ogilvy was an excellent and valuable public Officer. I refer to the testimony borne to his merits in my despatches No. 69 of 23rd Novr 1864, and No. 10 of 25th February 1865, where I announce his appointmentto to the Office he held so short a time.

3. It is at least gratifying to me when reporting one more fatal episode in this demoralizing trade to mention that the Bella Coola Indians behaved on this, as on every other occasion, since the Bute Inlet massacres caused us to rely on their assistance, in the most admirable manner. These Indians who formerly bore an execrable character on theCoast Coast, and whose Chief settlement still stands as "Rascals' Village" on all the old maps, have proved within the last year most jealous and efficient friends to the white men.

4. Antoine, the murderer, escaped late on a dark night, in a small boat by himself. Four shots were fired after him, and a gale of wind came on shortly after his departure. Nothing has been heard of himsince since and it is not unlikely that he may have perished. At the villages below the spot where he left the "Langley" no trace of him could be procured. We know that the Bella Coola Indians would capture him should he venture to return to them, so we presume that, if Antoine be alive, he has taken refuge among the Comsquit Indians at the head of Deans' Canal, rarely visited by White men. If so, he would probablyendeavour endeavour to make his way across the country to Cariboo, I have therefore caused timely notice to be given to the Magistrates of that district, and have furnished them with copies of a Proclamation by which I offer two hundred pounds reward for the apprehension of the murderer.