No. 106
               
            
            
               
               
                     New Westminster
                     
                  
               22nd August 1868
               
               My Lord Duke,
                
            
            
               I have had the honor to receive Your Grace's despatch No. 26 of
               
12th May respecting the state of the laws regarding
the
 the
               disposal of the public lands in this Colony.
               
               2.  I beg leave to forward a report from the Surveyor General on
               the subject and would add my own testimony that the present law
               works well.  During the severe commercial crisis from which we
               are just emerging the settlement of land in the Upper Country
               continued, and the farmers were the chief support of the Colony
when
               when heavy adversity fell on the shop keepers of 
Victoria and
               
New Westminster.
               
               3.  During the last year in one district alone, that of 
Yale,
               forty six preemption claims were recorded by persons who have
               stocked their farms and partially brought them under cultivation.
               
               I have the honor to be,
               My Lord Duke,
               Your Grace's most obedient
               humble Servant
               
Frederick Seymour
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
                
                  
                  Sir F. Rogers
                     It would appear from this Report that the Sale of Crown Lands by
                     Auction is not suited to the circes of the Colony,
                     whilst the preemption system has secured a certain amount of
                     permanent settlement.
                     
 
                  
                  
                     To the Ld Bd with a copy of the despatch to which it is
                     an answer.
                     
                  
                  
                   
                  
                  
                     To E.C. at once.
                     
                  
                  
                  
                   
            
            
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
                
                  
                  
                     J.W. Trutch, Surveyor General, to Colonial Secretary, 
12
                        August 1868, reporting on the land laws in force in the colony
                     (fifteen pages).
                     
                     
 
                   
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
                
                  
                  
                     Rogers to Emigration Commissioners, 
21 October 1868, forwarding
                     correspondence with regard to settlement of crown lands in the
                     colony for observations and suggestions.