Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Smith, Peter to
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
31 July 1854, CO 305:5, no. 6566, 247.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2).
Smith writes to Grey, as directed by the “Deputy Governor and Committee,” in response to Peel’s inquiries on Vancouver Island land-sales. Smith relates that the only alteration made to the original HBC-grant regulations is that
“each purchaser should take out labourers in the ratio of one to every twenty acres
of land.” Smith conveys the HBC’s belief that a “Free Grants” system, like that in the United States,
would have increased settlement rates on the the Island, but would fail to provide coextensive government and social infrastructure.
The minutes request that the question of, presumably, land sales be sent to the Land
Board, along with Smith’s letter.
Smith to Grey
Hudson's Bay House
31st July 1854
Sir
In the absence of the Governor, I am directed by the Deputy
Governor and Committee, to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Under
Secretary Peel's letter of the 24th instant, in which with
reference to the proposed change of providing for a Clergyman on
Vancouver's Island, he communicates your request to be informed
what regulations respecting the Sale of Land (if any) are now in
force in Vancouver's Island besides those established by the
resolutions of the Hudson's Bay Company, passed at the time of
the Grant of the Island.
In
In reply thereto I am to state, that no alteration has been
made in those regulations with the exception of the condition,
that each purchaser should take out labourers in the ratio of
one to every twenty acres of land; the reason for which
alteration was explained in the Governor's letter to Sir John
Pakington dated 1st Decr 1852.
I am further directed to submit to you, that though the
Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, have no doubt that the
Settlement of the Island would have proceeded more rapidly, had
the system of Free Grants of Land been adopted there, as in the
Oregon Territory of the United States, yet that Vancouver's
Island is, as far as they know, the only settlement with any
pretence to civilization that has met the wholeexpenses
expenses of
Government, Survey's, roads, Clergy, and Schools, without the
imposition of any tax but that for the privilege of selling spirits.
expenses of
Government, Survey's, roads, Clergy, and Schools, without the
imposition of any tax but that for the privilege of selling spirits.
Minutes by CO staff
People in this document
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George