Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Lawford, T. W.
to Colonial Office 9 September 1857, CO 305:8, no. 8768, 380A.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Lawford applies to the Colonial Office for government support in transporting his family
to Vancouver Island for settlement.
The minutes intend to inform Lawford that the government “grant no facilities for settling” on Vancouver Island but that they can purchase land from the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Lawford to Colonial Office
I am desirous of going to Vancouvers Island. I am an active man of
50 married & have nine children 1 Son & 4 daughters are above 16 years
old. We are all well suited to make good settlers. I have always been
a promoter of education & improvements amongst the labouring classes, am
thorough Master
of the most improved modern agriculture, erection of
Farm buildings, Road making Bridge building &c. Will you be so very
kind as to inform me whether Government will afford any facilities to
persons to enable them to reach the island. I have no doubt that enough
could be found here to passenger a Ship from
Quebec.
of the most improved modern agriculture, erection of
Farm buildings, Road making Bridge building &c. Will you be so very
kind as to inform me whether Government will afford any facilities to
persons to enable them to reach the island. I have no doubt that enough
could be found here to passenger a Ship from
Quebec.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Inform the writer that the Govt grant no facilities for settling in V. Couvers Island, and that the H.B.Co, who possess at present the right of disposing of land, sell it at 1 per acre, payable by 4 instalments.
Inform the writer that the Govt grant no facilities for settling in V. Couvers Island, and that the H.B.Co, who possess at present the right of disposing of land, sell it at 1 per acre, payable by 4 instalments.
ABd
23 S
Annex dt.
HM
S 24
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Lawford, 28 September 1857, explaining the lack
of government sponsorship and the terms of land acquisition in the
colony.