Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 11 December 1858, CO 305:9, no. 1071, 253.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (6), Marginalia (1).
Douglas submits the Custom House Returns of Imports for the quarter ending 30 September.
The minutes find the account “satisfactory” and copy to the Board of Trade for reference.
Enclosed is six documents of returns and land sales.
No. 50
11 December 1858
I have the honor to transmit herewith for your information, the
Custom House Returns of Imports for the quarter ending with the
30th day of September last amountingto
to the comparatively
large sum of £231.376 Sterling which shows the prodigiously
increased trade of this Port.
to the comparatively
large sum of £231.376 Sterling which shows the prodigiously
increased trade of this Port.
2. Another Return shows that the amount of fees collected at
the Custom House is $6486.56; a disproportionately small sum,
considering the amount of Imports, in consequence of no Customs
Duties being levied in this Port; but the sum collected will
nevertheless be sufficient to pay the salaries of the Officers
and to defray all the other expenses connected with the Custom
House, so that it will not be burdensome to the Colony.
There
3. There is also herewith forwarded Returns of British and
foreign vessels which have entered this Port up to the quarter
ending on the 30th day of September and to the 25th day of
November last.
4. I have also the honor of forwarding a statement of the
quantities of public land sold in this Colony from the 10th day
of October 1857 to the 4th day of November instant, as
exhibited in the series of tables numbered from 1 to 7, the
gross quantity in acres being a little over 30,924 acres.
Land Board.
5. A great part ofthat
that land especially in the Saanich and
Cowitchin Districts is not yet allotted, but you will observe
that the purchasers have all been required to pay an instalment
of 25 per cent on their respective lots as a necessary condition
of registration.
that land especially in the Saanich and
Cowitchin Districts is not yet allotted, but you will observe
that the purchasers have all been required to pay an instalment
of 25 per cent on their respective lots as a necessary condition
of registration.
6. The sums of money collected during the year on account of
those land sales as shown by the tables referred to, amount to
£8586.9, including the sum of £664-17-3 received in payment of
land sold previously to the period embraced by those tables.
7. There is now due to the Colony a balanceof
of £24,056-18-4, on
account of land sales, which the parties will be called upon to
pay as the instalments become due, with interest at the rate of
5 per cent per annum on their respective balances.
of £24,056-18-4, on
account of land sales, which the parties will be called upon to
pay as the instalments become due, with interest at the rate of
5 per cent per annum on their respective balances.
8. The following comparative table will show the quantities of
public land sold respectively in the years 1857 & 1858
Public lands sold in 1857 6303 105/160
do do " 1858 30,984 127/160
24,681 22/160 acres giving an excess of sales over the previous year to the extent of 24,681 22/160 acres.
Public lands sold in 1857 6303 105/160
do do " 1858 30,984 127/160
24,681 22/160 acres giving an excess of sales over the previous year to the extent of 24,681 22/160 acres.
9. There has been aa
remarkable increase this year in the
population of this Colony, in consequence of the discovery of
Gold in Fraser's River. Victoria from a village has grown up
into a town of considerable extent, and become the seat of a
large and growing trade, being still the only Port of Entry for
ships bound to British Columbia.
remarkable increase this year in the
population of this Colony, in consequence of the discovery of
Gold in Fraser's River. Victoria from a village has grown up
into a town of considerable extent, and become the seat of a
large and growing trade, being still the only Port of Entry for
ships bound to British Columbia.
10. The Country has this year received an impetus, which, I
think, will lead to the regular and rapid development of its
resources. With reference to those tables
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
And with the last enclosure to Land & Emn Commrs.
HM
Jan 31
And send them for their inf. a copy of the draft just approved
relating to the disposal of Land in the Colony.
A satisfactory account.
C
Feby 1
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Return of imports into Victoria for the quarter ending 30
September 1858, signed 20 November 1858 by Alex C. Anderson.
Return of Customs House receipts for the quarter ending 29
September 1858.
Account of Customs House expenses for the same quarter, signed
20 November 1858 by Anderson.
Statement of land sales in the colony from 10 October 1857 to 4 November 1858, by district, showing names of purchasers and
quantities purchased.