Lord Carnarvon
You will observe that it is only an idea of my own that it should be
suggested to the Admiralty that they should take precautionary
measures, either by the employment of some competent Agent on the
spot to investigate, or by at once purchasing some reserves, for
providing themselves with Coal and Timber fit for nautical purposes.
We must all feel that it is very likely that these new Settlements
will form a great Naval Station
one of these days. We know that the
Admiralty has been extremely negligent, notwithstanding that they had
Naval Officers constantly to advise them on the value of
Thetis
Island, in allowing that Harbor to escape into the possession of a
private person, from whom they will now have to purchase it in all
probability. We know that the Adm
y have at this moment deputed a
Commissioner to Canada to explore the Country for Timber suitable for
our Navy. With these facts, & with the knowledge that Coal and
Timber—such as is required for our ships—may now be obtained on
reasonable terms, whilst hereafter it may be more difficult to
purchase, except at an augmented price I threw out the notion that it
might be prudent for the Adm
y to procure some reserves themselves.
And I still think it is worth the consideration of that Board.
Already the Hudson's Bay C
o have bought 10 square miles, I think, of
Land at
Nanaimo—which produces the best coal in the Island, yet
known: & other speculators will do the same. And if the
Govt are
not equally active we shall be chargeable with want of foresight,
indifference, &c. But I quite admit that the proposal is not
altogether satisfactory. It is contrary to usual
politics, economical views that we should not go into the ordinary
market to buy what we want, & when we want. This may hold good as
regards Coal; but not I think in the article of Timber. For every
one knows that at this time suitable timber for Ship building for the
Govt is an article of scarcity in Europe. Wherefore, as I said
before, we are sending to Canada to find what we want, as we can't
get it elsewhere. This
wd be obviated by Naval Reserves. They can
however only be purchased in the usual way, if you adhere to rules;
though I do not myself at all see why as the Land is the Crowns it
should not reserve what it likes for Naval purposes. We have not
handed over the Lands of the Crown in these Colonies to any
Legislature, and now is the time to secure what we want!
Doubtless there are objections to reserves, whether in the Shape of
monopolies to great Corporations or Companies,
for they occasion envy
& complaints on the part of the public, or whether the Government
possesses them. And if the Government has Reserves there is every
probability that in the Course of time they will be handed over to
the Colony just as we have lately surrendered the Clergy Reserves &
the Ordnance Lands in Canada, to be followed probably by the Naval
Reserves in
Nova Scotia, &
New Brunswick. But nevertheless the
question comes at last [to] what is it best to do for the public
interest? Whether to incur the obloquy of reserves, with the
prospect of having to surrender them in after ages, or to run the
chance of having now to buy our coal and Timber in the usual way of
trade? This question is for the Admiralty to solve. I have only
raised it in the interests of the public, & do not wish more
attention bestowed on it than it is really worth. It seems to me,
however, on the whole, that it might be well if we were to ask the
Land
Board for their opinion on the subject, and whether they see
any objection, present, or future, to reserving on behalf of the
Crown Lands where there are Coal and Timber; to be made applicable to
Governmental purposes.