Colonial Despatches

Having received and laid before my Lords Comissioners of the Admiralty, your letter of the 2nd Instant, transmitting the copy of a Letter from the War Office forwarding a copy of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins in which he suggests that the Land Buildings &c, purchased in Van Couvers Island for the use of the surveying party under his command, should, when the duties of the Commission are closed, be transferred to the Colonial Government at a valuation instead ofof being disposed of to private parties, I am commanded by my Lords to request, that you will move His Grace The Duke of Newcastle, to cause the Governor of Vancouvers Island to place himself in communication with the Senior Officer of HM Ships and Vessels, in the Pacific with the view of ascertaining whether it is considered desirable that the Land in question should be secured for Naval purposes.