Colonial Despatches

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Grace's Despatch No 62 of the 25th of June last, enclosing Copy of a Correspondence with theWar War office relative to the Erection of Barracks in Vancouver Island, and directing me to report upon the question of a site for those Buildings.

2. As the object of Your Grace's enquiries has more especially reference to the question whether the land for the site of the Barracks will have to be purchased, or if unsold land be available for the purpose, I beg to offerthe the following remarks.

3. It will no doubt seem to Your Grace a very extraordinary circumstance that at this early stage of the Colony's Existence, when so much of the public land remains at the disposal of the Crown, and so small a proportion of the actual area of the Colony is occupied by settlers, Her Majesty's Government should be put to the Expense of purchasing a site for Barracks; suchis is nevertheless the case; no precautions having been taken in the early days of the Colony to reserve land in the District of Victoria for that purpose: a remark which I would observe applies only to Victoria, and not to the other Districts, in all of which large reserves of land have been made for public use. The latter being sparsely settled are hardly yet of sufficient importance toattract attract an Enemy's attention, it being more probable that his efforts would be directed to the capture of the Town and District of Victoria, the present centre of wealth and population; and it should be mainly our object to protect that part of the Colony from attack.

4. For these reasons Colonel Moody proposes to quarter the Troops in the neighbourhood of Victoria, and mentions two eligiblesites sites near the public Park, on one of which he recommends the Barracks should be placed, having it in view to use the Park as a Drill and Parade Ground; the space requisite for the Buildings would therefore not exceed 10 Acres.

5. To that extent it will be necessary to purchase land, as all the property in that neighbourhood belongs to the Hudson's Bay Company and to private individuals; unless Her Majesty's Government should approve of holdingthe the site under a lease for a period of not less than 21 years with the option of purchase at a fixed price.

6. An arrangement on that basis could be effected which would not involve an annual charge of more than Sixty Pounds (£60) and would not press heavily upon our resources, even should the Colony be called upon to provide the sum.

7. As it may be assumedthat that Troops will ere long be stationed here, I am of opinion that it would be a wise and proper step to secure a suitable site for Barracks at once, before the land rises in price. It would not, I think, be advisable to delay the acquisition until the decision of the question pending with the Hudsons Bay Company; for in the case of their claim not being confirmed by the Privy Council, the outlay on the site maybe be re-imbursed by the sale of part of the land which will thereby fall to the Crown.

8. I have further the honour of transmitting herewith for Your Grace's information, a Communication from Colonel Moody on the subject of this Despatch.