Colonial Despatches

I beg leave to submit for your Lordship's consideration the following statement of facts.

In the year 1862 arrangements were made by Messrs Stewart Meldrum & Co of Victoria Vancouver Island merchants for surveying the Mineral lands on the North West Coast of Vancouver Island, with a view to their development; and a Memorial in writing from these Gentlemen and Mr MacKean, who was also interested, was presented to the Governor, praying a Grant from the Crown of the tract of Country lying contiguous to Koskeemo Sound, with the right of working the baser metals.

This application was acceded to, and the option of applying for a prior grant of all the Lands bordering upon the Sound was also given by His Excellency Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., the then Governor of the Island; who was favorably impressed with the undertaking and the enterprise shown by Messrs Steward Meldrum & Co for developing the resources of the Colony, and an instalment of about £800, being at the rate of 2/1 per acre, was paid into the Treasury at Victoria, on behalf of this Firm and Mr MacKean respectively.

Since that period considerable sums of money have been expended in surveying and testing the resources of this Sound. The parties interested are very desirous that the benefit of their past labours, and the heavy outlay they have thus incurred should not be lost to them, and on their behalf I have to ask your Lordship to be pleased to authorize a grant to them of the Lands comprised in their former application, and to extend the time for their further survey of this district; and securing a grant of additional Lands.