In
1853, Skinner was made a Justice of the Peace.
1 Douglas later regretted this decision and, in
1854, appointed
David Cameron instead.
2 Despite his disapproval of this motion, Skinner refused to sign a petition protesting
the appointment of
Cameron out of fear that the HBC would retaliate against him.
3 In
1854, Skinner relayed some devastating news to
Newcastle about
Reverend Robert Staines who was sent to England to discuss information with the Colonial Office.
Staine’s ship was found waterlogged with only one man alive.
4In 1856, Skinner was a member of the House of Assembly and owned over 20 acres of land.5
Skinner was a priest for the Christ Church of Victoria by
1861.
6 In
1861, Skinner wrote that the church reserve land (for the Church of England) was neglected.
7 The land given to the church by the Hudson’s Bay Company was rumoured to soon be
developed into a park.
8 Skinner disagreed with this and requested for at least half the land to be consecrated
for the Church.
Douglas, in letters to
Newcastle, admitted that he wanted the land given to the townspeople.
9 Henry Berens later wrote to
Newcastle about the church land discussing the public cemetery which was for all Christians.
His concern was if Skinner consecrated the land, it would then be available for only
the Church of England.
10
- 1. Douglas to Newcastle, 11 April 1853, No. 5, 6979, CO 305/4, p. 20; Douglas to Grey, Sir George, 11 December 1854, No. 42, 1918, CO 305/5, p. 128.
- 2. Margaret A. Ormsby, Sir James Douglas, Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
- 3. Labouchere to Douglas, 8 July 1856, No. 12, LAC, RG7, G8C/1, p. 418; Swanston to Banister, 4 January 1856, 1777, CO 305/7, p. 429.
- 4. Cooper, Langford and Skinner to Newcastle, 20 April 1854, 5924, CO 305/5, p. 272.
- 5. Douglas to Labouchere, 20 August 1856, No. 19, 9708, CO 305/7, p. 82; Colvile to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary), 16 April 1855, 3578, CO 305/6, p. 247.
- 6. Douglas to Newcastle, 7 May 1861, No. 34, Ecclesiastical, 6109, CO 305/17, p. 175.
- 7. Ibid.
- 8. Ibid.
- 9. Ibid.
- 10. Berens to Newcastle, 22 July 1861, 6654, CO 305/18, p. 257.