<persName ref="prs:douglas_j"><surname>Douglas</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:lytton_egeb"><surname>Lytton</surname>, <forename>Edward</forename> <forename>George</forename> <forename>Earle</forename> <forename>Bulwer</forename></persName> 11 December 1858, CO 305:9, no. 1071, 253. Douglas addressee Lytton

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 11 December 1858, CO 305:9, no. 1071, 253.The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.6, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V58050.html. CO 305:09 CO 305 9 1071 253 50 V.I. 1858 received 29 January 1859 co_305_09_00253r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Despatch to London. Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (6), Marginalia (1).

Douglas submits the Custom House Returns of Imports for the quarter ending 30 September.

The minutes find the account satisfactory and copy to the Board of Trade for reference.

Enclosed is six documents of returns and land sales.

 Douglas, James Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
No. 50 1071/59, CO 305/9, p. 253; received 29 January 1859 11 December 1858

I have the honor to transmit herewith for your information, the Custom House Returns of Imports for the quarter ending with the 30th day of September last amountingto to the comparatively large sum of £231.376 Sterling which shows the prodigiously increased trade of this Port.

2. Another Return shows that the amount of fees collected at the Custom House is $6486.56; a disproportionately small sum, considering the amount of Imports, in consequence of no Customs Duties being levied in this Port; but the sum collected will nevertheless be sufficient to pay the salaries of the Officers and to defray all the other expenses connected with the Custom House, so that it will not be burdensome to the Colony.

There

3. There is also herewith forwarded Returns of British and foreign vessels which have entered this Port up to the quarter ending on the 30th day of September and to the 25th day of November last.

4. I have also the honor of forwarding a statement of the quantities of public land sold in this Colony from the 10th day of October 1857 to the 4th day of November instant, as exhibited in the series of tables numbered from 1 to 7, the gross quantity in acres being a little over 30,924 acres. *

5. A great part ofthat that land especially in the Saanich and Cowitchin Districts is not yet allotted, but you will observe that the purchasers have all been required to pay an instalment of 25 per cent on their respective lots as a necessary condition of registration.

6. The sums of money collected during the year on account of those land sales as shown by the tables referred to, amount to £8586.9, including the sum of £664-17-3 received in payment of land sold previously to the period embraced by those tables.

7. There is now due to the Colony a balanceof of £24,056-18-4, on account of land sales, which the parties will be called upon to pay as the instalments become due, with interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum on their respective balances.

8. The following comparative table will show the quantities of public land sold respectively in the years 1857 & 1858 Public lands sold in 1857 6303 105/160 do do " 1858 30,984 127/160 24,681 22/160 acres giving an excess of sales over the previous year to the extent of 24,681 22/160 acres.

9. There has been aa remarkable increase this year in the population of this Colony, in consequence of the discovery of Gold in Fraser's River. Victoria from a village has grown up into a town of considerable extent, and become the seat of a large and growing trade, being still the only Port of Entry for ships bound to British Columbia.

10. The Country has this year received an impetus, which, I think, will lead to the regular and rapid development of its resources. With reference to those tables

I have etc.
Mr Merivale Copy to Board of Trade for infn. Communicate to Parlt. ABd 31 Jany
And with the last enclosure to Land & Emn Commrs. HM Jan 31
And send them for their inf. a copy of the draft just approved relating to the disposal of Land in the Colony. ABd
A satisfactory account. C Feby 1
Return of imports into Victoria for the quarter ending 30 September 1858, signed 20 November 1858 by Alex C. Anderson.
Return of Customs House receipts for the quarter ending 29 September 1858.
Account of Customs House expenses for the same quarter, signed 20 November 1858 by Anderson.
Return of vessels entered at Victoria from 29 June 1858 to 29 September 1858.
Return of vessels entered at Victoria from 29 September 1858 to 25 November 1858.
Statement of land sales in the colony from 10 October 1857 to 4 November 1858, by district, showing names of purchasers and quantities purchased.
Land Board. [ABd]