Land Policy of the Colony of Vancouver Island •

1849- \ 866

m

icy of the

of Vancouver Island

1849-1866 ;v-

LEONARD A. WR.INCH

LAUD POLICY OP THE- COLOSY OE VANCOUVER ISLAND.

1849 — 1866

by

L e o n a r d . A » W r i n c h

A T h e s i s s u b m i t t e d f o r A

t h e d e g r e e o f

MASTER OF ARTS

i n t h e

D e p a r t m e n t o f H i s t o r y

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o r B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a

O c t o b e r 1932

FOREWORD

MA11 experience i a an arch where through

Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades

Forever and forever as I move.*

These glorious words of Ulysses might well

have been written of one p a r t i c u l a r "branch of human

experience--historical research. I think, that no one,

p r i v i l e g e d as I have been to glance into a small sec­

t i o n of the h i s t o r y of our province, could f a i l to be

impressed by the enormous and untouched f i e l d before

him. In the following venture into t h i s great f i e l d

I have benefited by the able p i l o t i n g of Dr. W.N.Sage,

an experienced navigator i n these uncharted seas. To

his i n s p i r a t i o n and to the technical t r a i n i n g gained

i n Professor Soward*s seminar, a great measure of the

worth of t h i s thesis, must he accorded.

L.A.W.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I . The G r a n t o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d

A u g u s t 1846 - J a n u a r y 1849. . . . 1

I I . P o l i c y u n d e r B l a n s h a r d

J a n u a r y 18J|9 - A u g u s t 1851. . . .20

I I I . P o l i c y u n d e r C h i e f F a c t o r D o u g l a s

A u g u s t 1851 - O c t o b e r 1858. . . .42

I T . The A c c o u n t o f t h e Hudson*s B a y Company

F e b r u a r y 1858 - O c t o b e r 1862. . .62

T. The Hudson*s B a y Company R e s e r v e — t i l l t h e I n d e n ­

t u r e o f 1862 September 1846 - F e b r u a r y 1862. .71

¥ 1 . The Hudson*s B a y Company R e s e r v e — c o n c l u d e d

F e b r u a r y 1862 - May 1867 . . . 100

V l l . Crown L a n d s and C i v i l L i s t u n d e r G o v e r n o r

D o u g l a s J u l y 1859 - l a r c h 1864. . . . . 123

¥ 1 1 1 . Crown L a n d s and C i v i l L i s t u n d e r G o v e r n o r

K e n n e d y M a r c h 1864 - A u g u s t 1866. . . . 140

I X . L a n d L e g i s l a t i o n on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d

J a n u a r y 1849 - A u g u s t 1866. . . 169

X* P a r a l l e l C o n d i t i o n s on t h e M a i n l a n d

O c t o b e r 1858 - A u g u s t 1866. . . 190

APPENDIX PAGE

A. Formation of the Puget.*s; Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l

Company 209

B. Leopold. La-went) erg and. Lot Z . . • 221

C. Church and. Springs Reserve. . . . . . . . . . . 231

D. Sales from the Hudson's Bay Company Reserve . • 240

E. Land P o l i c y and The Indians 245

E. M i l i t a r y Settlement 264

G. B i b l i o g r a p h i c a l Note. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276

INDEX OP HAPS

1. Park, and School Reserves Facing page 103

2. Tracing B. re Lot Z . . » w 221

3. Tracing A. re Lot 2 . . " 223

4. Church Reserve II " 235

Chapter I

THE GRANT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

August 1846 January 18.48

A p o l i c y must be l a i d down by some authority. The f i r s t

authority on Vancouver Island was the Hudson's Bay

Company which on January 13 th^ 1849, received a charter

to "establish upon the aai& island a settlement or

settlements of resident c o l o n i s t s emigrants from the

United Kingdoms of Great B r i t a i n and Ireland or from other

our Dominions. "^ This grant has been severely c r i t i c i s e d

by Bancroft and l a t e r h i s t o r i a n s but the conditions under

which the grant was made do much to j u s t i f y i t .

The Oregon treaty had j u s t shown England that

p r i o r rights of discovery were to be of l i t t l e a v a i l

against actual occupation and settlement i n any dispute

with the nation whose symbol f o r the period may well be

the covered wagon and whose most popular catchword was

"Manifest Destiny". The presence of the emigrant was

sure to count i n the long run.^ The a r i s t o c r a t s of the

.... 1. R.M.Martin "Hudson's Bay T e r r i t o r i e s and Vancouver's

Island" London 1849 pp.168-73 f o r text of a t r i a l

draft submitted to Hudson's Bay Company fo r amendment.

This form contained no mention of any rewards f o r the

Company.

2. Mpaa E.E.Dye i n "McLaughlin and Old Oregon" Chicago 1

C o l o n i a l O f f i c e r e a l i z e d t h a t B r i t i s h , s e t t l e m e n t was

n e c e s s a r y * B u t t h i s was no Oregon t o be r e a c h e d by p o o r

e m i g r a n t s i n wagon t r a i l s . The C o r d i l l e r a i n Canada h a d

o n l y b e e n t r a v e r s e d by canoe and p a c k - h o r s e . S e t t l e m e n t

o b v i o u s l y must, come by s e a , a l o n g and e x p e n s i v e j o u r n e y

n o t t o be u n d e r t a k e b y l a b o r e r s . Hence c a p i t a l was

c o u r t e d * As i n t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u r y c h a r t e r e d c o m p a n i e s were

t o t a k e up t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e E m p i r e * W a k e f i e l d was

b u 8 y ? i n t h e A n t i p o d e s , i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s

o f s y s t e m a t i c c o l o n i z a t i o n — w h y n o t s u c h a p l a n f o r t h e

n o r t h ? One was p r e s e n t e d by Mr. James Edward F i t z g e r a l d .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y h i s p l a n d i d n o t meet w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f

t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e and when t h e g r a n t was made t o t h e

Hudson's B a y Company, he worked o f f h i s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t b y

t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f " V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d and t h e Hudson's

Bay Company" w h e r e i n he b r i n g s o u t a l l t h e f a u l t s

2 . ( c o n t . ) A . C M c C l u r e and Co. .1902 p.284, t e l l s t h e

f o l l o w i n g a n e c d o t e , e x p r e s s i v e o f t h e f e e l i n g s o f t h e

A m e r i c a n s e t t l e r s i n O r e g o n . A 14 y e a r o l d l a d c l i m b e d

on b o a r d t h e Hudson's Bay Company London s h i p e x p l a i n i n g

t h a t he "wanted t o s e e t h e s h i p as I n e v e r saw one b e f o r e

t o r e c o l l e c t " . The c a p t a i n a s k e d h i m where he h a d come

f r o m a n d why he h a d come t o Ore g o n a n d i n t h e y o u t h ' s i n ­

c l u s i v e r e p l y s t o o d the s p i r i t o f t h e e m i g r a n t s . "We've

come f r o m M i s s o u r i , we've come f r o m M i s s o u r i a c r o s s t h e

Rocky M o u n t a i n s . We've come t o s e t t l e Oregon a n d r u l e t h i s c o u n t r y . "

2

ascribable to the Hudson's Bay Company both as traders

and colonizers. Judge Howay says that his proposition

was "generous" but "as he could give no guarantee, such

as that offered by a corporation of such high standing

i n the f i n a n c i a l world as the Hudson's Bay Company,

the ministry could not i n fairness l i s t e n to h i s

proposals."^ Let us see what these proposals were.^

He proposed a j o i n t stock company whose

c a p i t a l should be subscribed " i n shares of £100 each,

to be expended i n the conveyance of labor to the Colony."

These laborers were to be young married men, between the

ages of eighteen and t h i r t y - f i v e and temporary rules

were to be set up whereby the f a i r sex should not be

i n a minority among the emigrants. Arrived at the i s l a n d ,

one half of these laborers were to work on the land of

the shareholders and the other h a l f were to be set up

. . . . 3. This work i s quoted extensively by Bancroft who did

not know or wisely neglected to state the personal

reasons behind Fitzgerald's bias.

4. Howay and S c h o l f i e l d . " B r i t i s h Columbia" J.S.Clarke

Vancouver p.504 He continues—-"Fitzgerald apparently

soured by h i s defeat and f e e l i n g that he had been injured,

b i t t e r l y attacked the Company in a work e n t i t l e d

"Vancouver's Island and the Hudson's Bay Company" which

created some s t i r at the time."

5. F i t z g e r a l d to Hawes. London. 9 Jan. 1847

3

a s a r t i s a n s . " S i x l a b o r e r s ( t w e l v e o r more c o u n t i n g

f a m i l i e s ) were t o be b r o u g h t o u t f o r e a c h h u n d r e d a c r e s -

- t h e amount, a l l o t t e d t o e a c h p u r c h a s e r o f t h r e e £ 1 0 0

s h a r e s . A h o a r d o f t h i r t e e n d i r e c t o r s , c h o o s i n g one o f

t h e i r number c h a i r m a n , were t o be e l e c t e d b y t h e s h a r e ­

h o l d e r s f r o m amongst t h e c o l o n i s t s h o l d e r s o f a t l e a s t

t e n s h a r e s a n d r e s i d e n t on t h e I s l a n d . T h i s b o a r d was

t o " s e t t l e t h e mode o f a l l o t t i n g l a n d , t h e q u a n t i t y t o

be a l l o t t e d p e r s h a r e ( s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e ) , t h e g r a n t i n g

o f t i t l e t o t h e l a n d , t h e s u r v e y i n g o f l a n d a n d t h e

t r e a t m e n t o f n a t i v e s f o r t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e s o i l . "

S h o u l d t h e c o l o n y p r o s p e r and s e t t l e m e n t s be b u i l t up,

F i t z g e r a l d h a d p l a n s f o r a c o l o n i a l g o v e r n m e n t - - a g o v e r n o r

a p p o i n t e d b y t h e Crown, a c o u n c i l o f h e a d s o f d e p a r t ­

ments a p p o i n t e d by t h e g o v e r n o r and r e m o v a b l e o n l y b y

t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e v o t e s o f an a s s e m b l y c h o s e n o n l y f r o m

among s h a r e h o l d e r s and p o s s e s s o r s o f £ 1 0 0 b o n a f i d e

p r o p e r t y .

T h i s was t h e " g e n e r o u s p r o p o s a l u n d e r w h i c h

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d was t o be s e t t l e d . I t ' s a u t h o r

. . . . 6. He c h o o s e s t h e p r o p o r t i o n b y c o m p a r i n g I r e l a n d , f o u r

f i f t h s a g r i c u l t u r a l and i n g r e a t m i s e r y , w i t h E n g l a n d ,

one t h i r ^ a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d v e r y p r o s p e r o u s . The com­

p r o m i s e was U t o p i a n . Wages f o r t h e l a b o r e r s a r e n o t l a i d

down d e f i n i t e l y b u t l e f t t o t h e w o r k i n g o f e conomic l a w s

and a r e g u l a t i o n o f l a n d p r i c e s .

4

s u g g e s t e d i t as a s u i t a b l e f i e l d f o r t h e c a p i t a l o f

s m a l l I r i s h l a n d h o l d e r s who m i g h t w i s h t o exchange t h e

s t r u g g l e w i t h r e c a l c i t r a n t t e n a n t s f o r t h e l e s s f a m i l i a r

s t r u g g l e o f c o l o n i z a t i o n . Though i t s f o r m i s o f t h e

c l o s e s t m o n o p o l y , v e s t i n g economic c o n t r o l i n a p l u t o c r a c y

w i t h an i n v e s t m e n t o f a t l e a s t £ 1 0 0 0 , and v o t i n g power

i n a l a n d h o l d e r c l a s s , he p r o t e s t s r a t h e r t o o f o r c i b l y

t h a t t h e " p r o p o s a l I s n o t i n the n a t u r e o f an a t t r a c t i v e

s p e c u l a t i o n , o f f e r i n g p r o s p e c t s o f r a p i d o r e x o r b i t a n t

r e t u r n s . I t c o n t e m p l a t e s r a t h e r an a m e l i o r a t e d c o n d i t i o n

t o many, t h a n a monopoly o f w e a l t h b y a few* W h i l s t

a p p e a l i n g t o t h a t s e l f i n t e r e s t w h i c h s t i m u l a t e s t o

e x e r t i o n i n t h e mass o f t h o s e who engage i n i t , i t w i l l

demand some s a c r i f i c e on t h e p a r t o f many o f t h o s e who

s U l l s t a n d i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f l e a d e r s i n t h e c o l o n y . "

So much f o r F i t z g e r a l d ' s p r o p o s a l . The

C o l o n i a l O f f i c e a l s o h a d news o f p o s s i b l e Mormon i m m i g r a ­

t i o n e s p e c i a l l y by way o f K o o t e n a y . George Simpson spoke

o f c o m m e r c i a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h them i n t h e N o r t h West and

f e a r e d " t h e y may d i r e c t t h e i r s t e p s t o "Vancouver's

I s l a n d f r o m whence i t w o u l d be q u i t e i m p o s s i b l e f o r u s ,

e v e n i f a s s i s t e d by t h e n a t i v e s t o d i s l o d g e them . . .

i t i s s a i d they- a r e f a v o r a b l y d i s p o s e d t o B r i t i s h i n t e r e s t s

so that, t h e y m i g h t h e r e a f t e r become u s e f u l p a r t i s a n s i n

t h e e v e n t o f d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i H

He r e f e r s t o a l e t t e r f r o m G r a n t a t F o r t H a l l o f 31 D ec­

ember 1847, "by w h i c h i t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e Mormons

h a v e b e e n i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h H e r M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n ­

ment w i t h a v i e w t o s e t t l i n g on V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d a n d

t h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n a s h a v i n g b e e n

f a v o r a b l y r e c e i v e d . " I n 1846 Mormon c o n v e r t s i n E n g l a n d ,

f e a r i n g t h e c i v i l o p p o s i t i o n t h a t h a d d r i v e n t h e i r c o ­

r e l i g i o n i s t s f r o m Bauvoo s e n t a p e t i t i o n t o He M a j e s t y

and a c o p y t h e r e o f t o e v e r y Member o f P a r l i a m e n t ,

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e L a t t e r Day S a i n t s m i g h t o c c u p y

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d where t h e y c o u l d be n e a r t h e m a i n

c o l o n y i n U t a h a n d y e t u n d e r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f B r i t i s h

» » • •

7. See r e p o r t o f Simpson t o t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , f r o m

fiorway H o u s e , 24 J u n B 1848. G r a n t ' s l e t t e r i s l o s t .

S e a r c h o f t h e i n d e x e s o f t h e London " T i m e s " and o f

H a n s a r d f o r 1847-50 p r o d u c e d no r e p o r t o f t h i s p e t i t i o n

b u t t h e f e a r o f Mormon p r e s s u r e a p p e a r s i n t h e C o l o n i a l

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e w i t h Downing S t r e e t ( h e r e i n a f t e r D . S t . )

and Hudson's Bay House ( h e r e i n a f t e r H.B.H.) f o r some

t i m e . See D o u g l a s t o S m i t h , V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d ( h e r e i n a f t e r

V . I . ) 31 M a r c h 1858 w h e r e i n H.B.H. recommended a s k i n g

f o r m i l i t a r y s u p p o r t -fit t h e y came " i n o v e r p o w e r i n g num­

b e r s . " ; a l s o , D o u g l a s t o L a b o u c h e r e , V . I . , 6 A p r i l 1856,

a c k n o w l e d g i n g L a b o u c h e r e * s a d v i c e o f l P e b . 1 8 5 8 , t o r e c e i v e

s i n g l e i m m i g r a n t f a m i l i e s b u t t o e n f o r c e t h e l a w s a g a i n s t

p o l y gamy and t o r e f u s e mass i m m i g r a t i o n .

6

l a w . U n t i l S a l t L a k e c i t y was c h o s e n as t h e p e r m a n e n t

a b i d i n g p l a c e o f t h e f a i t h f u l , T a n c o u v e r I s l a n d was h e l d

o u t t o t h e c o n v e r t s i n G r e a t B r i t a i n as t h e one " g a t h ­

e r i n g p o i n t o f t h e S a i n t s f r o m t h e i s l a n d s and d i s t a n t 8

p o r t i o n s o f t h e e a r t h . *

The m e m o r i a l m e n t i o n e d t h e t i m e l y t h r e a t o f

p o s s i b l e A m e r i c a n a g g r e s s i o n u n l e s s t h e i s l a n d were

s e t t l e d by B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s . ^ W h i l e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

do m a n i f e s t s u c h a s t r o n g i n c l i n a t i o n , n o t o n l y t o e x t e n d

a n d e n l a r g e t h e i r p o s s e s s i o n s i n t h e west, b u t a l s o t o

p e o p l e them^ w i l l n o t y o u r M a j e s t y l o o k w e l l t o B r i t i s h

i n t e r e s t s i n t h o s e r e g i o n s , and a d o p t t i m e l y p r e c a u t i o n ­

a r y measures t o m a i n t a i n a b a l a n c e o f power i n t h a t

q u a r t e r w h i c h > w i n t j i e o p i n i o n o f y o u r m e m o r i a l i s t s , i s

d e s t i n e d a t no v e r y d i s t a n t p e r i o d t o p a r t i c i p a t e l a r g e l y

i n t h e C h i n a t r a d e " . To h e l p them b u i l d up a B r i t i s h

c e n t r e t h e y a s k e d , f o r e a c h man o v e r 21 y e a r s o l d "who

may become an a c t u a l s e t t l e r , a g r a n t o f l a n d c o r r e s p o n d ­

i n g i n e x t e n t t o g r a a r t s pT©p<ose ,& t o fee a l l o w e d by t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s Government, t o i t s s u b j e c t s who become a c t u a l s e t t l e r s i n t h e extreme W e s t e r n T e r r i t o r i e s ,

. • . . 8. W.A.Linn "The S t o r y o f t h e Mormons" Hew Y o r k 1923

M o s t o f t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a n and t h e

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a r e t a k e n f r o m an e s s a y by J.B.Monroe,

'•Mormon C o l o n i z a t i o n Scheme f o r V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d " p r e s e n t ­

ed t o t h e ^ . C . H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y a t V i c t o r i a 2 Mar 1932

7

n a m e l y f r o m 320 t o 640 a c r e s . " y The p e t i t i o n e r s a l s o

a s k e d f o r "a s m a l l m i l i t a r y f o r c e f o r p r o t e c t i o n o f

e m i g r a n t s a g a i n s t s a v a g e i n v a d e r s a g a i n s t t h a t c o a s t "

and "employment i n i m p r o v i n g t h e h a r b o r s o f t h o s e c o u n t r i e s

o r i n e r e c t i n g p o s t s o f d e f e n c e ; o r i f t h i s be i n e x p e d ­

i e n t t o f u r n i s h them p r o v i s i o n s and means o f s u b s i s t e n c e

u n t i l t h e y c an p r o d u c e them f r o m t h e s o i l * " I n o r d e r t o

p r o v i d e an i n d u c e m e n t t o t h e Crown, t h e y o f f e r e d t o t a k e

up t h e odd s e c t i o n s i n e a c h t o w n s h i p , upon c l e a r i n g o f

w h i c h t h e even s e c t i o n s w o u l d a c q u i r e a h i g h e r v a l u e

" t h a t w o u l d go f a r t o recompense t h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t

f o r t h e i r p r e s e n t e x p e n d i t u r e " and t h e y w o u l d g u a r a n t e e

t w e n t y t h o u s a n d s e t t l e r s "as so o n a s v e s s e l s c a n be f o u n d

t o c o n v e y them*"

One member, D r . B d w e r i n g , was s u f f i c i e n t l y

i n t e r e s t e d t o s e n d a q u e r y a s t o t h e f i n a n c i n g o f t h i s

p r o j e c t . I n t h e r e p l y , t h e r e q u e s t s f o r g r a n t s o f l a n d

was r e p e a t e d and a f u r t h e r r e q u e s t p u t f o r w a r d f o r » a f r e e

p a s s a g e , o r i t s e q u i v a l e n t , £ 1 0 , . . f o r e a c h grown up

p e r s o n , t o be r e p a i d w i t h i n s i x y e a r s . " ^ I t was

.... 9. E x t r a c t f r o m t h e p e t i t i o n as p u b l i s h e d i n t h e

" f f i i l l e n i a l S t a r , r , Mormon o r g a n , 28 Nov.1846, v . 8 , p.142

L i n n , o p . c i t . , p.412 s t a t e s t h a t the p e t i t i o n h a d n e a r l y

13000 s i g n a t u r e s .

10. B d w e r i n g t o Brown, House o f Commons, 8 Feb.1847 a n d

Brown t o B o w e r i n g , L i v e r p o o l , 11 Feb.1847. T h i s and

8

f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t a s h i p l o a d o f e m i g r a n t s h a d b e e n

s e n t t o C a l i f o r n i a "where t h e y a r e s o l i c i t e d t o r e m a i n .

The A m e r i c a n s o f f e r many i n d u c e m e n t s t o s e t t l e r s i n

C a l i f o r n i a b u t o u r f r i e n d s w o u l d p r e f e r t h e p r o t e c t i o n

o f t h e B r i t i s h f l a g . " T h i s may h a v e t h e " B r o o k l y n "

e x p e d i t i o n w h i c h r e a c h e d C a l i f o r n i a i n J u l y o f 1846.

The above r e f e r e n c e t o t h e f l a g r e c a l l s t h e l e g e n d t h a t

when B r a n n a n f o u n d A m e r i c a n s i n c h a r g e a t San F r a n c i s c o

he e x c l a i m e d " T h e r e i s t h a t damned f l a g a g a i n " .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e s e demands were t o o h i g h

t o r e c e i v e s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . BeyonjL a c k n o w l e d g i n g

t h e receipt o f t h e petition" 1"''" t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was

s i l e n t a n d B o w e r i n g ' s i n t e r e s t faded.when c o n f r o n t e d w i t h

what was o b v i o u s l y " p a u p er i m m i g r a t i o n " w h i c h r e q u i r e d

n o t o n l y a f r e e p a s s a g e b u t m a i n t e n a n c e a f t e r a r r i v a l

i n t h e new c o l o n y . On t h e o t h e r h a n d V o l u n t a r y and s e l f -

s u p p o r t e d e m i g r a t i o n I s h o u l d be g l a d t o s e e e n c o u r a g e d

t o w a r d s Oregon a n d V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d and I w o u l d e x p e e t

any s u c h e m i g r a n t s a s h a d p e c u n i a r y r e s o u r c e s a t t h e i r

d i s p o s a l w o u l d meet w i t h e n c o u r a g e m e n t f r o m t h e g o v e r n ­

m e n t . " 1 2

3,02.(cont.) f o l l o w i n g c o r r e s p o n d e n c e was p r i n t e d i n t h e

" M i l l e n i a l S t a r " o f 1 Mar.1847, v . 9 , p p 7 4 - 5 . The Mormons

h a d b e en s e n d i n g c o n v e r t s f r o m E n g l a n d t o Uauvoo b u t i n

no g r e a t numbers. Between 1840-1846 a b o u t 3700 a r r i v e d .

L i n n . o p . c i t . pw233

9

T!wo o t h e r o f f e r a were made t o t h e C o l o n i a l

O f f i c e w h i c h e n t a i l e d c o l o n i z a t i o n b u t b o t h p l a c i n g i t i n

a p o s i t i o n s u b s i d i a r y t o a n o t h e r i n d u s t r y . A Mr. S h i l l -

i n gham p r e s e n t e d "A P r o p o s a l To Porm a Company f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f W o r k i n g t h e C o a l a n d E s t a b l i s h i n g A Company

I n V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d M ( s i c . } w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t " i t w i l l

a l s o be ± he i n t e r e s t , o f t h e Company t h a t some s o u n d

scheme o f g e n e r a l c o l o n i z a t i o n s h o u l d be a d o p t e d by w h i c h

l a b o r may be c o n t i n u a l l y s u p p l i e d " and p r o m i s e d t o c a l l

a m e e t i n g , u n f o r t u n a t e l y u n r e c o r d e d , t o c o n s i d e r t h e b e s t

way t o a c h i e v e t h i s e n d . ^

L a t e r i n t h e summer a Mr. E n d e r b y , h a v i n g

h e a r d t h a t t h e Hudson's Bay Company were b e i n g u r g e d to

c o l o n i z e V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e Hudson's

Bay Company a n d t h e P u g e t Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company

who h a d l o t s o f c a p i t a l s h o u l d j o i n a w h a l i n g scheme

w h i c h he h a d e a r l i e r f a i l e d t o f l o a t u s i n g a b a s e i n

t h e E a l k l a n d I s l a n d s . V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d was t o be s a v e d

1 1 . K e p p e l t o Brown. D . S t . 9 Peb.1847

12. B o w e r i n g t o Brown 13 Peb.1847

I S . S h i l l i n g h a m t o t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , r e c e i v e d L o n d o n

28 Peb.1848. T h i s company, e s p e c i a l l y t h e c o a l m i n i n g

b r a n c h was s t r o n g l y b a c k e d by Mr. F i t z g e r a l d whose a r d o r

was n o t c o o l e d b y t h e r e j e c t i o n o f h i s own p r o p o s a l s .

10

f r o m o b l i v i o n by b e i n g made t h e n o r t h e r n b a s e o f o p e r a t i o n s ,

" I t i s i m p o s s i b l e to i m a g i n e how V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d ,

c o n s i d e r i n g i t s remote p o s i t i o n a n d g r e a t d i s t a n c e f r o m

t h e M o t h e r C o u n t r y , can be o f any c o m m e r c i a l a d v a n t a g e ,

o r b e made t o h o l d o u t any i n d u c e m e n t t o p a r t i e s t o

l o c a t e t h e m s e l v e s t h e r e a s s e t t l e r s , u n l e s s by b e i n g

a d a p t e d t o t h e p u r p o s e o f a w h a l i n g s t a t i o n . " The

Company h a d n o t i g n o r e d t h e i d e a o f a w h a l i n g s - t a t i o n .

When F o r t s T a k u and M c L o u g h l i n were a b a n d o n e d i n 1843

i n f a v o r o f F o r t V i c t o r i a , F i n l a y s o n n o t e s as f o l l o w s

" T h i s c o u r s e was a d o p t e d i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f i n s t r u c t i o n

b e i n g s e n t f r o m Red R i v e r s e t t l e m e n t i n Hudson's B a y ( s i c )

t h e n t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f G o v e r n o r S i r George Simpson, t o

e s t a b l i s h a d e p o t f o r w h a l e r s on t h e s o u t h p o i n t o f

V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d , a s t h e r e were many w h a l e r s t h e n

v i s i t i n g t h e H o r t h P a c i f i c . "

E v e n a f t e r t h e g r a n t was made M e s s r s . P a r r o t

a n d Y/almesly p r e s e n t e d a p r o s p e c t u s f o r t h e " V a n c o u v e r ' s

I s l a n d Steam Sawing M i l l and A g r i c u l t u r a l Company",

an e p h e m e r a l v e n t u r e w h i c h l e a v e s us o n l y t h e f o l l o w i n g

p l e a s i n g a d v i c e f o r e m i g r a t i o n p & M c y — " M a r r i e d p e r s o n s

w i l l b e s o u g h t t o c o u n t e r b a l a n c e any d e s i r e w h i c h m i g h t

a r i s e o f t h e i r l e a v i n g t h e C o l o n y f o r t h e n e i g h b o r i n g

...» 1 5 . E n d e r b y t o G r e y . L o n d o n . 25 Aug.1848

16. R o d e r i c k F i n l a y s o n " H i s t o r y o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d "

B a n c r o f t C o l l e c t i o n .

11

S o l d d i s t r i c t . " A ' P e t t i c o a t g o v e r n m e n t was t o be t h e

r u l e on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d .

The p r o j e c t o f t h e Hudson's Bay Company was

g u a r d e d b u t on t h e whole g e n e r o u s . When i t h a d b e e n

e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e Hudson's B a y Company c o u l d h o l d

l a n d i n t h e N o r t h Y/est o u t s i d e o f t h e t r a d e a r e a w h i c h

t h e y h e l d by c h a r t e r , P e l l y i n f o r m e d Grey t h a t aIf H e r

M a j e s t y ' s Government s h o u l d b e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e

t e r r i t o r y i n q u e s t i o n w o u l d be more c o n v e n i e n t l y g o v e r n e d

and c o l o n i z e d ( a s f a r as t h a t may be p r a c t i c a b l e ) t h r o u g h

t h e Hudson's B a y Company, t h e Company a r e w i l l i n g t o

u n d e r t a k e i t a n d w i l l b e r e a d y t o r e c e i v e a g r a n t o f a l l

t h e t e r r i t o r i e s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e Crown w h i c h a r e s i t u a t e d 18

t o t h e n o r t h and w e s t o f R u p e r t ' s L a n d . "

• . • • 17. e n c l o s e d i n Le Marehand t o M e r i v a l e B o a r d o f T r a d e

15 Jun.1850

18. P e l l y t o G r e y H.B.H. 5 Mar.1847 The a c t u a l t e x t

o f t h e l e g a l d e c i s i o n h a s n o t b e e n o b t a i n e d b u t i n

P e l l y ' s l e t t e r to G r e y , 22 J a n . 1 8 4 7 , he s t a t e s t h a t he

e n c l o s e s a d e c i s i o n ".whether t h e H.B.Co. h a v e power u n d e r

t h e i r c h a r t e r to h o l d l a n d s w i t h i n H e r M a j e s t y ' s

d o m i n i o n s westward o f t h e Rocky M o u n t a i n s " a n d i n t h e

r e p l y (Howes t o P e l l y , D . S t . , 2 Peb.1847) i t i s s t a t e d

t h a t h a v i n g c o n s i d e r e d t h i s v e r d i c t L o r d G r e y " i s now

r e a d y t o r e c e i v e a n d c o n s i d e r t h e d r a f t o f s u c h a g r a n t

a s t h e Company w o u l d d e s i r e t o r e c e i v e o f l a n d s b e l o n g i n g

12

T h i s was r a t h e r more t h a n t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e

was r e a d y t o g i v e and d u r i n g t h e s u b s e q u e n t exchange o f

n o t e s , t h e l i m i t a t i o n o f t h e g r a n t t o V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d

was a d v a n c e d so f i r m l y by Downing S t r e e t t h a t P e l l y was

f o r c e d t o r e t i r e t o t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e m a i n l a n d h a d

b e e n i n c l u d e d o n l y f r o m f e a r o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f

s e t t l e m e n t "under a d i f f e r e n t a u t h o r i t y and want o f u n i t y

i n t h e r u l i n g power"; t h e Company " r e a l l y c a r i n g l i t t l e

w h e t h e r i t was so o r n o t * s i n c e t h e o r i g i n a l a r e a " t h o u g h

i t s a d d i t i o n t o t h e g r a n t g i v e s t h e l a t t e r a f o r m i d a b l e

a p p e a r a n c e i n p o i n t o f e x t e n t . . . i s r e a l l y l i t t l e b e t t ­

e r t h a n a b a r r e n w a s t e . " The i s l a n d g r a n t was h owever,

t h a n k f u l l y r e c e i v e d t h o u g h any s u g g e s t i o n o f r e m u n e r a t i o n

was a t f i r s t s h i e d a t . " I f t h e g o v ernment i s t o be

c l o g g e d w i t h any payment t o t h e M o t h e r C o u n t r y , t h e

Company w o u l d be u n d e r t h e n e c e s s i t y o f d e c l i n i n g i t . "

Though r e f u s i n g t o a c t a s t r e a s u r e r o r a c c o u n t a n t , t h e

Company was w i l l i n g t o u n d e r t a k e t h e s a l e o f l a n d and

t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f t h e money f o r c o l o n i z a t i o n a n d

d e v e l o p m e n t g r a t i s . "The s e c u r i t y o f t h e i r p r o p e r t y

f r o m A m e r i c a n a g g r e s s i o n w i l l be t h e a d v a n t a g e t h e y

e x p e c t t o d e r i v e f r o m t h e c o n t e m p l a t e d p l a n . " 1 9 T h i s

was a c c e p t e d by t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e and a t r i a l d r a f t

s e n t t o Hudson Bay House c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s

18. ( c o n t ) t o t h e B r i t i s h Crown i n t h e Oregon T e r r i t o r y ; "

1 9 . P e l l y t o G r e y . H.B.H. #9, 4 Mar.1848. The p o s i t i o n

13

f o r the g r a n t .

"Whereas i t w o u l d c o n d u c e g r e a t l y t o t h e

m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e a c e , j u s t i c e a n d good o r d e r a n d t h e

advancement o f c o l o n i z a t i o n a nd t h e p r o m o t i o n a n d

encouragement o f t r a d e a n d commerce a n d a l s o t o t h e

p r o t e c t i o n a n d w e l f a r e o f t h e n a t i v e I n d i a n s " V a n c o u v e r

I s l a n d was g r a n t e d t o t h e Company. The t e r m s o f s a l e

were p u t i n l a t e r ; c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e Company was

i n t r o d u c e d a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n o f the C o l o n i a l O f f i c e ,

t o a b a t e t h e p u b l i c f e a r o f t h e p o s s i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f

g e t t i n g s o m e t h i n g f o r n o t h i n g , 2 1 and f i n a l l y a m u t u a l l y

s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r m was drawn up and r e c e i v e d o f f i c i a l

c o n f i r m a t i o n on 13 J a n u a r y , 1849. T h e r e i t was s t a t e d

t h a t t h e Company " s h a l l d i s p o s e o f t h e l a n d t h e r e a s may

be n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f c o l o n i z a t i o n . . . a n d

s h a l l w i t h a v i e w t o t h e a f o r e s a i d p u r p o s e d i s p o s e o f a l l

l a n d h e r e b y g r a n t e d t o them a t a r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e , e x c e p t

so mw;ch t h e r e o f a s may be r e q u i r e d f o r p u b l i c p u r p o s e s •

• • a n d t h a t a l l m o n i e s ( l a n d s a l e s , m i n e r a l r o y a l t i e s

a n d l i c e n s e s a f t e r t h e d e d u c t i o n o f 10$ f r o m t h e g r o s s

p r o c e e d s ) s h a l l be a p p l i e d t o w a r d s t h e c o l o n i z a t i o n a n d

improvement o f t h e I s l a n d • . . a n d t h a t t h e s a i d Com­

p a n y s h a l l once i n e v e r y two y e a r s a t l e a s t c e r t i f y . •

1 9 . ( c o n t ) o f D . S t , was s t a t e d i n Hawes t o p e l l y , D . S t .

25 Feb.1848

20i A c c e p t a n c e i n Hawes t o P e l l y , D . S t . , 13 Mar.1848

14

• what c o l o n i s t s . . . s h a l l h a v e s e t t l e d i n t h e s a i d

I s l a n d and what l a n d s h a l l h a v e been d i s p o s e d o f as

a f o r e s a i d . * 2 2

C r i t i c i s m o f t h e measure was i n e v i t a b l e .

F i t z g e r a l d ' s p e n s u p p l i e d m a t e r i a l f o r c h a r g e s a g a i n s t

t h e Hudson's Bay Company a n d M a r t i n ' s s i n c e r e b u t l e s s

s k i l f u l d e f e n c e was a l m o s t overwhelmed. I t was

r e a s o n a b l y u r g e d t h a t a. f u r - t r a d i n g company w o u l d o p p o s e

s e t t l e m e n t as a g a i n s t t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e i r t r a d e b u t

t h i s d i d n o t a f f e c t t h e p r e s s i n g m o t i v e f o r t h e g r a n t .

G r e y i n t h e L o r d s b r i e f l y s t a t e d t h e c a s e o f t h e C o l o n i a l

O f f i c e w i t h a c l a r i t y t h a t showed t h e f u t i l i t y o f e r i t l - i .

c i s m . " I f t h e i s l a n d were n o t s p e e d i l y s e t t l e d i t w o u l d

s o o n be o v e r - r u n b y i r r e g u l a r s q u a t t e r s * i t s s e t t l e m e n t

w o u l d o c c a s i o n e xpense s o t h a t i f i t were a c c o m p l i s h e d

a t a l l ; i t must be a c c o m p l i s h e d b y some p u b l i c company

o r p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l s ; p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l s d i d n o t 24

p o s s e s s s u f f i c i e n t f u n d s b u t t h e Company d i d . "

20. ( c o n t ) The t r i a l d r a f t ( s e e n . l ) h a d no r e f e r e n c e t o

r e m u n e r a t i o n f o r t h e Company. A c o p y i s p r i n t e d i n

M a r t i n , o p . c i t . pp..168-73.

21 . Hawes t o P e l l y . D . S t . 4 Sep.1848

22. R e t u r n s To T h r e e A d d r e s s e s o f t h e H o n o r a b l e House

o f Commons, E n g l a n d , o r d e r e d p r i n t e d 7 Mar.1849

23 . M a r t i n p u b l i s h e d h i s work f i r s t and P i t z g e r a l d t o o k

h i s s t a t e m e n t s one b y one a n d r e f u t e d o r c o n t r a d i c t e d

15

The Company a t once t o o k t h e f i r s t l o g i c a l

s t e p t o w a r d c o l o n i z a t i o n . They i s s u e d a s e t o f r e g u l a t i o n s

f o r the g r a n t i n g o f l a n d a n d w i t h i n s i x d a y s o f t h e r

r e c e i p t o f t h e s i g n e d g r a n t t h e y h a d p u b l i s h e d t h e s e

r e g u l a t i o n s i n t h e L o n d o n " T i m e s " w i t h t h e f o o t i n g t h a t

" A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r l a n d o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n may be

a d d r e s s e d t o A* B a r c l a y , E s q * , S e c r e t a r y t o t h e Hudson's 25

Bay Company, 4 F e n c h u r c h S t . , L o n d o n . " The c o n d i t i o n s

f o r t a k i n g up l a n d were b r i e f l y a s f o l l o w s t

l i No p u r c h a s e o f l e s s t h a n 20 a c r e s .

2. P r i c e t o be £ 1 p e r a c r e , p a y a b l e i n L o n d o n * 2 6

23. ( c o n t ) them. He was much more p l a u s i b l e a n d i s •..

e e r t a i n l y more p o p u l a r w i t h h i s t o r i a n s s e e k i n g a s t i c k

w i t h w h i c h t o b e a t t h e Hudson's Bay Company.

24. G r e y i n t h e House o f L o r d s . 29 Jun.1849

25 . The d a t e o f p u b l i c a t i o n was 27 J a n . 1 8 4 9 . A c o p y o f

t h e R e s o l u t i o n s may be f o u n d i n B e g g s " B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a "

and i n t h e R e p o r t o f t h e B'.Ci A r c h i v e s f o r 1913.

26. The Hudson's Bay Company ( h e r e i n a f t e r H.B.Co.) i s

u s u a l l y g i v e n f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h i s p r i c e b u t t h i s

s h o u l d be s h a r e d by L o r d G r e y a s t h e f o l l o w i n g e x e r p t f r o m

C o l v i l l e t o P a k i n g t o n , H.B.H., 1 Dec.1852, shows.

" ( D u r i n g n e g o t i a t i o n s ) t h e p r i c e . o f l a n d t o s e t t l e r s . .

i 20 s p e r a c r e . . . was s u b m i t t e d t o a n d a p p r o v e d b y

h i m ( G r e y ) . " E v e n more, f o r c i b l e i s t h e s t a t e m e n t o f

E l l i c e b e f o r e t h e S e c l e c t Committee o f 1857 ( s e e R e p o r t

16

3. P u r c h a s e r s were t o pay t h e i r own p a s s a g e o u t .

4. I n t h e c a s e o f a l l p u r c h a s e s o f more t h a n

20 a c r e s , 5 s i n g l e men o r 3 m a r r i e d c o u p l e s were t o be

b r o u g h t out f o r e a c h h u n d r e d a c r e s p u r c h a s e d . T e n p e r

c e n t (10%) o f t h e l a n d i n e a c h - s e c t i o n was t o be s e t

a s i d e f o r a m i n i s t e r a n d h i s p a s s a g e a n d t h e p a s s a g e o f

enough l a b o r e r s to work h i s a l l o t t m e n t were p r o v i d e d . 2 '

A n o t h e r 10.% was to be s e t a s i d e f o r r o a d s , s i t e s f o r

c h u r c h and g r a v e y a r d , s c h o o l s a n d o t h e r p u b l i c p u r p o s e s .

T h e r e i s no r e c o r d t h a t Hudson's B a y House

i n P e n c h u r c h S t r e e t was s t o r m e d by e a g e r l a n d seeke.rs

b u t n e i t h e r i s t h e r e p r o o f t h a t t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t was

o n l y to make a n o m i n a l s h o w i n g w h i c h w o u l d r e f u t e l a t e r

c h a r g e s o f n e g l e c t . Q u e r i e s f o r i n f o r m a t i o n f o r m a l a r g e

f o l d e r i n t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e f r o m s u c h 28

d i v e r s e s o u r c e s as M e c k l e n b u r g a n d P e r u . I n L i m a

t h e C a l i f o r n i a l u r e h a d t u r n e d t h e e y e s o f p r o g r e s s i v e

B r i t i s h c i t i z e n s n o r t h w a r d s b u t t h e t a l e s o f t h e s o c i a l

c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h were l a t e r to b r i n g i n t o e x i s t e n c e

26. ( c o n t ) #5851) " L o r d G r e y i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e Company

s h o u l d n o t s e l l l a n d u n d e r a pound an a c r e . "

2 7. The l a b o r e r s may be some whose p a s s a g e o u t was c h a r g e d

t o t h e a c c o u n t o f c o l o n i z a t i o n when t h e b i l l was

p r e s e n t e d , v . i n f r a .

28. The M e c k l e n b u r g l e t t e r was o f l a t e r d a t e — C o r d u a

t o B a r c l a y , M e c k l e n b u r g , 31 O c t . 1 8 5 6

17

lynch law and the v i g i l a n t e s , deterred these serious

adventurers from settlement in the actual regious of

the discoveries. But Vancouver Island was comparatively

close to wealthy C a l i f o r n i a and there they might s e t t l e

under the B r i t i s h f l a g and "by the working of coal and

a g r i c u l t u r a l land, they might r e a l i z e ready p r o f i t

from the expected commerce with C a l i f o r n i a and obtain

a permanent settlement with an excellent market f o r oq

t h e i r producer"

However i t was rumored that t h i s land was

ruled by the Hudson's Bay Company so the B r i t i s h

charge d ' a f f a i r e s , W. P i t t Adams, wrote to Palmerston

urging him not to lose t h i s chance to procure s e t t l e r s

so near to the i s l a n d i Palmerstone passed the idea

on to Grey at the C o l o n i a l Office and the l a t t e r sent

v i a the Foreign Of f i c e an assurance that the Island

would be under the Imperial Government and administered

by a governor appointed by the Crown. The r i g h t s of

the Hudson's Bay Company were stated to be only with

regard to land holding and a copy of the above prospectus

was enclosed. 3 0 Before the wheels of state had r o l l e d

t h i s message out from London, Grey added the further

suggestion that Adams might "receive on the behalf of

the Hudson's Bay Company, payments f o r Grants of Land . .

... * 29i Adams to Palmerston, Lima, 12 Jan.1849

30. Merivale to Eddisbury, D.St. 27 Mar.1849

18

. and give c e r t i f i c a t e s , of purchase to Emigrants desirous

of s e t t l i n g i n Vancouver * s i s l a n d * Adams d i d not

consider that t h i s gave him enough authority so he

reported that i n the absence of further information ttI am unable to take any further steps towards the

Execution of Your Lordship's Instructions f o r receiving

on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company payments f o r grants

of land i n Vancouver's Island and can do no more than

to communicate to intended s e t t l e r s the information with

which Your Lordship has furnished me* 3 2

This communication could not be followed

f a r t h e r from lack o f the complete f i l e s , but i t serves

as a good i l l u s t r a t i o n of how widely the advertisements

of the Hudson's Bay Company were disseminated*

• • * *

31. Accepted and detailed in Eddisbury to Merivale,

Foreign O f f i c e , 14 Apr*1849. the proposal was made i n

Hawes to P e l l y , D*St., 31 Ma*.1849, and thi s l a t t e r

despatch went to Lima with other papers from the Foreign

O f f i c e .

32. Adams to Palmerston,. Lima, 12 Jul.1849. Barclay

to Adams, H.B*H», 16 May 1849 which probably went out

with the Poreign O f f i c e papers mentioned above, gave

some general information--climate, timber and f i s h i n g - -

and promised more.

19

Chapter II

POLICY UNDER BLANSHARD

January 1849. — August 1851

Having seen i n the l a s t chapter how the grant was obtained,

we now turn to the early administration under i t s r u l e s .

James Douglas who was i n charge of the Hudson*s Bay

Company establishments at. Port V i c t o r i a became the

agent f o r government by the Company on Vancouver Island.

In t h i s p o s i t i o n i t was h i s duty "to make and keep

r e g i s t e r s of a l l sub-grants of land, to superintend the

sales of timber, minerals j, etc., and to keep an account

of the same on behalf of the Company. *^

I t Is usual at t h i s point i n a h i s t o r y of

B r i t i s h Columbia to h a l f the narrative and give a des­

c r i p t i o n of James Douglas to set up a bias which w i l l

c o l o r h i s deeds with the shade preferred by the author.

Since the development of the character of Douglas Is not

one o f the primary aims of t h i s t h e s i s , t h i s step w i l l

be omitted and the reader w i l l be allowed to form h i s

own estimate from the speeches and actions of Douglas

as hereafter recorded.

The c i v i l authority f o r the Island was to

be represented by a governor appointed by the Crown. The . » . »

1. Barclay to Douglas, H.B.H., 3 Aug.1849

20

Hudson's Bay Company had hoped to get. the job f o r accom­

pany man, preferably Douglas, but. desisted from fear

of "the jealousy of some pa r t i e s and the interested 2

motives of others, 1 1 An e a r l i e r project f o r a m i l i t a r y

governor had been rejected i n February of 1849 since

the Company did not f e e l l i k e guaranteeing a salary

"unless the B r i t i s h government paid i t or we discover

a gold mine.. . » An allottment of land, and people

taken out free of expense to c u l t i v a t e h i s portion,

and without any payment f o r the land fas i t would be

considered f o r public purposes'} Is a l l I can hold out

to any Governor.

The governor f i n a l l y sent out was Mr. Richard

Blanshard, a b a r r i s t e r , with some executive experience

i n the West Indies and India. He received no salary

but believed that he was to be granted a thousand acres

of land. In h i s evidence presented before the Select

Committee i n 1857 he stated that S i r John P e l l y had

...» 2. P e l l y to Douglas, H.B.H., 4 Aug.1849. The Colonial

Office probably refused Douglas to show that the Company's

authority was merely economic and that p o l i t i c a l sover­

eignty was s t i l l i n the hands of D.St. See the reply to

Adams, c . l , n.30, p.18, Merivale to Eddisbury, 27 Mar.1849

3 i P e l l y to Tulloch, H . B 8 H . ; 2 Feb.1849. Note the

s i m i l a r i t y of these terms with those Blanshard claimed

had been promised to him. 21

promised him t h i s land with permission to "select such

portions as he (I) thought would turn out. valuable"with

the expectation "that they would s e l l advantageously." 4

Unfortunately he had no written record of t h i s promise

and the Company obviously had other ideas about, the area.

In August of 1849 Douglas was authorized to grant the

governor one thousand acres " i n h i s public capacity"

and i n a spot chosen outside the Reserves of the Hudson's

Bay Company and the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company.^

During h i s sojourn on the i s l a n d , His Excellency r e g i s ­

tered a claim on one hundred acres of land i n Met.cho.sin

d i s t r i c t but since "no payment was received or delivery

made"', Douglas referred the matter to Hudson's Bay House

and judging from Blanshard's p o s i t i v e statements that

he had received no remuneration whatever the claim must

have been disallowed. 6

Douglas'' f i r s t taslc was to extinguish the

Indian t i t l e to the land granted by the Crown, i n t h i s

p o l i c y he had d e f i n i t e instructions from Hudson's

Bay House. The natives were to be considered "the

r i g h t f u l possessors of such land only as they occupied

...» 4. Report of the Select Committee. Evidence Hds. 5149 f f .

5. Barclay to Douglas, H.B.H. 3.Aug.1849.

6. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 30 Aug.1851.

Mb despatch from Barclay r e f e r r i n g to t h i s matter has

heen found.

2 2

b y c u l t i v a t i o n o r h a d h o u s e s b u i l t on i t i n 1846."

S u c h l a n d s a s were n e e d e d were t o be p u r c h a s e d a n d a n

a v e r a g e c o m p e n s a t i o n o f £1 p e r h e a d o f t h e t r i b e was

t o b e p a i d . T h i s c o m p e n s a t i o n n e e d n o t be p a i d f o r w i l d

l a n d a s t h i s was t a k e n t o b e l o n g t o t h e Crown. " N a t i v e s

w i l l be c o n f i r m e d i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e i r l a n d s a s

l o n g a s t h e y oficupy a n d c u l t i v a t e them t h e m s e l v e s b u t

w i l l n o t be a l l o w e d t o s e l l o r d i s p o s e o f them t o a n y

p r i v a t e p e r s o n . " A l l l a n d a a l e s were t o b e made by t h e

Company •

D o u g l a s n e g o t i a t e d w i t h c h i e f s a nd w a r r i o r s

on a d i f f e r e n t b a s i s . He p r o p o s e d t o t h e s o n g e e s who

c l a i m e d " t h e d i s t r i c t o f v i c t o r i a f r o m Gordon I f e a d l o n r A n o )

S t r a i t ( H a r o ) t o P o i n t A l b e r t on t h e S t r a i t o f De P u c a

" t h a t t h e y s e l l " t h e whole o f t h e i r l a n d s w i t h t h e

e x c e p t i o n o f v i l l a g e s i t e s a nd e n c l o s e d f i e l d s f o r a

c e r t a i n r e m u n e r a t i o n j t o be p a i d a t once t o e a c h member

o r t h e t r i b e . " 8 D o u g l a s h a d s u g g e s t e d . a s y s t e m o f

a n n u a l payments b u t t h e Song e e s p r e f e r r e d an i m m e d i a t e

p o t l a t c h so e a c h o f t h e "one h u n d r e d t w e n t y two men o r

h e a d s o f f a m i l i e s " r e c e i v e d "a q u a n t i t y o f g o o d s e q u a l

t o s e v e n t e e n s h i l l i n g s s t e r l i n g a nd t o t a l sum d i s b u r s e d

. . . . 7. B a r c l a y t o D o u g l a s , H.B.H., December 1849. Day o f

t h e month o m i t t e d i n t r a n s c r i p t s c o n s u l t e d .

8. A l l t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e s e f i r s t t r a n s a c t i o n s a r e t a k e n

f r o m D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 16 May 1850.

23

o n t h i s p u r c h a s e (was). £103.14,0. s t e r l i n g a t D e p t . ( s i c )

p r i c e * * F u r t h e r b a r g a i n i n g r e s u l t e d i n t h e a c q u i s i t i o n

o f t h e l a n d s o f t h e G l a l l u m . t r i b e " l y i n g b e t w e e n A l b e r t

P o i n t and Soke I n l e t " f o r £3,0.0.8 a n d t h o s e o f t h e Soke

t r i b e between Soke i n l e t , a n d P o i n t Sherungham f o r £ 1 6 . 8 . 8 .

T h e r e were o f f e r s f r o m o t h e r t r i b e s b u t

D o u g l a s r e f u s e d t o p u r c h a s e more u n t i l he c o u l d t a k e

p o s s e s s i o n a n d t h u s a v o i d l a t e r c l a i m s b r o u g h t f o r w a r d

b y s a v a g e s w i t h c o n v e n i e n t l y s h o r t memories o r c l a i m s

b a s e d on a b s e n c e d u r i n g t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s . I n d e e d he

m i g h t w e l l r e s t c o n t e n t f o r he h a d o b t a i n e d " t h e s e a c o a s t

a n d t h e i n t e r i o r f r o m G o r d o n Head on t h e j i n e ^ ( H a r o )

S t r a i t t o P o i n t G o n z a l e s a n d f r o m t h e n c e r u n n i n g w e s t 1

a l o n g t h e S t r a i t de F u c a t o P o i n t Sherungham a d i s t a n c e

o f a b o u t f o r t y - f o u r m i l e s * f o r a n o u t l a y o f £ 1 5 0 . 3 ; 4 i

I n a l l c a s e s t h e I n d i a n s were n o t t o be d i s t u r n e d f r o m

t h e i r v i l l a g e s and e n c l o s e d f a r m s , h a d f u l l f i s h i n g Q

r i g h t s a n d c o u l d h u n t o v e r u n o c c u p i e d l a n d . I n F e b r u a r y o f t h e n e x t y e a r , B l a n s h a r d s e n t

. . . •

9. I t m i g h t h a v e b e e n w i s e r t o a c c e p t t h e a d v i c e o f

H.B.H. and t a k e t h e v i l l a g e s . The p r o b l e m o f t h e r e s e r v e s

w h i c h l e d t o so much l a t e r f r i c t i o n i n V i c t o r i a a n d

C o w i c h a n w o u l d t h u s h a v e b e e n a v o i d e d ; D o u g l a s , however,

h a d n o t t h e power e v e n i f he h a d t h e i n c l i n a t i o n t o

s l a u g h t e r t h e I n d i a n s o r d r i v e them i n t o t h e i n t e r i o r .

24

a despatch, from. Vancouver Island to Lord Grey c r i t i c i s i n g

the behavior of the Company. Among other items he

stated, thafc i n rendering t h e i r accounts, the o f f i c i a l s

entered the goods paid to the Indians at. a p r i c e "three

times as great as they are i n the habit of paying them

at, f o r t h e i r own work."1^ ^ e charge appears to be

true since the sum i n t h e i r accounts was $2,130 about

three times the £150.3.4 that Douglas gives above as the

value of goods paid* This Blanshard considered as

evidence of e v i l designs, on the part of the Company.

"At this rate they may continue f o r the next three years,

paying away a few goods to Indians to extinguish t h e i r

claims to the s o i l and by attaching an i d e a l value to

t h e i r goods, they w i l l at the end of that time ( i . e . f i r s t

f i v e years when contract could be cancelled by Downing

Street) appear as creditors to the Colony to an over­

whelming amount, so that the foundation w i l l be l a i d f o r

a Colonial debt which w i l l forever prove a burden."

When t h i s charge was passed on to Hudson's Bay House

F e l l y r e p l i e d sharply that "as Mr. Blanshard has resigned

the o f f i c e of Governor of Vancouver's Island, the Hudson's

Bay Company do not consider i t necessary to make any

remarks on the Extracts referred to, nor indeed do they

think i t f a l l s within the province of the Governor

to enquire into the transactions between the Company and • • • •

10. Blanshard to Grey, V.I., 12 Feb.1851

25

the natives with respect to the extinctions of the t i t l e s

of the l a t t e r to their l a n d s . t t l 1 The Colo n i a l Office

however did not wish to enter into an extended quarrel

and while asserting that. Blanshard was j u s t i f i e d i n

checking any account that might be presented to the

House of Commons, smoothed the matter over by a very

c o n c i l i a t o r y l e t t e r , 1 2

Blanshard's chief complaint was that there

no independent s e t t l e r s coming out. During the summer 13

of 1850 "no s e t t l e r s or emigrants have a r r i v e d , n In

November he reported high prices i n the Hudson's Bay

Company s t o r e s — , r a s there are no independent s e t t l e r s

every r e q u i s i t e f o r existence must be obtained from them?^*

and i n the spring of 1851 a Canadian squatter at Rocky

Point i s noted as the only independent s e t t l e r * 1 * In

the same despatch i s noted the advent of Chancellor

who came from C a l i f o r n i a to enquire about prospects

f o r land but who went away rather discouraged by the

• • • »

11. P e l l y to Grey, H.B.H., 12 Jun.1851

12. Hawes to P e l l y , D.St., 26 Jun.1851

13. Blanshard to Grey, V.I.; 15 Jun.I850. The reason

behind t h i s complaint vms that lack of s e t t l e r s meant

absence of any revenue from which a governor*s salary

might be pa i d .

14i Blanshard to Grey, V;I., 18 Nov;1850

15. Same to same, i b i d ; 3 Feb.1851 26

s i t u a t i o n , D By June of 1851 a few s e t t l e r s were

a r r i v i n g . Blanshard stated that "with the exception of

the Muir family there are not f i v e persons i n the

i s l a n d except the Hudson's Bay Company's servants' 1

17

but there were a t le a s t s i x Muirs which doubles the total.-£

This lack of independent s e t t l e r s c e r t a i n l y

seemed the v e r i f i c a t i o n of the fears of those who had l f i

opposed the grants to the Hudson's Bay Company, but . . . .

16. In giving evidence before the Select Committee Blan­

shard refused to state that Chancellor's report had hurt

emigration from C a l i f o r n i a , Chancellor did take up land.

See P e l l y y t o Grey, 12 Jun.1851. Among the sales l i s t e d

was 20 acres to E l i s h a Chancellor,

17. Blanshard to Grey, V.I., 10 Jun.1851

18; cp. F i t z g e r a l d "Examination of the Charter and

Proceedings of the Hudson's Bay Company with reference

ot the grant of Vancouver's Island"; London. Trelawney

Saunders. 1849. "There w i l l be every possible d i s ­

couragement to emigrants of the better c l a s s to s e t t l e

i n a colony where a large part of the country w i l l be

peopled only by the~Iowest order of workmen--where they

may have to compete with the c a p i t a l of a wealthy Company

and that Company not only t h e i r r i v a l i n trade but at

the same time possessed of the supreme power and of

p o l i t i c a l influence In the Colony; C e r t a i n l y i t does

not seem very l i k e l y that, as long as there are other 27

there were not lacking either excuses or apologists f o r

the Company* Grey informed Blanshard that he had "reason

to know that i t i s a subject-of much regret to the

Hudson's Bay Company that the colonization of Vancouver's

Island has not been attended with the success at f i r s t

anticipated f o r that enterprise. The a t t r a c t i o n s of

C a l i f o r n i a have probably contributed with other causes

to draw Emigrants away from Vancouver's Island but i t i s

to be hoped that t h i s emigration w i l l eventually be

b e n e f i c i a l to Vancouver's Island i n creating a demand

for i t s productions and making i t a desirable place 19

f o r s e t t l e r s . " Moreover the Company's avowed p o l i c y

had been against the mass immigration of farm-seekers

and adventurers which had been to them- the most objec­

tionable feature of American expansions. In December

of 1849 Barclay had stated the Company's theory of colon­

i z a t i o n quite c l e a r l y i n a despatch to Douglas. "The

object of every sound system of colonization should be,

not to re-organize Society on a new b a s i s , which i s

simply absurd, but to transfer to the new country what­

ever i s most valuable and most approved i n the i n s t i t u -

18.(cont) colonies to go to, any man with money i n h i s

pocket and brains i n h i s head, w i l l go to Vancouver's

Island." He feared that the H.B.Co. would grant a l l the

good land to the P.S.A.Co. and go i n for farming on a b i g

scale.

28

tions of the old., so that society may as f a r as possible,

consist of the same classes, united together by the

same t i e s and having the same r e l a t i v e duties to perform

i n one country as i n the o t h e r ^ 2 0

Care was to be taken that a l l things were

ready before s e t t l e r s arrived, even i f that meant holding

back settlement f o r a while. *Tt i s not l i k e l y that

many s e t t l e r s w i l l be o f f e r i n g who can pay down £1 per

acre (and none other w i l l toe accepted) tout at a l l events

care w i l l toe taken that you are not exposed to incon­

venience toy any large, number u n t i l there i s time to p

accumulate and store up a s u f f i c i e n t stock of provisions?

This preparation inferred laborers who should do the

rough work of clearing "brush and b u i l d i n g rough cabins.

P e l l y a t one time considered the use of % whole company"

of army pensioners j 2 ^ tout t h i s plan was dropped. En g l i s h

latoorers were therefore brought out under five-year

contracts at a salary of £17 per year, 2^ and with the

prospect of receiving twenty acre grants at the expiration 19. Grey to Blanshard, It.St., 23 Oct. 1851

20. Barclay to Douglas, H.B.H., Dec.1849.

21. Same to same, i b i d . 8 Peb.1850

22. P e l l y to Tulloch, H.B.H., 2 Feb.1849

23. Clemens account i n Moresby to Parker, 7 Jul.1851. See

also P e l l y to Grey, H.B.H., 14 Jan.1852 fo r salary and conditions, v . i n f r a , n.41

29

o f t h e i r c o n t r a c t , i f t h i s had. b e e n " f u l f i l l e d f a i t h f u l l y

a nd i n d u s t r i o u s l y . " 2 ^ B e f o r e he l e f t , B l a n s h a r d r e p o r t e d

t h e a r r i v a l o f one h u n d r e d twenty p e o p l e on t h e s h i p

" T o r y 1 1 , one h u n d r e d e i g h t e e n o f whom were s e r v a n t s o f 25

t h e Hudson's B a y Company, and M o r e s l j y s t a t e d t h a t

" t h e g r e a t e r p a r t ( w e r e ) s e r v a n t s o f t h e Hudson's B a y

Company i n t e n d e d f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f f a r m s u n d e r a n

agreement w i t h i n d i v i d u a l s on t h e r e s e r v e d d i s t r i c t s O R

o f V i c t o r i a a n d E s q u i m a l t . " I t i s g e n e r a l l y assumed

t h a t a l l t h e s e men w o r k e d f o r t h e Company, b u t i n t h e

c o l o n i z a t i o n a c c o u n ^ p r e s e n t e d i n 1856 was an i t e m f o r

t h e e x p e n s e o f b r i n g i n g o u t t h r e e h u n d r e d f i f t y s e t t l e r s

a t a c o s t o f £ 5 0 e a c h ( p a s s a g e a n d one y e a r s wages)

t o f i l l t h e gap l e f t b y t h e a b s e n c e o f v o l u n t a r y i m m i g r a n t s .

• . . . 24. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , H.B.E., 8 F e b . 1 8 5 0 . C o l v i l l e t o

P a k i n g t o n , H.BwH., 24 Bbv.1852 s p e a k s o f a £ 2 5 bonus

i n l a n d a t 20s p e r a c r e .

2 5 . B l a n s h a r d t o G r e y , Y . I . , 10 Jun*1851

26. M o r e s b y t o P a r k e r a t s e a ( E a t . 40 ° 52* U, L o n g . 1 2 8 °

35* ¥ ) 7 J u l . 1 8 5 1 . He c o n t i n u e s s t a t i n g t h e t e r m s o f

agreement-—"The Company e r e c t i n g t h e b u i l d i n g s , s u p p l y ­

i n g t h e t o o l s , s e e d a n d l i v e s t o c k ; t h e y o u n g s t o c k r e a r e d

t o be e q u a l l y d i v i d e d a n d a m o i e t y o f o u t l a y b e i n g

c h a r g e a b l e t o t h e s e t t l e r s — s u c h i s t h e s p i r i t o f t h e c o n ­

t r a c t a s r e l a t e d t o me by a Mr. E c A u l e y . " Terms i n d i c a t e

t h e P.S.A.Co. 30

These three hundred, f i f t y "were not required f o r the

services of the Hudson's Bay Company,"27

Records of the land a c t u a l l y s o l d are not

systematic, Blanshard's, report of February, 1851, notes

only the sale of one hundred acres to Captain Grant and

refers to an agreement, between Tod and Douglas over

one hundred acres of land whereon the former had done

some ploughing, hut owing to t i t l e d i f f i c u l t i e s was

considering i t s abandonment. In A p r i l Douglas reported

to Barclay that J*S.Helmcken had applied f o r twenty

acres i n the Fur Trade Reserve, which being situated

on the coast could be sold "without prejudice to the

Reserve'*, The sale was held up f o r the ecrasideration

of the Committee as was also the request of John Muir, Sr.

for twenty acres but i n the l a t t e r case only t i l l i t

was. c e r t i f i e d that Muir rs account with the Company would

stand the s t r a i n of such a purchase. 2 9 The most detailed

report f o r the period i s i n a despatch from Hudson's Bay

House to Downing Street, 12 June ISBt, compiled from

.... 27. Shepherd to Lahonchere, H.B*H** 16 Sep.1856. Barclay

to Douglas, H.B.H., 3 May 18501stated that " e f f i c i e n t

laborers w i l l be sent out f o r s e t t l e r s i n the country

at the cost of t h e i r passage" but no further reference

was found.

28. Blanshard to Grey, T.I,, 3 Feb. 1851

29. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 28 Apr.1851

31

l e f t reports which must have 1 Vancouver island, not l a t e r than

March of that year. This gives the following sales

a t £1 per acre: 1G0 acres to W,E» Grant

320 o, tt James Douglas

100 t* It John Tod

300 tt: u J,M,Yale

200 » James Cooper

100 It- tr R, Finlayson

70 * It J , Mesbit

20 t t tr E l i s h a Chancellor

200 It tt ¥• McNeil

In h i s despatch l a s t mentioned Blanshard stated that

i n the area reserved by the Hudson's Bay Company and

Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company the o f f i c i a l s of the

Companies were subdividing and "attempting to s e l l small

l o t s to t h e i r own servants at greatly advanced r a t e s , " 3 1

The above sales were not of reserved land f o r Helmcken

, • , • 30. P e l l y to Grey, H,B.H>, 12 Jun.1851, Even using the

Panama route, three months would be a good passage to

England i n 1850.

31. Blanshard to Grey, V.I., 3 Feb.1851; A l a t e r

despatch, same to same of 25 February stated that one

or two had taken p l o t s "at a very high rate* others

who are w i l l i n g to s e t t l e are deterred by the p r i c e . "

32

i a not mentioned and the price i s «£1 per acre, c e r t a i n l y

not. "greatly advanced." By November 1852, however,

Hudson's Bay House reported that from the 3084 acres

of the Fur Trade Reserve they had "sold portions of t h i s

land to some of t h e i r r e t i r e d servants who have s e t t l e d 32

themselves upon i t . 1 *

Another c r i t i c i s m of the Hudson's Bay

Company's p o l i c y was that t h e i r prices f o r provisions

were so high as to make the e a r l y expenses of settlement

p r a c t i c a l l y p r o h i b i t i v e . Blanshard stated that i t cost

him £1100 a year and from a l l accounts he d i d not fare

sumptuously. 3 3 Attempts to break the p r a c t i c a l monopoly

were checked i n various ways. The agents who were to

ship supplies to Blanshard v i a the Company's boat "were

promised that they should have due notice of the ships

as they s a i l e d and the next thing they generally heard

was that the ships had gone. That happened oh two

occasions and as the ships do not go very often missing

two ships running was rather a serious thing to a man

who depended f o r h i s supplies upon England." 3 4 Cooper

brought out an i r o n steamer from England and a f t e r

assembling i t at v i c t o r i a started a coasting trade, • • • •

32.. C o l v i l l e to Pakington, H.B.H., 24 Nov.1852. Accounts

of the Colony to 27 Apr.1852

33. Report of the Select Committee. Evidence #5162

34. Report of the Select Committee. Evidence #5179 33

purchasing potatoes and cranberries from the Indiana

for the C a l i f o r n i a market. The Company shut t h i s trade

off by charging him exorbitant prices f o r the barrels

and then purchasing a l l the avail a b l e cranberries at

a p r i c e which drove th i s adventurous free trader out of 35

business.

Blanshard complained, that s e t t l e r s i n general

and himself i n p a r t i c u l a r were hurt by the several rates

which the Company maintained i n i t s stores; *I think

they had three several prices i n the Hudson*s Bay Company

stores at that time, one f o r the superior o f f i c e r s of

the Company, another f o r the servants and t h i r d which

they c a l l e d t h e i r cash p r i c e at which they sol d the

goods to s e t t l e r s ; . » . The o f f i c e r s received t h e i r

goods at thirty-three per cent increase upon the cost

p r i c e , the servants and i n f e r i o r o f f i c e r s varying from

f i f t y to one hundred and the cash p r i c e was regulated

by the pr i c e i n C a l i f o r n i a as nearly as they could do

i t . * . generally about three hundred per cent over the

cost p r i c e . " 3 6 When a si m i l a r complaint was made by

navy o f f i c i a l s at Vancouver Island Douglas blamed neglect

of agriculture and the increase i n population of Oregon

.... 35. This story t o l d i n Bancroft " B r i t i s h Columbia" pp.255-6

quoting from Cooper's "Maritime Matters" M.S.pp.5-6

Mentioned i n Sage, op.ci t . p.170. 36. Blanshard to Goderich. Report of the Select Committee,

Evidence #5163-5. 34

and C a l i f o r n i a , He suggested, that since the naval o f f i c e r s

complained that, theyprice of Hudson's Bay Company rum

(heat q u a l i t y and "we ma&e i t a point to charge nothing

over one hundred per cent on the cost p r i c e i n our

sales to them)" 3' the Committee had better sent out some

of poorer quality which could he s o l d at a more suitable

p r i c e . He further explained that the low rate to

servants was i n part to make up f o r the low wages paid.

Specie was scarce i n the colony; Cooper estimated the

t o t a l amount at from £10,000 to £15,000, 3 8

He fur t h e r stated that a l l wages were taken

out i n goods and any balance was f i n a l l y "paid by a b i l l

upon London which i s comparatively useless to a laboring

man, as he cannot negotiate i t , except perhaps at a

great sacrifice;'13® The running accounts received no

interest but the deposit^, a t least those of the o f f i c e r s ;

received three or four per cent and this Is confirmed

by Simpson's evidence before the Committee which stated

that "the Company allow the interest of the day, I

think i t i s four per cent to any parties who may choose

to leave t h e i r money i n t h e i r hands, or they w i l l pay • • » •

37, Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 1 Feb,185$

38, Cooper to E l l i c e > Report of Select Committee.

Evidence #3814

39, Same to same. Ibid. Evidence #3975.

35

t h e i r balances as they accrue from year to year as they

d e s i r e * " 4 0

A p i t i f u l p i cture of the l i f e of the Hudson's

Bay Company's servants i s given i n Clemens' narrative*

"The wages too, £ 1 7 annually for men--this miserable

pittance does, must revert into the purse of the Company

for the indispensables of l i f e * Every a r t i c l e of

clo t h i n g , implement, uHensil, and food must be obtained

from the Fart and placed to the account of these poor

people and the p r i c e Is even withheld (?) or some

punishment i n f l i c t e d I f asked f o r . But nothing can be

got l e s s than h a l f a d o l l a r - — a l i t t l e thread, h a l f a

d o l l a r , and so on," 4 1 though th i s charge was refuted

*• • » •

40. Simpson to Kinnaird. Report of Select Committee.

26 Feb.1857. The reference was to the Red

River area but the p o l i c y of the H.B.Co. was uniform

throughout i t s t e r r i t o r y .

41. Clemens, Richard, i n Moresby to Parker, 7 J u l . 1 8 5 1 .

The reports of the Company of course give a contrasting

p i c t u r y . "They are lodged, f e d , supplied with implements

and conveyed out and home at the Company's expense. They

almost a l l remit money to t h e i r families during the term

of their contracts and many of them when they quit the

service have considerable balances to receive." P e l l y

to Grey, H.B.H., 14 Jan.1852.

36

by s t u d y of. Hudson's Bay Company a c c o u n t s w h e r e i n were

many i t e m s o f 2 d and. 4d, e t c .

At. t h i s p o i n t , i t w o u l d be w e l l t o s a y some­

t h i n g o f t h e P u g e t Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company on V a n c o u v e r

I s l a n d * The o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p o l i c y i s d e t a i l e d f u l l y

i n a p pendix. A a n d s u c h p o l i c y o f c o u r s e was c o n t i n u e d

on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . T h e r e was much c o n f u s i o n o f t h e

employees o f t h e C o m p a n i e s . B l a n s h a r d s t a t e d t h a t t h e

P u g e t Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company was " t h e Hudson's Bay

Company u n d e r a n o t h e r name f o r t h e A s s o c i a t i o n h a s no

r e a l e x i s t e n c e * 1 , 1 4 2 G r e y p o l i t e l y c o r r e c t e d h i m . " I

o b s e r v e t h a t y o u h a v e f a l l e n i n t o a m i s t a k e w i t h r e g a r d

t o t h e P u g e t Soundl A g r i c u l t u r a l Company* T h a t Company,

t h o u g h i t s s h a r e s a r e h e l d b y p e r s o n s more o r l e s s c o n n e c t ­

ed w i t h t h e Hudson's Bay Company i s a d i s t i n c t a n d s e p a r a t e

a s s o c i a t i o n h a v i n g a c a p i t a l o f i t s own a n d p o s s e s s i n g

r i g h t s w h i c h a r e r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e T r e a t y o f 1846

between B r i t a i n a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . » 4 3 B u t B l a n s h a r d

gave a most c o n v i n c i n g l i s t o f e v i d e n c e t o o f f s e t t h e

t e c h n i c a l s e p a r a t i o n . He n o t e d t h a t t h e P u g e t Sound

A g r i c u l t u r a l Company h a d no o t h e r o f f i c i a l t h a n D o u g l a s , ^

...» 42. B l a n s h a r d t o G r e y , V . I . , 15 Jun*1850

43. G r e y t o B l a n s h a r d , D . S t . , 27 Oc t . 1 8 5 1

4 & S e e A p p e n d i x A r e government and D o u g l a s a n d Ogden

t o S i m p s o n , F t . V a n c o u v e r , 19 M a r . 1 8 4 7 . — " T h e G o v e r n o r a n d

D e p u t y - G o v e r n o r a n d t h e g o v e r n o r - i n - c h i e f o f t h e i r (H.B.Co)

3 ?

that the Hudson's Bay Company laborers worked on both

farms and had b u i l t a sawmill on Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l

Company land. Stock was moved from one farm to another,

considered the property of the farm on which i t grazed

and was tended by Hudson's Bay Company shepherds, "none

of whom acknowledge any service to the P.S.Co's ( s i c ) , AC.

the greater part being ignorant of i t s very name."

His further statement that the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l

Company people got the servants rate at the Hudson's

Bay Company stores i s i n d i r e c t proof that there was a

d i s t i n c t i o n made at the time, 4^ but i n evidence before

the Select Committee he declared that Douglas would not

d i f f e r e n t i a t e between the employees of the companies,

45. (cont) t e r r i t o r i e s are the Agents of the PiS.A.Co.;

the business of which i s c a r r i e d on under a "Deed of

Settlement,"

46. Blanshard to Grey, T.I,, 25 Feb.1851

47. Same to same. Ib i d . c.p. the following l e t t e r from

J.W.MacKay for the H.B.Co. to Kenneth MacKenzie at the

P.S.A,Co, farm of Cralgflower on 5 Jan.1856—"no sales

on open account should be made at the H.B.Co.*s Shop

at V i c t o r i a to any persons not immediately engaged i n the

service of the Fur Trade; to a l l other persons I can only

make sales for immediate payment.. . » Any supplies you

may take at the Company's stores w i l l be charged to you

as heretofore at servants' p r i c e s . "

38

merely handing Blanshard a l i s t of emigrants and saying

"These are the number of s e t t l e r s we have-brought out."

Against such evidence Simpson could only repeat the

l e g a l s i t u a t i o n . "The Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company

i s an offshoot of &he Hudson's Bay Company; an a g r i c u l ­

t u r a l establishment formed by the Hudson's Bay Company

or parties connedted with or interested i n the Hudson's

Bay Company, encouraged by the Government of the day." 4 9

Shortly a f t e r Blanshard's departure, c e r t a i n

regulations on taking up land were relaxed. In Staines

l e t t e r of complaint forwarded to Paklngton, he stressed

the factors which hindered settlement. "Here with land

at £1 per acre, t i e d down as i t i s by conditions, which

do not allow a man more than twenty acres, except he

imports English laborers at the rate of one man f o r every

twenty acres Cthls condition the Company are wisely

b l i n k i n g at present, otherwise they would not have one

private proprietor of more than twenty acres on the Island

at this moment, which they are aware of no doubt) the

laborer has no chance of achieving independence." 5 0 There

. » . • 48; Blanshard to Labouchere, Report of Select Committee.

Evidence #5347-57.

49. Simpson to E l l i c e , Report of Select Committee.

Evidence #1124.

50. included i n E l l l e t to Barclay^ D.St., 3 Nov.1852.

The evasion of t h i s regulation by the H.B.Co. was further

39

waa no move yet. to Lower prices but it. was f e l t , that the

labor requirements might well be l i f t e d . As early as

August 1.850, Simpson, writing to Douglas from Laching

spoke of "that condition i n the prospectus that renders

i t binding on s e t t l e r s to take out f i v e laborers f o r every

hundred acres of land they may purchase—a condition

which appears almost tantamount to a p r o h i b i t i o n of

settlement in the present state of the P a c i f i c North-West.

This point has been &o urgently pressed on the attention

of the Governor and Committee that I f u l l y expect they 51

w i l l modify that clause i n the prospectus." On the rec­

eipt..of Staines'scomplaint-i the Colonial .Office- started cor-

;respondence:-with.Hud'son^s/Bay^Mousethat resulted im the

following concession. "Under existing circumstances i t

may perhaps be expedient not to i n s i s t on the purchasers

of land, to some li m i t e d extent—say one hundred a c r e s —

bringing i n laborers, and I f you should be of this opinion

and s h a l l s i g n i f y the same, the d i r e c t o r s of the Hudson's 52

Bay Company w i l l adopt that rule f o r the future*" 50. Ccont) proved by the evidence of Cooper before the

Select Committee. Question #4016.

51. Simpson to Douglas, H.B.Hi Lachine, 30 Aug.1850

52. C o l v i l l e to Pakington, H.B.H.; 1 BecI852 i n reply

to E l l i o t to Barclay, D.St., 2 Nov.1852 and accepted

i n Merivale t o C o l v i l l e , 14 Eeb.1853.

40

The end.' of this early period, i s f i t t i n g l y

marked, hy the resignation of Governor Blanshard. Indeed

there was no reason f o r him to stay. His grant of land

had turned out to "be no more than r i g h t of occupation,

the s e t t l e r s , whose taxes; and licenses whould have pro­

vided h i s salary did not materialize and he was reduced

to hl3 l a s t avowed reason f o r coming to t h i s remote

i s l a n d . "I had hoped that my services would he con-5 3

sldered hy Her Majesty's Government afterwards." From

two often c o n f l i c t i n g authorities on t h i s period may he

taken the two following conclusions on t h i s event.

1. "By resigning he took the only course open to him

and allowed James Douglas to become the de jure as well

as the de facto r u l e r of Vancouver I s l a n d . " 5 4

2. "The fur-traders have triumphed. On Vancouver Island

they are the Crown; and u n t i l the s e t t l e r s s h a l l become

stronger than the Company, t h e i r absolutj/Jh i s assured." °

. . . . 53. Report of Select Committee. Evidence #5161

54. W.N.Sage " S i r James Douglas and B r i t i s h Columbia" p.170

55. Bancroft " B r i t i s h Columbia" p.284

41

Chapter III

POLICY UNDER CHIEF FACTOR DOULGAS

August 1851 October 1858

During t h i s period, 1851-1858, Douglas occupied three

positiong.concurrently--Chief Factor f o r the Hudson's Bay

Company, Agent f o r the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company,

and C i v i l Governor i n Vancouver Island. The p o l i t i c s

of the period are not spectacular. Douglas ruled with

the a i d of a nominated council t i l l 4 August 1856, when

in obedience to pressing despatches from Downing Street

he r e l u c t a n t l y summoned an elected assembly of seven

members, at least f i v e of whom had been connected with

the Hudson's Bay Company. As might have been expected

t h i s body did not have a great e f f e c t on his p o l i c y . The

Hudson's Bay Company s t i l l had control of a l l land sales

and the only revenue at the disposal of the Assembly

was the proceeds of the l i q u o r l i c e n c e fund. It was

not t i l l 1858, when gold-seekers b u i l t V i c t o r i a up to a

c i t y of some importance and great expectations, that the

Assembly with vociferous backing from De Cosmos of the

" B r i t i s h Colonist", another importation with the gold-

seekers from C a l i f o r n i a , began to challenge the governor,

whose double sphere of djtty presented obvious points

&o attack. With t h i s period came the end of the control

42

by the Hudson's Bay Company whose grant expired 13 Jan­

uary 1859, and the presentation of the Company's accounts

whose settlement w i l l occupy much space i n l a t e r chapters.

This i s another point where i t i s customary

to make a b r i e f pause, i n th i s case to delineate the

character and background of th i s pioneer j o u r n a l i s t who

inherited the commonplace name of William A. Smith but

i n B r i t i s h Columbia was known as Amor de Cosmos—a

hybrid.appelation which he fondly imagined to mean

"Lover of the World 1 1 and which he 3iel d by the grace of

a bare majority i n the C a l i f o r n i a l e g i s l a t u r e . As with

Douglas l e t us judge De Cosmos by his actions and speeches.

This period marked the loosening of another

r e s t r i c t i o n on the purchase of land. The s t r i c t rule

of immediate payment was slowly relaxed. It was hastened

by the delays of surveying and the problem of t i t l e

deeds. In August of 1851 Douglas was s t i l l waiting f o r

some temporary forms* which were being sent out i n the

"Norman Morrison" and which, he hoped, would put him

i n a p o s i t i o n to " s a t i s f y purchasers of land u n t i l

deeds under the Company's seal can be forwarded from

London." 1 The procedure f o r ge t t i n g t i t l e deeds was

cumbrous—after the completed sjirvey of each block, the

d e t a i l s of each l o t were in s c r i b e d on blank forms i n

duplicate. When the f u l l p r i c e was paid one copy went • » » •

1. Douglas to Barclay, S*t. V i c t o r i a , 26 Aug.1851

43

to the purchaser as a r e c e i p t and the other was sent

to London where a regular deed was made out, sealed and

returned to the Colony*** As long as the Hudson's Bay

Company retained the t i t l e to the land a l l t i t l e deeds

were made out at Hudson Bay House by the Company o f f i c i a l s ^

The f i r s t move towards a systematic plan of

paying by instalments itt noted i n a report to Barclay

of February 1854, where Douglas speaks of some changes

i n p o l i c y recommended by Pemberton. The f i r s t proposal

was probably to permit s e t t l e r s who were q u a l i f i e d to

run t h e i r own survey l i n e s , since Douglas comments that

"the effect w i l l be to lessen the expense of h i s depart-3

ment.* But the second p r o p o s a l — o f instalments--mett

opposition because i t would "involve the necessity of

keeping many additional accounts" and accounting was

not Douglas r f o r t e .

Nothing was done f o r some time and about the

only reference to land tenure was made by Douglas when

avenging the murder of Williams "one of that class of

men known in t h i s country as squatters, that i s persons

who have not purchased and therefore have no l e g a l

r i g h t to the land they occupy*" 4 "Though 1 have always

made i t a rule to discountenance the i r r e g u l a r settlement

• * . . 2. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 23 Jun.1852

5. Same to same. F t . V i c t o r i a 11 Feb.1854

4. Douglas to LabcuiChere, V.I. 22 Aug. 1856 44

o f t h e c o u n t r y , y e t i t i a e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e s e c u r i t y

o f a l l that, t h o s e p e r s o n s s h o u l d be p r o t e c t e d , " s a i d

D o u g l a s and s e n t an e x p e d i t i o n w h i c h c a p t u r e d , t r i e d

and h a n g e d t h e I n d i a n ,

Some t i m e i n t h e w i n t e r o f 1856 Hudson's

Bay House i s s u e d t h e s t a t e m e n t o f a new l a n d p o l i c y

i n c l u d i n g , i , a s y s t e m o f d e d u c t i o n s f o r a r e a s o f r o c k

and swamp, and 2. r e c e i v i n g payments, i f r e q u i r e d , h y

i n s t a l m e n t s , P e m b e r t o n w r o t e q u i t e f a v o r a b l y o f t h e s e

i n n o v a t i o n s , s t a t i n g t h a t owing t o t h e i r i n t r o d u c t i o n

s a l e s o f two t h o u s a n d a c r e s w o u l d be made i n t h e c o u r s e

o f t h e s p r i n g o f 1857> 5 a n d i n O c t o b e r o f t h a t y e a r

D o u g l a s was a b l e t o s e n d home t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t on

t h e new s y s t e m , " I am g l a d t o i n f o r m y o u t h a t t h e

i n s t a l m e n t s y s t e m c o n t i n u e s t o work w e l l ; b e c o m i n g

e v e r y day more p o p u l a r as I t i s b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d by

t h e l o w e r c l a s s e s who a t f i r s t d i d n o t a p p e a r f u l l y t o

a p p r e c i a t e i t s a d v a n t a g e s , * 6 I n t h e r e p o r t s f o r t h e

s a l e s f r o m 10 O c t o b e r 1857 t o 4 November 1858, D o u g l a s

was a b l e t o r e p o r t an i n c r e a s e f r o m 6,303 a c r e s t o

30,984 a c r e s , on w h i c h I n s t a l m e n t s t o t h e amount o f 7

£ 2 4 , 0 5 6 were owing a t f i v e p e r c e n t i n t e r e s t , » . . . 5. P e m b e r t o n t o S m i t h , V » I . , 2 7 , A p r i l 1 857.

6. D o u g l a s to".SmIthc, V~.I,,\7 Octbberu-lSStfso

7. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , Y . I . , 11 Dec.1858, The g r e a t

i n c r e a s e i s o f c o u r s e a l s o due t o t h e coming o f t h e m i n e r s and c o n s e q u e n t r i s e i n l a n d v a l u e s .

45

More land was. acquired from the natives i n

Eebruary of 1852. Douglas negotiated with the Saanitch

Indians paying £109.7.6 i n "woolen goods which they

prefer to money" for " a l l the land north of a l i n e

extending from Mt. Douglas to the south end of the

Saanitch Inl e t , bounded by than inlet, and the Canal de

Qrro(Haro) (which) contains f i f t y square miles or

thirty-two thousand statute acres of land,"® and i n

August of 1854, he reported an Indian reserve f o r sale,

whose area was not r e a l l y needed but whose purchase

was advisable " p a r t i c u l a r l y I f any other party should Q

be tampering f o r the purchase of t h e i r r i g h t s * "

For actual sales of land, the best source

i s the b i e n n i a l reports that the Hudson's Bay Company

was required by i t s charter to turn into the Colonial

O f f i c e . It seems that they were r e a l l y t r i e n n i a l , for

the only ones avai l a b l e were presented i n 1852, 1855

and 1858. wherever possible these have been checked

by the despatches of Douglas to Hudson rs Bay House, which

are complete to 1855 but sporadic from that year to 1859.

In Douglas' report of A p r i l ; 1852*. proceeds of sales

outside the reserve were £1378 which, allowing f o r the

ten percent taken by the Company showed sales of about

...» 8. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 1 Feb.1852

9; Same to same. F t . V i c t o r i a , 26 Aug.1854

46

1530 acres, This agrees closely with the o f f i c i a l

report of November which reported sales of 147S^ acres

to 11 different, persons. The report also stated that

nineteen people had. applied f o r 2355 acres which they

could not receive t i l l the survey had. been completed.

There was notice of the Hudson's Bay Company Reserve

of 3084 acres and of prospective purchase of 2500

acres of land by the Euget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company

who expected to pay the regular p r i c e of twenty s h i l l i n g

The next o f f i c i a l report was presented i n

June of 1855 and i n the interim there are quite a few

despatches from Douglas which give d e t a i l s of s a l e s .

In May of 1853 the following l i s t of purchases i s given,

"George Hawkins 57.5 acres

James Cooper 64.5 II

Henry u.» Peers 200. H

Robert J , Staines 46.5 it

James Yates 41. tt

George MacKenzle 60. it

John Greig 30. it

I s a b e l l a Ross 99. ac£ea w 12 » » » »

10. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 27 Apr.1852

11. C o l v i l l e to Pakington, H.B.H., 24 Nov.1852

12. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 18 May 1853

Staines apparently had got t i r e d of waiting for free

land. (8.p. c.10, 'n.7y and c.3, n.3l)

47

In July came the record of a sale of 250 acres to Paul

Eraser, and rumors, of land "to be purchases around Nanaimo

"by the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company. The next

despatch l i s t e d sales to John Tod of 100 acres and to

Robert Parsons of 40 acres. There was. mention of further

sales but from the prices paid they seem to have been 14

from the Company Reserve. A l e t e r despatch noted

that the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company had taken

2574 acres, the p r i c e of which had. been paid to the

Company's account by the Agents i n London.

The l a s t d e t a i l s for the period from Vancouver

Island came in despatches sent by Douglas to Hudson's

Hay House and Downing Street i n October of 1853. The

l a t t e r gives 16,028 acres "transferred to private hands"

which together with 3023 acres registered f o r purchase

gave a t o t a l of 19,051 acres. In the despatch to

Hudson's Bay House the amount sold was broken up into

11,626 acres to Hudson rs Bay Company and the Puget

Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company, 2958 acres paid f o r i n f u l l

and 1443 acres paid f o r i n part. Of the lands taken

by the Companies we have noted above the 2574 acres

taken by the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company and we can

.... 13. Douglas to Barclay, Jj't.Victoria, 12 Jul.1853

14. Same to same. E t . V i c t o r i a , 22 Sep.1853

15. Same to same. I't.Victoria, 3 Oct. 1854

16. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 24 Oct.1853 48

add. the 61.93 acres of the Nanaimo coa l farm noted i n

the report, of 1855 ( v . i n f r a , n.18) leaving 2859 acres

taken hy them and unaccounted f o r . *

The report, of 1855 gives t o t a l sales of

11455 acres which i s about, 1700 acres short, of the

t o t a l given above £f the Nanaimo farm and Puget Sound 1 a

A g r i c u l t u r a l Company l o t s are subtracted. The

importance of purchases by the Companies was so obvious

to the Colonial O f f i c e that Labouchere sent a warning

to. Douglas. ttIt appears that owing to the cessation of

purchases of land by the Hudsonis Bay and Puget Sound

Companies (si c ) the land sales would not prove so

productive a source of revenue as they have been hitherto

and that therefore other measures must be resorted to

for r a i s i n g the necessary funds for the support of the 19

Government of the Colony. H This pessimism seemed

borne out by the reports of 185? when 4206 acres only

were sold but much must have been registered f o r . s a l a

since Douglas gook the goestlonable l i b e r t y of boasting

...» 17. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 10 Oct.1853

18. The report i s , C o l v i l e to Russell, H.B.H., 9 Jun.1855

H.B.H. was probably i n possession of reports for 1854

though copies were not ava i l a b l e i n the B.C. Archives^

but the 1700 acre discrepancy cannot be explained.

19. Labouchere to Douglas, D.St., 23 Aug.1856

v . i n f r a n.37 49

t h a t t h e s a l e s , f o r 1857 exceeded, s a l e s o f 1856 b y

4166 a c r e s , 2 0

I n 1858 a c o m p l e t e l i s t o f a l l l a n d s a l e s

made, to d a t e was p r e s e n t e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e names o f

t h e p u r c h a s e r s a n d t h e amounts t a k e n by e a c h . R o u g h l y

t o t a l l e d , t h i s g i v e s 30,815 a c r e s a l i e n a t e d o f w h i c h

t h e Hudson's Bay Company t o o k 9911 a c r e s (6190. a c r e s

i n t h e Eanaimo c o a l f a r m ) and t h e Puget Sound A g r i c u l ­

t u r a l Company 2784 a c r e s . T h i s o f c o u r s e does n o t

i n c l u d e t h e 3084 a c r e s R e s e r v e f o r w h i c h no payment

was m a d e . 2 1 T h i s c o m p l e t e s t h e r e c o r d o f s a l e s f o r t h e

p e r i o d c o v e r e d by t h i s c h a p t e r .

The c o l o n i s t s who a r r i v e d were s t i l l l a r g e ­

l y s e r v a n t s o f t h e Hudson's Bay Company o r b a i l i f f s

a n d l a b o r e r s f o r the P u g e t Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company

f a r m s . K u p e r , who v i s i t e d the i s l a n d i n 1852 r e p o r t e d

t o h i s s u p e r i o r o f f i c e r t h a t " t h e r e a r e no new c o l o n i s t s

s i n c e y o u v i s i t e d i n t h e P o r t l a n d l a s t y e a r , and t h e

o n l y new a r r i v a l s d u r i n g t h e y e a r h a v e been about

t w e n t y - f i v e s e r v a n t s o f t h e Hudson's Bay Company, who

• . . . 20. D o u g l a s t o S m i t h , V . I , , 30 O c t . 1 8 5 7 . U n f o r t u n a t e l y

no d e s p a t c h e s f r o m VT.I, t o H . B » E , were a v a i l a b l e f o r

1856 a n d D o u g l a s ' d e s p a t c h e s t o D . S t , a r e s i n g u l a r l y

r e t i c e n t i n t h e m a t t e r o f l a n d s a l e s ,

2 1 . B e r e n s t o L y t t o n , H.B.H., 15 J u l . 1 8 5 8 . v . i n f r a c.6

50

I understand are barely s u f f i c i e n t to supply the vacancies

caused by desertions or o t h e r w i s e , a n d Douglas

urged the wisdom, of spending "a few thousand pounds

j u d i c i o u s l y l a i d out i n improvements" which would

"infuse a general f e e l i n g of s a t i s f a c t i o n and have the

e f f e c t of attaching people to the Company, The fr e e ­

holders and co l o n i s t s are nearly a l l , without exception,

actual or farmer servants of the Company and every

private enterprise has been c a r r i e d on with c a p i t a l 23

acquired i n the se r v i c e , "

Kuper's figures must hafre been based on

rumor or else a deliberate misstatement for in the

o f f i c i a l report of November, 1852, a l i s t , of emigrants

sent out by the Company gave a t o t a l of four hundred 24

t h i r t y - f i v e (271 males, 80 females, and 84 children}.

During the next three years further emigrants to the

number of three hundred sixty-two (146 males, 80 females 25

and 136 children) were sent out by the Company, of

whom some who came i n the Norman Morrison were miners

for the coal areas. There are a few references to independent

. . . . 22. Kuper to Moresby, San Francisco, 20 Jul.1852

23. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 3 Oct.1854

24. C o l v i l e to Paiington, H.B.H., 24 Nov.1852

25. C o l v i l e to Rus s e l l , H.B.H., 9 Jun.1855

26. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 12 Jul.1853 51

s e t t l e r s . As early as December, 1851, John and Andrew

Muir came to Douglas with a proposal to bring out ten

persons of th e i r connections i n Scotland—^the f i r s t

a p p l i c a t i o n of the kind that has yet been made for the

introduction of s e t t l e r s unconnected with the Company*s 27

servi c e , * Douglas suggested that they be given a.

s p e c i a l rate "more especially as several » . . are young

unmarried women of good character who w i l l be a great

a c q u i s i t i o n to the Colony.* A despatch of A p r i l next

spoke of a group of New Brunswiekers i n C a l i f o r n i a who

might be induced to emigrate. Douglas offered them a

warm welcome but reminded them that they would have to

work as laborers t i l l they could earn enough money to

buy l a n d . 2 8 This was also the period of Cordua*s

app l i c a t i o n mentioned above but no rumor of the proposed

German immigration appears to have reached Vancouver

Island, and Downing Street pigeonholed the request

pending a l e g a l decision on the rights of a l i e n s to

hold land i n a colony,

• . • »

27. Douglas to Barclay, E t . V i c t o r i a , 9 Dec,1851

28. Same to same, E t . V i c t o r i a , 27 Apr.1852

29. See above, c l ; n.28, p.17. Cordua asked f o r i n f o r ­

mation. "In Germany I cannot f i n d a single work over ( s i c )

Vancouver," I f s a t i s f i e d "T think I could bring many of

my Countrymen of the Northern part of Germany to

Vancouver,* Cordua to Barclay, Mecklenburgh, 31 Oct,1856 52

A rather i n t e r e s t i n g project f o r the s e t t l e ­

ment of Vancouver Island, has heretofore been neglected.

Though i t i s w e l l known, that Red River was considered

a good s i t e f o r a penal settlement, the plan f o r making

Vancouver Island a convict colony has not appeared. As - 30 ••

early as January, 1856, a certain Captain Swanston • • • » • _

30. Swanston, the agent of a C a l i f o r n i a shipping company,

was wrecked near V i c t o r i a i n November of 1853 and on

refusing to attend the Vlce-Admirality court c a l l e d

by Douglas, was j a i l e d and f i n e d £50 f o r contempt. He

received the sympathy and support of Staines and joined

with him i n c r i t i c i s m of Douglas. Both applied f o r

land i n Vancouver Island i n hopes of the coming of

free grants but paid no deposits at the.time—(see l i s t s

i n Douglas to Barclay, 10 Oet.1853)—though Staines

f i n a l l y paid up—(v.supra n.12, p . 4 7 ) . The remainder

of the l e t t e r quoted below was a Jeremaide on c o l o n i a l

conditions s t a t i n g that h i s friends were preparing to

leave. Douglas rather"acidly stated that "Mr. Swanston*s

friends are few i n number and c e r t a i n l y do not represent

the respectable portion of the community nor t h e i r r e a l

wants.* (Douglas to Labouchere, V.I., 15 Sep.1856) In

an e a r l i e r despatch he had declared that "since the

departure of the Rev. Mr. Staines and h i s coadjuctor

Mr. Swanston I have not heard a complaint from any person

i n the colony except i n regard to the sale p r i c e of land •

53

stated that "the colonists are a l l delighted at the idea

of having convicts introduced and they express themselves

strongly as to the benefits l i k e l y to r e s u l t to the

Island by such a measure.* 3 1 In h i s reply Douglas

was p o s i t i v e about Swanston*s character but made no

reference to the suggestion of convict labor and l a t e r

i n the year protested vigorously when Swarthout i n the

American steamer "Massachusetts* t r i e d to land Indian

prisoners from Washington on Vancouver Island. Douglas

protested that the landing of convicts upon the s o i l

of another country was a v i o l a t i o n of a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l

law and aftett a threat of force which was disregarded,

Swarthout was forced to buy canoes for the Indians, take

them north and l e t them go.

Nothing more was said about convicts on the

Island but i n London a learned gentleman, R.G.Nieolay,

Esquire, F.R.G.S., was e x t o l l i n g a spot on the north

west coast of B r i t i s h North America, where a colony

might be founded with convict labor as i t s b a s i s . "The

land might be surveyed and everything prepared f o r the

reception of the immigrant who would most gladly pay

30. (cont) . . and that grievance I have no power to

redress." Douglas to Grey, Y.I., 11 Dec.1854

31. Swanston to Bannister, San Francisco, 4 Jan.1856

enclosed i n Labouohere to Douglas, D.St., 8 Jul.1856.

32. Douglas to Labouchere, Y.I., 26 Nov.1856

54

f o r auch improvementa". The i n i t i a l expense would "be

l i t t l e beyond the passage o u t — t t i n a short time the

settlement might be self-supporting . . . the convicts

might b u i l d t h e i r own barracks of the timber with which

the country abounds and the whole thing might be done

i n l e s s time than I am a f r a i d i t w i l l take to t a l k about 33

i t * 1 1 Though he stated that i t would be easier to get

a grant on the mainland, the plan was coupled with

Vancouver Island by the d i r e c t reply of Mr.. A.K.Isbister

who proceeded to show up the weaknesses of Vancouver

Island as a penal settlement as compared with Red

River, h i s choice f o r such a p r o j e c t . He stressed

c h i e f l y the long ocean voyage with Its consequent

expense and the possible i n t e r n a t i o n a l f r i c t i o n which

might r e s u l t from s e t t i n g up a convict colony so near

to the t e r r i t o r y of another nation. * I do not see how

the United States whose territory- i s separated from

Vancouver Island only by a narrow s t r a i t , i n some parts

I believe not more than two miles i n width, could

tolerate f o r a moment the establishment of a general

receptacle f o r the criminal population of the B r i t i s h

Empire within sight of t h e i r very shores or hesitate

to resent i t as a wanton i f not premeditated outrage. 1*

Such a p o l i c y would be '•fraught with danger to the

permanency and s t a b i l i t y of our power i n Horth West • » • • • •

S3. R.E.HIcolay i n the "Times*. 25 Dec.1856

55

America.*'

Mr- Hicolay r e p l i e d with a host of arguments

favoring Vancouver Island and r e f u t i n g the claims of

Mr. I s b i s t e r . *That Vancouver i s l a n d i s the worst

possible place f o r a convict, settlement, may admit of

a doubt . . . there are parts of that i s l a n d from which

escape would he almost i f not quite as d i f f i c u l t as

from the shores of Hudson's Bay.* He admitted the h i ^ i

coat o f transportation which waa however balanced by

the cheapness of wooden establishments which would s u f f i c e

on Vancouver Island while the extreme c o l d of Red River

required buildings of stone. Moreover, Vancouver Island

would produce crops more quickly and a f f o r d a better

grazing ground f o r c a t t l e since, owing to the mildnessu

of the climate, stock * l l v e and f i n d sustenance f o r

themselves as well i n winter as i n summer.* Kbr were the

arguments of trade forgotten. Vancouver Island was

pointed out as the l o g i c a l r i v a l of San Francisco as

a centre f o r coal and naval stores and for the r e q u i s i t e

establishment a*, convict labor was the cheapest means

by which the necessary works might be performed.* 3 5

The argument however did not a f f e c t the p o l i c i e s of

Downing Street -so we have to wait t i l l 1866 before

transportation i s again mentioned i n connection with

» • » •

3 4 , A.K,Isbister, i n the *Tlmes* of 29 Dec,1856

35, R.G.ITIcolay i n the "Times* of 2 Jan.1857

56

Vancouver Island.. This mention was an i s o l a t e d l e t t e r

to the Colonist advocating the importation of convicts

f o r labor only.

The f a l l i n g o f f i n land sales during 1854-5

l e d to a correspondence through Downing Street and

Hudson's Bay House with hopes of increasing fehe commerce

of Vancouver Island by including that area i n the

Reciprocity Treaty then i n the process of negotiation.

Douglas displayed the sad state of a f f a i r s on the

i s l a n d . "The colony has been heretofore mainly supported

by the large sums of money expended i n house-building

and other works by the Huds on * s Bay and Puge t Sound

Companies and by the servants of these Companies.

That resource must necessarily soon f a i l and then

follows the perplexing question, as to what the laboring

people of the Colony w i l l f i n d to do. . • The probable

consequence w i l l be a general desire f o r emigration to

the American settlements where grants of land are

f r e e l y proffered to a l l p a r t i e s who become s e t t l e r s

and improvers of the s o i l . * 3 7 To avoid t h i s s o l u t i o n

Douglas suggested the building of navy storehouses at

Esquimalt and i n c l u s i o n i n the Reciprocity Treaty. He

had previously urged the l a t t e r plan i n h i s despatch of

of May 1854. "I would therefore most earnestly entreat

Your Grace to take the commercial p o s i t i o n of this

3&* iLet te^r ctQ. d^Q&*St2&£j&% JfaS!gm866 3 7 . Douglas to G r e y , V.I., 3 Oct.1854

57

Colony into consideration that i t may become a party

to the advantages of any commercial regulations that

may be established between the united States and the

B r i t i s h North American provinces with the view of

putting them on a s a t i s f a c t o r y footing of Reciprocity.*-

and repeated i t i n an August, despatch to Hudson's Bay

Houae.^ The l a t t e r received a supporting despatch

to Downing Street, i n which the d e s i r a b i l i t y of Reciprocity

was. stressed since though V i c t o r i a was a free port * a l l

produce and manufactures imported (s i c ) from thence into

the United States are subjected to very high d u t i e s . * 4 0

but ten days before Grey had sent the following con­

clusive despatch to Vancouver Island. *WIth respect

to including Vancouver Island i n the Reciprocity Treaty

with the United States I have to inform you that i t

was not found practicable to extend that treaty to the

possessions of the two countries on the P a c i f i c side

of North America, and that i n any case your despatch

of thirteenth May i n which you proposed that t h i s should

be done, d i d not reach me u n t i l a f t e r the treaty had

been concluded**' 4 1 Douglas rather sadly accepted t h i s

dictum i n h i s reply to Downing Street.42 but i n h i s • » • »

38. Douglas to Grey, V.I., 13 May 1854

39. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 26 Aug.1864

40. C o l v i l e to Grey, H.B.E., .28 Dec.1854

41. Grey to Douglas, D,St., 18 Dec.1854 42. Douglas to Grey, V»I., 6 Mar.1855

58

despatch, to Hudson's Bay House he more openly lamented

the f a i l u r e of. the scheme and complained that the i n t e r r

ests of the i s l a n d "have been completely overlooked

hy Her Majesty's Government." 4 5

With the discovery of gold on the mainland.

the rush of miners through V i c t o r i a was hound, to cause

some drastic changes i n the l i f e of the settlement

where the f u r trade had so long been viceroy i f not

toang. The c i t y ' s population increased and the value

of land rose with the demand. As early as August, 1858,

Hudson's. Bay House informed land seekers that a l l the

land near V i c t o r i a and Esquimalt not reserved f o r

Government or Indians " i s f u l l y occupied -and the owners

are asking high prices i n consequence of the great

i n f l u x of people and speculation on account of the

Gold d i g g i n g s , * 4 4 while i n San Erancisco, a Mr. George

Bias sent a p e t i t i o n to Queen V i c t o r i a stating t h a t

l o t s "have been sold f i f t y or s i x t y to one person at

the Government Price of £5 to £10 per l o t , are i n

r e a l i t y worth from £50 to £1000 and upwards i n some

instances and are now held at from twenty to two hundred

times t h e i r f i r s t value,* and recommending a law

requiring some improvements on l o t s purchased since

*numbers of American 'Land Speculators* ( s i c ) have

• • » . » ,

43. Douglas to Barclay, 24 Apr.1855

44. Berens to Higgins, H.B.H., 13 Aug.1858

59

gone down with the sole purpose of buying a l l the land

i n and about the town of V i c t o r i a , they can lay t h e i r

hands on merely f o r the purpose of holding and r e ­

s e l l i n g i t at an enormous advance. 1* 4 5 Douglas made

haste to reply that high p r i c e s reported were on resale

of land purchased beforehand at £1 per acre over which

he could exercise no c o n t r o l . The Hudson's Bay Company

were making a good p r o f i t out of t h e i r Reserve, s e l l i n g

suburban l o t s of 5 acres for £25 and town l o t s 120* by

60* f o r £20.16.8 a price which waa double t h e i r old

rate. The top p r i c e received had been £100 an acre

cor choice l o t s . Douglas did not share Bias* fear of

speculation. He showed that the average holding was

12 l o t s or 238 acres of farming land. He believed that

the vast amount of good land a v a i l a b l e at £1 per acre

was a bar to speculative holdings and was rather averse

to any p o l i c y which would frighten away c a p i t a l . He

made vague suggestions of a tax on unimproved lands to

replace a r u l e requiring improvements, c i t i n g cases of

perjury and unsettled t i t l e s under the improvement

system as i n force i n Oregon.- 6

With the conclusion of t h i s chapter any

attempt at a general narrative i s abandoned and the ...» 45. Bias to Derby, San Francisco, 3 Jul.1858, i n Lytton

to Douglas, B.St., 16 Aug.1858

46. Douglas to Lytton, V.I., 13 Oct.1858

60

following w i l l t r e a t s p e c i a l problems a r i s i n g from the

new conditions brought about by the a r r i v a l of the miners

and the business men, etc., who followed their t r a i l .

The increased value of land brought on the quarrel

oyer the quarrel over the Hudson's Bay Company Reserve,

the raison d* etre of two succeeding chapters. The

r i s e ^ o f public opinion backed by the press had an

influence on land p o l i c y shown i n the chapter on land

l e g i s l a t i o n and led. to the perennial quarrel over the

exchange of a C i v i l L i s t f o r the Crown Lands—another

two chapter t o p i c . The concluding chapter i s a sketch

of p a r a l l e l conditions i n B r i t i s h Columbia which can

only claim to toe an introduction to a f i e l d well worth

deeper study.

61

' Chapter 1 lir

THE ACCOUNT OF THE HUDSON'S- BAY'COMPANY

February 1858 Oetaber' 1862

In t h i s chapter a l l the available figures given by the

Company i n the presentation of t h e i r ' b i l l and. the

various bargainings and negotiations which led to the

f i n a l settlement are brought forward. From the

considerable reductions during the communications i t

might be infer r e d that, the Company set their b i l l s

high and bargained f o r as much as they could g e t — a

p o l i c y unethical perhaps but c e r t a i n l y not unusual i n

business. Possible they considered i t t h e i r only chance

of g e tting f a i r remuneration, i n view of the knovaistrength

of opposition.

A n t i c i p a t i n g the discontinuance of t h e i r

rule a f t e r 13 January 1859, Hudson's Bay House sent i n

a preliminary account i n February of 1858 which was 1

f o r some time the bas i s of negotiation. Following

the text o f the grant which had promised repayment of

any "sums of money heretofore l a i d out and expended

by them i n and upon the said isl a n d and premises and

of the value of t h e i r establishments property and effects

then being thereon" they included estimates of the value • » • •

1, Shepherd to Labouchere, H,B,H», 24 Feb,1858

62

of t h e i r establishments and stock.

The f i r s t item was the expenses of c o l o n i z ­

ation. Public works and expenses of government to

31 January 1858 l e f t a balance i n favor of the Company

of £850.5* The expenses of bringing out servants who

were not a c t u a l l y employed i n the Company's projects

was stated as £25,550, and extra expenses of searching

f o r coal were s e t at £12,469, giving a t o t a l of £46,524*

Further items were as follows.

Farms £ 12,384

V i c t o r i a b uildings 12,575

Hanaimo mine 38,326

Esquimalt m i l l s 3,000

Goods, stock and trading vessels 112,899

Colonial expenses as above 46,524 "Total £225,699

D e f i n i t e action could not be taken t i l l the

actual period of the grant ran out, the date accepted

by the Hudson's Bay Company being 31 May 1859. Shortly

a f t e r t h i s date Berens wrote to Downing Street i n a

s t y l e calculated to bring to the minds o f the o f f i c i a l s

there something o f the services rendered by the Company

arid attempting to arouse a f e e l i n g of generosity. "Your

Grace i s probably aware that from the time that t h i s

Company took possession of Vancouver's Island under the

grant from the Crown they have been looked to provide

a l l the funds that might be required f o r i t s colonization

63

and improvement, and they have not hesitated on any

occasion, although often a t considerable inconvenience

to, advance t h e i r own moneys f o r the purpose when they

were not i n funds from, receipts f o r the sale of land

or otherwise* t t 2'

In January of the next year, Berens d i s ­

c r e e t l y reminded Newcastle that the period of the grant

was up and. that the time f o r settlement had arrived*

The b i l l then presented no longer included the d e t a i l a

of the establishments which the Company were to maintain

but simply stated the costs, of colonization with two

changes, l*The claim for expenses of searching f o r c o a l 4

had been cut down to h a l f , v i z . £6234 and 2. the

expenses connected with the emigrants had been det a i l e d .

Passage £12,717

Wages f o r one year 7,890

Maintenance 5,055 Tota l £25.550 The number of emigrants by years was given as follows:

1848 . 19

1849 • . 60

1850 » .102

1851 . 27

1852 • . 70

1853 •- *184£

1854 . Total

. 89 55l£

Children under 14 brought out

at. h a l f f a r e .

64

1

At this stage of the game Newcastle sent

a despatch to Douglas informing him of the accounts

as. presented. He. stressed the reductions and the

insistence by the Company that the accounts to date 5

were not "a f i n a l r e s t r i c t i o n of the i r claims."

Attention was also c a l l e d to the f a c t that, a sum of

£25,000 had already been passed hy the Treasury f o r

extinguishing the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company

and to the willingness of the Company to transfer the

granting of land to the C o l o n i a l authority.

The actual despatch delegating that, authority

was sent to Douglas the day a f t e r Newcastle's despatch

Just quoted and contained r e s t r i c t i o n s that rather

weakened the concession. Douglas was allowed to

dispose of a l l land not yet disposed of" hy the Company

nor claimed hy them as held p r i o r to the grant of 1849—

thus leaving open the p e r r e n i a l dispute of the Hudson's

Bay Company Reserves. No transfer of land could yet

he made without the seal of the Company 30 a l l conveyances

2. Berens to Newcastle, H.B.H;, 19 Jul.1859

3. Same to same, H.B.H., 23 Jan.1860

4. Correspondence about t h i s cut passed between D.St,

and H.B.H. but presents nothing but the language of

barter. The Company backed down and offered to bear

half of the expense ifeself.

5. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St;, 28 Jun.1860

65

were s t i l l to be sent, to England to be o f f i c i a l l y

stamped at Hudson's Bay House. Douglas sent a strong

note"'.of protest, against the continuance of this system

stating that, i t had bred d i s t r u s t and t h a t the occasional

loss of documents during transmission had not helped 7

to cure t h a t f e e l i n g . Downing Street could do nothing

but advise patience. "Inconvenience and delay must be

occasional by the system . . . but. t h i s appears to be

unavoidable so long as i t is necessary to the v a l i d i t y

of the grants that they Should bear that s e a l . The

arrangement, however i s temporary only and. I. trust w i l l

be shortly diacontlnued--As soon as the pecuniary

accounts between H* I£. r s Government and the Company

are adjusted and the i s l a n d i s conveyed to the Crown

the usual more convenient system w i l l no doubt be 8

brought into operation."

The accounts though presented and paid i n

London did not escape c r i t i c i s m on Vancouver Island.

Douglas transmitted- some accounts to the Assembly and

a f t e r checking them over, De Cosmos declared h i s b e l i e f

that there was a balance of £21,106 due to the Colony

and that investigation might well be worth while to the

government o f f i c i a l s since such a sum would enable the

• » »• •

6. Berens to Douglas, H.B.H., 29 Jun.1860

7. Douglas to Newcastle, V v l . , 10 Jan.1861

8. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 15 Apr.1861 66

q

government t_o carry on without taxes f o r a year.

The completion of the payments i n London

was however held up hy a sudden increase of t h e i r claims

hy the company. In a despatch of March 1861, Berens

acknowledged the receipt of the £25,000 down payment

hut presented a new h i l l which demanded further payments

of £53,569, The increase was due to some checking up

of Vancouver Island accounts by Mr. Dallas who had

succeeded Douglas as chief Factor at V i c t o r i a and soon

got into disputes with h i s predecessor over the finance

government.^ At any rate the increased account^was

not accepted at the Colonial O f f i c e whence i t was

submitted to Mr. Andoe of the Treasury f o r audit.

His report cut harshly into Mr. Dallas* 12

additions and sundry other d e t a i l s . In a l l he advised

a cut of £26,157 under the following heads;

Mr. Dallas*' extra claims £15,123

Commission on land sales not r e a l i z e d 2,405

Interest 3,712

Excess charge f o r s e t t l e r s 4,667

Reduction on coal seeking account 247 Total £26,157 . . . .

9. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l , 8 May 1860. The accounts were

published i n the Colonist of 3 Apr.1860 and are rather

obscure. De Cosmos* claims seemed to be based on the

theory that the HUB .Co. and P.S.A.CO. had paid nothing

f o r the lands that they took. 67

Leaving a. balance of only £27,412, due to the Company.

The reply of Hudson's Bay House arrived i n

a despatch of February 1862* Here Berens went over l

the c r i t i c i s m s of. Andoe and denied them a l l . Mr*

Dallas* additions were explained, as the result of h i s

v i a i t y t o Vancouver Island where i n examining the

Company's books he found that, "no proper d i s t i n c t i o n

had been made between the outlay s p e c i a l l y on behalf

of the Colony and that made on behalf of the Company's

furtrade. . . He had selected such items as appeared 13

to him to be properly chargeable to the Colony. H

The only reduction Berens accepted was the s t r i k i n g

out of an item of £4,000 as expenses for using the

steamer Beaver i n the interests of the Colony. The

expense had been assumed by the Company i n a much

e a r l i e r despatch. 1 4 so the caaim was given up but not

any too graciously.

This reduced the claims of the Company to

£49,569 but the Colonial Office seems to have become

rather t i r e d of t h i s r e l a t i v e l y f r u i t l e s s correspondence

and informed Hudson's Bay House that while the reduced

10. v . i n f r a c.5, n»26 re advances on public buildings

11. Berens to Newcastle, H.B.H., 22 Mar.1861

12. Andoe to Hamilton, Treasury, 14 Dec.1861

13. Berens to Newcastle, H.B.H., 12 Feb.1862

14. Shepherd to the Coloni a l O f f i c e , 14 Dec.1856

68

claims could not be considered, a note f o r the payment

of £30,000 more had ju s t been passed through the Commons

and would be offered i n payment of the Company's claims 15

in f u l l . Probably heartened by reports of the

Parliamentary discussion of the account the Hudson's

Bay Company sent i n a somewhat reduced b i l l demanding

£38,445 and after r e f e r r i n g to the l a s t offer of the

Colonial O f f i c e r e l u c t a n t l y suggested that they would

accept £35,000 in f u l l settlement " i n order to put an

end to further d i s c u s s i o n . " ^ 6

This proposition apparently convinced the

Colonial Office that the Company was attempting to squeeze

the l a s t possible penny so a rather curt despatch was

sent to Hudson's Bay House off e r i n g to s p l i t the d i f f e r ­

ence of the Company's o f f e r of £35,000 and t h e i r o f f e r

» * . • » . 15. Portescme to Berens, D.St., 21 Jun.1862. A note

for £55,000 was voted on in the House of Commons on

12 Jun.1862, the £25,000 noted above having been advanced

by the Treasury. There was some ta l k of c a l l i n g ff©r

detailed estimates and i t was stated that the Co l o n i a l

Office hoped to be able to compromise and s e t t l e the

account with the Company for a further sum of less than

£10,000 but the general opinion was that the payment

was due to the Company and the item was quickly

passed.

16. Berens ta Newcastle, H.B.H., 4 Jul.1862 69

of £30,000 by the payment of £3.2,500. Within a week „

the Company decided to. make the beat of the bargain and

Berens wrote to Newcastle assuring him that "Although

I s t i l l hold to. the j u s t i c e of the claim o r i g i n a l l y

advanced by t h i s Company I am prepared . . . to agree

to the compromise, suggested by Your Grace i n order to

bring the a f f a i r a t once to an amicable settlement." 1 8

The b i l l was therefore presented, and. paid.

There seemed, no obstacle to the further development of

the colony with the land p o l i c y thus transferred from

the Company to the Executive and Newcastle sent a

s p e c i a l despatch to Douglas giv i n g him the d e t a i l s of

the t ransfer. But the lands were s t i l l retained

by the Company pending the settlement of a further

dispute which was to hold up the t r a n s f e r of the lands

t i l l . 1867—• the quarrel over the Hudson's Bay Company

Reserve at. V i c t o r i a f u l l y described i n other chapters. ...» 17. E l l i o t to Berens, D.St., 11 Sep.1862

18. Berens to Newcastle, H.B.H., 18 Sep.1862

19. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 1 Oct.1862

70

C h a p t e r V

THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY RESERVE--TILL THE INDENTURE OF 1862

September 1846 February 1862

In treating the problem o£ the Hudson's Bay Company

Reserve one i s tempted to misquote Henry of Navarre

i n the famous statement, immortalized by S e l l a r s and.

Yeat man i n "1066 B and declare t h a t the whole question

of the Reserve i s "rather a mess," There i s a wealth

of material i n correspondence with a l l possible per­

mutations of the routs between three points--Vancouver

Island, Downing Street, Hudson's Bay House—together

with Interjections from the Vancouver Island Assembly

and e d i t o r i a l s of the Colon i s t , To keep t h i s straight

chronologically Is quite a task. As the argument

progressed both sides tend to re f e r , with t h e i r own

inter p r e t a t i o n , to the same authorities and there i s

much special pleading. In t h i s treatment therefore

more stress w i l l be l a i d on the early documents which

l a t e r form the b a s i s of argument i n learned and lengthy

t r e a t i s e s .

The f i r s t reference that may be s a i d to

bear on the subject i s a despatch from Hudson's Bay

House i n 1846. "The Company having formed an e s t a b l i s h -

71

ment on the south point of Vancouver*s Island which

they are annually enlarging^ are anxious to know whether

they w i l l he confirmed i n the possession of such

lands as they may fin d i t expedient to add to those

which they already possess, M-^ This despatch was l a t e r

taken as a confession of doubt on the pa r t of. the

Company as to t h e i r right to held such land but as

above noted ( c l , n.18, p.IE) a l e g a l decision was

produced which supported the Company's claim, so i t

must here be. accepted solely as evidence that the

Company had formed, a settlement p r i o r to the date of

writing .

"When Douglas took over the control of the

Hudson's Bay Company government department at V i c t o r i a

he received instructions to pay f o r any land taken

by the Eur Trade except "that portion they were i n

possession of before 1 8 4 6 . T h e extent of land taken

... • 1. F e l l y to Grey, H.B.H., 7 Sep. 1846

2. F e l l y to Douglas, H.B.H., 4 Aug.1849. i t would be

well to note here the d i s t i n c t i o n between the H.B.Co.

"government department" and "Fur Trade". The former

operated under the grant o f 1849, the l a t t e r was the

ordinary business corporation under the charter of 1670

and l e t e r confirmations. Their accounts were kept by

the same book-keepers but i n separate books. Confusion

i s increased by the p o s i t i o n of Douglas who occupied

72

f o r the reserve was f o r a long time i n doubt—the

discussion over the exact boundaries becoming more and

more acrimonious as the value of the land increased*

Blanshard made rather vague charges of appropriation

of " a l l the available land i n the neighborhood (of

Victoria)"- and hinted at a huge reserve, ten miles

square, "bounded by a l i n e drawn nearly due north

from the head of V i c t o r i a Harbor to a h i l l marked on

the chart as Gedar H i l l or Mount Douglas and thence

running due east to the Canal de Arro(Haro)" 4 together

with a s i m i l a r area for the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l

Company containing Esquimalt Harbor, a l l of which

would be under the control of the Hudson's Bay Company,

It i s impossible to decide whether Blanshard was ex­

aggerating or whether the Company had not at one tim§».

plans f o r the a c q u i s i t i o n of such an area, A despatch

from Hudson's Bay House of July, 1851, seems to hin t

at. some such plan, Barclay warned Douglas that i f only

s i x square miles were taken f o r the Eur Trade, the

2. (cont) four posts c o n c u r r e n t l y — c i v i l governor of V.I.,

head of the H.BVCo. government branch, Chief Eaetor of

the Eur Trade and Agent f o r the P.S.A.Go.— a s i t u a t i o n •

requiring the wisdom of a Solomon or the v e r s a t i l i t y of

a chameleon,

3. Blanshard to Grey, V.I,, 18 Sep.1850

4. Same to same, T.I., 15 June 1850

73

proposed. iMQOQ advance for p u b l i c works was to be cut

i n h a l f — t h e f u l l sura was to have been expended on the

condition that the Company purchased "a considerable 5

t r a c t of land,"

At any rate Blanshard revised h i s estimate

to t h i r t y square miles in a despatch of February 1851

and requested d e f i n i t e information of the intentions

of the Hudson's Bay Company on the Reserve, "The

agent here professes ignorance of every arrangment but

has admitted that they do not intend to pay for i t , " 6

Later i n the year he protested against reserves which

"prevent any bona f i d e Colonists from s e t t l i n g , " ' and

declared that any important town would have to be

established outside of the Reserves or the Hudson's

Bay Company would seize a l l the land around i t as they

had done at V i c t o r i a , "where there i s no p r o b a b i l i t y of

a population ever gathering, beyond a few of t h e i r own

servants,*

At t h i s point appears a despatch from

F e l l y to Douglas which was l a t e r to be quoted by Cary

i n an attempt to take back portions of the Reserve f o r

, , , , 5, Barclay to Douglas, H.B.H., 16 Jul.1851, This might

be accepted as support of the suspicion voiced by

Fi t z g e r a l d , c.p. c.2, n.18. <? •% n

6, Blanshard to Grey, V,I., 3 Feb.1851

7, Same to same, V.I., 28 Apr.1851 74

the C o l o n i a l government. The message r a n — " I n a l l

eases of reserves of land such as those made by the

Fur Trade and the Puget. Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company i t

must be understood that i f any part, i s required f o r

public purposes, i t may be resumed upon repaying the

p r i c e and any improvements that may have been made

upon i t . " a

Blanshard*a re i t e r a t e d complaints had

aroused some i n t e r e s t i n Downing Street and Peel was

moved to mildly protest the p o l i c y of free reserves.

"Tt i s obvious that no private i n d i v i d u a l can be ex­

pected to buy land i f a l l the land moat valuable from

i t s p o s i t i o n i s reserved by the Company f o r i t s own

use or that of another Company without . . . applying

the price which would have been charged f o r i t i f sold

f o r the benefit of the Colony.* 9 In reply to t h i s

Hudson's Bay House sent two despatches i n which t h e i r

case was strongly presented. The f i r s t reported the

a r r i v a l of returns from Tancauver Island showing "surveys

of the land which the Fur Trade propose to take " i n

which Surveyor Pemberton had ""omitted to d i s t i n g u i s h * * * *

8. P e l l y to Douglas, H.B.H., 25 May 1851. In Douglas to

Newcastle, D.St:., 7 Dec.1860 t h i s i s used as the basis

f o r argument, v . i n f r a n.35. p.c91

9. Peel to P e l l y , B.St., 20 Bec.1851

75

that which, they possessed, previous to the Boundary

Treaty from, the whole quantity. The former w i l l be

made over to them without purchase and for any addition

thereto they w i l l have to pay 20s an acre as a l l

other s e t t l e r s da."" 1 0 When t h i s despatch did not appear

to have aroused, conviction, a second was sent giving

the arguments of the Company i n the following succinct

review, '•Before 1846 while i n f a c t the sovereignty

was i n abeyance the Company reclaimed from the wilder­

ness and occupied portions of land wherever t h e i r

trading establishments were planted. These lands they

claim as theirs without purchase and the possessory

rights thus acquired i n that portion of t e r r i t o r y which

Is situated south of the 49th p a r a l l e l , have been

guaranteed to them by the Boundary Treaty, Among the

lands occupied by the Company north of the 49th P a r a l l e l

i s that situated at F t , V i c t o r i a i n Vancouver's Island

where they formed an establishment i n 1843 and t h i s i s

the land alluded t o , . , The Company consider they

have a right to hold that land without paying for i t

while f o r any additional quantity that may be required

the same pri c e w i l l be paid as i s paid by other purchasers 11

of land*-* This l a s t despatch drew from the Colonial Office a reply which may be taken as accepting the

• •» *"•

10, P e l l y to Grey, H,B,E., 14 Jan,1852

11. Same to same, H.B.H., 11 Feb.1852

76

Company's claims. Grey demanded"a statement of the

extent, and description of the land so claimed by the

Company . . . land occupied and made use of, beyond

which (no claim could be accepted)' 1 but stated that he

was "not disposed to question the r i g h t of the.Company

to land actually occupied by them previous to 1849. u 1 2

The next correspondence available i s a

group of three l e t t e r s from Douglas written during May

and June of 1852, The f i r s t i s a report to Hudson's

Bay House. He referred to a set of sketches sent i n

hi s despatch of 24 November, 1851, as showing both the

3084 acres which he considered should make up the Fur

Trade Reserve and also *the extent of land, under t i l l a g e

and occupied as a c a t t l e range f o r the Fur Trade p r i o r 13

to the treaty with the United States.* Douglas

asked for f u l l e r i n s t r u c t i o n s as to the amount the

Hudson's Bay Company expected to take. He warned them

that i f the whole area were taken the cost of improve­

ments would be very high. On the other hand i f the

Company were to grant i t s e l f 3084 acres free, people

might "remark" and there would be "a r i s k of disputes

hereafter.* He therefore suggested that i t be purchased

.... 12. P e e l to P e l l y , D.St., 13 Feb. 1852. This seems

enough to s a t i s f y the Company for correspondence with

D.St; on the subject ceases f o r some time.

13. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V I c t o r i a , 5 May 1852 77

at 18s per acre which, would give a c e r t a i n t i t l e when

the Company could "improve and make sub-grants of land

with certainty and despatch and likewise claim the

the privileges, i n respect to public improvements enjoyed

by other purchasers of land,"

The second despatch, also to Hudson's Bay

House shows a d e f i n i t e l i m i t a t i o n of the Company's

claims made i n accordance with orders from London* 1 4

It stated c l e a r l y that a l l the land the Eur Trade could

take without pay " w i l l be two square miles a c t u a l l y

occupied by t i l l a g e and enclosed, and four square miles,

together s i x , occupied by enclosures and as a c a t t l e

range p r i o r to the treaty with the United S t a t e s . " 1 5

Further i n the l e t t e r Douglas r e f e r r e d d e f i n i t e l y to

a Eur Trade Reserve of twenty acres which seems to have

been a l l that was o r i g i n a l l y enclosed, though there i s

no suggestion of a date and i n the interim the area

might well have been increased. The r e s t of the V i c t o r i a

farm, the farm at Cadboro Bay and the Korth Dairy Farm

"was occupied merely as a c a t t l e range and was neither

t i l l e d nor enclosed." Here enters a note of doubt

which seems to have been neglected by l a t e r commentators.'

• . . . 14. i n Barclay to Douglas, H.B.H., 16 Jul.1851

15. Douglas to Barclay, Ft . V i c t o r i a , 23 Jun.1852 b e cause

16. Probably t h i s was a Company l e t t e r and never seen b y the p o l i t i c i a n s unless disclosed by Douglas a f t e r h i s

quarrel with D a l l a s .

78

••Probably the mere use of land, i n a state of nature

as a c a t t l e range without any expenditure of c a p i t a l

in i t s improvement may not be considered as an act of

bona f i d e occupation and the Colonial O f f i c e may there­

fore not sanction a t i t l e being granted without payment

for land that i s not actually improved."

The third, despatch is i n t e r e s t i n g because

i t displays none of the doubts expressed above. It

i s Douglas* o f f i c i a l report to Downing Street and

declares as follows "-(Before 1846) i t became the custom

of a l l pa r t i e s forming settlements within the l i m i t s

of the disputed t e r r i t o r y to mark the extent of t h e i r 17

land claimed by c e r t a i n f i x e d metes and boundaries.**

At Fort V i c t o r i a , they had marked out "the s i t e of the

establishment and the extent of land required f o r t i l l a g e

and a s u f f i c i e n t c a t t l e range" from fear of American

int r u s i o n and boundary disputes such as had caused so 18

much trouble i n Oregon. The area marked out o r i g i n a l l y

was ""about twenty f i v e square miles. Commencing a t

V i c t o r i a Harbor the l i n e follows the s a l t water i n l e t

to near Knocken H i l l , thence i t runs by Lake H i l l , Mt.

Douglas to Cadboro Bay on Canal de Orro(Haro), from

. . . . 17. Douglas to Grey, V.I., 25 Jun.1852

18. c.p. Berens to Lytton, H.B.H., 12 Oct.1858, speaking

of land around the Ports i n B.C. "-The Company d i d not

fence o f f t h i s land as there were no neighbors to fence against."

79

whence i t follows the coast by Gordon Head; and Point

Gonzales to the point of commencement at V i c t o r i a

Harbor." But i t was no longer the intention of the

Company to keep so much, "a great p a r t of i t having

l a t e l y been sold as and with other public land." The

actual area that the Company "propose to r e t a i n out of

i t s former possessions* consisted of three farms with

an area of about 4000 acres, mostly f o r c a t t l e range y

though the farm a t V i c t o r i a " w i l l become valuable as

the Colony improves."

Next spring formal preparation were made

' f o r taking over the reserve. The Company surveyor, Mr.

Pemberton was ordered "to make out as soon as possible

a t i t l e Tor consideration of f i v e s h i l l i n g s and setting

out the precise q u a l i t i e s and boundaries of the land as

i n the case of an ordinary s a l e . " and i n A p r i l he

transmitted a map and "a patent or t i t l e of the Pur Trade

Reserve No. I containing 1212 statute acres. The outline

boundaries and extent of land are described and f i l l e d

i n but a l l other p a r t i c u l a r s l e f t b l a n k . " 2 0 The d e t a i l s

for the remaining farms, v i z . , North Dairy Farm (710 acres)

and the Cadboro Bay Farm (1130 acres) were sent i n a

. . . • 19. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 16 Feb. 1853. The

Colonial agitators i n 1864 claimed a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s due

from the Company's possession of t h i s area.

20. Same to same, Ft . V i c t o r i a , 8 Apr.1853

80

a l a t e r despatch.

Erorm th i s date there waa a period of some

s i x years i n which the claim, to the Reserve was never

openly questioned. It. was a period of slow growth and

low land values. The coming of the gold seekers i n 1858

pushed land values up and suddenly turned the farm land

into valuable c i t y property. The c i t y was b u i l t on the

Hudson's Bay Company Reserve. The Company had sold some

l o t a and had more to s e l l . They were prepared to reap

a r i c h harvest. The new immigrants did not understand

the i n t r i c a c i e s of the Company government. Here was

j u s t another boom town. They had bought l o t s and they

saw a few improvements being made but what was thi s

Company beyond the owner of more l o t s ? Why had i t had

a voice i n government? The obvious answer was Douglas

who controlled a l l expenditure and h a d , t i l l l a t e l y ,

been the head of the commercial branch. Doubtless i t

was through h i s connection that the Company now held the

cream of c i t y l o t s . A strong sentiment arose against

Douglas and the Company, based on envy of the Reserve

and a desire to con t r o l the benefits which might flow

from improvements.

The leader of t h i s section of immigrant

opinion was De Cosmos of the B r i t i s h Colonist. His

e d i t o r i a l indignation must often be excused on the grounds » . • »

21. Douglas to Barclay, F t . V i c t o r i a , 22 Sep.1853

81

of h i s ignorance of c o l o n i a l h i s t o r y and the exigencies

of d a i l y hack work in an i s o l a t e d town, hut h i s p o l i c y

of i r r i t a t i n g attack on the Company and the Governor

deserves c r e d i t f o r persistence i f not for f a i r n e s s . One

early outburv.? was as follows " I t appears that the Agents

of the Company sold l a s t week a l l the trees on our streets

to a party f o r firewood. • . Aside from the vandalism

which would s e l l and cut down a sing l e tree f o r a few

p a l t r y d o l l a r s where i t was no obstruction to t r a f f i c

but an ornament to the s t r e e t — t h e act i n i t s e l f i s a

f o u l wrong—and without a s o l i t a r y p a r t i c l e of r i g h t to

support i t , either i n law or equity. . . S e l l i n g the

trees may be to maintain color of t i t l e to the s t r e e t s . •

. These streets are used f o r publie purposes and f o r that

reason the Company have na more right to them nor the 22

trees than anyone e l s e . "

Neglecting the violence of language, this

e d i t o r i a l struck shrewdly at the base of the Company's

f i n a n c i a l p o s i t i o n . I t denied t h e i r r i g h t to any payment

for the portions of the Reserve they had not sold, i n

this case the streets and the trees. From th i s p o s i t i o n

it. was not a long step to declaring that the Company had

no right to the payments they had received f o r the portions

they had already sold. The news of the Hudson's Bay

. . . . 22. Be Cosmos, e d i t o r i a l , " B r i t i s h Colonist 1/ V i c t o r i a ,

(hereinafter "Colonist") 14 Nov.1859 82

Company account about to be presented i n London was

abroad i n the colony. The two ideas combined, to form

the subject of another excellent p h i l i p p i c . "The Hudson's

Bay Company p r e f e r a large claim against t h i s i s l a n d . Bo.

doubt i t i s th e i r earnest desire and aim to get i t

allowed and paid by the Home Government before the items

are known here. Hence the dogged and d i s r e s p e c t f u l

r e f u s a l of Governor Douglas to lay the public accounts

before the late Assembly. . . A just, settlement of the

f i n a n c i a l a f f a i r s of t h i s colony would no doubt leave

us l i t t l e or none i n debt.; i f not. a surplus in the

treasury. The l i q u o r license fund has paid for many small

l o c a l improvements. Nearly f40,000 were r e a l i z e d f o r the

Reserve on Government Street. Fine-tenths of the pro­

ceeds of the townsite which by timely application of

potent emetics the Company ought to be made to disgorge,

w i l l go f a r toward making a f a i r balance sheet, without 23

taking into account the land fund."

While De Cosmos was keeping public int e r e s t

focussed on the question of the Reserves, the problem

. . . . . 23. Be Cosmos e d i t o r i a l , "Colonist", 29 Dec.1859; It

i s w e l l to note here De Cosmos' fundamental error or

omission--the b i l l was against D.St., not Y.I. He could

a f f o r d to neglect t h i s technical point since Y.I. stood

i n the happy p o s i t i o n of b e n e f i t t i n g by any surplus of

the accounts and having any d e f i c i t absorbed by B.St. 83

came up a g a i n i n a n o t h e r c o n n e c t i o n — t h e d i s p u t e o v e r

t h e s i t e o f t h e o l d g overnment b u i l d i n g s . H e r e a g a i n t h e

e a r l i e s t a c c o u n t s a r e apt t o be most r e v e a l i n g . D o u g l a s

r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e Government, o f f i c e o f t h e time h a d

become t o o s m a l l f o r t h e i n c r e a s e d b u s i n e s s o f t h e C o l o n y

and h e d e s i r e d t o e r e c t new b u i l d i n g s f o r h i s s t a f f a n d

f o r o t h e r o f f i c i a l s "whose b u s i n e s s h a d h i t h e r t o h e e n

t r a n s a c t e d w i t h i n t h e s t o c k a d e o f t h e Hudson's Bay Com-

p a n y . "

A n o t h e r r e a s o n f o r l e a v i n g t h e old. s i t e was

t h a t " i t h a d become s u r r o u n d e d by o t h e r b u i l d i n g s i n

c l o s e p r o x i m i t y and two o f t h e p r i n c i p a l s t r e e t s p a s s e d

by i t s d o o r s . " F o r t h i s r e a s o n i t h a d become v e r y

v a l u a b l e and D o u g l a s c o n c e i v e d t h a t b y s e l l i n g i t he

m i g h t r e c e t v e d s u f f i c i e n t f u n d s t o c o n s t r u c t t h e r e q u i r e d

new b u i l d i n g s 'bn a piece o f g r o u n d r e s e r v e d f o r g o v e r n ­

ment p u r p o s e s . . . t e n a c r e s i n e x t e n t a n d most conven-

i e n t l y i s i t u a t e d , b e i n g s u f f i c i e n t l y n e a r t o t h e town

w h i l e removed f r o m i t s n o i s e a n d c o n f u s i o n . " However

t h e r e was one s e r i o u s s n a g i n t h e way o f t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n —

"The C o l o n i a l Government, t h o u g h i n a c t u a l p o s s e s s i o n

o f t h e l a n d h a d no deed o f t r a n s f e r a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y

c o u l d n o t g r a n t a t i t l e . " To a v o i d t h i s d i f f i c u l t y

D o u g l a s c o n s u l t e d M r . D a l l a s f o r t h e Hudson's Bay Company

a n d a r r a n g e d " t o s u r r e n d e r t h e l a n d on c o n d i t i o n o f h i s . . . . 24. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , Y . I . , 12 Sep.1859 On map o f 1854 t h i s l a t t e r a r e a i s l a b e l l e d " I n d i a n R e s e r v e " f a c i n g p.223

84

placing at my d i s p o s a l f o r the erection of new buildings

the sums of money obtained for the sale. 1* The land was

sold, with the exception of two l o t s held i n reserve and

the proceeds, £6500, were expended on the erection of

the famous "bird-cages" which housed the governments at

Victoria, t i l l the present permanent buildings were erected

i n 1897.

Let us now hear D a l l a s ' story of the trans­

action. "Up to a recent period a l l the public business

of t h i s and the s i s t e r colony of B.C. was c a r r i e d on

i n 5 t h e premisea> of the Hudson's Bay Company; l a t t e r l y

at a great inconvenience to a l l p a r t i e s . 1 , 2 5 Dallas does

not here give any account of the sale except that "with­

out the assistance of the H.B.Go. the buildings i n

question (the B i r d cages) could never have been erected."

But he states that the $27,000 was given " r e l u c t a n t l y , on

the pressing s o l i c i t a t i o n of the Governor and on condition

that the sum advanced should be passed by him as f a i r l y

coming within the head of sums expended by the Company

during the period of t h e i r grant of the Island"' (and 26

therefore repayable by the C o l o n i a l O f f i c e ) .

• • • . 25. Dallas to Fraser, Ft . V i c t o r i a , 14 Sepj.1859

26. if.B. The end of Company rule was set as 31 May 1859

so some sp e c i a l arrangement was necessary. See c.4, n.10*

The b i l l presented had an item of £6$0Q fo r new govern­

ment bu i l d i n g s — o n e of the new items introduced by Dallas,

85

That Douglas had other ideas on the matter

of repayment can he proved hy the following exerpt

from h i s despatch j u s t quoted above. "It was no part

of my plan nor i s i t now my intention to ask Her

Majesty's. Government f o r funds to meet the expense of

that undertaking. 1 1 The tone of t h i s despatch hints

that he was aware of Dallas* slew of the repayment

and the following l e t t e r from Pemberton shows that he,

l i k e Douglas,, expected the p r i c e of the l o t s to be

turned over without any s t r i n g s . "With regard to the

expenditure by me of £289 on Government Buildings, I

would remind Your Excellency that |65Q0, r e a l i z e d by

sale of town l o t #i82E, and.included i n the sum f i r s t 27

mentioned was considered available f o r this purpose."

Lots 182A—D & G are grouped around the corners of

Wharf and Johnson Streets. These were the buildings

sold at the Hudson*s Bay Company s a l e . Lot 182E i s

the south east eorner of Yates and Government and

probably was one of the l o t s spoken of above as

reserved. 'The "sum f i r s t mentioned* seems to be the

proceeds of that s a l e .

The obvious c o n f l i c t of opinion made

necessary the transfer of the quarrel to London. Berens

sent Dallas* l e t t e r to Downing Street to explain the 26. (cont) probably on the authority of the above.under­

standing. 27. Pemberton to Douglas, Land O f f i c e s , 24 jfeug.1859

86

a d d i t i o n a l c h a r g e s w h i c h h a d been l a t e l y a d d e d t o t h e

Hudson's B a y Company a c c o u n t , 2 ® and N e w c a s t l e s e n t t h i s

l e t t e r t o D o u g l a s u n d e r C o v e r o f h i s d e s p a t c h o f

1 December, 1859, demanding a n e x p l a n a t i o n . A t t h e

same t i m e he s e n t D o u g l a s * r e p o r t t o Hudson's B a y

House whence came a n a n g r y r e p l y .

D o u g l a s * v e r s i o n was d i s m i s s e d r a t h e r

s c o r n f u l l y . "As we r e a d h i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n , w h i l e on

t h e one h a n d i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e a d v a n c e i n q u e s ­

t i o n was met by the s u r r e n d e r t o M r . D a l l a s o f t h e s i t e

o f t h e o l d P u b l i c O f f i c e s , i t i s a d d e d on t h e o t h e r

t h a t t h i s s u r r e n d e r i s made on t h e c o n d i t i o n o f Mr.

D a l l a s p l a c i n g a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s t h e

sum o f money o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e s a l e . U n l e s s i t i s meant

t h a t t h e Government a r e to be r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e Company

f o r t h e amount o f s u c h s a l e , the- Company w o u l d a p p e a r

l i t e r a l l y t o r e c e i v e n o t h i n g i n r e s p e c t o f t h e a d v a n c e

t h a t h a s been made. 1*

T h i s w o u l d seem t o h a v e been a s o u n d a n d

s u f f i c i e n t r e p l y b u t B e r e n s s e i z e d upon t h e o c c a s i o n

t o c l i n c h t h e c l a i m t o t h e R e s e r v e s as a w h o l e so h e

a d d e d "But i n p o i n t o f f a c t , t h i s Company e n t i r e l y

d e n i e s t h e r i g h t o r p o w e r o f G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s t o d e a l

w i t h t h e l a n d i n q u e s t i o n a t a l l as i t f o r m e d p a r t o f • » • •

2 8 . Berens. t o N e w c a s t l e , H.B.H., 4 Nov.1859

2 9 . Same t o same, H.B.H., 16 Dec.1859

87

t h e p r o p e r t y p o s s e s s e d , hy t h i s Company i n t h e i s l a n d

b e f o r e t h e g r a n t was made t o them hy t h e Crown and

t h e r e f o r e e n t i r e l y i r r e s p e c t i v e o f i t . " He h a c k e d t h i s

up by r e c a l l i n g t h a t D o u g l a s h a d b e e n u n a b l e t o s e l l

t h e l a n d e x c e p t "under t h e d i r e c t i o n a n d on a c c o u n t o f

t h e Hudson's B a y Company." H e t h e n r e p e a t e d h i s f i r s t

c a s e a n d a d d e d t h a t t h e o l d b u i l d i n g s h a d b e e n p a i d

f o r b y t h e Company. The s t a t e m e n t s o f D o u g l a s and

P e m b e r t o n b e f o r e t h e A s s e m b l y on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d were

e n c l o s e d a s f a v o r i n g h i s e a s e , and t h e d e s p a t c h ends

w i t h t h e t h r e a t t h a t i n t h e same way t h e Company w i l l

h a v e a c l a i m on t h e s i t e o f t h e new b u i l d i n g s on t h e

g r o u n d s " t h a t i t i s p a r t o f t h e l a n d h e l d b y t h e f u r

t r a d e l o n g p r i o r t o t h e g r a n t f r o m t h e Crown."

I t i s a m a t t e r o f c o n j e c t u r e w h e t h e r t h e

$27,000 m i g h t n o t h a v e been a c c e p t e d h a d n o t B e r e n s

c o u p l e d w i t h i t t h e g e n e r a l c l a i m t o a l l t h e R e s e r v e .

M e r i v a l e ' s r e p l y t o t h i s d e s p a t c h l e t t h e l o a n go p a s t

w i t h a mere p r o p o s a l t o g e t more I n f o r m a t i o n h u t i t

came o u t s t r o n g l y on t h e c a s e o f t h e R e s e r v e . B e r e n ' s

r e f e r e n c e t o t i t l e a n t e r i o r t o t h e g r a n t i s d e c l a r e d t o .... 30."They ( D o u g l a s an d P e m b e r t o n ) h a d b e e n c o n v i n c e d a f t e r

t a k i n g l e g a l a d v i c e upon t h e m a t t e r , t h a t t h e F u r T r a d e r s

were r i g h t f u l owners o f t h e a f o r e s a i d p r o p e r t y " - - P r o ­

c e e d i n g s o f t h e House o f A s s e m b l y ( h e r e i n a f t e r A s . ) , 17

May 1859, e x t r a c t f r o m G a z e t t e o f 18 May 1859.

8 8

be "new, to h i s Grace" who had. heretofore believed "that

such land had been l e g a l l y acquired by the Company i n

th e i r private capacity since the o r i g i n a l g r a n t . * 3 1 He

then stated quite d e f i n i t e l y — " t h a t Her Majesty's.

Government can recognize no claim to land i n the foreign

possessions of the Crown except such as i s derived

e i t h e r mediately or immediately from the Crown 1*—the

decision already given f o r B r i t i s h Columbia. In the

case of Vancouver Island a further case was made by

reference to P e l l y to Grey, H.B.H., 7 September 1846,

(v.supra n . l , p.72) and to subsequent correspondence

which had^paroceeded throughout i n the assumption that

such a grant (of 1849) was necessary. t t Moreover the

f i n a l form of. thee grant had "contained no d i s t i n c t i o n

or reservation whatever with regard to the lands now

alleged by the Company to have been t h e i r s by a n t e r i o r

t i t l e . A l l the lands of the Island *wertt granted* a l i k e

and a l l were made subject to the l i k e power of r e ­

purchase by the Crown."

These l a s t two despatches went to Douglas

under cover o f a message from ffewcastle which contained

the following passage, l a t e r very popular among Vancouver

.... 31. Merivale to Berens, D.St., 7 Jan.1860. It must

be borne i n mind that Newcastle had been i n opposition

at the period of the Grant and did not take over the

C o l o n i a l O f f i c e t i l l December of 1852.

89

Island, orators. "You w i l l l e t i t be f u l l y understood

that Her Majesty *s Government are not prepared to

recognize any private ownership of s o i l i n Vancouver

Island "by the Company hy any t i t l e anterior to the grantf'

Unfortunately there are no more London

despatches sacailable on t h i s dispute, (since the case

was referred to the Privy Council during the summer of

1860) hut there are three despatches from Douglas which

hear on the subject. In February, of 1860 he sent a

despatch stating that Dallas had made h i s p o s i t i o n on

the matter of the advance more c l e a r but that the two 33

had been unable to come to any agreement.*" In the

int e r i m before the next despatch Douglas received

Newcastle's momentous communication of 2 January and

h i s next message breathes defiance based on i t s support.

Beren*s claim to the land of the Government Reserve,

(across James Bay) he refuted by c a l l i n g to mind an

early o f f e r , by the Company to Blanshard, of £4000

f o r government bui l d i n g s , declaring that the o f f e r had

included "the lands that may be appropriated to them,* 3 4

and that the Company had Insisted "that the s i t e of

. . . . 32. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 2 Jan.1860

33. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 16 Feb. 1860

34. Same to same, V.I., 28 Mar.I860.(#17). The o f f e r

was made In Barclay to Blanshard, 1 Jan.1851. Blanshard

refused, wanted a s i t e outside of the H.B.Co. Reserve. 90

these bu i l d i n g s should be near F t . V i c t o r i a for conven­

ience and p r o t e c t i o n * a Douglas* l e t t e r declared that

t h i s land had been kept as a government reserve and no

l o t s sold o f f i t ; but. he neglected to state that Blanahard

refused the £4000 and therewith any lands included i n the

o f f e r .

The t h i r d despatch from Douglas quoted

P e l l y to Douglas, 22. May 1851 (v.supra n.8, p.75) as

proof that any land required for public purposes could

be resumed, on payment of the p r i c e . In t h i s case "no

repayment of the o r i g i n a l price of the land was required,

the Pur Trade having paid nothing f o r i t (nor have they,

I believe, up to t h i s day (made?) any payment for the

3084 acres claimed by them) and no compensation was

necessary, no expenditure having been made i n improvements"

He also accused the Company of retaining part of the

proceeds of the sale of the buildings on the old govern­

ment re serve "although the cost of a l l ( s i c ) the buildings

erected upon the disputed land was charged to the Colony. 3 6

» . . .

35. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 7 Dec. 1860

36. In t h i s statement he i s p a r t i a l l y supported by Berens

who admitted that the cost of the government buildings

with the exception of the Custom House, post O f f i c e , and

possibly others had been "included i n the account of

expenditure rendered to the Government by t h i s Company

and those buildings are therefore without doubt the

91

I t would- be a more sa t i s f a c t o r y conclusion,

to t h i s incident i f we could say that the loan was either

repaid or repudiated but i t was included i n the general

account of the Hudson*s Bay Company and since that was

reduced and f i n a l l y p a i d i n a lump sum, the Company

refusing to deny any s p e c i f i c item, neither answer can

be given. Of one thing we can be sure, i t did not

s e t t l e the question of the Reserve.

In the meantime another occasion had arisen

f o r the a i r i n g of opinions on the Company's claims. The

Vancouver Island House of Assembly decided to discuss

the accounts presented by the Company but only a f t e r

a s p i r i t e d abjection from Messrs; Carey and Franklin who

feared that t h i s action might r e s u l t i n the presentation

of the b i l l to Vancouver Island instead of Downing

Street. De Cosmos supported the investigation by an

e d i t o r i a l breathing hopes of recovering some assets,

declaring the opposition t a c t i c s were based on fear of

disclosure and voicing the c l a s s i c suspicion that there

36. (cont) property of the GovernmentHowever i f the

Reserve decision favors the Company "there can be no

question that the land upon which those buildings were

erected would be t h e i r property and that the proceeds

a r i s i n g from any sale of i t would belong to them". Berens

to Newcastle, H.B.H., 26 Jun.1860

37. Debate of the Assembly. Colonist, 25 Apr. 1860

9 2

was "Something rotten i n Denmark." The opposition

gazette advised caution "Whether there i s a balance

due to the Hudson'a Bay Company or not i s no business of 38

ours as we are not c a l l e d upon to s e t t l e i t . "

The issue was further aggravated by the

Hudson's Bay Company s e l l i n g c e r t a i n l o t s along the

waterfront of the Eur Trade Reserve* Douglas reported

the matter to the Colonial O f f i c e , 3 ^ whence a message

went, to Hudson's Bay House asking f o r immediate cess­

ation of such sales of land and threatening that should

the Company lose the case of the Reserve, now before the

P r i v y Council f o r decision, "the sales w i l l not be 40 •

recognized by the Crown*" Beren's reply was most

c o n c i l i a t o r y * Since "There i s no wish on the part of

t h i s Company to do anything that would m i l i t a t e against

the P u b l i c Interests" he would give the required i n s t r u c ­

tions immediately* 4 1

Before these i n s t r u c t i o n s could reach

Vancouver Island Mr* Pemberton appealed f o r an injunction

from the Supreme Court of Vancouver Island* This question-

• * » »

38* Gazette of 27 Apr.1860* The motion was reconsidered

and l o s t *

39* Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 7 Feb*1861

40* Rogers to Berens, D.St.,, 23 May 1861

41. Berens to Newcastle, H.B.H., 24 May 1861. There Is

some ambiguity about the wording, v . i n f r a n.47. p c:^> 93

ed the r i g h t of the Company to l o t s 24, SI and. 32 i n 42

Victoria- c i t y , and accused them of making sales from 43

various public Reserves.*. Section 9 stated **The Company

have not paid any money f o r the said land (lots 24, 31, 32)

and they have sold a portion of the same to purchasers.'* 4 4

The injunction demanded that:

1. The sales of water frontage be set aside.

• • • . 42. Lot. 24 i s now the two blocks bounded by Douglas, Port,

Government and Courtenay Streets, l o t s 31-2 the two

blocks bounded by tteares. Cook, B e l l o t and Vancouver Streets.

43. See notes on Lowenberg and Lot Z and on Church and

Springs Reserves. In reporting the Injunction to D.St.

Douglas s t a t e s — " T t w i l l be perceived that no i n t e r ­

ference was attempted with any portion of the land forming

the actual s i t e s of the Company's establishments at

V i c t o r i a . To t h i s i t was considered the Company eould

probably obtain a good t i t l e upon payment of the f i x e d

p r i c e , §1 ( s i c , probably copyist error) per acre. Her

Majesty's Government having declined to purchase such

establishments upon the "expiring'* (probably but the

writing was i l l e g i b l e ) of the grant. The Injunction

was intended only to apply to other portions of the

3084 acres, to which no such equitable and consistent

claim could be advanced"'. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I.,

8 Aug.1861

44. Colonist of 29 May 1861 94

2. The. sales of Reserves and Springs he set aside.

3. * " " l o t s sold. In. controversion to.<„the

design l a i d down i n the o f f i c i a l maps, (Lot. 2) to

toe. set. aaide,

4. There toe no future sales i n l o t s 24, 31, 32.

5» The Company receive no more instalments on

sales i n l o t s 24, 31, 32 except t h e i r own estab­

lishments.

6. A receiver be appointed to c o l l e c t unpaid

instalments.

The case, was pleaded by Attorney-General

Carey but his eloquence f a i l e d . "The court refused i n

present stage of the case to grant an injunction against

the Hudson's Bay Company to r e s t r a i n them from s e l l i n g

any more land, or to appoint a receiver, on the ground

that i t was before the highest court i n England. That

court had power to i n s t i t u t e i n q u i r i e s i f i t wished."

Of course t h i s was highly unsatisfactory to

Colonial opinion. De Cosmos sadly lamented the loss

of some check on the sale of the Reserves and then twisted

the case into an attack on the Executive by s t a t i n g that

Information must have been criminally witheld from the

Colonial O f f i c e or they would' have Issued the necessary

injunction.

In June Douglas reported to the Assembly that • » • »

45-j. Decision of Supreme Court i n Colonist of 19 Jun.1861

95

no settlement had been made with the Hudson*s Bay Company

as. yet but "Her Majesty's Government w i l l enter into no

f i n a l arrangme'nt with the Company i n regard to the d i s ­

posal of the ground i n the V i c i n i t y of V i c t o r i a u n t i l 46

the Government, of the Colony has. been consulted.*

About, t h i s time Dallas must have received

h i s orders from Hudson's Bay House to stop sale of lands,

f o r he sent a despatch i n reply, dated 14 July, expressing

his compliance, unfortunately we have no copy of these

orders but by a second-hand account, we are t o l d that

they "were not confined as had been supposed to the

Water Frontages more immediately under discussion but

were intended to apply to the whole of the 3084 acres of

which those frontages form a part. t t^' Acting i n accordance

with these instructions "the Agent expressed h i s intention

to r e f r a i n from s e l l i n g any f u r t h e r portions of the 3084

acres, H

This was not what Douglas wanted at a l l .

I t showed altogether too much good Intention on the part

» » • » . •

46. Douglas to Assembly i n Colonist of 27 Jun.1861,

quoting from Newcastle to Douglas, 15 Apr,1861. This was

pleasing to the members, whose vanity h i d from them the

obvious hint that though they might be consulted, the

f i n a l decision rested i n Downing Street,

47, Newcastle to Douglas, D,St,, 4 Dec,1861, Newcastle

appears to be quoting, though not verbatim, from Berens* account, 96

of a corporation whose intentions had been painted

black by l o c a l t r a d i t i o n * He states rather i n sorrow

than i n anger that these orders "have the effect of

retarding the progress and settlement of the Colony and

i f accepted of r e l i e v i n g the Hudson's Bay Company from

the onus thereof insomuch as most of the land s t i l l i n

the hands of the Company i s capable of being immediately

u t i l i z e d and would f i n d ready purchase i f offered for AO

sale* 1 . His keen sense of business dictated the request f o r some pr o v i s i o n a l arrangment whereby the lands might

be s o l d and the funds held over t i l l the decision was

made since a large immigration from C a l i f o r n i a was

expected. "Business men from that state are already

f l o c k i n g hither to form establishments and land i s

consequently much i n demand."

Douglas* e f f o r t s at a solution were wasted

for while he was penning t h i s despatch, l e t t e r s were

already on t h e i r way to t e l l him that the dispute was

at least temporarily s e t t l e d . "It had been determined

to submit the claims to the J u d i c i a l Committee of the

Privy Council and the preliminary steps had been taken

f o r that purpose. But a long time must necessarily have

elapsed before the decision of the Council could have been

obtained, a protracted" and expensive investigation must

have been undertaken and delay Incurred which could not . • » »

48. Douglas- to Newcastle, Y*I., 27 Peb.1862

97

f a i l , to create a serious impediment to the progress of 49

the Colony** The claims had. therefore been withdrawn

and private negotiations opened, which had produced a

mutually s a t i s f a c t o r y arrangement--the Indenture of 1862.

Its most important terms were as follows:

1. A l l land occupied before 1849 and s o l d before

1 January 1862 was given a. v a l i d t i t l e . (This

Included the Water Frontage l o t s )

2. The Company should keep the p r i c e of this land*

3. Certain areas were to be kept by the Company

a. uplands Farm, 1144 acres

b. North Dairy Farm, 724 acres

c. The Old Spring and adjoining land (except

one well set aside f o r public use)

d. The Fort Property

4. 6. Certain areas turned, over to the Crown

a; Sites of Harbor Master's O f f i c e , P o l i c e

Barracks and Post O f f i c e .

b. A l l unsold lands i n V i c t o r i a d i s t r i c t l y i n g

to the south and west of James Bay except 50

acres to be chosen by the Company within 18

months i n such places where they would not

i n t e r f e r e with s t r e e t s , etc.

c. Reserves f o r i*ark, School, Church and b u r i a l

ground, about 200 acres "except such portions

thereof as may have been sold already which

98

are to remain aa regards the Crown i n the

undisturbed, possession of the purchasers thereof."

The f e e l i n g of Downing Street i s well shown

by the following quotation, "The speedy settlement of

these questions of t i t l e which, hy keeping the public

mind i n suspense, r e t a r d the progress of the Colony, must

be of fa r more value to the community than the issue,

however favorable to the government, of a tedious and

expensive l i t i g a t i o n . " 5 0 The c o l o n i s t , quite used to

being kept i n suspense and nurtured on hatred of the

Company's wiles, was quite w i l l i n g to carry on "tedious

and expensive l i t i g a t i o n " f o r which the h i l l would be

paid by Downing Street and from the colony could lose

nothing and might gain much. To the e f f o r t s of Douglas

Be Cosmos, now p a r t i a l l y a l l i e d by a common hatred, to

break or modify the terms of tBie Indenture another

chapter must be devoted.

49. Newcastle to Douglas, B.St,., 24 Jan. 1862

50. Same to same, I b i d .

99

Chapter ¥1

THE. HUDSON'S BAY COMPAFY RESERVE—CONCLUDED

February 186a May 186?

The Indenture was not immediately published i n Vancouver

Island but De Cosmos chose the moment of i t s a r r i v a l f or

an attack on the p o l i c y of the Assembly, "The land on

which the town i s built., by a l l laws, human and divine,

belonged to the Colony, The proceeds of the sales, would

have prevented the imposition of taxes for the next

four years. Yet the Hudson's Bay Company i s allowed to

pocket the entire proceeds and no member of the Assembly

even inquires how or why such a thing i s allowed to be

done,* In h i s attack he i s w i l l i n g even to accept the

opinion of Attorney General Carey, u n t i l recently under

h i s extreme displeasure f o r his share i n the Springs

Reserve dispute, 1 "How i s i t that the colony i s made to

pay annually 0100,000 when Attorney General Carey and

two other b a r r i s t e r s have given t h e i r opinion that the

townsite claim—worth $500,000—equal to the whole

revenue f o r four years—belongs r i g h t f u l l y to the

Colony? Il2 * • » •

1, v , i n f r a , note on Springs Reserve, n»3. 2, De, Cosmos e d i t o r i a l i n Colonist of 23 Jun,1862

100

Douglas c e r t a i n l y did. h i s beat to cut down

a l l that the Company expected to get. His despatches

home are l u l l of complaints of the behavior of the

Company o f f i c i a l s at V i c t o r i a and of d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n

with the terms of the Indenture. He declared that, i f

the f i f t y acres south of jam.es Bay were given to the

Company, nothing would be l e f t f o r the Crown since the

"assessment r o l l of 1861 whose the unsold land, then

possessed by the Hudson*s Bay Company to amount to

exactly f i f t y acres." Moreover he claimed that i n

drawing up the Indenture "(Mr.Dallas only having any

l o c a l 3cnowledge of the land treated of)" 7 the Company

had not only given nething but "had actually obtained

from the Crown the whole of the very small portion of

ground not covered by buildings, a c t u a l l y now and f o r

years past i n the possession of the government and to

which the Company had no sound claim."(Lot 3)

He complained that he could not get the

Company o f f i c i a l s to turn over d.n authentic map of the

areas to be transferred and he suggested that they were

procrastinating u n t i l t h e i r payments: had been turned over

"before rendering statements that would disclose the

character of the Indenture and agreement of February

l a s t and would show how l i t t l e the Crown benefitted 4

by that indenture." Nor had he received a d e f i n i t e ...» 3. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I.» 30 Jul.1862 4 . Same to same, V.I., 3 Dec.1862

101

l i s t , o f t h e l a n d s s o l d b e f o r e 1 J a n u a r y 1862, and v e n t u r e d

t o s u s p e c t some p r e - d a t i n g o f s a l e s b e c a u s e " s i n c e t h e

r e c e i p t o f t h e I n d e n t u r e , s u r v e y o r s h a v e been p l a c i n g

b o u n d a r y p o s t s a n d a p p a r e n t l y r u n n i n g l i n e s upon p o r t i o n s

o f l a n d t h a t , i s s t i l l u n o c c u p i e d a n d w h i c h was s u p p o s e d

t o be u n s o l d * " 5

To speed, up t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f a map he

o f f e r e d t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h e p u b l i c s u r v e y o r b u t t h e

Company r e f u s e d h i s o f f e r * I n J u l y M c T a v i 3 h h a d p r o m i s e d

a map " a t the e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e moment" a n d when i n

December, D o u g l a s was o n l y i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e map was

""in a f o r w a r d s t a t e a n d w o u l d b e p r e s e n t e d a t a n e a r l y

d a t e " h i s I m p a t i e n c e may w e l l be p a r d o n e d * 6

However t h e map was f i n a l l y p r e s e n t e d i n

J a n u a r y o f 1863 b u t D o u g l a s * f e e l i n g s were s o o n d i s ­

t u r b e d a g a i n b y t h e c o n t e n t s o f a d e s p a t c h f r o m Downing

S t r e e t , w h e r e i n N e w c a s t l e a c c e p t e d t h e Company's map a n d

p a s s e d on t h e f o l l o w i n g p o l i t e c o m p l a i n t f r o m B e r e n s *

" I t i s o;uite o b v i o u s t h a t G o v e r n o r Douglas;' c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

a r e c o n c e i v e d i n a s p i r i t o f h o s t i l i t y t o t h e Company 7

a n d t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n t h e I s l a n d . " I n t h e • * * •

5 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 3 Dec*1862* The R e p o r t o f

t h e Committee on Crown l a n d s d e c l a r e d t h e r e was no p r o o f

o f t h i s c h a r g e .

6. s e e D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , Y*I*» 5 Dec.1862

7. B e r e n s t o N e w c a s t l e , H . B * H » , 7 Mar.1863

102

WVB.Pearse

Park and" School Reserves.

Included i n Newcastle to Douglas:, D.St.„ 19 Dec.1862

covering despatch Newcastle advised speed and diplomacy

i n the negotiations. "I can only impress upon you the

importance of not r a i s i n g unnecessary controversies with

the Company's, o f f i c e r s hut of conducting the correspon­

dence i n a l i b e r a l and c o n c i l i a t o r y s p i r i t , the primary

object, being to put an end to the questionable tenure

of the Company which i s c a l c u l a t e d to impede the progress

of the Colony. "• Under the same cover was a l i s t of the

property to revert to the Crown under the Indenture,

made up by McTavish i n V i c t o r i a :

•Beacon H i l l Park 165 acres

School Reserve; 10 *

Church Reserve, Parsonage and Cemetery 25 "

Government Buildings 10 "

Beckley Farm BO.5 n

Town Property

P o l i c e Barracks worth $15,000

Post O f f i c e " 6,000

Harbor Master's O f f i c e * 5,000 * 9

and an account of the 8 sections of 48.7? acres and the

s i t e o f the farm buildings which the Company received

i n place of Beckley Farm.3"0 In a l l the Crown was to

receive "ten sections and seventy-eight town* lots--contain-

i n t about S i x t y and a Half Acres, together with the entire

• • » »

8. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 14 May 1863

9. McTavish to Fraser, V i c t o r i a , 21 January 1863 10. McTavish to Young, V i c t o r i a , 7 Jan.1863

103

waterfront, to seaward of the street or drive marked.

Dallas Road." This had heen accepted by Y o u n g , a n d

transmitted, to Douglas.

A. further enclosure from Dallas' stated that,

any errors i n the text of the indenture were due to h i s

i n a b i l i t y to estimate areas from memory,^ and declared

the cause of the axiarrel over the Reserve was only the

Increased value of the land. In the good old days

during "the e a r l i e s t portions of my residence i n V i c t o r i a

• » » Governor Douglas and the Col o n i a l Surveyor handed

over to me the control of the land as being the private

property of the Company. . • (When ) the Duke of Newcastle

f i r s t took exception.to the v a l i d i t y of our claims . . .

the people of the Colony eagerly grasped at the prospect

of such an a c q u i s i t i o n and with the change of rulers and

paymasters, both Governor Douglas and the Colonial

Surveyor changed th e i r ideas as to the ownership of the

l a n d . " 1 5

In answer to the accusations of Berens and

Dallas, Douglas u t t e r l y denied that he had raised any

"unnecessary controversy. . . Mr. Berens alleges that

my communications are conceived i n a s p i r i t of h o s t i l i t y

to the Company. I need make no further observations than . » » .

11. Young to McTavish, V.I., 8 Jan.1863-

12. He. wasn't so bad. He guessed Beckley Farm (60.5 acres)

at 60 acres.

13* Dallas to McTavish, Ft..Garry, 20 Jan.1863

104

to remark: that this i s not the f i r s t time that an attempt

has been made by the Hudson's Bay Company to. give such

a complexion to the public acts i n respect to the Company

which my p o s i t i o n has. required me to t a k e . " 1 4

His objections to the scheme as embodied

in the maps were presented i n a despatch of A p r i l , He

admitted that h i s estimates had been wrong and that the

Crown did receive about s i x t y acres, but some of that

was: swamp and the rest unsuitable f o r b u i l d i n g . He

estimated the loss to the colony i n the case of the

water frontage at a present sales value of £10,000 and

a possible future income of £5,000 per annum i f dredging

and harbor improvements were c a r r i e d out. The various

Park: Reserves s a t i s f i e d him but he i n s i s t e d on the

Colony receiving a l l the three l o t s , on one of which the

Post. O f f i c e stood. These l o t s together with Lot 2 he

declared to belong by right to the Colony. T i t h i s

"amicable arrangement" of the matter he hoped that the

Company would agree. ""Under the agreement they have

already Immense advantages. A vast property i s assured

to them. They are l e f t i n undisturbed possession of

large sums of money which the sale of portions of that

property have brought them; not one f a r t h i n g being

deducted for the benefit of the colony or even to pay

for the expense of surveying and s e l l i n g , which has been

mainly borne by the Colony and the Imperial Government. 14. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 11 Aug.1865

105

A l l fck.elr a ctual outlay i n connection with t h e i r tenure

of Vancouver Island, has heen generously repaid, i n money

hy Her Majesty's Government. . . And what does H.M. Govt, ( s i c )

take by the agreement? A few acres of comparatively

valueless land on the seacoast and a few town l o t s that

would have heen sold long ago had anybody considered

them worth buying."

Douglas also repeated, h i s suspicion of

sales made a f t e r 1 January 1862 being antedated. To

back t h i s up he qxtoted the opinion of Attorney General

Carey who would not commit himself to anything more thaa

the suspicion that •'some of these sales represented to

be made p r i o r to 1 January 1862 are (not) bona f i d e . "

Douglas cou}.d.produce no p o s i t i v e e v i d e n c e but h i s doubts

were aroused by the delay and r e f u s a l on the part of the

Company to make immediate returns of land sales; while

the Company's claim o f "want of assistance i n making the

necessary surveys and plans of the property" was i n t e r ­

preted as a confession of doubt as to t i t l e " f o r how

could l e g a l t r a n s f e r and bona f i d e sales of property be

effected i n no survey had been made at the time of sale?"

In London there seems to have been a mutual

desire to get the matter s e t t l e d and done with. Hudson's

Bay House accepted Douglas* compromise with the proviso

. . . . . 15. Douglas to Newcastle, V*I», SO Apr>1863

16. quoted i n above.

106

that, any l o t a sold to a t h i r d party should not he included.

The p o l i c y of the Company i n these negotiations i s hard

to guage. They seemed ready to accept most of Douglas*

demands hut whether i t was because of a mixture of disgust

at. delay and willingness f o r concession or because of

fear of investigation and willingness to accept what

they had already obtained, i s a question which cannot

be answered d e f i n i t e l y now--probably not u n t i l the private

correspondence of the Company i s at the disposal of the

student.

An i n t e r e s t i n g s i d e l i g h t on the quarrel

was an attempt on the part of ce r t a i n enterprising

c i t i z e n s of V i c t o r i a to possess themselves of the pasture

lands of the Puget Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company near the

c i t y * They registered pre-emption claims "on the ground

that, the Puget Sound Company having no good t i t l e to the

land i n question, i t i s the property of the Crown and. being

unreserved i s consequently open f o r pre-emption. 1* They

h i r e d lawyers and were prepared to f i g h t the case, but.

unfortunately for" them the area had been f u l l y paid f o r and

the case never reached a d e c i s i o n . ^ 0

17. Newcastle to Douglas, V.I., 20 Apr.1863

18. Head to Newcastle, H.B.H., 1 Aug.I863

19. News Item i n Colonist of 21 Oct.1863

20. No further note appears In the columns of the Colonist

before 1867. For payment see c.3, n.21, p.50

107

In September of 1863 the House of Assembly

on the motion of Mr. Trimble, appointed a committee

"with power to produce papers, persons and. records to

investigate the condition and value of the Crown lands

i n the colony." Though the ostensible reason was to

decide on the value of the lands with regard to exchanging

f o r them a guaranteed c i v i l l i s t , the hope of getting

some rebate from the Company was manifestly quite as

important, the mover himself stating that "Vast t r a c t s

of land, thousands of acres i n the v i c i n i t y of V i c t o r i a i 2 1

were h e l d by men who were not the l e g a l owners.*'

Be Cosmos, newly elected to the Assembly and no longer

connected with the Colonist, was an active member of the

Committee and h i s hand was obvious i n the form of the

report submitted. The committee sat intermittently

throughout the summer and winter and into the spring of

1864, examining many witnesses but hampered by the

r e f u s a l of Company o f f i c i a l s to surrender business records.

For a time discussion of the matter ceased

i n the Assembly, and Douglas as a r e t i r i n g Governor was

pleased to l e t the matter r e s t . He l e f t Vancouver Island

i n March of 1864 and Governor Kennedy had to gather up

the dreadfully tangled strands of this cat's cradle,

a process over which he took h i s time. Popular opinion

as expressed by the Colonist, now under the editorship .... 21.Trimble i n the Assembly. Colonist of 19 Sep.1863

108

of McClure, became disgusted at the delay and demanded

action* The following e d i t o r i a l i s quoted to show both

the f e e l i n g of the times and the s t y l e of journalism

favored by contemporary editors* "To send anything i n

to the Assembly i s l i k e throwing a c h i l d to a pack of

hungry wolves* The only organ that seems developed i n

t h e i r p o l i t i c a l cranium i s that of destruction* There

i s a kind of animal r e l i s h and f e r o c i t y an t h e i r manner

of dealing with useful measures—a kind of savage play­

fulness such as the cat exhibits towards the unfortunate

mouse—that oftentimes s t a r t s the query whether we l i v e

i n the Feejees ( s i c ) or i n Her Majesty's Island of Van­

couver* . » Another measure comes before these men—a

question resolving i t s e l f simply into whether a Commission

with ample powers to make enquiry, s h a l l be appointed to

endeavor to regain a large portion of that patrimony

which has been i l l e g a l l y wrested from the people or

the Crown—and what i s l i k e l y to be the result? why i n

two or three more days the House w i l l be prorogued, the

whole labor of the Crown Lands Committee w i l l be l o s t

and with them the l a s t chance afforded the people of 2 2

obtaining j u s t i c e from the Hudson's Bay Company.''

The report was f i n a l l y presented i n June.

It was a verbose document and lack of space presents I t s

Insertion i n f u l l . I t w i l l be discussed again i n i t s

bearing on the Crown Lands question but i n this chapter . • . *•

22. Colonist e d i t o r i a l of 11 Apr.1864

109

we w i l l native only the references to the Hudson's Bay

Company Reserve. 2 3

Section 17. showed that the value of a l l l o t a s t i l l

h e l d i n the Reserve hy the Hudson's Bay Company

together with the p r i c e of" a l l past sales from that

area amounted to §765,437.

Section 18. showed that C o l o n i a l sales outside of the

Reserve amounted to §475,000. If the Company got

t h e i r 1Q$» commission on this they would receive

$812,937 from land sales, while the Colony received

only $437,500. A l l the Company deserved was 10 %

on a l l sales-$.120,000—in other words they should

turn over #688,893 less the expenses of c o l o n i z a t i o n .

Section 19. treated the terms of the Indenture of 1862-

-"a remarkable document" which spoiled the rosy

picture of large payments. Unable to attack i t s

v a l i d i t y the Committee turned to an attack on the

absent Douglas accusing the Colonial Executive of not

presenting the case f o r the Colony with s u f f i c i e n t

vigor to Downing Street. Theyconsidered the Indenture

a mistake—the dispute skould have been l e f t before

the P r i v y Council. " I f i t had been done the $688,893

with inte r e s t might today have been i n the C o l o n i a l . » . .

23. A J£.S. of the report i s preserved at the V i c t o r i a

Archives but several printed copies were av a i l a b l e . I t

is; bound i n JJ.W.971.13 E58, p.2

110

Treasury and, the t i t l e to the Crown Lands might have

been vested i n the Grown instead of as now i n the

Hudson's Bay Company. Means however were found by

some party to prevent the question being heard before

the P r i v y Council and to have i t referred to a r b i t r a t ­

ors, whose decision i s a v i r t u a l robbery of the

Colony, though perhaps not i n t e n t i o n a l l y so; but

may probably he due to imperfect information respecting

the value of the property i n dispute on the part of

the Crown or to the ex-parte statements of the Hudson's

Bay Company* On no other grounds of public honesty

can t h i s remarkable decision of the a r b i t r a t o r s be

accounted for*"24 But they were forced to accept i t

as binding and unless i t could be cancelled "there iss

no hope whatever of the colony every coming into

possession of what i s otherwise i t s lawful due, the

1688,893.50**

Section 20. stated with an a i r of regret that there had

been no proof established of any fraud in Mudson*s

Bay Company sales and that on that score i t was

impossible to challenge the Indenture.

Section 25; estimated the value of the land turned over

by the Company under the terms of the Indenture at

168,000. 2 5

Section 32. estimated the value of the Water Frontage • » * •

24. c.p. c.5 f o r contrasting views of B*St* 25. c*p* Douglas est!mate,v.supra n.15, p*106

111

turned over to the Company at $500,000, a sum which

the Committee f e l t the Colony should, have received.

So much for the terms of the Report. It

shewed the extent of Colonial information hut could

suggest no a c t i o n . This was provided hy De Cosmos, who

presented, a p e t i t i o n i n the Assembly to do away with the

Indenture and set up a committee to slettle the claims of

the Colony against, the Hudson's Bay Company. He declared

that the Colony had a r i g h t to the proceeds of the sales

of Reserve Land and to the property presently held in the

c i t y , including the water front area. This sum he t o t a l l e d

at #1,265,437 and demanded i t s repayment, l e s s the ten

percent of the f426,237 proceeds of sales outside of the

Reserve—a nice lump sum of #1,222,814. i

De Cosmos showed the weakness of h i s

p o s i t i o n by admitting that any amount returned by the

Company would go to the Crown (a point wisely neglected

hy the p o l i t i c i a n s to date but balanced by the f a c t that

the costs of" any lawsuit would also be borne hy that

authority) but stated that unless h i s p e t i t i o n were

acted upon "there w i l l be a serious injury done to the

finances of t h i s colony, a f f e c t i n g materially the propos­

i t i o n of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle." 2 7 Be Cosmos

seems to have expected that Downing Street, a f t e r

recovering the £57,800 paid to the Company would turn ...» 26. Be Cosmos i n Assembly i n Colonist of 17 JTun.1864

112

over the remainder to the Legislature, but l i k e the

proceeds of; land sales, t h i s sum would have been applied

to the Crown Revenues Fund thus strengthening the

Executive and making i t independent of the lower House.

This ^eventuality however can hardly have occurred to

De Cosmos for he pushed h i s motion stoutly i n spite of

vigorous opposition from the members interested in the

Company or wary of consequences.

Dr. Helmcken took up the cudgels for the

Company i n a rather confused speech with intermittent

solos of applause by Dr. Tolmie. He elaimed that any

commission should be unbiased and composed of members

chosen not i n the Colony but i n England and he doubted

whether Kennedy would be j u s t i f i e d i n reopening a case

which had already been decided by Downing Street. His

c h i e f point was well made; that the Hudson*s Bay Company

had held the land without opposition while i t had been o f

l i t t l e value. °But now because they had become so

valuable they were looked a f t e r and thu3 the Company's

t i t l e had been disputed. It was only a question of

#700.000, not o f r i g h t . (Dr. Tolmie, »Hear, Hear*).'* 2 8

Fext day Mr. Franklin f e l t c a l l e d upon to

support Be Cosmos* motion. He accepted the idea of a

27. The r e f u s a l o f a C i v i l L i s t was to be used as a lever

to force action.

28. Helmcken i n As. i n Colonist of 17 Jun.1864

113

royal commission and t r i e d to work up a case f o r the

Colony against the Company. "The Colony had- been serious

l y damaged, and affected., . . . they had a strong case to

go to the Home Government..*29 He r h e t o r i c a l l y declared

that there had been $1,000,000 worth of property disposed

of but where had the 90^ been invested?'" The simple

answer—that the land now worth a m i l l i o n would have been

purchased at £1 per acre and that only from that smaller

sum could improvements be made—quite escaped him. Br.

Tolmie entered the l i s t s by r e c a l l i n g that. Br. McLoughlin

claims i n Oregon had f i n a l l y been paid and urged the

analogy to an audience, whose imagination had been cap­

tured by the big figures of De Cosmos and F r a n k l i n . 3 0

When the motion came to a vote next, week

Mr. Foster advanced the cautious objection that t h i s was

l i k e l y to be an expensive operation i n any case. If the

decision favored the Colony s t i l l the expenses must be

taken out o f the s p o i l s and i f the Company won, expenses

would come on the C o l o n i a l l e g i s l a t u r e , not the Colon i a l

O f f i c e , as that body had already made i t s agreement with

the Company by the Indenture of 1862. Moreover the

Company was .not l i k e l y to pay out a m i l l i o n without

putting up a good f i g h t which was bound to be costly to

• . » •

29. Franklin In As. i n Colonist of 18 Jun.I864

30. Tolmie i n As. i n Colfenist of 18 Jun.1864

114

both sides* De Cosmos crushed such reasonable opposi­

t i o n with a sarcastic tirade that, swept, the motion to a

successful, passage with only Helmcken and Tolmie

dissenting. MThey (the Hudson's Bay Company) had come

here i n early days and taken up land which was then

worthless and they had paid nothing f o r It and now when

i t had become valuable they wished to get i t f o r nothing*

Because, forsooth, there was a f o r t on the harbor, a

piggery here and a dairy there, and a few blades of grass

somewhere else; therefore the Hudson's Bay Company had a

a moral and l e g a l right to the townsite and' adjoining

lands*» 3 2

The Assembly was prorogued soon a f t e r and

when i t was re-opened in August, the question of Crown

Lands and the Sooke gold rush provided the main topics

of discussion* I t was not t i l l October that De Cosmos

re-opened the issue by presenting an address "praying

that the House may he informed of what, steps have been

taken or are proposed to be taken by the Executive with

regard to the settlement between the Crown and the

Hudson's Bay Company respecting the Crown Lands of the

Colony.* 5 3

In h i s reply Kennedy brought up the question • » • * . .

31. Eo3ter i n As. i n Colonist of 22 Jun*I864

32. De Cosmos i n As. i n Colonist of 22 Jim.1864

33. De.Cosmos In As* i n Colonist of 21 Oct*1864

115

of the repayment of sums Lent from the Crown Eunds, (v.i n -

f r a , c.8, n.21) hut assured them that "this w i l l i n no

way impair the rights of the Colony or prejudice the

claims asserted by the L e g i s l a t i v e Assembly against the

Hudson's Bay Company i n the Resolution of 27 June 1864.* 3 4

The "-Colonist* l a b e l l e d t h i s suggestion "a trap* and

suggested that a further delay would not harm the Colony

which had already waited several years f o r i t s due.

The idea of the Colony i t s e l f having a claim against the

Company had been so p e r s i s t e n t l y advanced by De Cosmos

and Company that i t was well on i t s way to becoming a

l o c a l t r a d i t i o n .

The reply of the Assembly was a set of r e s o l ­

utions moved by Young on 22 November. With regard t o

the Hudson's Say Company Reserve he stated that "As the

grant of" the whole Island was made to the Hudson's Bay

Company i n 1849 without any reservation . . . f o r possess­

ory r i g h t s (based on occupation before 1846) » • . t h i s

House cannot recognize such r i g h t s . * Such r i g h t s ,

worth about' a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s had been claimed by the

Hudson's Bay Company and "Inconsiderately admitted"

by Her Majesty's Government by the Indenture of 1862

"to the great prejudice of this colony". The resolution ...» 34. Kennedy to As. i n V i c t o r i a D a i l y Chronicle (hereinafter

Chronicle) of 31 Oct.1864

35. Colonist e d i t o r i a l of 7 Nov.1864

116

demanded a re.conside.rati.on o f t h i s i n d e n t u r e i n f a v o r

o f "a more j u s t a n d f i n a l s e t t l e m e n t * on t h e g r o u n d s t h a t

i t h a d n o t "been s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e i r a p p r o v a l . I n

c o n c l u s i o n t h e mover c a l m l y r e g r e t t e d t h a t a c i v i l l i s t

must; b e w i t h e l d a n d showed a n a v i d d e s i r e t o s e e what ;

c o u l d b e g o t out o f t h e I n d e n t u r e "by m a k i n g a n a p p e a l

t o t h e j u s t i c e a n d C o n s i d e r a t i o n o f H e r M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n -

ment."' K e n n e d y ' s r e p l y was b r i e f a nd m i g h t h a v e b e e n 37

f u r t h e r c o n d e n s e d t o a p h r a s e , T o o b a d . "

D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d a n o t h e r a t t a c k was made

on t h e Hudson's B a y Company. T h i s was t h e d e e d o f

A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l C a r e y who f i l l e d i n f o r m a t i o n " a g a i n s t t h e

Company, p r a y i n g t h a t c e r t a i n s a l e s a l l e g e d b y t h e

Company t o h a v e b e e n made b y them p r i o r t o t h e a g r e e m e n t

w i t h H e r M a j e s t y ' s Government o f F e b r u a r y , 1862, may 38

be s e t a s i d e . " "The E x e c u t i v e c o u n c i l , however, d e c i d e d

t o d i s c o n t i n u e t h e s u i t w h i c h was t h u s c h o k e d o f f a n d

Kennedy i n r e p o r t i n g t h e m a t t e r e x p r e s s e d a strong desire

f o r a speedy s e t t l e m e n t « He declared: t h a t the prolonged"

q u a r r e l o f t h e p r e c e d i n g Executive and t h e Company h a d

n e c e s s i t a t e d "a c o u r t o f Law, a s p e c i a l C o m m i s s i o n o r

a r b i t r a t i o n " a nd f a v o r e d t h e l a s t s o l u t i o n . It i s one

o f t h o s e s u b j e c t s on w h i c h a c o r r e s p o n d e n c e may be k e p t

36. Y o u n g i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 22 Nov. 1864

37. Kennedy t o A s . S Dec.1864

38. e n c l o s e d copy i n C a r d w e l l t o Seymour, D . S t . , 1 Nov.1864

117

up f o r y e a r s w i t h o u t any r e s u l t . " 0 * Kennedy f o r h i s p a r t

r e f u s e d t o a c t as. a r b i t e r f r o m f e a r o f a r o u s i n g t h e

p e r s o n a l a n t i p a t h y o f c e r t a i n Hudson's -bay Company men

who "have shown a v e r y p e r s i s t e n t a n d u n m i s t a k a b l e

h o s t i l i t y to, my a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f r o m a p e r i o d a n t e r i o r t o

i t . " 4 0 The r e p l y f r o m Downing S t r e e t , c o n t a i n e d o n l y

a p r o m i s e f r o m Hudson's B a y House t o s u p p l y Kennedy w i t h

a l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n he m i g h t d e s i r e on t h e s u b j e c t — i t

s a i d n o t h i n g a b o u t a s o l u t i o n . 4 " 1 *

B e f o r e t h i s r e p l y h a d even b e e n d e s p a t c h e d ,

K e n n e d y s e n t home t h e R e p o r t o f t h e Committee on Crown

L a n d s f o r t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e . H i s own

comments on i t . were r a t h e r c a u s t i c , i n f e r r i n g c o n t r a ­

d i c t i o n s a n d g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t , many n o t b a s e d on sworn

e v i d e n c e . A d m i t t i n g f a i l u r e t o s e t t l e t h e m a t t e r h i m s e l f

he s u g g e s t e d t h a t a l o c a l c o m m i s s l o n j p e r h a p s u n d e r a new 4 2

C h i e f J u s t i c e m i g h t s u c c e e d .

The r e p l y t o t h i s l a s t d e s p a t c h r e j e c t e d a l l • » • »

39 . Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , 2 J a n . 1 8 6 5 ( # 2 ) . The

r e a d e r w i l l a p p r e c i a t e K e n n e d y ' s p e r s p i c a c i t y .

40. i b i d . The l a s t word " i t " r e p l a c e s "my a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ' 1

i n t h e a c t u a l document.

41. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D . S t . , 17 A p r . 1 8 6 5 , c o n t a i n i n g

F r a s e r t o T o l m i e , H.B.H., 1 A p r . 1 8 6 5

42. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , ¥ . 1 . , 15 A p r , 1 8 6 5 . H i s t o n e

e x p r e s s e s a d e s i r e t o wash h i s hands of- t h e m a t t e r .

118

i d e a s s u g g e s t i n g compromise a n d s u b m i t t e d a l e g a l d e c i s i o n

on t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e R e s e r v e w h i c h s a d l y s q u e l c h e d t h e

a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e c o l o n i a l a g i t a t o r s . From t h e E m i g r a t i o n

O f f i c e came a l s o a j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e I n d e n t u r e o f

1862. "The l a n d i t s e l f h a s been a c t u a l l y d i s p o s e d o f t o

p u r c h a s e r s a n d c o u l d n o t o f c o u r s e be r e c l a i m e d . The

o n l y q u e s t i o n was, t h e r e f o r e , w h e t h e r t h e Company c o u l d

be r e q u i r e d t o a c c o u n t f o r t h e money t h e y h a d r e c e i v e d

f o r t h e l a n d a s money r e c e i v e d b y them, n o t i n t h e i r

p r i v a t e c h a r a c t e r b u t as T r u s t e e s f o r t h e Crown. I t

a p p e a r e d t o u s i m p o s s i b l e u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o come

t o s u c h a c o n c l u s i o n w i t h j u s t i c e . F o r i f s u c h a c o n ­

c l u s i o n h a d b e e n a d o p t e d c o u l d i t h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d v i

i n t o e f f e c t e x c e p t t h r o u g h l e g a l p r o c e e d i n g s ! w h i c h w o u l d

h ave b e e n e x p e n s i v e and" d i l a t o r y , and t h e r e s u l t d o u b t ­

f u l . - " 4 5

The f i n a l d e c i s i o n was g i v e n i n t h e r e p o r t

o f t h e l a w o f f i c e r s f o r t h e Crown. " A f t e r a l l t h a t h a s

o c c u r r e d the Crown c a n n o t now d i s p u t e t h e r i g h t o f t h e

H u dson's Bay Company t o r e g a r d t h e l a n d o f w h i c h t h e y

came i n p o s s e s s i o n b e f o r e 1849, as a b s o l u t e l y t h e i r

own."- 4 4

T h i s r u d e n e g a t i o n o f C o l o n i a l a s p i r a t i o n s . . . »

4 3 . R e p o r t o f t h e E m i g r a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n e r s , 14 J u l . 1 8 6 5

44. R e p o r t o f P a l m e r and C o l l i e r , Law O f f i c e r s a t L i n c o l n ' s

I n n , 26 J u l . 1 8 6 5

119

was transmitted- to the Assembly on 3 November, 1865,

and i n the issue of that date the "Colonist* came from

the. press with an e d i t o r i a l of half-polished and cumber­

some sarcasm e n t i t l e d "The Test of L o y a l t y " — a l o y a l t y

proved by patience under, such a f f l i c t i o n , "Was there

ever such an instance of gross i n j u s t i c e perpetrated by

even the Khan of Tartary? We hope Vancouver Island w i l l

never forget. Its patrimony was jeal o u s l y guarded by i t s

t r u s t e e s — a n d how the English C o l o n i a l O f f i c e consented

to measures which l e f t the Island a pauper--a d i s i n h e r i t e d

h e i r . » • Do our. Imperial a u t h o r i t i e s r e a l l y desire to

drive us out of the B r i t i s h connection or are they simply

carrying out one of t h e i r paternal schemes f o r t eating

our c o l o n i a l l o y a l t y ? " 4 5

The r i v a l "Chronicle" seized the occasion

for an attack both on the defeated p o l i c y of the agitators

and the heated r h e t o r i c of Its competitor, "The schemes

which have served the double purpose of rendering some

of the members popular and giving them an excuse f o r

doing nothing but agitate, have been blown to the winds,

by the a n n i h i l a t i n g narrative of Mr. Cardwell, • , Mr.

De Cosmos Is about to crawl from under the d e b r l 3 of h i s

•watchtowef*, Mr. Duncan i s i n the sad act. of f o l d i n g

away the faded flowers of rhetoric which f o r so mariycmonths

bloomed i n the bear-garden. Even Mr. Eranklin may be . . » ,

45. Colonist e d i t , of 30 Ebv.1865. Shades of Sam Adams & Cot

120

congratulated on the discovery of h i s 'data'; while our

morning co-temporary, unable ever to bear defeat' with a

good grace covers i t s "Farewell* ohl far e w e l l " with a

confused medley of desperation and noise. The great 46

bubble has burst,"

There were s t i l l t e c h n i c a l i t i e s to go

through before the t i t l e to the land o f Vancouver Island

was relinquished by the Hudson's Bay Company. A draft

of the conveyance was sent to Kennedy* 7 asking for a

plan to exhibit "only the land surrendered to the Crown

and the land remaining a c t u a l l y i n the possession of

the Company", talcing care not "to confer on the Company

any advantage not intended by the Government."

In the t r i a l draft are de t a i l e d the payments

received by the Company and a l i s t of the lands that

they retained:

I. In V i c t o r i a Town. The Church Reserve and

any lands sold, there before 1 January 1862.

I I . uplands Farm 1144 acres

I I I . North Dairy Farm 724 acres (460 interpolated i n pencil)

IV. Old Spring area.

V. Fort Property except Harbor Master's Lot.

VI. Lots chosen to make up f o r Beekley Farm.

The Hudson's Bay Company had s i g n i f i e d t h e i r acceptance

. . . . . 46. Chronicle e d i t o r i a l of 1 Dec.1865

47. Cardwell to Kennedy, D.St., 26 Apr.1866 (#16) 121

of. t h e f o r m sent, a n d t o a v o i d any f u r t h e r f r i c t i o n K e n n ­

edy was. t o r e f e r a n y q u e s t i o n s t o t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e

where t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y c o u l d " c o n c l u d e a r e a s o n a b l e

s e t t l e m e n t w i t h t h e Company w i t h o u t any f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e

t o t h e C o l o n y , "

F i n a l [ d e t a i l s , were a r r a n g e d q u i e t l y i f n o t

a m i c a b l y i n L o n d o n a n d i n J u n e o f 1867 G o v e r n o r Seymour

r e c e i v e d a d e s p a t c h c o n t a i n i n g " t h e d e e d f o r t h e

r e c o n v e y a n c e o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d t o t h e Crown w h i c h h a s

b e e n e x e c u t e d b y t h e Hudson's. B a y Company u n d e r t h e i r

C o r p o r a t e S e a l a n d b y the C o l o n i a l L a n d a n d E m i g r a t i o n 48

C o m m i s s i o n e r s on t h e p a r t , o f H e r M a j e s t y , " E i g h t

y e a r s o v e r d u e t h e s o v e r e i g n r i g h t s o f t h e Hudson's B a y

Company were w i t h d r a w n f r o m V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d ,

, • • •

48. B u c k i n g h a m t o Seymour, B . S t . , 11 May 1867. The.

t e x t o f t h e d e e d may b e f o u n d i n ff.W. 971,113, H.886c

122

Chapter VII

CROWE LANDS AND CIVIL LIST. UNDER GOVERNOR DOUGLAS

July 1859 March 1864

The exchange of Crown Revenue f o r a c i v i l l i s t seems

at f i r s t sight a rather simple transaction, a b r i e f

phase in a treatment of lands p o l i c y . During the period

of t h i s thesis however i t remained a constant point of

contention, a source of hours of eloquence and reams of •

correspondence. Though at time closely bound up with

the question of the Hudson's Bay Company Reserve i t

w i l l received separate treatment i n two chapters, the

present one dealing with the origins of the dispute i n

the regime of Douglas and the second carrying i t through

the term of hi s successor.

There i s a long early period of uncertainty

in the Colony when the terms of such a bargain were not

c l e a r l y understood* and when the Colonial O f f i c e d i d very

l i t t l e to make i t c l e a r e r . The f i r s t reference appears

i n J uly of 1859 when Skinner of the House of Assembly asked If i t lay within the power of that body "to modify

the land system of thi s c o l o n y , ^ To t h i s Douglas • » , »

1, Skinner i n As, i n Colonist of 15 Jul,1859

123

replied- that "the Legislature does, net possess that

power hut i f the House of Assembly w i l l grant a c i v i l

l i s t which w i l l provide f o r the expenditures of the

Colony I s h a l l be happy to recommend to the Imperial

Government that the management and control of the Crown

Lands i n the Colony (subject to such reserves as may be

required f o r Imperial purposes) and the appropriations

of the proceeds of the sales of such lands s h a l l be vested

i n the C o l o n i a l L e g i s l a t u r e , "

In a despatch from Downing Street of the

same month Newcastle makes the following statement which

may have some bearing on the subject, "Reserves should

be made f o r any public object requiring the use of land

but not f o r the purpose of r a i s i n g a revenue either by - 3 i t s c u l t i v a t i o n or by Its sales at a future period,"

In September Douglas reported a grievous

lack of revenue. Be declared that since he c o n t r o l l e d

land sales, the Assembly would vote no more new taxes

and that even the proceeds of land sales might "prove

I n s u f f i c i e n t to defray the unavoidable expenditure of

the Colony.* 4 In October a despatch from Downing Street

Issued the f i r s t d e f i n i t i o n of a C i v i l L i s t . In discuss­

ing the appropriation of C o l o n i a l Revenue Newcastle

• • . » 2. Douglas to the As. i n Colonist of 15 J"ul»1859

5. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 24 J"ul.l859

4. Douglas to Lytton, 12 Sep.1859

124

stated- that, "payments f o r services of a permanent nature

, (such, as the salary of Governor and. Chief J u s t i c e ) should

be f i x e d by law, and not merely placed on the annual

estimates," 5 and two days l a t e r Douglas, penned a despatch

wherein he declared, his opinion that "no unrestricted

control of C o l o n i a l funds should, be placed, i n the hands

of the House of Assembly u n t i l that body provides f o r

the C i v i l L i s t required by the Colony." 6

when the enlarged Assembly was about to meet

Douglas wrote home anticipating; a demand, fo r the "control

and entire disposal of a l l monies a r i s i n g from the sale of

Crown Land's and other sources of revenue,"' and asking i f

he would be permitted to exchange t h i s f o r a c i v i l l i s t

"provided that such payment whatever the amount may be

w i l l be fixed by law; not merely placed on the estimates

fo r the year;* 8

The question received mention several times

during the session. In A p r i l Carey- mentioned the exchange

during the discussion on the accounts of the Hudson's

...» 5. Newcastle to Douglas, D.St.., 20 Oct. 1859 (#14)

6. Douglas: to Newcastle, T.I., 22 Oct.1859. It i s not

clear whether Douglas was clear about the idea of a per­

manent grant but i t i s certain that the Assembly were

not:.

7. Douglas to Newcastle, V.I., 26 Jan. 1860

,8. Douglas i s quoting Newcastle, v.supra n.5

125

Bay Company, » 9 and i n June Helmcken introduced the follow­

ing motion, passed unanimously— , lRe solved that, the C i v i l

L i s t . . . be paid from the time when the Crown Lands

and the entire revenue of. the Colony are placed under the

control of the Legislature i n the Colony»» 1- Q

It became, obvious that the o f f e r of the

Assembly was by no means an oli v e branch, but only a quid

pro quo i f they got. the lands. This- attitude, was c l e a r l y

expressed by Fr a n k l i n when Douglas came to the House

asking f o r a grant to pay a small back debt (£649) on

the l a t e l y erected government buildings. *I have before

condemned the..manner i n which the business of t h i s colony

has been carried on. I do fear that the land fund may be

kept from us-for a long time yet. I s h a l l not vote f o r

paying the balance to the treasurer u n t i l the lands of

the colony are- placed i n our possession. 1*-^ Later, on a.

p e t i t i o n asking Downing Street to quiet the Indian t i t l e

to wild lands the v a l i a n t auctioneer declared that he would

never vote f o r the acceptance of the Crown Lands I f i n 12"

return the Colony had to extinguish the Indian t i t l e . 1 *

F i n a l l y a f t e r nearly a year of intermittent discussion

Douglas waa able to report to Downing Street that the

Assembly had voted a C i v i l L i s t of £3,200 "subject to the

.... S. Carey i n As. i n Colonist of 25 Apr.1860

10. Helmcken i n As. i n Colonist of 9 Jun.1860

11. Franklin i n As. i n C o l o n i s t of 19 Jul.I860 12. Franklin i n As. i n Colonist of 29. Jan.1860 126

proviso that the entire revenue of the Colony whether

derived, from taxation or. sale of Crown lands s h a l l he

placed at the disposal of the C o l o n i a l L e g i s l a t u r e . *

"At t h i s generous offe r Douglas expressed a rather

modified rapture. "I submit that there should be no

formal surrender of the Crown Revenues to the C o l o n i a l

Legislature, u n t i l i t has made a s u f f i c i e n t provision f o r ^

defraying the cost of Her Majesty's C i v i l Establishment

according to a scale, which I propose to bring forward at

the next, session.*^ 3

A; point that Douglas, neglected to mention

was. that the lands could not be turned, over to the Colony

u n t i l the Hudson's Say Company relinquished the sovereignty

conferred by the grant of 1849. No action could be taken

and i n the Assembly the f e e l i n g arose that they had done

t h e i r share and that the blame rested with the Executive.

This sentiment together with an obvious ignorance of the

idea of a permanent c i v i l l i s t was wel£ displayed hy

the following effusion of Mr. Waddlngton, a c h o l e r i c

member who didn't mean any harm. "The Hudson's Bay Com­

pany a f f a i r s with the Colony l a s t year, we were t o l d , would

be s e t t l e d , and the lands handed over to the Colony, i f

the C i v i l List-was granted. The C i v i l L i s t was granted

and where are the Crown Lands? S t i l l i n the possession of

the Company {"^ l .... 15. Douglas to Newcastle, ¥.1., 18 Eeb.1861 14. Waddington i n the As. in Colonist of 28 Jun.1861

127

I n J u l y D o u g l a s p r e s e n t e d t h e a n n u a l e s t i m a t e s

t o t h e Assembly.. Our i n t e r e s t i s s o l e l y i n t h e Crown

Bevenuea w h i c h were n o t t h e n d i f f e r e n t i a t e c l f r o m t h e

g e n e r a l r e v e n u e . The T r e a s u r e r e x p e c t e d , l a n d s a l e s w o r t h

£600.0 and f i n e s , a n d f e e s o f c o u r t , w o r t h £ 1 1 0 0 - - a t o t a l

Crown Revenue o f £7100—-from, w h i c h m i g h t h a v e b e e n p a i d :

S u r v e y o r ' s D e p a r t m e n t £; 700

E x p l o r a t i o n of. V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d 500

D i f f u s i o n o f I n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d 500

Roads 2000

S a l a r i e s ( G o v e r n o r , C h i e f J u s t i c e ,

C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y , S u r v e y o r ,

T r e a s u r e r , A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l ) 5500

T o t a l £ 7 0 0 0 1 5

w i t h a b a l a n c e on t h e s i d e o f t h e Crown R e v e n u e . The

e s t i m a t e o f s a l e s , however, may h a v e b e e n u n d u l y o p t i m i s t i c

s i n c e o f t h e e s t i m a t e d £ 6 0 0 0 o n l y £ 1 4 4 6 h a d b e e n p a i d i n

b y J u n e .

W i t h t h e e s t i m a t e s were s e n t t h e a c t u a l

r e t u r n s o f I860' f r o m w h i c h we may more f a i r l y d e c i d e on

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f Crown Revenues b e i n g m a i n t a i n e d as a

s e p a r a t e a c c o u n t ; E b r t h e p a s t y e a r t h e r e v e n u e ( L a n d

s a l e s £ 4 5 7 6 and F i n e s , f e e s a n d f o r f e i t u r e s £ 1 1 5 5 ,

. t o t a l l i n g £ 5 7 3 1 ) w o u l d h a v e b e e n s u f f i c i e n t t o meet the_

1 5 . F i g u r e s f r o m D o u g l a s t o t h e A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 2 3 . J u l . 1861

128

f o l l o w i n g e x p e n s e s :

S a l a r i e s , as i n 1861 £ 3 3 0 0

Works, and. b u i l d i n g s . .> 835

S u r v e y s 209

Roads., S t r e e t s , and B r i d g e s 68

T o t a l £ 4 4 1 2

with, a b a l a n c e o f £ 1 3 1 9 w h i c h w o u l d h a v e n e a r l y e o v e r e d

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d ' s s h a r e o f t h e expense o f m a i n t a i n i n g

a j a i l ( £ 1 3 2 2 ) .

The c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e e s t i m a t e s p r o d u c e d

s e v e r a l r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s * The f i r s t was p r e s e n t e d

b y D r . T o l m i e an d asked, t h a t t h e p r o c e e d s o f l a n d s a l e s

" i f n o t demanded by t h e i m p e r i a l government s h o u l d a f t e r

payment o f t h e C i v i l L i s t be a p p l i e d t o t h e o p e n i n g an d

improvement o f r o a d s i n t o a n d w i t h i n t h e r u r a l d i s t r i c t s .

. » i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t e r m s on w h i c h t h e l a n d s were T 6

p u r c h a s e d . " To t h i s M r . F r a n k l i n a d d e d a c l a i m t o e v e n

more c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l i n an amendment " t h a t t h e p r o c e e d s

a r i s i n g f r o m t h e s a l e o f Crown L a n d s be a p p l i e d t o w a r d

t h e c o l o n i z a t i o n and improvement o f t h e I s l a n d , s u c h

b e i n g t h e o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n o f Her M a j e s t y ' s Government 1 7

i n r e l a t i o n t h e r e t o , * s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e l a n d s m i g h t

be m o r t g a g e d f o r a £ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 i m m i g r a t i o n f u n d and m e n t i o n i n g

t h e p o s s i b l e weapon o f r e f u s a l o f s u p p l i e s .

.... 16. T o l m i e i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 16 Aug.1861 1 7 . F r a n k l i n i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 16 Aug.1861

129

C a l m e r c o u n s e l s , p r e v a i l e d and t h e House

c o n t e n t e d i t s e l f w i t h p a s s i n g a m o t i o n s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f

D r . Helmcken o f t h e y e a r b e f o r e and moved by t h e v e r s a t i l e

Mr. E r a n k l i n — " T h a t t h e C i v i l L i s t b e p a y a b l e f r o m t h e

t i m e when t h e Crown L a n d a n d t h e e n t i r e r e v e n u e o f the

C o l o n y a r e p l a c e d u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e

o f t h i s C o l o n y . A s e n s i b l e s o l u t i o n was p r e s e n t e d b y

Mr. M a c D o n a l d who. d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e "would l i k e t o s e e

t h e C i v i l L i s t e r a s e d f r o m t h e e s t i m a t e s and t h e G o v e r n o r

made r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i t . Why s h o u l d t h e House v o t e on i t

i f i t i s . n o t t o be paid?*!-® E o l l o w i n g t h e t i m e h o n o r e d

p o l i t i c a l custom, t h i s s e n s i b l e i d e a was I g n o r e d .

So much f o r t h e e s t i m a t e s o f 1861. When

n e x t t h e t r a n q u i l l i t y of t h e A s s e m b l y was b r o k e n b y t h e

a r r i v a l o f e s t i m a t e s t h e r e was l i t t l e change i n t h e

s i t u a t i o n o r t h e r e s p o n s e . Crown Revenue, e s t i m a t e d f o r

1862 a t £ 6 5 0 0 (£5000 l a n d s a l e s a n d £ 1 5 0 0 F i n e s , F e e s a n d

F o r f e i t u r e s ) , was s t i l l s u f f i c i e n t t o c o v e r t h e C i v i l

L i s t o f t h e s i x c h i e f o f f i c i a l s ( £3400) t o g e t h e r w i t h a l l

t h e e x p e n s e s o f t h e i r d e p a r t m e n t s ( £ 2 7 1 0 ) . W i t h t h e

e s t i m a t e s came t h e a c t u a l r e t u r n s f o r 1 8 6 1 . The t o t a l

Crown Revenue h a d amounted t o £ 7 , 3 7 2 j u s t i f y i n g t h e

p o s s i b l e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f a Crown Revenue a c c o u n t f o r t h a t

. . . . 18. F r a n k l i n i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 13 Aug.1861. ' F o r

Helmeken's m o t i o n , "V.Supra n.10, p.126. 19. M a c D o n a l d i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 13 Aug.1861

130

year.

D i s c u s s i o n i n t h e House f o l l o w e d much t h e

same c o u r s e a n d the r e s o l u t i o n o f l a s t y e a r r e f u s i n g the

C i v i l L i s t was a g a i n p r e s e n t e d , t h i s t i m e by E r . B u r n a b y ,

and passed.. W h i l e r e f u s i n g t o have a n y t h i n g t o do w i t h

t h e C i v i l L i s t , t h e House h a d the p r e s u m p t i o n t o c l a i m

c o n t r o l o f l a n d p o l i c y * T h e y a s k e d D o u g l a s t h a t " i n t e r e s t *

be no l o n g e r c h a r g e d on payments due on l a n d i n c o n s e q u e n c e

o f a n n u a l t a x a t i o n . " B u t D o u g l a s e v a d e d t h e i s s u e o f

c o n t r o l a n d r e f u s e d on t h e p r e t e x t t h a t the E x e c u t i v e h a d

n o t power " t o a l t e r t h e terms o f payment o r t o a n n u l l

any c o n d i t i o n s , o f the c o n t r a c t " a n d a l l e g e d a f e a r t h a t

any i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e c o n t r a c t m i g h t " u n s e t t l e t h e

w h o l e l a n d t r a n s a c t i o n s o f t h e C o l o n y and i n v o l v e t h e

91

Government i n v e r y s e r i o u s l i a b i l i t i e s . "

Thus t h e i s s u e was s h e l v e d f o r a n o t h e r y e a r

a n d t h e o n l y m e n t i o n d u r i n g t h e r e s t o f 1862 was a n

e d i t o r i a l b y De Cosmos, d a s h e d o f f i n t h e a b s e n c e o f any

more s e a s o n a b l e t o p i c . "Who does n o t remember t h e e x p e c t ­

a t i o n t h a t was e x c i t e d , o v e r t h e s p e e d y s e t t l e m e n t ~ o f t h e

I m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n o f h a n d i n g o v e r t h e Crown L a n d s t o

t h e C o l o n y when i n 1860 t h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l , r e p r e s e n t i n g

t h e g o v e r n o r , a d v o c a t e d t h e g r a n t i n g o f t h e C i v i l L i s t

d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e Grown L a n d s w o u l d be h a n d e d o v e r t o

.... 2 0 . E i g u r e s f r o m D o u g l a s t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t "of 21 Mar.1862 21 . D o u g l a s t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 7 A p r . 1 8 6 2

131.

t h e C o l o n y u p o n i t s b e i n g v o t e d h y t h e A s s e m b l y an d t h a t

d e s p a t c h e s l a y i n t h e A c t i n g C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y ' s o f f i c e

w h i c h a u t h o r i z e d , i t t o be d o n e . . . The C i v i l L i s t was

o b t a i n e d , b y a c l e v e r dodge but. the l a n d s r e m a i n e d a n d

r e m a i n s ( s i c ) t o t h i s d a y i n s t a t u s quo." The a u t h o r was

e i t h e r s u b l i m e l y i g n o r a n t o f t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f a p e r m a nent

C i v i l L i s t o r t o o k g o o d c a r e t o a p p e a r s o . S i n c e t h e

A s s e m b l y had. f o r three, years, r u n n i n g r e f u s e d , t o p a y a

c i v i l l i s t , t h e r e , seems t o be no g r e a t g r o u n d s f o r h i s

a c c u s a t i o n t h a t i t had. b e e n " o b t a i n e d b y a c l e v e r d odge."^^

P e r h a p s moved by D o u g l a s * r e p o r t s , Downing

S t r e e t a t l a s t i s s u e d a d e f i n i t e p r onouncement on t h e

s u b j e c t . The f o l l o w i n g d e s p a t c h o f J u n e 1863 was t h e

b a s i s f o r a l l f u t u r e n e g o t i a t i o n s . "A permanent A c t o f

t h e L e g i s l a t u r e s h o u l d b e p a s s e d s e c u r i n g t o t h e p r i n c i p a l

O f f i c e r s o f t h e Government, S a l a r i e s a t t h e f o l l o w i n g

r a t e s :

G o v e r n o r £ 3 0 0 0

C h i e f J u s t i c e 800 *

C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y 600

A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l 300

T r e a s u r e r 600

S u r v e y o r G e n e r a l 500

# £ 1 2 0 0 i f p o s t h e l d b y a l a w y e r . . . . 22. De Cosmos e d l t i t o r i a l o f C o l o n i s t o f 23 Sep.1862.

E s t i m a t e s f o r 1863 n o t c h e c k e d , s e e a l s o C a r e y i n A s . 29 Jun.1863

132

The i n i t i a t i o n o f a l l money v o t e s s h o u l d a l s o be s e c u r e d

t o t h e Government. When a l l t h i s i s , done I am p r e p a r e d .

t o h o l d the. Crown Revenues o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d a t t h e

d i s p o s a l o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e ( h o l d i n g power t o s e t t l e t h e

agreement w i t h t h e Hudson's S a y Company). When t h i s i s

e f f e c t e d I s h a l l be r e a d y t o t r a n s f e r t h e management o f P3

t h e Revenue t.o t h e C o l o n i a l L e g i s l a t u r e . "

Two.days b e f o r e t h i s d e s p a t c h was p r e s e n t e d

t o t h e A s s e m b l y , De Cosmos p r o d u c e d an e d i t o r i a l d e c l a r i n g

t h a t a l l was r e a d y f o r t h e t r a n s f e r o f t h e Crown L a n d s

t o t h e C o l o n y s i n c e t h e b i l l o f t h e Company had. b e e n p a i d

i n f u l l . "We may assume no o b s t a c l e now e x i s t s t o p r e v e n t

n e g o t i a t i o n s b e i n g e n t e r e d i n t o f o r t h e - t r a n s f e r o f p u b l i c

l a n d s t o t h e government o f t h i s colony."24 n e o b j e c t e d to

t h e power t h a t t h e c o n t r o l o f the l a n d f u n d gave t o t h e

E x e c u t i v e and. p o l i t e l y s u g g e s t e d t h e . - l e g i s l a t u r e as t h e

p r o p e r r e c i p i e n t o f t h a t a u t h o r i t y . "The t r a n s f e r w o u l d

r e l i e v e t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e of a g r e a t d e a l o f u s e l e s s

t r o u b l e a n d a t t h e same t i m e r e n d e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f

o f o u r a f f a i r s much more e f f i c i e n t and" s a t i s f a c t o r y . "

The p r e s e n t a t i o n o f N e w c a s t l e ' s d e s p a t c h

t o t h e A s s e m b l y on September 4 t h r a t h e r t o o k t h e w i n d out

• • • • 23. N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 15 Jun.1863

24. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l i n C o l o n i s t o f 1 Sep.1863. He

c o n v e n i e n t l y f o r g e t s t h e i s s u e o f t h e H.B.Co. R e s e r v e

c o n t r o v e r s y w h i c h h e h a d done s o much t o r a i s e ; 133,

o f Be Cosmos* S a i l s . I t showed d e f i n i t e l y t h a t t h e

Company's c l a i m s h a d n o t been s e t t l e d and t h a t t h e C o l o n i a l

O f f i c e h a d d e f i n i t e l y a d o p t e d t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e V a n c o u v e r

I s l a n d A s s e m b l y b u t w i t h r e v e r s e E n g l i s h - - f i r s t , demanding

t h e C i v i l L i s t , t h e n , p r o m i s i n g t h e p r o c e e d s o f t h e Crown

Revenue F u n d b u t r e t a i n i n g t h e management o f t h e f u n d u n t i l

t h e Company's c l a i m s were s e t t l e d . . A l l t h a t Be Cosmos

c o u l d manage i n t h e way o f e d i t o r i a l comment was t h e weak

s u g g e s t i o n t h a t p e r h a p s u n d e r Douglas.* s u c c e s s o r , t h e v o t e

o f t h e C i v i l L i s t m i g h t b e more e a s i l y p a s s e d , and t h e

b r o m l d i c t a g t h a t "Time w i l l t e l l . " 2 5

I n t h e House t h e d e s p a t c h was d i s c u s s e d

q u i t e f u l l y b u t t h e g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e was one o f d e p r e c i a t i o n

o f the l a n d s w h i c h h a d f o r m e r l y b e e n d e c l a r e d so d e s i r a b l e ,

w h i l e one a n d a l l d e c l a r e d t h a t N e w c a s t l e ' s C i v i l L i s t

was r u i n o u s l y h i g h . E i n a l l y i t was d e c i d e d t o a p p o i n t

a c o m m i t t e e w h i c h c o u l d c o l l e c t d e f i n i t e i n f o r m a t i o n on

t h e v a l u e o f t h e l a n d s . W i t h t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i t was

h o p e d t h a t a more i n t e l l i g e n t a n d a d v a n t a g e o u s b a r g a i n

c o u l d be made. The p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h i s c o mmittee h a v e

b e e n n o t e d e l s e w h e r e and i t s r e p o r t d i s c u s s e d i n so much

as I t r e f e r r e d t o t h e .Hudson's -bay Company R e s e r v e .

A s t h e s i t t i n g s o f t h e Committee d r a g g e d on

t h r o u g h t h e f a l l , o f 1863 w i t h o u t t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f a n y

. . » . 2 5 . Be Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 4 Sep.1863

26. v . s u p r a c.6

134

r e p o r t , t h e " C o l o n i s t (now e d i t e d b y M c C l u r e s i n c e t h e

e l e v a t i o n o f De Cosmos t o t h e L e g i s l a t u r e ) b e g a n t o

e x p r e s s d i s g u s t a t t h e d e l a y a n d f e a r o f i t s p o s s i b l e

c o n s e q u e n c e s * " I t i s now more t h a n s i x months s i n c e t h e

Duke o f N e w c a s t l e r e q u e s t e d our l e g i s l a t u r e t o p a s s a

permanent A c t f i x i n g t h e s a l a r i e s o f t h e Government

o f f i c i a l s , a n d s h o u l d H i s G r a c e be kep>t i n s u s p e n s e

much l o n g e r , we need n o t be s u r p r i s e d , j u d g i n g f r o m t h e

t o n e o f h i s d e s p a t c h i n r e f e r e n c e t o t h e C i v i l L i s t t o

l e a r n b y an e a r l y m a i l that, he h a s r e l i e v e d us f r o m t h e

onus o f d e c i d i n g on t h e m a t t e r . The Committee h a v e , we

t h i n k , o b t a i n e d a s u f f i c i e n t knowledge o f t h e v a l u e o f

Crown L a n d s p r o p o s e d t o be h a n d e d o v e r t o t h e C o l o n y t o

j u d g e w h e t h e r t h e y a r e w o r t h t h e p r i c e we a r e c a l l e d upon

t o p a y f o r t h e m * " 2 7 The Committee however p r o c e e d e d on

i t s l e i s u r e l y way t i l l i t s members were c a l l e d f r o m t h e i r ' 28

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t o c o n s i d e r t h e e s t i m a t e s f o r 1864.

B e f o r e we n o t e t h e r e a c t i o n o f t h e A s s e m b l y

l e t us examine t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e Crown Revenue as

e s t i m a t e d . I t t o t a l l e d |42,440 ( L a n d s a l e s |3I,912» L a n d

Revenue $1528, F i n e s , f e e s and f o r f e i t u r e s $9,000) w h i c h

w o u l d h a ve s u f f i c e d f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g s a l a r i e s : G o v e r n o r 115,500

( C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y 5,890 w i t h (

( T r e a s u r e r 4,830 s t a f f

2,825 $28.095 T o t a l _

135

l e a v i n g a "balance of. $1.4.,345 t o w a r d s t h e s a l a r i e s o f t h e

A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l (£300) and. t h e C h i e f J u s t i c e (£800) as

i n N e w c a s t l e * s l i s t , o r i f i t . h a d b e e n a m a t t e r o f s a l a r i e s

o n l y w o u l d h a v e c o v e r e d N e w c a s t l e ' s maximum l i s . t o f

$31,000 w i t h a m a r g i n f o r e s s e n t i a l c l e r i c a l a s s i s t a n c e .

S t u d y i n g t h e e n c l o s e d r e t u r n s f o r 1863.,

we f i n d t h e Crown Revenues s h o w i n g a t o t a l r e t u r n o f

|32,756 ( L a n d s a l e s $23,759, L a n d Revenue $395, F i n e s ,

f e e s , a n d f o r f e i t u r e s |8602) w h i c h w o u l d h a v e s u f f i c e d f o r

t h e C i v i l L i s t , t h o u g h w i t h l e s s m a r g i n . 2 9

The C o l o n i s t c a l m l y a d v i s e d t h e l e g i s l a t o r s

t o t a k e some p o s i t i v e a c t i o n on t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e C i v i l

L i s t . " T h e r e i s no doubt t h a t u n t i l t h e r e s u l t o f t h e

v o t e on t h e f i r s t i t e m o f t h e e s t i m a t e s ( s a l a r i e s ) i s

known i n L o n d o n we s h a l l n o t h e a r o f t h e new G o v e r n o r

f o r t h i s c o l o n y t a k i n g h i s d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e o l d c o u n t r y ! ? 3 1

The e d i t o r i a l s u g g e s t e d u n i o n o f t h e c o l o n i e s as a p o s s i b l e

s o l u t i o n t o t h e payment o f a l l of. a C i v i l L i s t w h i c h was

c o n s i d e r e d b e y o n d t h e l o c a l t a x - p a y i n g a b i l i t y .

When t h e d e b a t e opened i n t h e A s s e m b l y De

Cosmos t o o k t h e f l o o r armed w i t h an i n t e r e s t i n g s p e e c h

2 7 . C o l o n i s t News I t e m o f 23 Dec.1863

2 8 . P r e s e n t e d 16 J a n . 1 8 6 4 i n C o l o n i s t I t e m o f d a t e

29. F i g u r e s f o r 1863 f r o m A u d o t o r K e r * a r e p o r t i n C o l o n i s t

o f 2 Feb.1864

3 0 . C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 1 Feb.1864

136

i n w h i c h he p e r f o r m e d , some m i r a c l e s o r p r e s t i g i d a t i o n s

w i t h f i g u r e s w h i c h a r e r e c o r d e d h e r e i n h i s p h r a s e s "but

f o r whose a c c u r a c y t h e a u t h o r c a n n o t v o u c h . He d e c l a r e d

N e w c a s t l e ' s p r o p o s i t i o n t o "be a "bad. b a r g a i n f o r t h e

C o l o n y . W h i l e t h e f i x e d s a l a r i e s on t h e l i s t amounted

t o $31,070, t h e e s t i m a t e d l a n d r e v e n u e f o r 1863 h a d "been

o n l 6 $22,000 ( a c t u a l , l a n d r e v e n u e was $ 2 4 , 1 5 4 — a u t h o r s n o t e )

l e a v i n g $8061 t o he p a i d b y t h e C o l o n y . A s s u m i n g t h e same

r a t e , f o r t e n y e a r s t h e r e v e n u e w o u l d be $213*000 ( s i c ) ,

f o r f i f t y y e a r s $1,150,450 ( s i c ) . " I n r o u n d numbers t h e

C o l o n y i n t e n y e a r s w o u l d h a v e t o make up £ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . . •

I f we l o o k f a r t h e r i n t o t h e f u t u r e . . . t h e l o s s i n f i f t y

y e a r s w o u l d be $1,150,450. » . T h i s b e i n g h i s v i e w t h e h o n .

member t h o u g h t i t a v e r y g r a v e m a t t e r t o v o t e t h e C i v i l

L i s t p r o p o s e d by t h e Dulce o f N e w c a s t l e .

A f t e r t h i s i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t o f s t a t i s t i c s

h e assumed a g r i e v e d t o n e a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n i n t h e

d e s p a t c h t h a t "The C o l o n y must be s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g " a n d

t h a t t h e d i f f i c u l t y should" be met e i t h e r b y i n c r e a s e d

t a x e s o r b y "some compact o r u n i o n w i t h t h e n e i g h b o r i n g

c o l o n y . " The i d e a o f more t a x e s could' h a r d l y be s u p p o r t e d

..... 31. De Cosmos i n A s . I n C o l o n i s t o f 2 F e b . 1 8 6 4 . The p r o c ­

eeds o f F i n e s , f e e s and f o r f e i t u r e s f o r 1863 ($9000) w o u l d

h a v e more t h a n made up h i s m u l t i p l i e d d e f i c i t . The C h r o n i c l e

o f e ven d a t e does n o t q u o t e t h e s e w e i r d f i g u r e s so t h e y

m i g h t be due t o a r e p o r t e r ' s e r r o r .

137

"by a n e l e c t e d t r i b u n e of. t h e p e o p l e s o t h e more a g r e e a b l e

and. s a f e l y n e b u l o u s s o l u t i o n was a d v a n c e d . — a seheme f o r

u n i o n o f t h e c o l o n i e s w i t h c o n t r i b u t i o n s on t h e b a s i s

o f r e v e n u e , a s i t u a t i o n q u i t e f a v o r a b l e t o f r e e p o r t

V i c t o r i a ,

H i s i m a g i n a t i o n f i r e d , b y t h i s m a g i c e l o q u e n c e ,

D r . H e l m c k e n a r o s e to a d d h i s d i a t r i b e on t h e i n i q u i t o u s

s n a r e o f Downing S t r e e t , F o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , he s t a t e d ,

t h e c o l o n y h a d o f f e r e e a C i v i l L i s t i n e x c h a n g e f o r t h e

Crown L a n d s b u t h a d r e c e i v e d , no answer e x c e p t t h e

above d e s p a t c h . A f t e r t h i s p i e c e o f m e n d a c i t y h e a d v a n c e d

t o a s t r i k i n g a n d much a p p l a u d e d c o n c l u s i o n , " T h e r e was

one t h i n g he w o u l d s t a t e , h o w e v e r , w h i c h was t h a t he

w o u l d n o t v o t e a c e n t o f t h e C i v i l L i s t , t i l l t h e whole

o f t h e Crown S a n d s were made over' t o t h e C o l o n y ( H e a r !

h e a r . ) . " 3 2

Amid s u c h bombast Young's q u i e t r e m i n d e r

t h a t t h e Crown r e v e n u e s i n v o l v e d more t h a n l a n d r e v e n u e s

p a s s e d u n n o t i c e d i n t h e d e b a t e , b u t i n a n e d i t o r i a l o f

t h e C h r o n i c l e t h i s p o i n t was e l a b o r a t e d . M e n t i o n was

made o f the^ r e v e n u e f r o m g o l d l i c e n s e s a n d o f t h e c h a n c e

o f g e t t i n g some r e b a t e s f r o m t h e H udson's B a y Company 33

i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e w a t e r f r o n t s a l e s .

Two d a y s l a t e r D r , H e l m c k e n p r e s e n t e d a . . . .

3 2 . H e l m c k e n i n A s . I n C o l o n i s t o f 2 Feb.1864

3 3 . C h r o n i c l e e d i t o r i a l o f 2 Feb.3.864

138

m o t i o n r e f u s i n g N e w c a s t l e ' s o f f e r . R a t i o n a l i z a t i o n was

n o t d i f f i c u l t . E x p e n s e s i n t h e C o l o n y were. high, a n d t h e

C i v i l L i s t w o u l d o n l y make them, h i g h e r " l e a v i n g a v e r y

s m a l l sum f o r the. g r e a t , n e c e s s i t y o f t h e C o l o n y , v i z .

i n t e r n a l i m p r o v e m e n t s . n ^ E u t u r e l a n d r e v e n u e would.

d e c r e a s e s i n c e t h e i n s t a l m e n t s on £ 1 a n a c r e l a n d were

n e a r l y a l l i n and. t h e f u n d m i g h t h a v e t o h e a r t h e e x p e n s e

o f e x t i n g u i s h i n g I n d i a n . t i t l e .

D o u g l a s r e c e i v e d , t h e p e t i t i o n a n d p a s s e d

i t on t o Downing S t r e e t w i t h l a c o n i c comment on t h e

p r o s p e c t s f o r l a n d r e v e n u e - - t t i n f u t u r e y e a r s t h e r e v e n u e

f r o m t h a t s o u r c e may he l e s s c o n s i d e r a b l e .

D o u g l a s was no l o n g e r i n t e r e s t e d . The end

o f h i s r u l e h a d come. V i c t o r i a g ave h i m a f a r e w e l l whose

h e a r t i n e s s h a r d l y made up f o r i t s l a c k o f s i n c e r i t y .

De Cosmos h a d t h e g r a c e t o r e l i n g u i s h h i s u s u a l p l a c e

i n t h e s p o t l i g h t a n d l e t Mr. T r i m b l e o f f i c i a l l y s p e e d

t h e p a r t i n g g o v e r n o r . How t h e l a t t e r a v a i l e d h i m s e l f

o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y may be j u d g e d b y t h e f o l l o w i n g e x e r p t

f r o m t h e f a r e w e l l s p e e c h . "We c o n s i d e r t h e g r e a t p r o s ­

p e r i t y o f t h i s p o r t i o n o f h e r ( s i c ) M a j e s t y ' s d o m i n i o n s

d u r i n g t h e p a s t few y e a r s a s m a i n l y a s c r i b a b l e t o t h e

w i s e p o l i c y w h i c h y o u r E x c e l l e n c y i n a u g u r a t e d a n d we

t r u s t that, t h e . c o n t i n u e d advancement o f t h i s c o l o n y may .... 3 4 . Helmcken i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 4 Feb.1864

3 5 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , Y . I . , 12 Feb.1864

138A

b e e q u a l t o Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y ' s good, w i s h e s i n i t s b e h a l f . 1 , 3 ^

R e t r o s p e c t o f C h a p t e r 7

A t t h i s p o i n t i t may he p e r m i t t e d t h e a u t h o r t o make a

b r i e f s u r v e y o f t h e e s s e n t i a l f a c t s w h i c h h e c o n s i d e r s

t o h a v e b e e n de v e l o p e d , f r o m t h e f o r e g o i n g mass o f h e t e r ­

ogenous b u t i n h i s o p i n i o n r e l e v a n t m a t e r i a l . The o f f e r

o f t h e A s s ^ e i b l y i s a l w a y s c o n d i t i o n a l a n d i m p o s s i b l e

o f a c c e p t a n c e , at. a n y r a t e t i l l t h e Hudson's Bay Company

t i t l e t o t h e l a n d . i s . e x t i n g u i s h e d . N e w c a s t l e ' s o f f e r i s

a l s o made w i t h t h i s p r o v i s o . The. Crown r e v e n u e s so

d i s d a i n f u l l y r e f u s e d , p r o v e d t h e m s e l v e s c a p a b l e o f p a y i n g

the: r e q u i r e d C i v i l L i s t a n d many e x p e n s e s d u r i n g t h e

p e r i o d 1860-64 p o i n t i n g t o a s o l u t i o n l a t e r a d o p t e d .

F l n a , l l y l e t i t be n o t e d t h a t t h e Crown Funds were admin­

i s t e r e d : w i t h t h e g e n e r a l C o l o n i a l Revenue, f o r t h e r e b y

h a n g s a t a l e . .... 3 6 . T r i m b l e i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 12 Mar.1864

139

C h a p t e r ¥ 1 1 1

CROWE LANDS AND CIVIL. L I S T UNDER KENNEDY

M a r c h 1864 A u g u s t 1866

H a v i n g made a f o r m a l f a r e w e l l t o D o u g l a s t h e C o l o n i a l

R e f o r m e r s r e t u r n e d t o t h e q u a r r e l o f t h e Crown Revenue and

t h e C i v i l L i s t , G o v e r n o r Kennedy, who i s t h e t h i r d o f

a c t o r s , i n t h i s drama c a n n o t i n f a i r n e s s r e c e i v e d t h e

i n t r o d u c t i o n t h a t h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s h a v e b e e n r e f u s e d ,

t h o u g h he as y e t l a c k s a l i t e r a r y d e f e n d e r . I t i s f a i r

t o s t a t e t h a t i n t h e m i n d o f t h e a u t h o r he i s t h e t r a g i c

h e r o o f t h e p l a y h u t how w e l l he f i l l s t h a t r o l e must,

he j u d g e d f r o m h i s a c t i o n s h e r e i n a f t e r d e s c r i b e d .

The f i r s t r e a l c l a s h a r o s e l a t e i n J u n e

but. b e f o r e d e s c r i b i n g i t , a b r i e f s u r v e y s h o u l d be made

o f three-, i m p o r t a n t documents w h i c h show p r e t t y c l e a r l y

t h e a t t i t u d e a n d p r o b a b l e p l a n o f a c t i o n a d o p t e d b y

t h e A s s e m b l y , Kennedy and t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y ,

Mr. C a r d w e l l .

The Committee on Crown L a n d s h a d f i n a l l y

p r e s e n t e d t h e i r l o n g - a w a i t e d r e p o r t . - 1 * B e s i d e s t h e i r

1. 14 J u n . 1 8 6 4 . v . i n f r a , a p p e n d i x 2, n.23

140

o p i n i o n on t h e Hudson's Bay Company R e s e r v e n b t e d a b o v e ,

t h e y p r o d u c e d some s t a t i s t i c s a n d some o p i n i o n s on t h e

v a l u e o f t h e r e m a i n i n g l a n d s :

S e c t i o n 1 1 . S t a t i s t i c s t o 31 December 1863

A r e a s o l d i n s u r v e y e d d i s t r i c t s 74,193 a c r e s

" p r e - e m p t e d 88,509 "

" n o t s o l d ; r e s e r v e d , o r p r e -92,264 »

empted i n t h e s u r v e y e d d i s t r i c t s

" p r e - e m p t e d i n u n s u r v e y e d

d i s t r i c t s 31,860 »

" r e s e r v e d 14,710 "

B o f Crown L a n d s s o l d and p r e ­

empted 162*505 »

R e m a i n d e r i n c l u d i n g R e s e r v e s w h i c h

w o u l d b e t a k e n 7,435,710 »

S e c t i o n 12 g a v e a d e t a i l e d r e v i e w o f t h e n a t u r e

o f the Crown L a n d s y e t u n s o l d and ended w i t h t h e

o p i n i o n t h a t " V e r y l i t t l e r e v e n u e c a n be

d e r i v e d t h e r e f r o m , "

S e c t i o n 33 l i s t e d t h e p r o b a b l e r e t u r n s . T h e r e was

a b o u t $80,000 due on l a n d s a l e s but l i t t l e

p r o s p e c t o f f u r t h e r p a y m e n t s e x c e p t f r o m m i n i n g

l a n d s o r p r e - e m p t i o n f e e s . T h e r e seems t o be a

d e l i b e r a t e a t t e m p t t o m i n i m i z e t h e s e r e t u r n s b u t

t h i s i s o n l y t h e I m p r e s s i o n g a t h e r e d i n r e a d i n g

the: r e p o r t , F o r example n o t e t h e c o n c l u d i n g

141

s e n t e n c e — " T h e l a n d , r e v e n u e i n f u t u r e y e a r s w i l l

h e v e r y s m a l l "'--an i n d e f i n i t e y e t i n f i n i t e l y

d i s c o u r a g i n g s t a t e m e n t .

S e c t i o n 3 4 ( a n d l a s t ) r e f e r s t o t h e C i v i l L i s t

s u g g e s t e d h y N e w c a s t l e a n d p r o p h e s i e s t h a t "The

Crown L a n d s w i l l y i e l d l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g t o w a r d s

p a y i n g i t . *

G o v e r n o r Kennedy showed h i s o p i n i o n o f t h e

C o l o n i a l R e f o r m e r s i n a d e s p a t c h o f 5 May. " W h i l e t h e y

i g n o r e a n d s t r i k e o u t many i t e m s i n the' C i v i l L i s t , ( t h e y )

d e a l w i t h v a r i o u s i t e m s o f 'Grown Revenue* a s a s s e t s f o r p-

g e n e r a l C o l o n i a l p u r p o s e s . " To d e f i n e a n d s e g r e g a t e

t h i s f u n d a n d t o i n c r e a s e i t w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e was h i s

ai m , k e e p i n g i n mi n d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e exchange w o u l d an d

h e l p t h e C o l o n y t h a t t h e c u p i d i t y o f t h e A s s e m b l y , once

s u f f i c i e n t l y a r o u s e d , w o u l d be t h e f o r c e most l i k e l y t o

consummate i t . He h a d l i t t l e s y m pathy w i t h r e i t e r a t e d

C o l o n i a l p l e a s o f p o v e r t y . "The r e s o u r c e s o f t h i s C o l o n y

p r o p e r l y a d m i n i s t e r e d a r e ample t o meet a l l r e a s o n a b l e

demands"? e f f i c i e n c y o f a d m i n s t r a t i o n was t h e n e e d , " t h e

p r e s e n t mode o f r a i s i n g r e v e n u e i s c r u d e , u n p r o d u c t i v e

and i n e q u i t a b l e . "

The a t t i t u d e o f t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was

c l e a r l y shown i n t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s p a t c h r e p l y i n g t o

D o u g l a s ' r e p o r t o f F e b r u a r y . Kennedy was a d v i s e d t o u s e ...» 2* Kennedy t o N e w c a s t l e , Y . I . , 5 May 1864

142

t h e l a n d , s a l e s r e v e n u e o f £ 4 5 0 0 ( f i g u r e s o f D o u g l a s ,

v . s u p r a c . 7 , n.35, p.138) t o p a y t h e s a l a r i e s o f t h e

G o v e r n o r (£3000) a n d t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y (£600) w h i l e

t h e r e s t of t h e s a l a r i e s m i g h t b e p a i d a s t h e A s s m e b l y

saw f i t . Downing S t r e e t was q u i t e aware of t h e o t h e r

s o u r c e s o f Crown Revenue and a u t h o r i z e d Kennedy t o u s e

any s u c h — " f i n e s , f e e s , f o r f e i t u r e s a n d f e e s o f o f f i c e " - -

a s t h e y were, a v a i l a b l e .

When t h i s d e s p a t c h was t r a n s m i t t e d to t h e

Ass.embly i t . a r o u s e d a f l u t t e r i n t h e B i r d C a g e s . By

a c u r i o u s anomoly i t s e t H e l m c k e n a n d Be Cosmos, b i t t e r

o p p o n e n t s where t h e c a s e o f t h e Company was c o n c e r n e d ,

s i d e by s i d e i n a n a t t a c k on t h e E x e c u t i v e . The D o c t o r

moved t h a t t h e s a l a r i e s ( C h i e f J u s t i c e , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ,

C o l o n i a l T r e a s u r e r , and S u r v e y o r G e n e r a l ) l e f t o u t o f the

e s t i m a t e s f o r 1864, s h o u l d b e p a i d out o f t h e Crown E u n d s .

T h i s u s u r p a t i o n o f t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e E x e c u t i v e was

f e e b l y j u s t i f i e d by t h e p l e a ''that t h i s House h a d n o t

r e f u s e d t o v o t e t h e s e s a l a r i e s d u r i n g t h e p r e s e n t s e s s i o n

b u t o n l y a c t e d a c c o r d i n g t o p r e c e d e n t : t h e House n e v e r

h a v i n g v o t e d a C i v i l L i s t b u t o n l y a p r o p o s i t i o n f o r one."

Mr. E r a n k l i n r o s e t o l a m e n t t h e l a n d s w h i c l i

now seemed so d e f i n i t e l y s l i p p i n g f r o m t h e p o s s i b l e

c o n t r o l o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e b u t h i s p l e a f o r f u r t h e r

b a r g a i n i n g was b e a t e n down by t h e combined o r a t o r y o f • . . • 3. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, B . S t . , 30 A p r . 1 8 6 4

143

De Cosmos a n d H e l m c k e n . I n t h e s p e e c h o f t h e l a t t e r

was a n o t e o f t h e v a l u © o f t h e l a n d s a l e s a n d F i n e s ,

E e e s a n d F o r f e i t u r e s . S i n c e b e t o t a l l e d , t h e s e a t o v e r

140.000 ( l a n d s a l e s §3.1,912, F i n e s , F e e s , and F o r f e i t u r e s

$9,000) a n d h i s m o t i o n was a r e f u s a l t o exchange f o r s u c h

a sum, an a n n u a l C i v i l L i s t o f $31,000, he must l a y

h i m s e l f open t o t h e c h a r g e o f f a c t i o u s o p p o s i t i o n i n

o p p o s i n g t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f s u c h a b a r g a i n f o r t h e C o l o n y

he r e p r e s e n t e d .

'A To t h i s h i g h - h a n d e d r e s o l u t i o n , K e nnedy's

r e p l y was d i g n i f i e d b u t f i r m . "The t e r m s o f t h e d e s p a t c h

o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e w h i c h y o u h a v e h a d u n d e r c o n ­

s i d e r a t i o n , u n f o r t u n a t e l y p r o h i b i t me f r o m a d o p t i n g t h a t

r e c ommendation and c l e a r l y p o i n t s orat t h a t t h e s a l a r i e s

o f t h e G o v e r n o r and C o l o n i a l Secreta;Ey o n l y a r e c h a r g e ­

a b l e t o t h a t f u n d . I t I s t h e r e f o r e o b v i o u s t h a t u n l e s s

t h e L e g i s l a t u r e make p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e r e m u n e r a t i o n o f

t h e r e m a i n i n g o f f i c e r s o f t h e Government f r o m some o t h e r

s o u r c e . . . T h e i r s a l a r i e s must c e a s e and a q u e s t i o n

w i l l t h e n a r i s e a s t o t h e a u t h o r i t y u n d e r w h i c h t h e y

h a v e r e c e i v e d s a l a r y s i n c e 1 J a n u a r y 1 8 6 4 . " 5

F o r t h e t i m e K ennedy's t o n e seems t o h a v e

cowed t h e u n r u l y Assemblymen. De Cosmos " f o r e m o s t s t i l l

i n e v e r y d e e d o r good o r i l l " moved t h e f o l l o w i n g s e t o f

4. H e l m c k e n i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 30 Jun.1864

5. K e n n e d y t o A s . i n C h r o n i c l e o f 1 J u l . 1 8 6 4

144

r e s o l u t i o n s , w h i c h seemed, t o p u t c o n t r o l d e f i n i t e l y i n t o

t h e h a n d s of. t h e g o v e r n o r :

2. "The House p l e d g e s i t s e l f t o indemnify t h e

G o v e r n o r i n c a s e he s h a l l t a k e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f

p a y i n g t h e s a i d s a l a r i e s o u t o f t h e Crown Revenues

w h i l e a w a i t i n g f u r t h e r i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m H e r

Maj e s t y * s Government."

3. i n c a s e o f r e f u s a l t o p a y f r o m Crown Revenue

o r o f i t s i n s u f f i c i e n c y " s h o u l d h e i s s u e h i s w a r r a n t

for. p a yment . . . o u t o f t h e g e n e r a l r e v e n u e , t h i s

House h e r e b y p l e d g e s i t s e l f t o i n d e m n i f y h i m f o r so

d o i n g . *

4. T h i s I s a t e m p o r a r y measure and does n o t b i n d

t h e C o l o n y t o p a y t h e C i v i l L i s t o u t o f g e n e r a l r e v e n u e .

5.. .The payment o f s a l a r i e s o u t o f Crown f u n d s i s

a c c o r d i n g t o p r e c e d e n t a n d " c o n s o n a n t w i t h t h e v i e w s

o f t h i s H o u s e . *

6. A. r e q u e s t t h a t t h e G o v e r n o r a s k t h e C o l o n i a l

O f f i c e t o a u t h o r i z e t h e payment o f Crown O f f i c e r s out

o f Crown f u n d s as h e r e t o f o r e . ^

When t h e s e r e s o l u t i o n s were t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h t h e

E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l , H o s . 2 a n d 3 were a c c e p t e d b u t t h e 7

r e m a i n d e r were c u t o u t a s b e i n g no a f f a i r o f t h e i r s .

W e l l s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e R e s o l u t i o n s and . . . .

6. Be Cosmos i n A s . i n C h r o n i c l e o f 3 J u l . 1 8 6 4

&. M e e t i n g o f 5 J u l . 1 8 6 4

145

p r o b a b l y s u r f e i t e d w i t h t h e b e h a v i o r o f t h e members

Kennedy h a s t e n e d t o p r o r o g u e t h e A s s e m b l y a n d t o o k c a r e

t h a t h i s s p e e c h s h o u l d c o n t a i n t h e f o l l o w i n g r e f e r e n c e s

t o t h e e x c h a n g e :

M l l . T h a t t h i s c o l o n y h a s ample r e s o u r c e s t o p r o v i d e

f o r i t s own Government on a b e c o m i n g s c a l e

c a n n o t be d o u b t e d , and I f e e l c o n f i d e n t t h a t

t h e p e o p l e , i f a p p e a l e d t o , w o u l d c h e e r f u l l y

a c c e d e t o a p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e p u b l i c s e r v a n t s <-

commensurate w i t h t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d d u t i e s

o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p o s i t i o n s .

1 2. The i m p o r t a n t s u b j e c t o f i m m i g r a t i o n must b e

l e f t u n t o u c h e d w h i l e t h e p o s s e s s i o n a n d d i s p o s a l

o f t h e Grown L a n d s r e m a i n u n s e t t l e d . A c o l o n y

w i t h o u t a f i x e d p o p u l a t i o n c a n n o t b e p e r m a n e n t l y

p r o s p e r o u s . n S

Had Kennedy k e p t t h e a s s e m b l y p r o r o g u e d f o r a

s e n s i b l e r e c e s s a n d m a i n t a i n e d t h e m o r a l a s c e n d a n c y he

h a d g a i n e d , t h e exchange m i g h t w e l l h a v e b e e n e f f e c t e d

u n d e r h i s r e g i m e . I n J u l y h owever, t h e r e o c c u r r e d t h e

o n l y e x c i t i n g e v e n t i n t h e l i t t l e i s l a n d community s i n c e

t h e d e p a r t u r e o f t h e g o l d s e e k e r s . An e x p l o r i n g p a r t y

u n d e r L i e u t . Brown h a d b e e n s e n t out t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e 9

l i t t l e known h i n t e r l a n d o f t h e c i t y .

• » • » 8. Kennedy t o A s . i n C h r o n i c l e o f 9 J u l . 1 8 6 4

9. F i n a n c e d b y p u b l i c s u b s c r i p t i o n t o w h i c h Kennedy o f f e r e d d o l l a r f o r d o l l a r f r o m o f f i c i a l f u n d s .

146

By t h e end. o f t h e month r e p o r t s o f f a i r l y -

good, p a n n i n g on t h e Sooke R i v e r were c i r c u l a t i n g i n

V i c t o r i a , and. t h e C o l o n i s t , e d i t o r s t a t e d , t h a t " w h i l e we

w r i t e p a r t i e s , a r e o r g a n i z i n g t o l e a v e f o r t h e embryo

d i g g i n g s a t once..."1° U s i n g t h e a n a l o g y o f New Z e a l a n d

where g o l d was n o t f o u n d t i l l a f t e r t h e A u s t r a l i a n r u s h

was. o v e r , he p r o p h e s i e d g r e a t t h i n g s i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e .

Brown's r e p o r t , p u b l i s h e d 29 J u l y , was c o n s e r v a t i v e b u t

p r o m i s e d enough t o se n d m o s t o f t h e f l o a t i n g p o p u l a t i o n

o f V i c t o r i a i n s t e a m e r s , rowboat.s and ev e n c a n o e s t o

t h e new d i g g i n g s where, p l a n s were b e i n g made f o r l a y i n g

out a t o w n s i t e .

K e nnedy was q u i c k t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f what

l o o k e d l i k e a g l o r i o u s o p p o r t u n i t y . He r e p o r t e d h i s

p l a n o f campaign t o C a r d w e l l i n a r a t h e r j u b i l a n t s e r i e s

o f d e s p a t c h e s w h i c h t e l l t h e i r own s t o r y . "The d i s t r i c t

w h e r e t h e s e a l l e g e d d i s c o v e r i e s h a v e b e e n made^ i s

u n s u r v e y e d and u n o c c u p i e d , and I h a v e t h e r e f o r e m arked

i t on t h e maps a n d n o t i f i e d i t a s a Crown R e s e r v e t o

be d e a l t w i t h a s may h e r e a f t e r be f o u n d expedient»""*• .

The ' C o l o n i s t " o f ev e n d a t e p u b l i s h e d t h e

f o l l o w i n g p r o c l a m a t i o n u n d e r t h e R o y a l Arms. " N o t i c e i s

h e r e b y g i v e n t h a t f r o m and a f t e r t h e d a t e h e r e o f ; a l l ...» 1 0 . C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 27 J u l . 1 8 6 4

11. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 30 J u l . 1 8 6 4

147

Crown L a n d s now u n s o l d and. u n o c c u p i e d , ( i n t h e Sooke

a r e a ) s h a l l he r e s e r v e d f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n A c t o f 1862,

By H i s E x c e l l e n c y ' s Command.

H e n r y W a k e f o r d

A c t i n g C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y . 1 , 1 2

B e l o w was a l i s t o f m i n i n g r e g u l a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g n o t i c e

o f a $5 l i c e n s e f e e . F u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t s were s o o n

r e p o r t e d . M I y e s t e r d a y sent, up t h e S u r v e y o r - G e n e r a l

t o t a k e s u c h m e a s u r e s as may h e n e c e s s a r y t o w a r d r e s e r v ­

i n g Crown L a n d s f o r a T o w n s i t e and o t h e r p u b l i c p u r p o s e s .

. . V i c t o r i a i s b e i n g r a p i d l y e m p t i e d o f i t s p o p u l a t i o n .

. . S e v e r a l o f t h e p o l i c e h a v e a l r e a d y gone a n d t h e

r e m a i n d e r , u n l e s s b r i b e d b y h i g h e r p a y w i l l s p e e d i l y

f o l l o w . » 1 3

I n t h e d e s p a t c h o f 16 A u g u s t , Kennedy

d i s c l o s e d t h e coup d* e t a t t h a t he h a d p l a n n e d . T h i s

was t o c a l l t h e A s s e m b l y and u s e the i n c r e a s e d v a l u e o f

Crown Funds due t o t h e g o l d d i s c o v e r y a s a l e v e r t o

f o r c e t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f N e w c a s t l e ' s C i v i l l i s t t o w a r d s

w h i c h " t h e d i s c o v e r y o f g o l d w i l l p r o b a b l y i n d u c e t h e

l o o a l L e g i s l a t u r e t.o m o d i f y t h e i r v i e w s . 1 , 1 4

• • • *

12. I n C o l o n i s t o f 30 J u l . 1 8 6 4 . The a c t r e f e r r e d t o p e r ­

m i t t e d p u r c h a s e a n d p r e - e m p t i o n , v . i n f r a c.9

13. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 4 Aug.1864

14. Same t o same, V . I . , 16 Aug.1864

148

Two days a f t e r w r i t i n g t h e above d e s p a t c h

Kennedy i s s u e d a s p e c i a l c a l l f o r r e a s s e m b l y of t h e

L e g i s l a t u r e on f o u r d a ys n o t i c e . The r e a s o n f o r s u c h

h a s t e i s o b s c u r e b u t was p r o b a b l y t h e a b s e n c e of f u r t h e r

d i s c o v e r i e s a n d a d e s i r e to p r o f i t by t h e e x c i t e m e n t and

e n t h u s i a s m a l r e a d y a r o u s e d . I n h i s o p e n i n g s p e e c h he

p l e a d e d t h e e x c i t e m e n t a n d d i s o r d e r arouBed b y t h e r u s h

and s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s made i m p e r a t i v e

a change i n t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n o f the Crown L a n d s .

"The management o f Crown L a n d s and t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f

Crown Revenue f r e e d f r o m t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e

i s a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y I do n o t d e s i r e t o I n c u r u n l e s s

d e v o l v i n g upon me as a n e c e s s a r y d u t y . The m i n i n g

i n t e r e s t s b i d f a i r t o r i v a l a ny o t h e r i n i m p o r t a n c e and t h e

C o l o n i a l L e g i s l a t u r e I s i n my o p i n i o n t h e p r o p e r power

t o f r a m e l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s f o r t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t

a n d g u i d a n c e . The a d o p t i o n o f any o t h e r c o u r s e must, I

f e a r , l e a d t o c o m p l i c a t i o n s , w h i c h may p r o v e d e t r i m e n t a l

t o t h e b e s t I n t e r e s t s o f t h e c o l o n y . " 1 5

The coup d ' e t a t , however, f a i l e d d i s m a l l y ;

The " C o l o n i s t " g ave away t h e h i d d e n m o t i v e i n a s a r c a s t i c

e d i t o r i a l j e s t i n g t h a t Kennedy was a f r a i d t h a t " i n a

few weeks t h e p l a c e w i l l be o v e r - r u n w i t h a h u n d r e d

t h o u s a n d s a v a g e s f r o m C a l i f o r n i a — t h a t b o w i e - k n i v e s : and

r e v o l v e r s w i l l be t h e most common m i n i n g i m p l e m e n t s on .... 1 5 . K ennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t of 22 Aug.1864

149

t h e d i g g i n g s . 1 1 The r e a l , r e a s o n was s h r e w d l y g u e B s e d —

" t o i n d u c e t h e House o f A s s e m h l y t o s w a l l o w t h e c i v i l l i s t

p i l l w e l l , coated, w i t h L e a c h r i v e r g o l d and t a k e t h e

Grown l a n d s f r o m t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e e x e c u t i v e " - - a n d

t h e n a t u r a l d i s t r u s t "when s u c h i n c o n s i d e r a t e h a s t e i s

u s e d i n an a t t e m p t t o f o r c e them ( t h e Grown L a n d s ) on t h e

c o l o n y " was made, o b v i o u s t o a l l who r e a d .

The members s e i z e d upon t h e h a s t y summoning

o f t h e A s s e m b l y a s a p o i n t o f a t t a c k a n d i n f a c e o f t h e i r

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l o b j e c t i o n s , Kennedy gave way r a t h e r t o o

c o u r t e o u s l y . The House wanted t h e f u l l two weeks b e f o r e

r e - a s s e m b l i n g and t h o u g h Kennedy won h i m s e l f t h e r e p u t ­

a t i o n o f a t h o r o u g h l y c o n s t i t u t i o n a l e x e c u t i v e , he l o s t

h i s b i g c h a n c e . I n t h e i n t e r i m t h e Sooke f i n d s showed

t h e m s e l v e s i n c o n s i d e r a b l e j 1 " ^ a n d t h e A s s e m b l y ' s g l e e

o v e r i t s t r i u m p h q u i t e overcame t h e a d v a n t a g e w h i c h

Kennedy's o r i g i n a l f i r m s t a n d h a d g i v e n h i m .

He k e p t up n o m i n a l h o p e s f o r some t i m e and

a d e s p a t c h i n e a r l y September t r a n s m i t t i n g B r o w n 1 s r e p o r t

c o n t a i n e d t h e c o n f i d e n t n o t e t h a t " P u b l i c o p i n i o n has;

a l r e a d y u n d e r g o n e a g r e a t change a s t o t h e v a l u e o f Crown

.... 16. C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 23 Aug.1864

17. The m o t h e r l o d e was n e v e r l o c a t e d b u t p a n n i n g i s

s t i l l p r o f i t a b l e a n d t h i s y e a r many un e m p l o y e d were

p r o s p e c t i n g Sooke h i l l s and t h e t r i b u t a r i e s o f L e a c h

R i v e r w i t h s m a l l s u c c e s s e s .

150

Lands, i n t h i s Colony* 1 1- But. as O c t o b e r wore on he c o u l d

o n l y r e p o r t , that, t h o u g h t h e L e g i s l a t u r e had. b e e n s i t t i n g

s i x t y d a y s " t h e s u b j e c t o f a C i v i l L i s t o r Crown L a n d s

h a s n o t yet. b e e n t a k e n u p . w 1 9

The i s s u e was f i n a l l y f o r c e d b y a d e s p a t c h

f r o m Downing S t r e e t w h i c h t h r e a t e n e d t h e h a p p y c h a o s o f

C o l o n i a l f i n a n c e . 2 ^ I t n o t e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e C o l o n i a l

a c c o u n t s were n o t a u d i t e d i n L o n d o n t h e Crown r e v e n u e s

were and r e q u e s t e d a r e p o r t i n f u l l d e t a i l u n l e s s t h e

A s s e m b l y were w i l l i n g t o t a k e them o v e r . A s t a t e m e n t

o f t h e b a l a n c e t o d a t e was r e q u i r e d anyway. T h i s was

t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e A s s e m b l y w i t h a r i d e r f r o m Kennedy

s t r e s s i n g t h e n e e d o f an i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t w h i c h

" w i l l n e c e s s i t a t e t h e a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e a c c o u n t b e t w e e n

t h e l o c a l g o v ernment and t h e Crown a n d a r e f u n d o f t h e

amount a d v a n c e d f r o m t h e Crown Revenues f o r C o l o n i a l

p u r p o s e s * u n d e r t h e R e s o l u t i o n s o f i n d e m n i t y p a s s e d b y

t h e House o f A s s e m b l y on 2 J u l y 1864, t o g e t h e r w i t h a l l 21

sums a p p r o p r i a t e d w i t h o u t due a u t h o r i t y . " A " C o l o n i s t 1 1

e d i t o r i a l d e s c r i b e d t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n as t r a p " a n d l a i d

s t r e s s on t h e c h a n c e o f g e t t i n g a r e f u n d f r o m t h e Hudson's

Bay Company w h i c h w o u l d p r o v i d e r e v e n u e w i t h o u t g r a n t i n g

. • • »

18. K e nnedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 5 Sep.1864

19. Same t o same, V * l . , 19 O ct*1864

20. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D . S t * , 1 Aug.1864

2 1 . K ennedy t o A s . 31 O c t . 1864 i n C h r o n i c l e of. 2 Nov.1864 151

a C i v i l L i s t . "

A f t e r l e i s u r e l y d i s c u s s i o n a n d some w i l d

p r o p o s a l s t h e House a c c e p t e d a r a t h e r m o d e r a t e s e t o f

r e s o l u t i o n s put. f o r w a r d by Mr. Young w h i c h we h a v e a l r e a d y

n o t e d i n t h e i r b e a r i n g on t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e R e s e r v e s .

They i g n o r e d Kennedy's demand and made o n l y p a s s i n g and.

c o n f l i c t i n g r e f e r e n c e s t o g r a n t i n g a C i v i l L i s t . The

r e s o l u t i o n s t a t e d that, no c i v i l l i s t w o u l d be g i v e n u n t i l

" t h e e x t e n t and n a t u r e o f s a i d Crown L a n d s s h a l l be

d e t e r m i n e d and s u b m i t t e d t o t h e H o u s e " 2 3 — a n o b v i o u s

s t a l l s i n c e t h e r e p o r t o f t h e i r own committee h a d b e e n

p r e s e n t e d l e s s t h a n s i x months b e f o r e . The l a s t r e s o l u t i o n

r e p e a t e d t h e r e f u s a l w i t h t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t by m a k i n g

"an a p p e a l t o t h e j u s t i c e a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f H e r

M a j e s t y ' s Government."' t h e y m i g h t r e c o v e r f r o m t h e Hudson's

Bay Company t h e m i l l i o n t h a t t h e o r a t o r y o f Be Cosmos

and F r a n k l i n h a d c o n v i n c e d them was t h e i r d u e .

W i t h t h i s r e p l y a n d o t h e r r e s o l u t i o n s

c o n t i n u i n g t h e s a l a r y a r r a n g e m e n t Kennedy was f o r c e d

t o r e s t j I f n o t c o n t e n t . H i s r e p l y t o t h e A s s e m b l y was

a m o d e l o f b r i e f r e g r e t b u t i n h i s r e p o r t t o B o w n i n g

S t r e e t he c o n f e s s e d l i t t l e hope f o r s a t i s f a c t o r y a c t i o n

f r o m t h e A s s e m b l y "who h a v e n o t y e t , I t h i n k , f u l l y

r e a l i z e d t h e i n j u r y and i n c o n v e n i e n c e l i k e l y t o r e s u l t » » • » ' .

22. C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 7 F o v . 1 8 6 4 . v . s u p r a c.6,n.35, p . 116

2 3 . Young i n A s * i n C o l o n i s t o f 22 l o v . 1 8 6 4

152

f r o m t h e c o u r s e t h e y h a v e adopted, and. w h i c h must, I

t h i n k , e r e l o n g work i t s own c u r e * " H e n c e f o r t h he

hoped t o d i s p e n s w w i t h t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e o r h i n d r a n c e .

"T w i l l a v a i l m y s e l f o f t h i s d e c i s i o n o f t h e A s s e m b l y

t o p u t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e Crown L a n d s and Revenue

on a s o u n d e r f o o t i n g . . . a n d l i m i t t h e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t

t h e Crown Fund t o t h o s e y o u h a v e a u t h o r i z e d a n d w h i c h

t h e r e a r e ample f u n d s t o m e e t . " 2 4

A f t e r t h e u s u a l l o n g C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n t h e

House met a g a i n a n d Kennedy p r e s e n t e d t h e e s t i m a t e s f o r

1865. The p r o c e e d s o f l a n d s a l e s , l a n d r e v e n u e a n d

r e n t s were c a r r i e d t o t h e Crown Revenue and t h o u g h

F i n e s , F e e s and F o r f e i t u r e s ( e s t i m a t e d a t $9,000) were

l i s t e d w i t h t h e C o l o n i a l Revenue i t was w i t h t h e n o t e

t h a t any e x c e s s of" r e c e i p t s o v e r e x p e n d i t u r e w o u l d go t o

t h e Crown f u n d s * 2 5 Among t h e i t e m s o f e x p e n d i t u r e

s u g g e s t e d were $10,000 f o r i n t r o d u c i n g e m i g r a n t s a n d

$2500 f o r e x p e n s e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h I n d i a n s *

W i t h t h e a c c o u n t s came a l s o a s u r v e y o f

t h e a c t u a l a s a g a i n s t t h e e s t i m a t e d r e c e i p t s o f 1864

o f w h i c h t h e f o l l o w i n g i t e m s a r e o f i n t e r e s t .

R evenue E s t i m a t e d R e c e i v e d

L a n d S a l e s $24,250 $23,759

* Revenue 395

" Rent 485 1,261

E e e s , F i n e s and 8,730 8,602 F o r f e i t u r e s ) $33,465 T o t a l s $34,017

153

The Grown Revenue was o b v i o u s l y s t i l l , e q u a l t o c a r r y i n g

t h e C i v i l L i s t a nd h a d s l i g h t l y e x c e e d e d t h e e s t i m a t e s .

I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o r d e r s f r o m Downing

S t r e e t t h e a c c o u n t s o f t h e Crown Revenue h a d b e e n made

up a n d t h e s e were p r e s e n t e d a l s o . Kennedy may have

expected, them t o p l e a s e t h e A s s e m b l y b y g i v i n g them

i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o t h e e x t e n t o f t h e f u n d s b u t t h e r e s u l t

o f t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n was n o t an a m i c a b l e s e t t l e m e n t

b u t f u r t h e r r a n c o u r . The d e t a i l s were as f o l l o w s :

C r e d i t o r

1. B a l a n c e t o 31 December 1863 § 3 4 , 3 2 1

2.. E s t i m a t e d Revenue f o r 1864 ( i n c l u d i n g

r e n t s a n d f e e s o f c o u r t ) 27,412

3. R e f u n d f o r a c c o u n t o f s a l a r i e s n o t

c h a r g e d a g a i n s t G e n e r a l Revenue i n terms

o f t h e R e s o l u t i o n s o f 2 J u l y 1864. 10,670 T o t a l 872,303

D e b t o r

1. S a l a r y o f G o v e r n o r a n d C o l o n i a l

S e c r e t a r y f o r 1864 $14,057

2. A r r e a r s o f s a l a r y t o D o u g l a s 1861-4 13,611

3. S a l a r i e s s t r u c k f r o m e s t i m a t e s o f

t h e c u r r e n t y e a r b u t a f t e r w a r d s p r o v ­

i d e d f o r b y t h e R e s o l u t i o n s o f

2 J u l y 1864 10,670

4. P r o b a b l e b a l a n c e 3 1 December 1864 34,066 T o t a l $72,404

154

The l a s t i t e m , t h e b a l a n c e due t h e Grown Revenue a c c o u n t

was Included i n t h e C o l o n i a l e x p e n d i t u r e s u n d e r t h e

h e a d i n g D i s b u r s e m e n t s "$3.4,06-6, due b y t h e C o l o n y t o t h e

Crown Revenue a c c o u n t as shown by t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g

s t a t e m e n t t o t h e T r e a s u r e r ; " ( j u s t q u o t e d )

A s t h e A s s e m b l y b l u n d e r e d t h r o u g h t h e

e s t i m a t e s t h e above i t e m was f i n a l l y r e a c h e d a n d h a p p i l y

s e i z e d upon as a c h a n c e t o s a v e $34,000 i n r e a l money

b y t h e s i m p l e p r o c e s s o f a r e p u d i a t i o n w i t h o u t f e a r o f

f i n a n c i a l c o n s e q u e n c e s * The c r e d i t o r was Her M a j e s t y ' s

Government as r e p r e s e n t e d b y G o v e r n o r Kennedy an d h a d

n o t t h e l a t t e r g i v e n i n t o t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l o b j e c t i o n s

o f a f e w months b e f o r e ? P r o b a b l y h e w o u l d do s o a g a i n *

So a few p s e u d o - c o n s t i t u t i o n a l o b j e c t i o n s were l i n e d up

a n d t h e sum r e f u s e d by a m o t i o n o f De Cosmos, a l l e g i n g

t h a t C a r d w e l l * s d e s p a t c h o f 1 A u g u s t l a s t h a d a s k e d o n l y

f o r a p r o s p e c t i v e , n o t a r e t r o s p e c t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f

t h e a c c o u n t s * 2 ^ L e t t h e dead p a s t b u r y I t s dead, e s p e c ­

i a l l y when the c o r p s e happened t o be a c r e d i t t o t h e

Crovm Revenue by w h i c h Kennedy m i g h t r e t a i n h i s i n d e p ­

e n d e n c e o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e ' s f i n a n c i a l c o n t r o l . C o n v e n ­

i e n t l y f o r g e t t i n g t h e f o r c e o f h i s own m o t i o n o f 2 J u l y

1864, De Cosmos s t a t e d t h a t any m o n i e s h e r e t o f o r e v o t e d

24. K ennedy t o C a r d w e l l , ¥.1., 5 Dec.1864

25. Kennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t , o f 14 J a n . 1 8 6 5

26. De Cosmos i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 24 Peb.1865

155

out. o f the. Crown r e v e n u e s f o r g e n e r a l p u r p o s e s , h a d h a d

t h e t e m p o r a r y c o n s e n t o f t h e G o v e r n o r and t h e u l t i m a t e

c o n s e n t o f t h e Queen f o r t h e i r d i s p e n s a t i o n .

He was a b l y s u p p o r t e d by D r . H elmcken who

"would d e c i d e d l y o b j e c t t o t h e E x e c u t i v e t a k i n g t h e

g e n e r a l r e v e n u e t o pay o u r d e b t s t o t h e Crown. . . T h i s

a l l e g e d d e b t was p a r t l y i n c u r r e d when t h e Hudson's .Bay

Company h e l d t h e I s l a n d a n d t h e y h a d a l w a y s r e f u s e d t o

h o l d t h e m s e l v e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r debts." 2''' The a c c o u n t

o f t h e Company and t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e h a d b e e n s e t t l e d

and t h e C o l o n y c o u l d and w o u l d n o t p a y i " H e a r t h e a r ! "

The D o c t o r e x t e n d e d h i s e l o q u e n c e t o t h e m a t t e r o f f i n e s ,

f e e s , and f o r f e i t u r e s a n d p r o t e s t e d t h e i r i n c l u s i o n i n

t h e Crown Revenue, i n t h e f o l l o w i n g r e m a r k a b l e p r o n o u n c e ­

ment. "We p a i d t h e C h i e f J u s t i c e a n d o t h e r o f f i c i a l s

o u t o f t h e g e n e r a l r e v e n u e — t h e o n l y c o l o r H e r M a j e s t y ' s

Government h a d f o r c l a i m i n g t h e F i n e s , F e e s and F o r f e i t ­

u r e s was t h a t t h e y were c o l l e c t e d i n t h e name o f t h e

$ueen."' B e s i d e s t h e l a c k o f r e s p e c t f o r d i v i n e r i g h t we

m i g h t n o t e t h a t t h e A s s e m b l y o v e r w h i c h H e l m c k e n h a d

p r e s i d e d so l o n g , h a d . s y s t e m a t i c a l l y r e f u s e d t o pay t h o s e

v e r y s a l a r i e s s i n c e 1 8 6 0 — b u t o f p o i n t i n g o u t i n c o n s i s t ­

e n c i e s i n t h e l e g i s l a t o r s ' l o g i c t h e r e i s no end.

Kennedy d i d n o t i m m e d i a t e l y answer t h i s

p e t i t i o n and i n t h e i n t e r i m r e c e i v e d a d e s p a t c h f r o m ...» 27. H elmcken i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 24 Feb.1865

156

Downing S t r e e t t h a t must h a v e made h i m w i s h t h a t he h a d

d e s t r o y e d h i s c o n f i d e n t d e s p a t c h e s o f l a s t summer b e f o r e

t r a n s m i t t i n g them. n I t r u s t t h a t i t w i l l n o t be l o n g

b e f o r e y o u w i l l f i n d y o u r s e l f i n a p o s i t i o n t o f o r w a r d

f r o m t h e L e g i s l a t u r e a p r o p o s a l t o g r a n t a C i v i l L i s t

on c o n d i t i o n o f r e c e i v i n g , a s u r r e n d e r o f Grown L a n d s .

I n h i s r e p l y Kennedy s e n t t h e R e p o r t o f t h e Crown Lands.

Committee t o show t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e A s s e m b l y t o w a r d s

t h e exchange a n d t o o k o c c a s i o n t o c r i t i c i s e i t s v a l u e

as e v i d e n c e . A t t h e same t i m e he p r o m i s e d f u r t h e r

d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e Crown L a n d s q u e s t i o n d u r i n g t h e c o n ­

s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e e s t i m a t e s a n d s t a t e d h i s i n t e n t i o n o f

p a y i n g no s a l a r i e s b e y o n d h i s own and' t h a t o f t h e

C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y t i l l he e i t h e r r e c e i v e d N e w c a s t l e ' s

C i i s r i l L i s t i n f u l l f r o m t h e A s s e m b l y o r i n s t r u c t i o n s

t o t h e c o n t r a r y f r o m Downing S t r e e t . 2 9

On 21 A p r i l Kennedy s e n t t o t h e A s s e m b l y a

f u l l e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e $34,000 b a l a n c e due t o t h e

Crown F u n d , w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e removed any u n c e r t a i n t y

as t o t h e d u t y o f t h e C o l o n y i n r e p a y m e n t . T h i s sum

• ' r e p r e s e n t s t h e amount w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n on h a n d on

31 December 1864, on a c c o u n t o f Crown R e v e n u e s . The

b a l a n c e , h o wever was w h o l l y expended d u r i n g t h e y e a r f o r

t h e g e n e r a l e x p e n s e s o f t h e C o l o n y , i n c l u d i n g a sum o f

.... 28. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D . S t . , 2 Jan.1865

2 9 . Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 15 A p r . 1 8 6 5

157

$10,670. p a i d i n t h e same y e a r f o r t h e s a l a r i e s o f C h i e f

J u s t i c e , A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l , T r e a s u r e r and. S u r v e y o r - G e n e r a l , 3 0

A s many i t e m s i n t h e a c c o u n t s l e a d i n g t o

t h e $34,000 had. b e e n e s t i m a t e s o n l y , i t was now p o s s i b l e

t.o c h e e k them, a g a i n s t , t h e a c t u a l r e t u r n s f o r 1864 and

t h i s h a d b e e n done b y A u d i t o r K e r . The c o r r e c t e d f i g u r e s

were t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e A s s e m b l y i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e

above e x p l a n a t i o n . The d e t a i l s a r e as f o l l o w s :

Revenue.

L a n d S a l e s . $15,528

" Revenue 565

" Rent 1,140

M i n i n g Revenue 4,030

B a l a n c e on 31 December 1863 54.321

T o t a l $55,585

E x p e n d i t u r e

D o u g l a s * s a l a r y $13,611

Kennedy * s s a l a r y 11,323

C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y ' s s a l a r y 1,529

G o l d C o m m i s s i o n e r 1,608

C o u r t House a t L e a c h R i v e r 791

P r e - e m p t i o n Pees 151

R e f u n d s 19

T o t a l $29,034

w h i c h r e d u c e d t h e b a l a n c e due t o t h e Crown F u n d s b y $7515,

v i z . , t o $26,550. T h e s e a r e t h e l a s t f i g u r e s a v a i l a b l e » . . . 3 0 . Kennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 21 A p r . 1 8 6 5

158

on t h e Crown Revenue f o r Kennedy h e r e a f t e r n o t o n l y

a d m i n i s t e r e d i t h i m s e l f "but r e f u s e d , t o i s s u e any a c c o u n t s

on t h e I s l a n d , a n d t h e e n c l o s e d r e p o r t s s e n t t o Downing

S t r e e t a r e , a f t e r t h e a c c e p t e d f a s h i o n f o r e n c l o s u r e s ,

m i s s i n g .

The message d i d not c l e a r up t h e f i n a n c i a l

s i t u a t i o n h u t a h i n t t h a t t h e e x c i t i n g u n c e r t a i n t y m i g h t

h o l d up c o n s i d e r a t i o n s u n i o n p r o d u c e d a r e s o l u t i o n f r o m

D r . P o w e l l w h i c h d e c l a r e d t h e C i v i l L i s t too h i g h h u t

" t o remove any impediment t o u n i o n " made t h e c a u t i o u s o f ­

f e r t o v o t e t h e f u l l C i v i l L i s t t i l l 31 December 1866"on

c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e c o n t r o l o f Crown L a n d s an d Revenue be

g r a n t e d t o t h e l o c a l l e g i s l a t u r e . " 3 1 - To t h i s none t o o

g e n e r o u s o f f e r M e C l u r e t a c k e d t h e amendment t h a t " i f

u n i o n b e n o t consummated b e f o r e 31 December 1866, e i t h e r

t h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e c o l o n y s h a l l be made r e s p o n s i b l e t o

t h e i n h a b i t a n t s by e l e c t i o n t o t h e L e g i s l a t u r e o r

o t h e r w i s e , o r t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e p e o p l e s h a l l

h a v e t h e power t o c u t down t h e C i v i l L i s t to a f i g u r e more

commensurate w i t h t h e r e v e n u e o f t h e c o l o n y . " 3 2 The

m o t i o n a s amended was p a s s e d a f t e r a s i x - h o u r s e s s i o n

f e a t u r e d by v i o l e n t o p p o s i t i o n f r o m De Cosmos t o " a g r o s s

a c t o f d u p l i c i t y * w h i c h w o u l d " p l a c e t h e government o f

t h e C o l o n y i n t h e h ands o f t h e e x e c u t l v e - - i n t h e h ands

. . . . 3 1 . P o w e l l i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 29 A p r . 1 8 6 5 32 . M e C l u r e i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 29 A p r . 1 8 6 5

159

o f an. e x - c l e r k o f a bank, o f an e x - o f f i c e r i n t h e n a v y ,

o f a n e x - o f f i c i a l of a c o n v i c t c o l o n y , o f a b r i e f l e s s 33

b a r r i s t e r , i n :the. h a n d s , in. . f a c t , o f God knows what,' 1

I n h i s r e p l y Kennedy s t a t e d t h a t he was

p l e a s e d " t o t r a n s m i t t h e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f a d e s i r e on

t h e p a r t o f t h e l e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y t o a d j u s t a

d i f f i c u l t y w h i c h h a s s e r i o u s l y impeded and must w h i l e

u n s e t t l e d c o n t i n u e t o r e t a r d t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e

C o l o n y j " 3 ^ b u t r e g r e t t e d t h a t t h e o f f e r d i d n o t e n t i r e l y

s a t i s f y t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f D o w ning S t r e e t so t h a t he w o u l d

be f o r c e d t o f o l l o w t h e p o l i c y o f C a r d w e l l * s d e s p a t c h

o f 30 A p r i l 1 8 6 4 . ( v . s u p r a n.3, p,143) A t t h e same t i m e

he e x p r e s s e d h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o c o - o p e r a t e i n "recommend­

i n g o r e s t a b l i s h i n g a scale, w h i c h may be f o u n d c o m p a t i b l e

w i t h t h a t t r u e economy w h i c h c o n s i s t s i n o b t a i n i n g f o r

t h e p u b l i c t h a t b e s t p o s s i b l e s e r v i c e a t . a r e a s o n a b l e

c o s t , " a n d t h r e w o u t t h e b a r r e n s u g g e s t i o n , d i s c r e e t l y

i g n o r e d b y t h e A s s e m b l y " t h a t t h e s a l a r i e s o f o f f i c e r s

n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f p u b l i c s e r v i c e s be v o t e d

a n d c h a r g e d a g a i n s t t h e p u b l i c r e v e n u e " t i l l H er M a j e s t y ' s

Government r e p l i e d t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n , "

K e n n e d y ' s comments on t h e r e s o l u t i o n s i n

h i s r e p o r t t o Downing S t r e e t a r e w o r t h y o f n o t e . He

l i s t e d t h e e x p e n s e s o f h i s p o s i t i o n t o show t h a t f a r

.... 3 3 . De Cosmos i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 29 Apr.1865 34. Kennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 6 May 1865

160

from, b e i n g e x c e s s i v e t h e g u b e r n a t o r i a l s t i p e n d was

r e a l l y i n a d e q u a t e . To t h e r e q u e s t f o r r e s p o n s i b l e g o v e r n ­

ment he was d i s t i n c t l y u n f r i e n d l y . O n l y 2000 o u t o f

6000 p o p u l a t i o n were B r i t i s h m a l e s u b j e c t s , t h e r e s t

b e i n g " A m e r i c a n s , German, F r e n c h , I t a l i a n a n d C h i n e s e . * 3 5

and t h e a d o p t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b l e g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d s t r e n g ­

t h e n t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n e l e m e n t .

W i t h t h e p r o r o g u a t i o n o f t h e A s s e m b l y , a c t i v e

d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m c e a s e d and t h r o u g h o u t t h e

summer and f a l l t h e o n l y r e f e r e n c e was i n a d e s p a t c h t o

Downing S t r e e t i n A u g u s t , w h e r e i n K ennedy d e s c r i b e d t h e

i n i q u i t y o f t h e A s s e m b l y i n r e p u d i a t i n g h i s l o a n and

f o r w a r d e d a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r e c e i p t s a n d e x p e n d i t u r e s

o f t h e Crown f u n d s s i n c e 1 8 5 9 — a v e r y v a l u a b l e and

i n t e r e s t i n g e n c l o s u r e w h i c h u n f o r t u n a t e l y was n o t k e p t

I n d u p l i c a t e a t V i c t o r i a . 3 ^

When t h e members r e a s s e m b l e d on 2^j November . . . .

3 5 . K ennedy t o C a r d w e l l , T . I . , 4 May 1865. T h i s seems

r a t h e r m i x e d s i n c e b y t h e c o u n t above t h e w i v e s and

c h i l d r e n o f t h e " B r i t i s h male s u b j e c t s * must n e e d s

be " A m e r i c a n s , German, F r e n c h , I t a l i a n a n d C h i n e s e . "

3 6 . Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , T . I . , 20 Aug.1865. The

f i g u r e s g i v e n above and i n t h e p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r c o n s t i t u t e

p r a c t i c a l l y a c o m p l e t e a c c o u n t b u t v e r i f i c a t i o n by t h i s

r e p o r t w o u l d h a v e b e e n most g r a t i f y i n g .

161

18.65 t h e q u e s t i o n o f u n i o n was o f a l l a b s o r b i n g i n t e r e s t

a n d t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e l e g i s l a t o r s seems t o h a v e b e e n

one o f d e l a y i n g t a x e s t i l l u n i o n a n d i f n e c e s s a r y b o r r o w ­

i n g i n t h e i n t e r i m s i n c e t h e p u b l i c d e b t was s m a l l

compared, t o that, o f t h e M a i n l a n d p r o v i n c e . I n t h i s

s p i r i t Mr. D i c k s o n b e t h o u g h t h i m o f t h e f e e s f o r s p e c i a l

m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s a n d moved an e n q u i r y i n t o t h e d i s p o s i -•=17

t i o n o f t h i s s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e . "

However he was a b o u t s e v e n months l a t e i n

h i s i d e a . A s e a r l y as May Kennedy r e p o r t e d t h a t D o u g l a s

h a d b e e n i n t h e h a b i t o f a p p l y i n g t h e r e c e i p t s f r o m

t h i s f u n d t o u n o r g a n i z e d c h a r i t y f o r w h i c h t h e r e was no

p r o v i s i o n i n t h e C o l o n y . 3 8 C a r d w e l l ' s r e p l y h a d r a t i f i e d

t h e p r o v i s i o n a l d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e f u n d b u t a d v i s e d t h a t

I n f u t u r e t h i s s h o u l d be c r e d i t e d t o t h e Crown R e v e n u e s .

Kennedy i n f o r m e d t h e House o f t h e a r r a n g e m e n t f o r t h e

f u n d a n d when t h e y r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t h i s word he s e n t

t h e a c t u a l d e s p a t c h o f w h i c h t h e f o l l o w i n g e x e r p t gave

h i m a u t h o r i t y t o r e f u s e any i n f o r m a t i o n as t o t h e

d i s p o s a l o f t h e f u n d — " S o l o n g as m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s a r e

i s s u e d b y t h e G o v e r n o r o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d i n v i r t u e o f

h i s c o m m i s s i o n , t h e f e e s r e c e i v a b l e on t h e i s s u e o f s u c h

l i c e n s e s f o r m p r o p e r l y a p a r t o f t h e Crown R e v e n u e . " 3 9 ...» 3 7 . D i c k s o n i n A s . in. C o l o n i s t o f 1 D e c . 1865

3 8 . Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 25 May 1865 (#3)

3 9 . C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D.St.., 25 Sep.1865 v

162

On 23 December t h e e s t i m a t e s f o r 1866 were

p r e s e n t e d . L a n d s a l e s , l a n d r e v e n u e , r e n t and m i n i n g

l i c e n s e s were o m i t t e d as w i t h d r a w n t o t h e Crown f u n d s

b u t i t was n o t e d t h a t i n 1864 t h e s e i t e m s h a d p r o d u c e d

121,313, a d i s t i n c t f a l l i n g o f f a n d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e

n o t s u f f i c i e n t f o r t h e f u l l C i v i l L i s t . 4 0 W i t h t h e

e s t i m a t e s came t h e T r e a s u r e r ' s r e p o r t f o r 1 8 6 5 — n o t a

v e r y p l e a s a n t , s e a s o n a b l e g r e e t i n g s i n c e i t showed, a

d e f i c i t o f |51,476. Among i t s i t e m s were s t i l l f o u n d

F i n e s , F e e s and F o r f e i t u r e s w h i c h h a d p r o d u c e d $9,272,

t h o u g h o n l y e s t i m a t e d a t $9,000.

D u r i n g t h e C h r i s t m a s p a u s e Kennedy r e c e i v e d

two d e s p a t c h e s w h i c h s u p p o r t e d h i m i n h i s c o u r s e . o f

a c t i o n . He was i n s t r u c t e d t o p a y h i s s a l a r y and t h a t

o f t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y a n d s u c h a p o r t i o n o f t h e

S u r v e y o r - G e n e r a l ' s s a l a r y a s w o u l d r e p a y t h a t p o r t i o n

o f h i s d u t i e s p e r f o r m e d on t h e Crown l a n d s . B e y o n d

t h e s e c h a r g e s a n d a n y payments f o r t h e " a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,

m a i n t e n a n c e and i n c r e a s e 1 ' o f t h e Crown R e v e n u e s , Kennedy

was t o b u i l d up a f u n d t o c o v e r l i a b i l i t i e s where " t h e

i n t e r e s t o r c r e d i t o f t h e Crown i s c o n c e r n e d and w h i c h

.... 4 0 . Kennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 23 Dec.1865. I f t o

the$21,313 o f Crown Revenue i n 1864 were ad d e d t h e p r o c e e d s

o f F i n e s , f e e s , a n d f o r f e i t u r e s ($8602) i t w i l l be s e e n

t h a t t h e d e f i c i t i n t h e C i v i l L i s t w o u l d h ave b e e n n e g l i g ­

i b l e .

165

t h e L e g i s l a t u r e r e f u s e s t o a d o p t . 0

The House d i d n o t m e n t i o n t h e Crown L a n d s

q u e s t i o n f a r some t i m e . D i s c u s s i o n o f p r o j e c t s f o r

u n i o n o c c u p i e d much a t t e n t i o n a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e t i m e

was s p e n t i n c u t t i n g down t h e e s t i m a t e s . T h i s d i d n o t

a f f e c t t h e Crown Revenue h u t Kennedy was a r o u s e d when

t h e y v o t e d t o do away w i t h t h e o f f i c e o f a u d i t o r a n d h a v e

h i s d u t i e s , p e r f o r m e d b y t h e c l e r k o f t h e L e g i s l a t i v e

A s s e m b l y . H i s E x c e l l e n c y e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e o f f i c e was

h e l d u n d e r t h e R o y a l w a r r a n t a n d t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e

L e g i s l a t u r e c o u l d c u t t h e s a l a r y , t h e p o s i t i o n was o u t s i d e AO

o f t h e i r j u r i s d i c t i o n . ^

I n d e f e n d i n g t h e i r a c t i o n t h e A s s e m b l y t o o k

t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e y h a d v o t e d t h e sum f o r a u d i t i n g

n o t f o r a n a u d i t o r a n d t h a t t h e y were a t l i b e r t y t o

s a y who s h o u l d do t h e work. Kennedy h o w e v e r a p p o i n t e d

H e n r y W a k e f o r d who h a d b e e n A c t i n g S u r v e y o r - G e n e r a l , t h e

s a l a r y t o w h i c h p o s t h a d a l s o come u n d e r t h e axe o f t h e

A s s e m b l y . He was now t o be p a i d out o f Crown Revenue

s i n c e "much o f t h e work ( a s a u d i t o r } i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h

Crown L a n d s and Crown R e v e n u e s ^ " 4 3 a n d u n d e r t h e f u r t h e r

.... 4 1 . C a r d w e l l t o K ennedy, D . S t . , 12 O c t . 1 8 6 5 . A f u r t h e r

d e s p a t c h o f 17 i n s t . s p e c i f i e d t h a t t h e e x p e n s e o f manag­

i n g Crown L a n d s s h o u l d be p a i d f r o m t h e Crown R e v e n u e .

42. Kennedy t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 4 Eeb.1866

43. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , T . I . , 10 Mar.1866 164

a u t h o r i z a t i o n o f C a r d w e l l ' a despatch, o f 12 O c t o b e r

1865. ( v . s u p r a , n.41, p . 16.4)

K e nnedy's r e p o r t s showed d i s g u s t a t t h e

b e h a v i o r o f t h e A s s e m b l y a n d d e s p a i r o f any u s e f u l

r e l a t i o n s . T h e i r r e t r e n c h m e n t p o l i c y h e c r i t i c i z e d a s

s e n s e l e s s r e d u c t i o n s , q u i t e i n a d e q u a t e t o meet t h e

d e f i c i t . M e a n w h i l e t h e p o r k barre3L'L p o l i c y was g a i n i n g

f o r c e . "The A s s e m b l y h a v e u n d e r t h e h e a d o f 'Roads,

S t r e e t s a n d B r i d g e s ' v o t e d t e n sums o f money n o t p r o p o s e d

t o them i n t h e e s t i m a t e s , o r i n i t i a t e d by t h e G o v e r n o r ,

a m o u n t i n g i n a l l t o |42,800. • • t h e s e v o t e s a p p e a r t o

h a v e come b y a p r o c e s s w h i c h c a n o n l y be d e s c r i b e d a s

a g e n e r a l s c r a m b l e among t h e Members o f t h e A s s e m b l y . " 4 4

C o n c i l i a t i o n w o u l d be b o t h d i f f i c u l t and u n w i s e . " I

w i l l n o t a t t e m p t t o a n a l y z e t h e d e b a t e . . . i t must be

h e a r d t o be a p p r e c i a t e d . . . The d e s i r e o f t h e A s s e m b l y

t o l e g i s l a t e and g o v e r n w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e t o o t h e r b r a n c h e s

o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e i s v e r y c l e a r . . . The i m p o s s i b i l i t y

o f c o n c i l i a t i n g t h e p r e s e n t m a j o r i t y i n t h e House o r o f

r e m o v i n g t h e i r n o n - e x i s t e n t g r i e v a n c e s i s t o o a p p a r e n t ,

s h o r t o f s u r r e n d e r o f a l l i t i s my d u t y t o g u a r d i n t o

t h e h a n d s o f a f e w I f e a r v e r y u n s c r u p u l o u s m e n . " 4 5

M e a n w h i l e a n o t h e r c a l l h a d come on t h e

Crown R e s e r v e s . T h e r e were c o n s t a n t e x p e n s e s i n c u r r e d

. . . . 44. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , 30 J a n . 1 8 6 6

4 5 . Same t o same, 8 Feb.1866

165

i n t h e upkeep o f t h e v a r i o u s l i g h t h o u s e s w h i c h made t h e

p a s s a g e o f t h e s t r a i t s s a f e f o r s h i p p i n g and a l t h o u g h

B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a s h a r e d t h e e x p e n s e , Kennedy f e a r e d t h a t

i n t h e c h a o s o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d f i n a n c e t h e s e e x p e n s e s

m i g h t n o t b e p a i d . He t h e r e f o r e w r o t e t o Downing S t r e e t

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t , t h e s e m i g h t come u n d e r t h e c a t e g o r y o f

l i a b i l i t i e s "where t h e i n t e r e s t o r c r e d i t o f t h e Grown

i s c o n c e r n e d , , f c 46 and. p r e s e n t i n g p l a n s t o c a r r y " t o t h e

a c c o u n t o f t h e I m p e r i a l government"- a l l s u c h Crown

R e v e n u e s as F i n e s , F e e s a n d F o r f e i t u r e s . 4 ' T h i s p r o d u c e d

a r a t h e r s h a r p r e j o i n d e r f r o m Downing S t r e e t . " I t i s

n o t q u i t e c l e a r w h e t h e r y o u mean t h a t payments s u c h as

F e e s , F i n e s , and F o r f e i t u r e s were . ; • t o be f o r t h e

f i r s t t i m e c a r r i e d t o t h e a c c o u n t o f t h e Crown Re v e n u e s ,

o r w h e t h e r t h a t s u c h payments a r e f r o m t h a t d a t e t o be

a p p l i e d t o d e f r a y i n g t h e e x p e n d i t u r e on L i g h t h o u s e s .

I f t h e f o r m e r be t h e c a s e , I w o u l d r e q u e s t t o be i n f o r m e d

w h e t h e r F i n e s , F e e s , a n d F o r f e i t u r e s were n o t p r e v i o u s l y

c a r r i e d t o t h e c r e d i t o f t h e Crown Revenues an d i f n o t ,

f o r what r e a s o n .

It . i s h a r d t o i m a g i n e t h a t Kennedy h a d b e e n

as r e m i s s a s t h i s s u g g e s t e d . F i n e s , F e e s , a n d F o r f e i t u r e s

h a d b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y l i s t e d as Crown Revenue i n C a r d w e l l * s

.... 46. as i n C a r d w e l l t o K e n n e d y , D . S t . , 12 Oct.1865

47. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 6 Mar.1866

48. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, B . S t . , 25 Jun.1866

166

desp.a-t.cli. o f 30 A p r i l 1864, ( v . s u p r a n.3, p.143} and

H e l m c k e n s t a t e d d e f i n i t e l y i n t h e A s s e m b l y , 24 F e b r u a r y

1865, t h a t t h e proceeds, went t o t h e Crown, ( v . s u p r a n.25

p . 155, a n d n.27, p . 1 5 6 } 4 9

The l a s t c l a s h on t h e s u b j e c t came i n June

when the A s s e m b l y a s k e d f o r r e t u r n s o f t h e Crown Revenue,

w i t h s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e b a l a n c e , i f a n y . v Kennedy

c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a c l a i m t o c o n t r o l t h e f u n d a n d i s s u e d

a g e n e r a l r e f u s a l , t h o u g h s t i l l l e a v i n g an o p e n i n g by

p r o m i s i n g t h e d e s i r e d i n f o r m a t i o n , i f t h e r e q u e s t were

a p r e p a r a t o r y s t e p t o t h e l o n g - d e s i r e d e x c h a n g e . The

House however demanded t h e r e t u r n s a s a q u e s t i o n o f r i g h t

and Kennedy r e f u s e d on a u t h o r i t y o f C a r d w e l l * s d e s p a t c h

o f 12 O c t o b e r 1865 w h i c h gave t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f Crown

Revenue d e f i n i t e l y i n t o h i s h a n d s . 5 1

.... 49. K e n n e d y o f t e n d i d n o t a c k n o w l e d g e a d e s p a t c h t o

w h i c h t h e r e v/as o b v i o u s l y no r e p l y , e x c e p t b y i n c l u s i o n i n

a l i s t o f d e s p a t c h e s r e c e i v e d a n d i f he h a d a c l e a r

c o n s c i e n c e t h e r e was o b v i o u s l y no r e a s o n t o r e p l y t o t h e

d e s p a t c h a b o v e . I f he h a d b e e n g u i l t y o f s u c h n e g l e c t ,

t h e r e was an e q u a l l y p o t e n t r e a s o n ito"tfv..%tating h i s c a s e s ,

50. S i t t i n g # f ff.Jun.1866

5 1 . K ennedy t o A s s e m b l y , 18 Jun;1866

House o f A s s e m b l y , S i t t i n g o f 19 Jun.1866

Kennedy t o A s s e m b l y , 22 Jun.1866

1 6 ?

U n i o n came i n A u g u s t and i n September

Kennedy l e f t V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d a f t e r a f a r e w e l l l e s s

s p e c t a c u l a r b u t no l e s s s i n c e r e t h a n t h a t a c c o r d e d t o

h i s p r e d e c e s s o r two y e a r s b e f o r e . He h a d f a i l e d t o

a c h i e v e t h e e x c h a n g e o f t h e Crown L a n d s f o r a C i v i l

L i s t . Under h i s r e g i m e t h e i s s u e had. b e e n c l a r i f i e d

a n d t h e Crown Revenue h a d b e e n s e g r e g a t e d and. e s t a b l i s h e d

b u t t h e Crown L a n d a were s t i l l u n d e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

o f t h e E x e c u t i v e a n d u n d e r t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e Hudson*s

Bay Company. The R e f o r m e r s h a d b a r g a i n e d t o o c l o s e l y

and u n d e r t h e more a u t o c r a t i c g overnment o f t h e u n i t e d

c o l o n y , t h e y were f u r t h e r t h a n e v e r f r o m c o n t r o l o f t h e

whole r e v e n u e .

168

C h a p t e r I X

LAND LEGISLATION ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

J a n u a r y 1849 - ~ A u g u s t 1866

T h e a i m o f t h i s c h a p t e r w i l l be to show t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n s

o f t h e l a n d r u l e s o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d f r o m 1849 t o 1866;

The c o n d i t i o n s o f l a n d h o l d i n g u n d e r t h e c h a r t e r h a v e

a l r e a d y b e e n d e s c r i b e d and i n C h a p t e r Two i t was shown

how t h e e a r l y r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f l a b o r

were removed. I n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s o t h e r c h a n g e s i n

p o l i c y — i n s t a l m e n t s , p r e - e m p t i o n , p r i c e r e d u c t i o n a n d

a l i e n p o l i c y — w i l l b e t r a c e d t h r o u g h t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e

o f t h e p e r i o d t i l l a u t h o r i z e d by a d e f i n i t e p r o c l a m a t i o n

or. a c t .

The i d e a o f i n s t a l m e n t s was c e r t a i n l y n o t

i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e G o v e r n o r a n d Committee a t t h e t i m e

o f t h e g r a n t . I n 1850 D o u g l a s r e c e i v e d o r d e r s t o s e l l

l a n d t o none b u t t h o s e "who c a n pay down £L p e r a c r e . " 1

B u t when t h e a b s e n c e o f i m m i g r a n t s a n d r e s u l t a n t l a n d

s a l e s became s e r i o u s i n 1853-54 t h e i d e a o f a l l o w i n g

• • • • 1. B a r c l a y t o D o u g l a s , H.B.H., 8 Feb.1850

169

i n s t a l m e n t s b e g a n t o r e c e i v e s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n on

t h e I s l a n d . P e m b e r t o n who h a d r e p l a c e d G r a n t as s u r v e y o r

made a l i s t o f s u g g e s t i o n s ( u n f o r t u n a t e l y n o t p r e s e r v e d )

w h i c h D o u g l a s t r a n s m i t t e d f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n b y Hudson's

Bay H o u s e . 2 It. a p p e a r s t h a t a p o l i c y o f i n s t a l m e n t s was

among t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s s i n c e D o u g l a s a t t a c h e d t h e

o b j e c t i o n t h a t " p a y i n g f o r t h e l a n d b y i n s t a l m e n t s w i l l

. . . i n v o l v e t h e n e c e s s i t y o f k e e p i n g many a d d i t i o n a l

a c c o u n t s . *

The a c t u a l d e s p a t c h i n a u g u r a t i n g t h i s s y s t e m

was not. a v a i l a b l e b u t i n a l e t t e r o f P e m b e r t o n t o Hudson's

Bay House o f A p r i l 1857 he r e f e r s t o a p o l i c y e s t a b l i s h e d

i n O c t o b e r w h i c h p e r m i t t e d (1) "making l i b e r a l d e d u c t i o n s

f o r r o c k s a n d swamps and ( 2 ) r e c e i v i n g I f r e q u i r e d

payment b y i n s t a l m e n t s , " 3 and s t a t e s t h a t as a r e s u l t

2000 a c r e s w o u l d be b o u g h t on i n s t a l m e n t s i n t h e coming

s p r i n g . I n t h e f a l l o f t h e same y e a r D o u g l a s was a b l e

t o r e p o r t " t h a t t h e i n s t a l m e n t s y s t e m c o n t i n u e s t o work

w e l l j b e c o m i n g e v e r y day more p o p u l a r as i t i s better

u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e l o w e r c l a s s e s who a t f i r s t d i d n o t

a p p e a r f u l l y t o a p p r e c i a t e i t s a d v a n t a g e s . " 4 The amount

p a i d down was a t f i r s t n o t l e s s t h a t 25$ o f t h e v a l u e

and i n 1858 t h e r e were i n s t a l m e n t s o f £ 2 4 , 0 0 0 a s y e t .... 2. I n D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , It» V i c t o r i a , 11 Feb;1854

3. P e m b e r t o n t o S m i t h , V . I . , 27 Apr.1857

4. D o u g l a s t o S m i t h , V . I . , 7 Oct.1857

170

u n p a i d and c a r r y i n g i n t e r e s t a t 5%+°

The s i z e o f t h e i n i t i a l payment was t h e

s u b j e c t o f a p e t i t i o n s i g n e d by "a l a r g e a n d r e s p e c t a b l e

body o f i m m i g r a n t s c h i e f l y f r o m t h e p r o v i n c e o f Upper

C a n a d a , " ^ a n d c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e i r a f f a i r s were i n a

" t r u l y d i s t r e s s i n g c a s e " D o u g l a s r e l a x e d t h e o l d r u l e

( 5 s on p u r c h a s e a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r b y 5s payments a t t h e

end o f t h e s e c o n d , t h i r d . , a n d f o u r t h y e a r s ) and s e t up

a more l e n i e n t r u l e w h i c h r e q u i r e d payment o f one s h i l l i n g

a t p u r c h a s e , one s h i l l i n g a t t h e end o f the f i r s t month

and t h e r e m a i n d e r i n s i x - s h i l l i n g payments a t t h e same

p e r i o d s as u n d e r t h e o l d r u l e . The e f f e c t o f t h e change

was t o r e d u c e t h e i n i t i a l c a p i t a l r e q u i r e d b y 6 0 % a n d

l e a v e more o f t h e s e t t l e r s f u n d s f r e e f o r t h e n e c e s s a r y

Immediate i m p r o v e m e n t s .

P r e - e m p t i o n was n o t a c h i e v e d t i l l a l a t e r

p e r i o d . I n 1853 a g r o u p o f m a l c o n t e n t s i n V i c t o r i a ,

l e d b y C a p t a i n Swanston and t h e Rev. R. j * . S t a i n e s ,

r e g i s t e r e d i n t e n t i o n t o p u r c h a s e c e r t a i n a r e a s b u t p a i d 7

down no money; h o p i n g f o r f r e e g r a n t s o f l a n d , b u t

t h i s was n o t c o n t i n u e d and c a n h a r d l y be c o n s i d e r e d a s

p r e - e m p t i o n . The f i r s t r e f e r e n c e t o a n y t h i n g a p p r o a c h i n g

t h e p o l i c y i s f o u n d i n t h e L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n o f J u n e 1858

.... 5. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 11 December 1858

6. Same t o same, V . I . , 20 J u l . 1 8 5 9

7. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , 28 J u l . 1 8 5 3 171

w h i c h was a n emergency measure t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e s a l e

o f c i t y l o t s when the r u s h o f g o l d s e e k e r s a n d r e a l t o r s

f o u n d much o f t h e t o w n s i t e o f V i c t o r i a u n s u r v e y e d . The

P r o c l a m a t i o n read, as f o l l o w s — " P e n d i n g t h e c o m p l e t i o n

o f t h e p l a n s , p u r c h a s e r s may on o r a f t e r t h e 2 1 s t i n s t .

p a y f o r any number o f l o t s n o t e x c e e d i n g s i x (60' X 120*)

a t t h i s o f f i c e , t a k i n g a s i m p l e r e c e i p t f o r t h e p a y m e n t s ,

naming an A g e n t a t V i c t o r i a who w i l l be empowered t o

s e l e c t f r o m t h e u n s o l d l o t s , when t h e p l a n s a r e c o m p l e t e ,

i n t h e o r d e r i n w h i c h t h e y a r e p a l d . " & The P r o c l a m a t i o n

was a l s o a p p l i e d t o C o l o n i a l L a n d s i n " t h e e i g h t s u r v e y e d

d i s t r i c t s and t h e C o w i t c h a n C o u n t r y " , Government r e s e r v e s

e x c l u d e d . 1

I n t h e same month D o u g l a s s e n t i n s t r u c t i o n s

t o P e m b e r t o n , i n c l u d i n g m e a s u r e s t o s p e e d up s u r v e y i n g

f o r t h e r e a s o n n o t e d a b o v e .

I i No a l l o w a n c e f o r r o c k a n d swamp on p u r c h a s e s u n d e r

640 a c r e s and t h e n o n l y i f s u c h a r e a i s c o n s i d e r a b l e ,

2. No s a l e s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d u n d e r 100 a c r e s .

3. " D i s c o n t i n u e t o r e g i s t e r P r e - e m p t i o n c l a i m s u pon

any g r o u n d w h a t e v e r " . 9

T h i s r a i s e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f p a s t p r e - e m p t i o n s b u t

when "a c o n s i d e r a b l e number o f p e r s o n s , c h i e f l y C a n a d i a n s

who a r e d e s l r i o u s o f s e t t l i n g i n C o w i t c h a n V a l l e y " 1 ^ a s k e d

. . . . 8. The P r o c l a m a t i o n s a r e b o u n d i n a volume on c a l l a t

t h e A r c h i v e s .

172

f o r p r e - e m p t i o n r i g h t s e n g a g i n g " t o s e t t l e on t h e c o n d i t i o n

o f a c t u a l occupancy, a n d improvement, a n d i f t h e y f a i l t o

do s o , t h e i r l a n d s t o be f o r f e i t e d , M D o u g l a s r e f u s e d .

The p o l i c y was f i n a l l y a d o p t e d i n p a r t on

t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f P e m b e r t o n t h a t c e r t a i n l a n d s

w i t h i n t h e s u r v e y e d areas, n e a r V i c t o r i a m o s t l y " s p o t s

o f f e r t i l e l a n d i n t e r s p e r s e d among r o c k s , f o r e s t s a n d

swampa not. a d m i t t i n g o f c o n t i n u o u s c u l t i v a t i o n a n d w h i c h

i n c o n s e q u e n c e h a s n o t b e e n s o l d , t h o u g h r e p e a t e d l y

p u t up f o r s a l e a t t h e l o w p r i c e o f 4s 2d p e r a c r e . . .

be t h r o w n open t o p r e - e m p t i o n , b e l i e v i n g t h a t many p e r s o n s

who now w i s h t o o c c u p y l a n d s a t a d i s t a n c e , a t S a l t s p r i n g

I s l a n d f o r example o r C h e m a i n i s w o u l d t h e r e b y be i n d u c e d

t o s e e k o u t and o c c u p y t h e f e r t i l e s p o t s a l l u d e d t o a n d

t h a t an i m p e t u s w o u l d be g i v e n t o s e t t l e up l a n d s w h i c h

a l t h o u g h so n e a r t o V i c t o r i a a r e t o o w i l d t o s e l l a t

p r e s e n t , " 1 1 P u l l payment was t o be made when s u r v e y s

r e a c h e d t h e p r e - e m p t e d l a n d a n d no l a n d was t o be

p r e - e m p t e d u n l e s s I t h a d a l r e a d y b e e n o f f e r e d f o r s a l e a t

£ 1 a n a c r e . T h i s r e c e i v e d D o u g l a s * a p p r o v a l and was

a c c e p t e d b y t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e i n F e b r u a r y t h o u g h n o t 12

w i t h o u t w a r n i n g s a g a i n s t p o s s i b l e d e f e c t s o f t h e s y s t e m .

9. D o u g l a s t o P e m b e r t o n , V i c t o r i a , 17 Jun.1858

10. C o w i t c h a n P e t i t i o n i n C o l o n i s t o f 11 J u l . 1 8 5 9

1 1 . P e m b e r t o n t o D o u g l a s , L a n d O f f i c e , 12 Dec.1859

12:. Recommended b y D o u g l a s i n h i s d e s p a t c h t o D . S t . ,

173

The a c t u a l p r o c l a m a t i o n was n o t made t i l l

F e b r u a r y o f 1861. I t a p p l i e d t o u n s o l d l a n d i n " t h e

d i s t r i c t s o f V i c t o r i a , E s q u i m a l t , M e t c h o s i n , t h e

H i g h l a n d s , Sooke, N o r t h and S o u t h S a a n i t c h , S a l t s p r i n g

I s l a n d , S a l l a s I s l a n d and G h e m a i n i s , " t h u s g o i n g b e y o n d

Pembert,on*s o r i g i n a l scheme. I t a l l o w e d m a l e B r i t i s h

s u b j e c t s and a l i e n s who t o o k t h e o a t h o f a l l e g i a n c e , o v e r

e i g h t e e n y e a r s o f a g e , t o pre-empt. 150 a c r e s o f l a n d

('200 a c r e s t o a m a r r i e d man whose w i f e l i v e d i n t h e

I s l a n d and t e n a c r e s f o r e a c h c h i l d u n d e r 1 8 ) . I f t h e

l a n d was u n s u r v e y e d payment was r e q u i r e d a t s u r v e y b u t i f

t h e a r e a p r e - e m p t e d h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s u r v e y e d payment

was s p r e a d o v e r t h r e e y e a r s . More t h a n two months

a b s e n c e c o u n t e d as abandonment o f t h e c l a i m b u t a f t e r

two y e a r s r e s i d e n c e a n d t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f improvements

w o r t h t e n s h i l l i n g s p e r a c r e , a c e r t i f i c a t e o f i m p r o v e ­

ment was i s s u e d w h i c h p e r m i t t e d l e a s e , m o r t g a g e o r s a l e

o f the a r e a " s u b j e c t t o any u n p a i d g r a n t s . " When t h e

s u r v e y was- c o m p l e t e d t h e pre-emptor-': had t h e r i g h t t o

c h o o s e any amount o f u n p r e - e m p t e d l a n d i n t h e same d i s t r i c t ,

e i t h e r p a y i n g f o r i t a t 4s 2 d p e r a c r e o r f o r f e i t i n g a n

e q u i v a l e n t a r e a i n h i s p r e - e m p t i o n .

A l t h o u g h a b i g s t e p f o r w a r d > t h i s scheme

h a d d e f e c t s w h i c h De Cosmos was n o t s l o w i n p o i n t i n g o u t .

1 2 . ( c o n t ) 17 D e c . 1 8 5 9 . A c c e p t e d b y N e w c a s t l e i n r e p l y

o f 21 Eeb.1860

174

He n o t e d t h e . p o s s i b l e i n j u s t i c e t h a t i m m e d i a t e f u l l

payment on s u r v e y i n g m i g h t work i n t h e f a r m e r s whose

l a n d s were c h o s e n t o be s u r v e y e d f i r s t ; . a n d made

c o m p l a i n t t h a t l a n d s opened h a d a l l b e e n p i c k e d o v e r b y

s p e c u l a t o r s . He asked, t h a t a l l l a n d s be s i m i l a r l y o p ened.

It. i s i m p o s s i b l e t o s t a t e w h e t h e r i t was

as a r e s u l t o f t h e s e demands, b u t D o u g l a s I s s u e d a

s u p p l e m e n t a r y o r d e r on 21 M a r c h e x t e n d i n g t h e above

p r o c l a m a t i o n t o " t h e e n t i r e t y o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d and

i t s D e p e n d e n c i e s , " a n d a f u r t h e r p r o c l a m a t i o n on 9 May

t o i n c r e a s e t h e p e r i o d o v e r w h i c h a man m i g h t l e a v e

p r e - e m p t e d l a n d w i t h o u t f o r f e i t i n g h i s c l a i m . 1 4 When he

met t h e A s s e m b l y i n J u n e he was a b l e t o r e p o r t t h a t

t h e "changes l a t e l y e f f e c t e d i n t h e l a n d l a w whereby e v e r y

s e t t l e r i s e n a b l e d t o a c q u i r e l a n d and t o make a h o m e s t e a d

i n t h e C o l o n y w i t h o u t expense o r d e l a y , h a s ( s i c ) g i v e n

v e r y g e n e r a l s a t i s f a c t i o n . " 1 5

Some measure o f t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e new l a w

may b e g a t h e r e d f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t b y M a r c h o f 1862

. . • •• 1 3 . De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 9 Mar.1861. The f o l l o w i n g

c r i t i c i s m s a r e f r o m e d i t o r i a l s o f 7 t h and 1 5 t h i n s t .

14. A f t e r e i g h t c a l e n d a r months o f r e s i d e n c e t h e p r e -

emptor c o u l d l e a v e f o r s i x months b u t h a d t o n o t i f y

t h e L a n d O f f i c e a t V i c t o r i a w i t h i n t h r e e weeks o f

l e a v i n g . 1 5 . D o u g l a s t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 27 Jun.1861

175

2.54 p r e - e m p t o r s had. a l r e a d y t a k e n up l a n d , w h i c h c o n s i d e r ­

i n g an a v e r a g e p r e - e m p t i o n - o f 200 a c r e s w o u l d mean a t

l e a s t 50~,00Q a c r e s o f l a n d t a k e n u n d e r p r i v a t e c o n t r o l . 1 ^

The s c o p e o f p r e - e m p t i o n was i n c r e a s e d a n d t h e p r e v i o u s

l a w s c o n s o l i d a t e d "by t h e L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 1862; The

most i m p o r t a n t change was t h a t a l l o w i n g a p r e - e m p t o r t o

h i r e a M s u b s t i t u t e H whose p r e s e n c e c o u n t e d a s o c c u p a t i o n .

To p r e v e n t p r e - e m p t o r s f r o m h i r i n g one a n o t h e r t h e r u l i n g -TV

was made t h a t no p r e - e m p t o r c o u l d so act.1

P r e - e m p t i o n t h u s e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e n e x t

t o p i c d e s e r v i n g a t t e n t i o n i s . t h e r e d u c t i o n o f l a n d p r i c e s .

The e a r l y i n s i s t e n c e on t h e p r i c e o f £1 p e r a c r e h a s a l r e a ­

dy b e e n n o t e d . ( v . s u p r a , c i , n.26, p.16) O b j e c t i o n s t o

t h e p r i c e were n a t u r a l l y f i r s t v o i c e d by t h e s e t t l e r s

on t h e I s l a n d who f o u n d t h e i r l e a d e r s i n t h e Rev. S t a i n e s

a n d C a p t a i n S w a n s t o n . "They c o n t e n d ( t h a t t h e l a n d ) i s

s o l d a t a p r i c e f a r a b o v e i t s f i x e d v a l u e a n d t h a t e v e r y

c o l o n i s t , i s e n t i t l e d t o a f r e e g r a n t o f l a n d . " R e c e i v ­

i n g b u t s c a n t sympathy f r o m D o u g l a s who c e r t a i n l y h a d

no l o v e f o r Swanston ( v . s u p r a c . 3 , n.30, p;53) S t a i n e s

w r o t e d i r e c t t o P a r k i n g t o n . "The g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y h e r e

i s t o p r o c u r e l a b o r a t a m o d e r a t e p r i c e , a n d t h i s . . • . 16. Fumber o f p r e - e m p t o r s t a k e n f r o m De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l

o f 15 Mar.1862 17. V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n , 6 Sep.1862

18. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 28 J u l . 1 8 5 3

176

d i f f i c u l t y c a n n e v e r be overcome u n t i l t h e p r i c e o f l a n d

on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d i s r e d u c e d so a s t o b r i n g i t n e a r e r

t o a n e q u a l i t y w i t h t h a t i n Oregon (where) I c o u l d g e t

320 a c r e s f o r n o t h i n g bust r e s i d e n c e . . » H e r e w i t h l a n d

at. £L. an a c r e . » . t h e l a b o r e r h a s no c h a n c e o f a c h i e v i n g

i ndep end enc e • M 1 9

When t h i s was t r a n s m i t t e d t o D o u g l a s h i s

r e p l y was a s h a r p c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f S t a i n e s * t h e s i s o f

f r e e l a n d a n d c h e a p l a b o r . " E r e e g r a n t s o f l a n d w o u l d

i n my o p i n i o n i n e v i t a b l y enhance t h e v a l u e o f l a b o r ,

a n e f f e c t o f t h e s y s t e m o f f r e e g r a n t s f e l t , a n d a s u b j e c t

o f g r e a t c o m p l a i n t i n O r e g o n where t h e p r i c e o f l a b o r

e x c e e d s t h a t o f V a n c o u v e r ' s I s l a n d and a l s o t h e r e t u r n s

o f c a p i t a l i n v e s t e d i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e s o i l . " 2 0

E v e n r e d u c t i o n he c o n s i d e r e d u n w i s e . "A r e d u c t i o n i n

t h e p r i c e o f l a n d a t p r e s e n t w o u l d be a s o u r c e o f d i s c o n ­

t e n t t o a l l p a r t i e s who h a v e p a i d t h e a c t u a l p u r c h a s e

p r i c e now l e v i e d and s u b m i t t e d w i t h o u t a murmur t o t h e

r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h e good government

o f t h e C o l o n y , "

A p p a r e n t l y t h i s c l a s s became t h e m a j o r i t y

a n d t h e p e t i t i o n i n g m i n o r i t y were s o o n d e p r i v e d o f t h e i r

l e a d e r s ; Mr. S t a i n e s b e i n g drowned w h i l e on h i s way t o

L o n d o n t o p r o t e s t i n p e r s o n a n d S wanston r e t u r n i n g t o h i s

. . . . 19. q u o t e d i n E l l i o t t o B a r c l a y , D . S t . , 3 Nov.1852

20. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 27 May 1853

177

b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t i n t s i n C a l i f o r n i a whence he e m i t t e d 2 1

j e r e m a i d s on t h e f u t u r e o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d .

A l t h o u g h f i r m enough i n d e f e n s e o f t h e h i g h

p r i c e a g a i n s t c o l o n i a l o p p o s i t i o n , D o u g l a s h a r d l y m a i n ­

t a i n e d t h e same t o n e i n h i s d e s p a t c h e s t o Downing S t r e e t .

I n May o f 1854 he a d m i t t e d tha t , t h e f r e e l a n d g r a n t e d i n

O r e g o n " p r o d i g i o u s l y s t r e n g t h e n s A m e r i c a n i n f l u e n c e i n

t h i s p a r t o f t h e w o r l d a n d c o n t r a s t s a d v a n t a g e o u s l y w i t h

t h e s y s t e m o f c o l o n i z a t i o n f o l l o w e d on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d

w h i c h may s u i t t h e c o n d i t i o n o f o t h e r c o l o n i e s b u t w i l l

I f e a r , n e v e r s u c c e e d i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f A m e r i c a n s e t t l e ­

ments where f r e e g r a n t s o f l a n d a r e made t o e v e r y s e t t l e r ' , ' 2

and i n O c t o b e r w i t h t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n work o f t h e Hudson's

Bay Company and P u g e t Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company d r a w i n g

t o a c l o s e , he d e c l a r e d t h a t " t h e p r o b a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e

w i l l be a g e n e r a l d e s i r e f o r e m i g r a t i o n t o t h e A m e r i c a n

S e t t l e m e n t s where g r a n t s o f l a n d a r e f r e e l y p r o f f e r e d . • • • 21. S w a n s t o n t o B a n n i s t e r , 4 J a n . 1 8 5 6 , e n c l o s e d i n L a b o u -

c h e r e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 8 J u l . 1 8 5 6 ; "The f e e l i n g e x i s t i n g

i n t h e C o l o n y i s t h a t t h e p l a c e i s doomed; and t h e r e i s

e v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y , i f m a t t e r s do n o t mend o f a g e n e r a l

E x odus s h o r t l y ; I know o f no f e w e r t h a n s i x f a m i l i e s who

a r e p r e p a r i n g t o l e a v e n e x t summer: once t h e move

commences ' t w i l l , be t o o l a t e t o a t t e m p t r e s t o r i n g

c o n f i d e n c e b y any p a t c h i n g c o mpromise."

22-. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 17 May 1854

178

t o a l l . p a r t i e s , who become s e t t l e r s and. i m p r o v e r s o f t h e 23

s o i l . " By December however he was a b l e t o p r e s e n t

t h i s i d y l l i c , r e p o r t , o n l y s l i g h t l y shadowed b y t h e

s p e c t r e o f £1. an a c r e l a n d . "The p e o p l e m o r e o v e r a p p e a r

happy a n d c o n t e n t e d , t h e f r u g a l and i n d u s t r i o u s a r e

r a p i d l y i m p r o v i n g t h e i r c o n d i t i o n i n l i f e , t h e r e a r e no

t a x e s n o r p u b l i c b u r d e n s , t h e l a w s a r e j u s t l y a d m i n i s t e r e d ,

t h e means o f e d u c a t i o n a r e e x t e n d i n g , i n t e m p e r a n c e i s

on t h e d e c r e a s e and c r i m e s a r e almost, unknown, i n s h o r t

s i n c e t h e d e p a r t u r e o f t h e R e v e r e n d Mr. S t a i n e s and h i s

c o a d j u t o r Mr. Swanston, I h a v e n o t h e a r d a c o m p l a i n t f r o m

any p e r s o n i n t h i s c o l o n y e x c e p t i n r e g a r d t o t h e p r i c e

o f l a n d . ; . and t h a t g r i e v a n c e I h a v e no power t o

r e d r e s s » , r 2 4

The e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e S e l e c t Committee

on t h e Hudson's Ba y Company of<1857 c o n t a i n e d s e v e r a l

a t t a c k s on t h e h i g h p r i c e o f l a n d . B l a n s h a r d d e c l a r e d

t h a t t h e p r i c e was g r e a t e r t h a n i n C a n a d a an d New B r u n s ­

w i c k and was e s p e c i a l l y b a d p o l i c y so n e a r t o A m e r i c a n

t e r r i t o r y . "They were m a k i n g f r e e g r a n t s I n O r e g o n " ? 5

C o o p e r , a l s o o p p o s e d t o t h e r u l e o f t h e Company was q u i t e

d e f i n i t e - - " ! t h i n k (£1 an a c r e ) i s e x t o r t i o n a t e l y h i g h ;

. . . why s h o u l d p e o p l e go te "Vancouver I s l a n d a n d p a y

. . . . 23. D o u g l a s t o G r e y , V . I . , 3 Oct.1854

24. Same t o same, V . I . , l i Dec.1854 2 5 . B l a n s h a r d t o L a b o u c h e r e . R e p o r t o f t h e S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e . E v i d e n c e 15 Jun.1857 179

£ 1 an a c r e when o n l y e i g h t , o r t e n m i l e s f r o m i t t h e y

c a n g e t as g o o d l a n d f o r $1.25 i n t h e A m e r i c a n T e r r i t o r y " '

— a n d E l l i c e t h o u g h l a y i n g t h e blame f o r t h e p r i c e on

Downing S t r e e t , d e c l a r e d t h a t "any p e r s o n a c c u s t o m e d t o

th e s e t t l e m e n t o f l a n d must know t h a t i f y o u t a k e a pound

an a c r e f r o m a man who comes t o s e t t l e i n a w i l d c o u n t r y ,

y o u t a k e f r o m h i m a l l t h e l i t t l e c a p i t a l he wants t o

e s t a b l i s h h i m s e l f on t h e l a n d . " 2 7

I t was n o t u n t i l t h e g o l d r u s h h a d made

l a n d s a l e s a v a l u a b l e s o u r c e o f income t h a t D o u g l a s , now.

e n t i r e l y u n c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e H u d s o n ' s Bay Company was

r e a d y t o ad m i t a d r o p i n t h e p r i c e and t h e n o n l y when

Pe m b e r t o n recommended t h a t some 20,000 a c r e s o f i n f e r i o r

l a n d " c o n s i s t i n g o f a g r e a t measure o f r o c k s and swamp"

t h r o u g h o u t t h e s u r v e y e d d i s t r i c t s a r o u n d V i c t o r i a ,

w h i c h r e m a i n e d u n s o l d a t £ 1 a n a c r e , s h o u l d be s o l d a t

a u c t i o n a t t h e u p s e t p r i c e s o f 4s 2d p e r a c r e . 2 8 D o u g l a s

a c c e p t e d t h i s p l a n w h i c h was o n l y t h e t h i n edge o f t h e

wedge f o r a g e n e r a l r e d u c t i o n .

P u b l i c o p i n i o n a s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e members

o f t h e A s s e m b l y was i n f a v o r o f e x t e n d i n g t h e r a t e t o

.... 2 6 . C o o p e r t o G r o g a n ; R e p o r t o f t h e S e l e c t Committee,

E v i d e n c e #3927

27 . E l l i c e t o L a b o u c h e r e , R e p o r t o f t h e S e l e c t Committee,

E v i d e n c e #5851

28. Q u o t e d i n D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 19 J u l . 1 8 5 9

180

a l l l a n d s . I n m a r c h o f 1860 Mr. P o s t e r "moved an a d d r e s s

t o t h e Home Government t h r o u g h H i s E x c e l l e n c y p r a y i n g

t h a t t h e p r i c e o f l a n d be r e d u c e d . He a d v e r t e d t o t h e

p r o g r e s s o f t h e u n i t e d S t a t e s a s r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e

cheap l a n d s y s t e m , . . ( T h e r e ) 1 2 ^ c e n t s p a y s t h e w h o l e

cost, o f s u r v e y i n c l u d i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , b u i l d i n g s , maps,

c l e r k s and s u r v e y o r s . I t h i n k i t w i l l b e shown v e r y

c l e a r l y we p a y t o o much." A f t e r e n t h u s i a s t i c s u p p o r t

t h e r e s o l u t i o n was p r e s e n t e d t o D o u g l a s who f o r w a r d e d

i t w i t h a c o v e r i n g d e s p a t c h i n w h i c h he s t r e s s e d t h e

n e c e s s i t y f o r a l i b e r a l l a n d p o l i c y t o c o u n t e r a c t " t h e

a l l u r e m e n t s h e l d out b y t h e D o n a t i o n A c t a n d t h e g e n e r a l 30

p r e - e m p t i o n l a w o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . " The c o n s e n t

o f Downing S t r e e t was c o n v e y e d i n d e s p a t c h e s o f J u n e a n d

J u l y 3 1 and t h e p r i c e r e d u c t i o n was i n s e r t e d a s t h e f i r s t

c l a u s e o f t h e P r e - e m p t i o n P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 1861.

The change d i d n o t meet w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l

o f a l l c i t i z e n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e who h a d p u r c h a s e d

l a n d at. £ 1 an a c r e . Some o f t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e s p r e s e n t e d

a p e t i t i o n d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e y w o u l d "abandon t h e l a n d

.... 2 9 . P o s t e r i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 21.and 22 Mar.1860

3 0 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 28 Mar.1860 (#16)

3.1. N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 28 J un.1860 and L e w i s

t o D o u g l a s , 16 J u l . 1 8 6 0 ( # 2 7 ) . The l a t t e r i n c l u d e d

a n o p i n i o n f r o m t h e E m i g r a t i o n O f f i c e — M u r d o c h t o R o g e r s ,

9 J u n . 1 8 6 0 , a g r e e i n g w i t h t h e p r i c e r e d u c t i o n s . 181

t h e y a t p r e s e n t h o l d and t a k e up o t h e r , u n l e s s a r e d u c t i o n

were m a d e , " 3 2 T h e i r c o m p l a i n t was s u p p o r t e d , by De Cosmos

i n a " C o l o n i s t " e d i t o r i a l , s t r e s s i n g t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e

improvements w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d b y 90%

•7. - Z

o f t h e p u r c h a s e p r i c e . The p e t i t i o n e r s s n a p p e d up

t h e i d e a and, i n p r e s e n t i n g t h e i r p e t i t i o n w h i c h a s k e d

D o u g l a s " t o r e d u c e t h e p r i c e o f l a n d s s o l d and p a r t

u n p a i d f o r , t o 10s p e r a c r e , * t h e y a d d e d t h a t t h e y h a d

b e e n " l e d t o b e l i e v e a t t h e t i m e o f p u r c h a s e t h a t 18s

p e r a c r e w o u l d be l a i d out b y t h e Government i n m a k i n g

Roads and B r i d g e s and t h a t a l i k e a s s e r t i o n h a d b e e n

made b y one o f t h e a g e n t s o f t h e Government i n L o n d o n

and a s i m i l a r s t a t e m e n t b y Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y , * D o u g l a s

d o d g e d an o u t r i g h t r e f u s a l but he s t a t e d t h a t t h e c o n t r o l

o f t h e l a n d b y t h e Hudson's Bay Company made any a r r a n g e ­

ment i m p o s s i b l e t i l l t h e c l a i m s o f t h a t Company h a d b e e n

s e t t l e d ,

A d e f i n i t e j udgment s u p p o r t e d b y Downing

S t r e e t was f i n a l l y b r o u g h t a b o u t by t h e a p p e a l o f Mr.

I r v i n g , a n E n g l i s h g e n t l e m a n who wanted t h e r e t u r n o f

a £5.0 i n s t a l m e n t t h a t he h a d p a i d on £1. an a c r e l a n d . He

d e s c r i b e d h i s s i t u a t i o n a s * r u i n o u s l y i n j u r i o u s a n d . .

• most u n j u s t t o t h e o r i g i n a l p u r c h a s e r s o f l a n d u n l e s s

some p r o v i s i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n were m a d e , * 3 4 N e w c a s t l e

r e f u s e d h i s demand b u t s u g g e s t e d an a l t e r n a t e s o l u t i o n , • , , ,

3 2 , Hews i t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 5 Mar,1861

182

"-The p u r c h a s e r , must he h e l d t o t a k e t h e l a n d u n d e r t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e moment a n d s u b j e c t t o t h e c o n t i n ­

g e n c i e s and i m p l i e d c o n d i t i o n s a t t a c h i n g t o i t ; and one

o f t h e s e c o n t i n g e n c i e s o b v i o u s l y i s t h e l i a b i l i t y

( e s p e c i a l l y i n a new c o u n t r y ) t o s u c h c h a n g e s i n t h e l a n d

g r a n t i n g s y s t e m as t h e g e n e r a l w e l f a r e o f t h e c o l o n y

may d e m a n d , " ° 5 " b u t I r v i n g m i g h t be p e r m i t t e d t o c h o o s e

t h e b e s t f i f t y a c r e s o f h i s a l l o t m e n t i n s t e a d o f f o r -

g e i t i n g h i s d e p o s i t . D o u g l a s a p p e a l e d , t o h i s A t t o r n e y

G e n e r a l who d e c l a r e d t h a t s i n c e t h e d e p o s i t s o f o t h e r s

h a d b e e n f o r f e i t e d and t h e l a n d r e s o l d , I r v i n g * s l o t

c o u l d no l o n g e r be g i v e n s p e c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n and w o u l d

how be t r e a t e d l i k e t h e o t h e r s . 3 ^ H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e r e ­

f o r e n o t i f i e d N e w c a s t l e t h a t s u c h an a c t w o u l d s e t a

b a d p r e c e d e n t , b e s i d e s l e a v i n g a r e s i d u e o f c u l l e d l a n d s

w h i c h w o u l d h a v e no s a l e a b l e v a l u e w h a t e v e r and Downing

S t r e e t c o n c u r r e d i n h i s o p i n i o n . 3 ^

The s t o r y o f a l i e n l a n d - h o l d i n g i s t h e s t o r y

o f how a wrong i d e a h e l d by D o u g l a s was c o r r e c t e d by

33. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l i n C o l o n i s t o f 11 M a r . I 8 6 1

34. I r v i n g t o N e w c a s t l e , B l e n h e i m House, 23 Sep.1861

35 . N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 9 O ct,1861

3 6 . C a r e y t o N e w c a s t l e , Y . I . , 13 Mar.1862, e n c l o s e d i n

D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , T . I » , 14 Mar.1862

3 7 . N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 29 J u l . 1 8 6 2 i n r e p l y

t o D o u g l a s * d e s p a t c h above o f 14 M a r c h .

183

t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e . The q u e s t i o n a p p a r e n t l y n e v e r a r o s e

on t h e I s l a n d , b e f o r e 1858 and i n that, y e a r when r e p o r t i n g

p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r a land, s a l e a t L a n g l e y D o u g l a s r e f e r r e d

t o a. p r o p o s e d p r o c l a m a t i o n " t o s e c u r e t o a l i e n s t h e f u l l

enjoyment, o f any l a n d s t h e y may p u r c h a s e o f t h e Crown

f o r a s p a c e o f t h r e e y e a r s when t h e y w i l l be r e q u i r e d ,

t o become B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s o r c onvey t h e i r r i g h t s t o

o t h e r p a r t i e s , who a r e p e r m i t t e d , t o e n j o y that, p r i v i l e g e

b y b i r t h o r n a t u r a l i z a t i o n - - t h a t . measure b e i n g i n c o n -

f o r m i t y w i t h t h e s p i r i t o f y o u r i n s t r u c t i o n s , "

• T h e s e • i n s t r u c t i o n s h a v e n o t b e e n f o u n d b u t

D o u g l a s h a d c e r t a i n l y m i s r e a d them, I f we may j u d g e

by t h e r e t u r n d e s p a t c h f r o m Downing S t r e e t . " A l i e n s

a r e c a p a b l e o f h o l d i n g and d i s p o s i n g o f l a n d I n t h e same

manner as n a t u r a l - b o r n s u b j e c t s o f H e r M a j e s t y and a f t e r

a c o n t i n u e d r e s i d e n c e o f t h r e e y e a r s a r e e n t i t l e d t o

a C e r t i f i c a t e o f N a t u r a l i z a t i o n on t a k i n g c e r t a i n o a t h s

o r a f f i r m a t i o n s o f r e s i d e n c e and a l l e g i a n c e — a n d p e r s o n s

so n a t u r a l i z e d e n j o y and t r a n s m i t t o t h e i r h e i r s a l l t h e

r i g h t s a n d c a p a c i t i e s o f n a t u r a l o&rti s u b j e c t s . A l i e n s

t h e r e f o r e . . . a r e n o t l i a b l e t o be d e p r i v e d o f t h e i r

l a n d a f t e r t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h r e e y e a r s , s h o u l d t h e y

n e g l e c t o r d e c l i n e t o t a k e o u t c e r t i f i c a t e s o f

N a t u r a l ! z a t i on."~ . . . • 5 8 . D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , B.C., 29 Nov.1858

39. L y t t o n v t o o D o u g l a s , D.St.., 11 F e b . 1859

184

A l t h o u g h . D o u g l a s q u i c k l y r e p a i r e d , h i s e r r o r

i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a by a p r o c l a m a t i o n o f 15 May 1859,

he d i d n o t a c t . i n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d t i l l t h e f a l l o f 1861

when t h r e e a c t s c l e a r e d up any d o u b t s w h i c h t h e o l d

p o l i c y h a d a l l o w e d t o a r i s e * The f i r s t was an a c t 4 P

"To e n a b l e a l i e n s t o h o l d and. t r a n s m i t R e a l E s t a t e , "

w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t " I t s h a l l b e l a w f u l f o r a n y A l i e n t o

hold,,, p o s s e s a , u s e , o c c u p y , e n j o y and t r a n s m i t b y d e s c e n t

o r o t h e r w i s e , R e a l E s t a t e . . . i n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . . •

as f u l l y and i n d e f e a s i b l y . . . as i f he h a d b e e n b o r n

a B r i t i s h s u b j e c t . " De Cosmos came o u t w i t h an e d i t o r i a l

l a u d i n g t h e new p o l i c y — " N o d i f f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e made

between a l i e n s and B r i t i s h b o r n s u b j e c t s i n r e f e r e n c e t o

a l l c o n c e r n s t r a d e i n d u s t r y and t h e i n v e s t m e n t o f c a p i t a l .

S u c h a p o l i c y h a s c a u s e d t h e new s t a t e s o f t h e n e i g h b o r i n g

R e p u b l i c t o make a s t o n i s h i n g s t r i d e s i n a l l t h e e l e m e n t s

o f n a t i o n a l w e a l t h . * 4 1

The n e x t s t e p was an a c t " t o p r o v i d e f o r

th e n a t u r a l i z a t i o n o f A l i e n s . " T h o s e who c o u l d p r o v e

"a c o n t i n u o u s r e s i d e n c e i n any p a r t o f t h i s C o l o n y f o r

the- S p a c e o f T h r e e Y e a r s or upwards . . . s h a l l e n j o y

and may t r a n s m i t a l l t h e r i g h t s a n d c a p a c l t i e a w h i c h

a n a t u r a l b o r n s u b j e c t o f H e r M a j e s t y c a n e n j o y o r t r a n s m i t "

.... 4Q. Act. r e A l i e n R e a l E s t a t e , "V.I., 28 O c t . 1861

4 1 . De Cosmos E d i t o r i a l o f 29 Oct.1861. 4 2 . A l l e n A c t , Y . I . , 4 Nov.1861

185

The o a t h o f a l l e g i a n c e was t o be a d m i n i s t e r e d , one month

a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n a n d t h e f e e s were t o be p a i d " i n t o

t h e T r e a s u r y . o f t h e C o l o n y , t o be a p p l i e d t o t h e u s e o f

H e r M a j e s t y , Her H e i r s and. S u c c e s s o r s , "

The t h r e e - y e a r p e r i o d o f r e s i d e n c e was

r e t a i n e d t h o u g h Be Cosmos h a d b r a n d e d i t a s a surfti L Y a l

o f t h e s c a r e o f 1858 when A m e r i c a n d o m i n a t i o n h a d b e e n

c o n s i d e r e d p o s s i b l e .

The r e c o g n i t i o n o f a l i e n r i g h t s was c o m p l e t e d

by an a c t " t o c u r e d e f e c t s i n T i t l e s t o R e a l E s t a t e h e l d

b y o r d e r i v e d t h r o u g h A l i e n s ; " 4 4 — " I T o p e r s o n , w h e t h e r

an a l i e n o r a b o r n o r n a t u r a l i z e d B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s h a l l

be d i s t u r b e d i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o r p r e c l u d e d f r o m t h e

r e c o v e r y o f any l a n d s , t e n e m e n t s o r h e r e d i t a m e n t s i n t h i s

C o l o n y on t h e g r o u n d t h a t he h i m s e l f o r any p e r s o n

t h r o u g h whom he d e r i v e d h i s t i t l e b e f o r e t h e p a s s a g e o f

t h i s A c t , was an A l i e n , " D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d p r o g r e s s ,

n o t i n g t h a t a l i e n s were c o n s i d e r i n g s e l l i n g t h e i r l a n d

b e c a u s e t h e y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e y c o u l d o n l y h o l d i t f o r

t h r e e ; y e a r s . B l i t h e l y i g n o r i n g h i s s h a r e i n t h e i n c e p t i o n

o f t h i s e r r o n e o u s b e l i e f , h e went on t o l a u d t h e e f f e c t

o f t h e a c t s j u s t p a s s e d i n r e m o v i n g t h e u n c e r t a i n t y a n d

d e v e l o p i n g r a t h e r an i n t e r e s t i n s o u n d improvements t h a n

i n w i l d - c a t . i n f l a t i o n . He s u g g e s t e d t h a t San F r a n c i s c o

» . . , 43, De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 20 Jul,3.861

44, A l i e n l a n d s A c t , T , I , , 14 Kbv,1861

186

c a p i t a l i s t s hampered by war c o n d i t i o n s a n d h i g h r e a l

e s t a t e p r i c e s m i g h t be i n t e r e s t e d i n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . ~ ^

O t h e r s t h a n a l i e n s had. b e e n i n t r o u b l e o v e r

l a n d t i t l e s a n d f r o n t i e r c o n d i t i o n s h a d made p o s s i b l e

many-boundary d i s p u t e s . An "Act t o C u r e I m p e r f e c t T i t l e s "

was- p a s s e d . T h i s d i r e c t e d , t h a t t i t l e s o f w h i c h t h e r e was

any q u e s t i o n m i g h t b e p r e s e n t e d , t o t h e Supreme C o u r t .

I f t h e C h i e f J u s t i c e were s a t i s f i e d " t h a t t h e i n t e n t i o n

o f t h e o r i g i n a l g r a n t o r was t o s e l l t h e f e e - s i m p l e o f

s u c h Real. E s t a t e t o t h e o r i g i n a l g r antee"- he c o u l d g i v e

a g o o d t i t l e . To p r e v e n t c a u s e l e s s l i t i g a t i o n c o s t s

were t o be on p l a i n t i f f , b u t i f t h e y h a d b e e n o c c a s i o n e d

b y v e x a t i o u s d e f e n c e t h e w h o l e o r p a r t " s h a l l ( s i c ) be

d i s a l l o w e d i n t a x a t i o n . "

To i n s u r e a r e l i a b l e s y s t e m i n t h e f u t u r e

a n a c t was p a s s e d " t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e t r a n s f e r o f R e a l 4:7

E s t a t e a n d t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e R e g i s t r a t i o n o f T i t l e s ; , ' *

w h i c h r e m a i n e d i n f o r c e t i l l i t was c a n c e l l e d b y t h e

"Land R e g i s t r y Amendment A c t o f 1865. "!

The o n l y o t h e r l a n d l e g i s l a t i o n was a Home­

stead . A c t , one o f t h e f e w m e a s u r e s I n v/hich t h e E x e c u t i v e

a n d L e g i s l a t u r e c o - o p e r a t e d . The b i l l waa p u s h e d b y De

Cosmos and h a d b e e n recommended by Kennedy i n h i s s p e e c h

. . . • 4 5 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 25 Nov.1861

46. A c t t o C u r e I m p e r f e c t T i t l e s , V . I . , 10 Dec.1860 47. L a n d R e g i s t r y A c t o f 1860, V7.I., 18 Jan.1860

187

a t t h e o p e n i n g of t h e L e g i s l a t u r e , 29 November 1865.

De Cosmos p r o c l a i m e d , t h a t " t h e r e a l o b j e c t o f t h e b i l l

was, when a man was u n s t e a d y o r u n f o r t u n a t e , t o a f f o r d

some k i n d o f p r o t e c t i o n t o t h e w i f e a n d c h i l d r e n . * 4 * *

By t h e terms o f t h e a c t a n y " p a r c e l o f l a n d h e l d b y

r e n t a l o r f r e e h o l d on w h i c h any e r e c t i o n o r b u i l d i n g "

( n o t n e c e s s a r i l y f i x e d t o t h e s o i l ) s t a n d s , m i g h t be

r e g i s t e r e d a s a H o mestead. I f t h i s was v a l u e d a t l e s s

t h a n $2,500 i t c o u l d not. be s e i z e d or s o l d "by any

p r o c e s s at. l a w o r i n e q u i t y o r on any p r o c e e d i n g i n

B a n k r u p t c y f o r o r on a c c o u n t o f any D e b t o r L i a b i l i t y

i n c u r r e d a f t e r t h e R e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e s t e a d . * 4 ^

A l t h o u g h Kennedy was f a v o r a b l e t o t h e

H omestead A c t , h e was s e v e r e l y c r i t i c a l o f a l l o t h e r l a n d

l e g i s l a t i o n o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . I n c l o s i n g t h i s

c h a p t e r w i t h h i s c r i t i c i s m , I t i s n o t t h e i n t e n t i o n o f

t h e a u t h o r t o d e f e r v t o h i m a s an i n f a l l i b l e j u d g e . He

l e f t t h i s f o r m o f l e g i s l a t i o n t o t h e A s s e m b l y b u t h i s

b u s i n e s s - l i k e management o f t h e Crown Revenue h a s b e e n

n o t e d a b o v e and h i s o f f i c i a l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e i s a m o d e l

o f o r d e r a n d n e a t n e s s a f t e r t h e v e r b o s i t y o f D o u g l a s .

Of t h e o l d s y s t e m he s a y s : * ( l ) I t h a s r e t a r d e d

and o b s t r u c t e d t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e p u b l i c l a n d s o f t h e

C o l o n y , (2) I t - h a s a l i e n a t e d 118,506 a c r e s :of t h e c r e am

o f t h e p u b l i c l a n d s f o r a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f $13,805 ( s i c )

o f w h i c h o n l y 23,629 a c r e s a r e i n p a r t o c c u p i e d , a l a r g e

188

p o r t i o n o f which, i s u n i m p r o v e d a n d u n c u l t i v a t e d . . . . .

(4) I t , h a s e n c o u r a g e d l a n d s p e c u l a t i o n a n d d i s c o u r a g e d

s e t t l e m e n t a n d l o c k e d up t h e b e s t l a n d s i n the c o l o n y

i n t h e h a n d s o f s p e c u l a t o r s who pay n e i t h e r r e n t n o r

t a x e s f o r i t . " 3 ' *

L e s t t h i s be c o n s t r u e d as an a t t a c k on an

a b s e n t p r e d e c e s s o r w i t h whose p r o b l e m s he was n o t f a m i l i a r

i t w i l l b e w e l l t o a d d Kennedy's, o p i n i o n o f t h e e . f f o r t s

o f t h e A s s e m b l y w i t h whom he h a d h a d two y e a r s o f p e r s o n a l

c o n n e c t i o n . "The o n l y l a w s p a s s e d w i t h p o p x i l a r s u p p o r t

were t h e s c h o o l b i l l • . . w h i c h h a s a l r e a d y b e e n t h e

p a r e n t o f e x p e n d i t u r e a n d j o b b e r y and t h e l a n d p r o c l a m a t i o n

( f o u n d e d I b e l i e v e c h i e f l y on t h e l a n d l a w s o f t h e

n e i g h b o r i n g s t a t e s ) " w h i c h "has g i v e n t h e g r e a t e s t

encouragement t o l a n d s p e c u l a t i o n and t h e r e b y r e t a r d e d

t h e s e t t l e m e n t and c o n s e q u e n t l y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e

c o u n t r y . * 3 1

48. Be Cosmos i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 2 Bee.1865

4 9 . Homestead A c t , 1866. ¥.1., 21 Aug.1866

50. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , T . I . , 19 J u l . 1 8 6 5

5 1 . Same t o same, V . I . , 26 Jun.1866

189

C h a p t e r X

PARALLEL CONDITIONS ON THE MAINLAND

O c t o b e r 1858 — — A u g u s t 1866

I n t h i s b r i e f resume o f p a r a l l e l c o n d i t i o n s i n B r i t i s h

C o l u m b i a , t h e t r e a t m e n t w i l l f o l l o w t h r e e main h e a d i n g s - -

(1.) t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a d i f f e r e n t p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n ,

(2) t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e Hudson's: B a y Company, a n d (3)

l a n d l e g i s l a t i o n . I w i l l d e a l w i t h t h e f i r s t more g e n e r a l

l y a n d t h e o t h e r s i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l ;

I m p o r t a n t as Governor D o u g l a s was i n t h e

a f f a i r s o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d he had. a t l e a s t '.tooshare t h e

f r o n t - s t a g e w i t h De Cosmos and w i t h h i s s u c c e s s o r , G o v e r n o r

K e n n e d y . I n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a he r u l e d supreme. N e v e r

c h e c k e d b y an Assembly, a l t h o u g h L t h e r e was a l e g i s l a t i v e

c o u n c i l i n t h e l a s t f e w months, he r u l e d and p e r f o r m e d

must o f h i s a c t u a l l a w m a k i n g b y p r o c l a m a t i o n . He was

l o n g u n t r o u b l e d b y c r i t i c i s m f r o m t h e P r e s s f o r t h e f i r s t

p a p e r on t h e m a i n l a n d was t h e G a z e t t e , p u b l i s h e d u n d e r

h i s s u p e r v i s i o n b y t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r s . P e r h a p s t h e

g r e a t e s t r e a s o n f o r t h e l a c k o f t h a t p o p u l a r o p p o s i t i o n

so e v i d e n t a t V i c t o r i a , was t h a t e m i g r a n t s t o B r i t i s h

190

C o l u m b i a went i n l a n d t o t h e m i n e s w h i l e more o f t h o s e

who came t o V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d s e t t l e d a t V i c t o r i a a s

b u s i n e s s men. The m i n e r s were o n l y d e s i r i o u s o f s t r o n g

g o v e r n m e n t a n d were n o t a l w a y s r e a d y t o a c t t o g e t h e r .

D o u g l a s u n d e r s t o o d t h i s — " T h e r e i s no c o n g e n i a l i t y o f

f e e l i n g among t h e e m i g r a n t s . a n d p r o v i d e d t h e r e be no

g e n e r a l l y f e l t , g r i e v a n c e t o u n i t e them i n one common

c a u s e t h e r e w i l l a l w a y s i n my o p i n i o n be a g r e a t m a j o r i t y

o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n r e a d y t o s u p p o r t t h e m e a s u r e s o f

g o v e r n m e n t . " 1 — a n d h i s r u l e was s u c h t h a t he c o u l d r e p o r t

t h a t "The g e n e r a l f e e l i n g I s i n f a v o r o f E n g l i s h r u l e

i n E r a s e r ' s R i v e r , t h e p e o p l e h a v i n g a d e g r e e o f c o n f i d e n c e

i n t h e s t e r l i n g u p r i g h t n e s s and i n t e g r i t y o f E n g l i s h m e n p

w h i c h t h e y do n o t e n t a i n f o r t h e i r own c o u n t r y m e n . "

T h a t Downing S t r e e t c o n c u r r e d i n D o u g l a s '

p o l i c y o f p r o v i d i n g s t r o n g i f n o t r e s p o n s i b l e g o v e r n m e n t

may be shown by t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s p a t c h o f L o r d L y t t o n .

" I c a n n o t c o n c l u d e w i t h o u t e x p r e s s i n g my c o r d i a l a p p r o v a l

o f the manner i n w h i c h y o u a p p e a r t o h a v e c a r r i e d o u t

t h e two o b j e c t s w h i c h a t t h e o n s e t o f s u c h a c o l o n y s h o u l d

be s t e a d f a s t l y b o r n e i n v i e w - - v i z , a l i b e r a l and k i n d l y

welcome t o a l l h o n e s t I m m i g r a n t s a n d t h e u n q u e s t i o n a b l e

s upremacy o f B r i t i s h S o v e r e i g n t y a n d Law." 3 W i t h t h e • • • •

1. D o u g l a s t o S t a n l e y , V . I . , 1 J u l . 1 8 5 8

2. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 29 Sep.1858

5% L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s , ( B . C . } , D . S t . , 30 Dec.1858. N o t e — D o u g l a s ( B . C . ) r e f e r s t o D o u g l a s i n h i s c a p a c i t y a s g o v e r n o r

191

p e r i o d o f d e b t a n d d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t f o l l o w i n g t h e e x h a u s t i o n

o f t h e g o l d - f i e l d s t h i s c h a p t e r w i l l n o t a t t e m p t t o d e a l .

I t came a f t e r Diauglas h a d r e t i r e d .

The Hudson's' B a y Company's i n f l u e n c e on

t h e m a i n l a n d wasr...solely a s a b u s i n e s s c o r p o r a t i o n . I t

n e v e r c o n t r o l l e d t h e government as i n V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d

a n d when D o u g l a s became c i v i l g o v e r n o r o f B r i t i s h

Columbia, he s e v e r e d h i s b u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e

Company. H i s p o l i c y was however f a v o r a b l e t o t h e Company

t i l l t h e o c c a s i o n o f h i s q u a r r e l w i t h D a l l a s i n 1859,

so t h a t d u r i n g t h e e a r l y p e r i o d we do n o t n o t e t h e b i t t e r ­

ness, w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e d h i s l a t e r d e a l i n g s w i t h h i s

e a r l y a s s o c i a t e s .

I n J/une o f 1858 D o u g l a s r e f u s e d , a p e t i t i o n

o f t h e m e r c h a n t s o f V i c t o r i a a s k i n g f o r f r e e t r a d e on

t h e F r a s e r E l v e r . H i s r e a s o n s f o r f e f u s a l were f i r s t

t h a t t h e m i n e r s were g e t t i n g l o t s o f s u p p l i e s and s e c o n d

t h a t he "had no a u t h o r i t y t o t h r o w open t h e t r a d e i n

E r a s e r ' s R i v e r w h i c h was s e c u r e d by s t a t u t e t o t h e

Hudson's B a y Company." 4 I n r e p o r t i n g t h e p e t i t i o n h e

s u g g e s t e d t h a t I f t h e t r a d e were o p e n e d , " c o m p e n s a t i o n

be made t o t h e Hudson's Bay Company f o r a n y s a c r i f i c e

o f i n t e r e s t t h e y may be c a l l e d u pon t o make." He

c o n t i n u e d i n t h i s o p i n i o n o f t h e r i g h t s o f t h e Company

3. ( c o n t ) o f B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a a s s e p a r a t e f r o m t h a t o f V . I .

4. Douglas, t o S t a n l e y , V . I . , 15 Jun.1858

192

t h r o u g h o u t t h e summer h u t i t was o b v i o u s t h a t l o c a l

o p i n i o n d i s a g r e e d , f o r i n September he w r o t e what seems

t o he t h e r e p l y t o a c o m p l a i n t ; — " T h e m i n e r s were a l l o w e d

t o c a r r y w i t h them f r o m V i c t o r i a an u n l i m i t e d s u p p l y

o f food.,mining t o o l s , a n d c l o t h i n g , e v e n t o t h e e x t e n t

o f a s i x - m o n t h ' s sto.ck, f o r t h e i r p e r s o n a l u s e so t h a t

t h e y a r e n o t u n d e r t h e n e c e s s i t y o f m a k i n g p u r c h a s e s

f r o m t h e S t o r e s o f t h e H.B.Co* ( s i c ) t h o u g h t h e y

f r e q u e n t l y do so i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f g e t t i n g a b e t t e r

q u a l i t y o f goods a t a l o w e r p r i c e t h a n c a n be p r o c u r e d

f r o m o t h e r q u a r t e r s * " 3

Some t i m e d u r i n g S e p tember, however, D o u g l a s

r e c e i v e d a d e s p a t c h f r o m Downing S t r e e t w h i c h s t a t e d

m o s t d e f i n i t e l y t h a t t h e r i g h t s of t h e Company were made

o u t f o r I n d i a n t r a d e o n l y . I n h i s r e p l y D o u g l a s was

quick, t o d i s c l a i m any p a r t i a l i t y . The Company "has

e x e r c i s e d no r i g h t n o r e n j o y e d any p r i v i l e g e s o f t r a d e

i n t h i s C o l o n y t h a t was n o t e q u a l l y s h a r e d b y e v e r y

f r e e h o l d e r i n t h e c o u n t r y . * 7 M o r e o v e r t h e s p e c i a l

r e g u l a t i o n s c o n t r o l l i n g s t e a m s h i p s on t h e E r a s e r "have

f a l l e n i n t o d i s u s e i n so much a s t h e y a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h

t h e p r i v i l e g e s o r t e n d t o p r o m o t e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e

• • • •

5. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 9 Sep.1858

6. L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s , D.St.., 16 J u l . 1 8 5 8

?. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , Y . I . , 29 Sep.185'8

193

Hudson's Bay Company,"

I n a d e s p a t c h o f t h e next, month he a f f i r m e d

t h a t t h e Company "no l o n g e r e n j o y s any e x c l u s i v e r i g h t s

o f t r a d e w h a t s o e v e r a n d i s p l a c e d , i n a l l r e s p e c t s i n t h e Q

same p o s i t i o n a s o t h e r B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s , " E a n d went o u t

o f h i s way t o d e f e n d t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e Company. " I t

w o u l d be an e a s y m a t t e r t o p r o v e t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n o f

s i g n a l s e r v i c e t o t h e i r e o u n t r y and. t h a t the B r i t i s h

t e r r i t o r y on t h e N o r t h - W e s t c o a s t i s an a c q u i s i t i o n won

by t h e Crown t h r o u g h t h e e n e r g y o f the Hudson's B a y

Company,"

W i t h i n a week he was c a l l e d upon t o d e f e n d

t h e Company, t h i s t i m e f rom t h e a c c u s a t i o n s o f an

A m e r i c a n , O ' B r i e n o f P o r t TTownsend who h a d w r i t t e n t o

N a p i e r a b o u t c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e g o l d - f i e l d s - - " T h e r e i s

t r o u b l e a h e a d — T h e e x o r b i t a n t r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e Hudson's

Bay Company, i t i s t h o u g h t w i l l p r e c i p i t a t e a q u a r r e l

w i t h t h e B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t i e s a n d t h e M i n e r s , g o a d e d t o

madness a t b e i n g r e f u s e d a p a s s a g e up t h e r i v e r u n t i l

t h e y p u r c h a s e a l l t h e i r m i n i n g i m p l e m e n t s f r o m t h e

Company, t h o u g h p r e v i o u s l y p r o v i d e d w i t h them^ w i l l • • , ,

8. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , ¥ . 1 , , 30 Sep,1858. The r e g u l a t i o n s

r e f e r r e d t o were ( a ) t o c a r r y o n l y H.B.Co. g o o d s i n t o

F r a s e r ' s R i v e r , and (h) t o p a y t h e H.B.Co. | 2 — h e a d money."

F o r t h e s e t e r m s see D o u g l a s t o L a b o u c h e r e , V.I,, 19 May 1858

9. D o u g l a s (B.C.) t o L y t t o n , V . I , , 1 2 0 c t , 1 8 5 8 (#6)

194

a s s u r e d l y r e s i s t when t h e y s h a l l be i n s u f f i c i e n t

s t r e n g t h , t o do so w i t h e f f e c t . ' * 1 0 D o u g l a s * r e p l y showed

no f e a r o f a B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a Champoeg.—the m i n e r s a s

he h a d a l r e a d y s t a t e d were c o n t e n t e d and b e s i d e s t h e

H u d s o n ? a B a y Company a t V i c t o r i a d i d n ' t c a r r y m i n e r s *

t o o l s . 0 * B r i e n * s l e t t e r was d e s c r i b e d as " a s p e c i m e n ,

t h o u g h i n d e e d a m i l d one, o f t h e i n v e c t i v e t h a t h a s b e e n

i n d u l g e s ! i n and o f t h e f a b r i c a t i o n t h a t , h a s b e e n s p r e a d

a b r o a d . . . From, t h e f i r s t d i s c o v e r i e s o f g o l d i n E r a s e r ' s

R i v e r , much p e t t y j e a l o u s y h a s b e e n e x h i b i t e d by t h e

i n h a b i t a n t s o f P o r t Townsend a n d o t h e r l i t t l e towns i n

W a s h i n g t o n t e r r i t o r y w h i c h t h o u g h t p r o p e r t o f e e l

a g g r i e v e d a t t h e p r o s p e r i t y o f V i c t o r i a a n d commenced a

c r u s a d e a g a i n s t B r i t i s h i n t e r e s t s i n g e n e r a l a n d a g a i n s t

t h e Hudson*a B a y Company i n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d t h e A m e r i c a n

p r e s s i n t h a t q u a r t e r h a s t e e m e d w i t h a r t i c l e s o f t h e

most a b s u r d f a b u l o u s c h a r a c t e r . "

The q u e s t i o n o f Hudson*s Bay Company R e s e r v e s

a l s o r i s e s I n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a b u t f o r t u n a t e l y t h e n e g o t ­

i a t i o n s were n e i t h e r so l o n g n o r so c o m p l i c a t e d as. on

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . The l a n d : was n o t so v a l u a b l e and b o t h

p a r t i e s were more r e a d y t o a c c e p t a r e a s o n a b l e s e t t l e m e n t .

The c a s e f o r t h e Company was p r e s e n t e d b y B e r e n s i n

. . . . 10. 0 * B r l e n t o N a p i e r , P o r t Towns end. n . d . e n c l o s e d i n

d e s p a t c h f r o m D . S t , r e c e i v e d i n O c t o b e r o f 1858.

1 1 . D o u g l a s (B.C.) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 3 Nov.1858

195

October, of. 1858. " I n o r d e r t o r e n d e r e a c h p o s t as f a r

as p o s s i b l e s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f i m p o r t e d

p r o v i s i o n s , , a c e r t a i n q u a n t i t y o f l a n d was s q u a t t e d upon

f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f r a i s i n g p o t a t o e s and g r a i n a n d a l s o

f o r p a s t u r i n g , a n d f o d d e r i n g the C a t t l e . The Company

d i d n o t f e n c e o f f t h i s l a n d, as t h e r e were no n e i g h b o r s

t o f e n c e a g a i n s t , b u t now . . . i t becomes n e c e s s a r y t o

guard, a g a i n s t t h e i n f r i n g e m e n t o f t h e Company's p r o p e r t y

T h e s e l a n d s t h e Company e x p e c t e d t o r e c e i v e w i t h o u t

p a y m e n t »

L y t t o n p a s s e d t h i s on t o D o u g l a s s t a t i n g

t h a t " i t i s t h e w i s h o f H e r M a j e s t y ' s g o vernment t o

t a k e a l i b e r a l v i e w o f t h e c l a i m s o f t h e Company,

c o n s i s t e n t l y o f c o u r s e w i t h what i s due t o t h e p u b l i c ,

i n t e r e s t s o f t h e C o l o n y . "-^ b u t w a r n i n g h i m t o d i f f e r e n ­

t i a t e b e t w e e n c u l t i v a t e d l a n d a n d p a s t u r e and e s p e c i a l l y

t o n o t e i f t h e r e s e r v e s i n c l u d e d any g o l d - h e a r i n g a r e a s .

D o u g l a s was c e r t a i n l y r e a d y t o c o n s i d e r t h e

Company's I n t e r e s t s as l a t e as December o f t h a t y e a r .

R e f e r r i n g t o the_>land a r e a s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e "which t h e y

have o c c u p i e d f o r many y e a r s , i m p r o v e d b y s e t t l e m e n t

and o t h e r w i s e b y much e x p e n s e " he s u g g e s t e d a p o l i c y o f

" j u d i c i o u s l i b e r a l i t y " p o i n t i n g out t h a t the a c c e p t a n c e

o f t h e Company's c l a i m s i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a w o u l d

. « » »

1 2 . B e r e n s t o L y t t o n , H.B.H., 12 O c t . 1 8 5 8

1 5 . L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s ( B . C . ) , D . S t . , 16 IFov.1858

196

s t r e n g t h e n t h e p o s i t i o n o f s i m i l a r c l a i m s i n Oregon

s t i l l , i n d i s p u t e u n d e r t h e terms o f t h e t r e a t y o f 1846.

a n d h i n t i n g t h a t a f a v o r a b l e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e s e l a t t e r

c l a i m s w o u l d r e b o u n d t o B r i t i s h p r e s t i g e * 1 4

U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e m a t t e r was n o t s e t t l e d

b e f o r e t h e m u t u a l a c c o r d , b e t w e e n D o u g l a s a n d t h e Company

had. b e e n b r o k e n by t h e q u a r r e l w i t h D a l l a s n o t e d a b o v e

( c . 5 , p.86 e t seq.)» The Hudson's Bay Company c l a i m e d

l a n d a r o u n d F o r t . L a n g l e y and D o u g l a s f i x e d on t h a t p l a c e

as t h e s i t e o f h i s f i r s t l a n d s a l e . D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d

h i s t r o u b l e s t o Downing S t r e e t , 1 3 ' b u t was warned t h a t

••these c l a i m s h a v e b e e n r e f e r r e d b y m u t u a l c o n s e n t t o

t h e J u d i c i a l Committee o f t h e P r i v y CownC.il and U n t i l

t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h a t t r i b u n a l i s o b t a i n e d , no e f f e c t u a l

remedy f o r t h e i n c o n v e n i e n c e w h i c h y o u r e p r e s e n t c a n

be a p p l i e d . . . I n t h e meantime y o u s h o u l d abstainve t s

much a s p o s s i b l e f r o m d e a l i n g w i t h l a n d (.claimed b y t h e

Company so a s to a v o i d i n c r e a s i n g t h e i r c l a i m t o

c o m p e n s a t i o n s h o u l d t h e i r t i t l e t o t h e l a n d be e v e n t u a l l y

c o n f i r m e d . * 1 6

I n May o f t h e n e x t y e a r D o u g l a s s e n t a

compromise s e t t l e m e n t f o r a p p r o v a l b u t was i n f o r m e d that.

an a g r e e m e n t h a d a l r e a d y b e e n r e a c h e d . C a p t a i n G o s s e t

...» 14. D o u g l a s (B.C.) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 7 Dec.1858

1 5 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 21 Jun.1860

1 6 . L e w i s t o D o u g l a s ( B . C . h D . S t . , 24 Aug.1860

197

o f the Royal. E n g i n e e r s , was named, " a r b i t e r t o s e r v e on

b e h a l f o f the. Government I f o c c a s i o n s h o u l d a r i s e " w i t h 17

a p i o u s , hope that, h i s s e r v i c e s m i g h t n o t be n e e d e d .

T h e r e i s no f u r t h e r n o t e o f t h i s d i s p u t e

u n d e r D o u g l a s r e g i m e b u t a p p a r e n t l y no s e t t l e m e n t was

made f o r when Seymour a r r i v e d , a s g o v e r n o r o f B r i t i s h

C o l u m b i a he was. r e q u e s t e d t o " t a k e an e a r l y o p p o r t u n i t y

o f d e a l i n g w i t h ( t h i s , p r o b l e m ) and o f e n d e a v o r i n g t o

b r i n g i t t o a s p e e d y c o n c l u s i o n , " 1 ® W i t h t h i s r e q u e s t .

went t h e t e r m s o f a n a g r e e m e n t r e a c h e d b e t w e e n t h e

E m i g r a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n e r s a n d Hudson's. Ba y House. By

i t t h e Company were p e r m i t t e d t o r e c e i v e t h e f o l l o w i n g

a r e a s a r o u n d t h e i r f o r t s . :

L o c a l i t y n o t e x c e e d i n g a c r e s

Few F o r t L a n g l e y 200.

" L a n g l e y F a r m 500.

F o r t Hope .5

" " s u b u r b a n l o t ,5

» T a l e 1.

O l d L a n g l e y F o r t 2.

• » » •

17. D o u g l a s ' s u g g e s t i o n s i n h i s d e s p a t c h t o D . S t , o f

6 May 1861. R e p l y i n N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s (3C), D . S t . ,

16 N o v . I 8 6 1 » D o u g l a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e H.B.Co. be a l l o w e d

t h e i r f o r t s and f a r m s b u t no town l o t s w i t h w h i c h t o

spe c u l a t e .

1 8 . N e w c a s t l e t o Seymour, D . S t . , 15 J a n.1864 198

L o c a l i t y not. e x c e e d i n g a c r e s

K a m l o o p s 600•

F o r t D a l l a s . 50,

, l B e r e n s 50.

* S h e p h e r d 100.

" S i m p s o n 1Q0.

" A l e x a n d r i a , and 12 o t h e r f o r t s

i n t h e n o r t h 1500. T o t a l 2913.0 a c r e s

B e s i d e s t h e abo.ve "The Company have t h e l i b e r t y o f

p u r c h a s i n g w i t h i n s i x months and i n one l o c a l i t y o n l y ,

v i z . , a t t h e f a r m n e a r New L a n g l e y , at. 4/2 an a c r e ( t h e

p r e s e n t minimum upset, p r i c e o f l a n d s i n t h e C o l o n y ) a n

a d d i t i o n a l q u a n t i t y o f l a n d n o t e x c e e d i n g 1500 a c r e s .

A l t h o u g h t h i s sounds q u i t e f a v o r a b l e t o t h e

Company i t s h o u l d be b o r n e I n m i n d t h a t t h e i r o r i g i n a l

c l a i m s h a d amounted t o 98,000 a c r e s . The d e s p a t c h a l s o

I n c l u d e d l e t t e r s f r o m Hudson's Ba y House e x p r e s s i n g

s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e above agreement and a n x i e t y t o

h a v e i t r a t i f i e d and t h e m a t t e r s e t t l e d b e y o n d d i s p u t e .

P r o b a b l y w i t h memories o f Oregon f r e s h i n

h i s m i n d D o u g l a s e a r l y t o o k c a r e t h a t l a n d s h o u l d be

a c q u i r e d i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a o n l y a c c o r d i n g t o l e g a l f d i m s ,

I n S e p t ember o f 1858 he p u b l i s h e d a t P o r t Y a l e a p r o c l a m -

...» 1.9. W a l c o t t t o E l l i o t , E m i g r a t i o n O f f i c e , 14 O c t . 1 8 6 1

e n c l o s e d i n a b o v e . 20. L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n , B.C., 1858

199

a t i o n d e c l a r i n g t h a t . "Fo l a n d s at. o r n e a r L a n g l e y o r

e l s e w h e r e on E r a s e r ' s R i v e r h a v e b e e n i n any manner

encumbered o r s o l d and t h e t i t l e t o a l l s u c h l a n d i s

v e s t e d i n t h e Crown a n d any p e r s o n s f o u n d o c c u p y i n g t h e

same w i t h o u t due a u t h o r i t y f r o m me w i l l be s u m m a r i l y

e j e c t e d ; , a n d a l l p e r s o n s , f r a u d u l e n t l y s e l l i n g t h e same

w i l l , be p r o s e c u t e d a n d p u n i s h e d a s t h e l a w d i r e c t s . " 2 0

T h i s was none t o o s o o n s i n c e a c e r t a i n James Ray and o t h e r s

had. t a k e n up l a n d and t r i e d , t o s e l l i t , 2 1 -

F o r t h e i n t e r i m b e f o r e s u r v e y i n g and o r g a n ­

i z e d l a n d s a l e s were p o s s i b l e , D o u g l a s p e r m i t t e d t h e

r e s i d e n t s a t Hope a n d Y a l e , l i v i n g " i n t e n t s and

u n s e e m l y c o m f o r t l e s s h u t s * t o l a y o u t a t o w n s i t e a n d

c h o o s e l o t s , w h i c h t h e y were t o h o l d b y a m o n t h l y r e n t a l

o f 4 1 / 8 , " p a y a b l e i n .advance," T h i s o c c u p a t i o n was t o

s e r v e a s a p r e - e m p t i v e r i g h t t i l l t h e d a t e of. a p u b l i c

s a l e and t h e a c c u m u l a t e d p r o c e e d s t o be a c c e p t e d as p a r t

o f t h e p u r c h a s e p r i c e o f £ 2 0 . 1 6 , 8 f o r l o t s 120* X 60».**'

I n a f u r t h e r d e s p a t c h o f O c t o b e r , D o u g l a s

r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e i n s t a l m e n t s y s t e m h a d b e e n r e t a i n e d

f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f p o o r s e t t l e r s b u t t h a t t h e p r i c e f o r

c o u n t r y l a n d w o u l d be k e p t a t £ 1 a n a c r e ( l e s s i n p u r e l y

a g r i c u l t u r a l d i s t r i c t s where no m i n e r a l s a r e f o u n d , f o r

t h e p u r p o s e o f e n c o u r a g i n g e a r l y s e t t l e m e n t ^ . " ^ 3 w h i l e

. . . . 2 1 . D o u g l a s (BC) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 12 O c t . 1 8 5 8 (#2)

2 2 . D o u g l a s (BC) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 12 Oct.1858 (#3)

200

town l o t s were t o be s o l d " a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p u b l i c v a l u e

o f t h e s i t e * " I n a l l s a l e s he p r o m i s e d t h a t " t h e r e w i l l

b e no j u s t c a u s e f o r c o m p l a i n t f o r f a v o r shown t o t h e

s e r v a n t s o f t h e Hudson's Ba y Company a n d e v e r y c a u t i o n

w i l l be t a k e n t o p r e v e n t s p e c u l a t i o n and l a n d - j o b b i n g

a n d t o p r o t e c t the p u b l i c i n t e r e s t s . " A p p a r e n t l y h i s

p r e c a u t i o n s i n t h i s e n d e a v o r were s u c c e s s f u l f o r i n

November he was a b l e t o s a y "We h a v e s.ucceeded w i t h

d i f f i c u l t y i n p r e v e n t i n g t h e u n l a w f u l o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e

p u b l i c domain a n d l o o k f o r w a r d w i t h a n x i e t y f o r C o l o n e l

Moody's a r r i v a l t o commence t h e s u r v e y a n d a l l o t m e n t

o f l a n d i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a * * 2 4

D o u g l a s ' e r r o r a b o u t t h e r i g h t s o f a l i e n s

was n o t e d f u l l y i n c h a p t e r 9. I n h i s e a r l y p o l i c y ,

as B e Cosmos s u g g e s t e d , he may h a v e b e e n l e d b y a f e a r

o f A m e r i c a n d o m i n a t i o n b u t I t was on t h e m a i n l a n d ,

c o n t i g u o u s t o U n i t e d S t a t e s T e r r i t o r y , t h a t t h e e r r o r

was most q u i c k l y r a t i f i e d . I n December o f 1858 he h a d

i s s u e d a p r o c l a m a t i o n , d e c l a r i n g h i s r i g h t t o a l i e n a t e

p u b l i c l a n d s a n d p r o m u l g a t i n g a s e t o f r u l e s g o v e r n i n g

t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f l a n d b y a l i e n s , b a s e d on a d e l i v e r e d

o p i n i o n o f C h i e f J u s t i c e B e g h i e . ( T h e s e r e g u l a t i o n s

a r e o b v i o u s l y t h e s o u r c e o f D o u g l a s * d e s p a t c h o f 29

November 1858, v . s u p r a c . 9 , n.38, p . 1 8 4 ) .

1. B y B r i t i s h l a w an a l i e n c o u l d h o l d l a n d s b u t t h e . . . . 2 3 . Douglas. (BC) t o L y t t o n , ¥.1., 27 Oct.1858

2 4 . D o u g l a s (BC) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 29 Nov.1858

201

Crown c o u l d - d e c l a r e them f o r f e i t .

2. A l l e n t i t l e i s s a f e f r o m any i n t e r f e r e n c e except!*

hy t h e Crown, on t h e g r o u n d o n l y t h a t he i s a n a l i e n .

5. A l i e n s were t o r e c e i v e " f u l l r i g h t s , o f p o s s e s s i o n

and. e n j o y m e n t o f any l a n d s w h i c h t h e y may p u r c h a s e

a t t h e s a l e f o r t h e s p a c e o f t h r e e , y e a r s . " A f t e r

t h a t a c h o i c e o f s a l e o r n a t u r a l i z a t i o n .

4. T h e s e r u l e s t o he r a t i f i e d h y t h e Home G o v e r n m e n t . 2 5

When t h e o p i n i o n o f Downing S t r e e t , r e v e r s e d

t h e d e c i s i o n D o u g l a s made h a s t e t o c o r r e c t i t hy t h e

A l i e n Act. o f 1859. m t h i s a c t t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e d e t a i l s

o f n a t u r a l i z a t i o n , i s f o u n d t h e f o l l o w i n g v i t a l p a r a g r a p h .

"8,. E v e r y a l i e n s h a l l h a v e t h e same c a p a c i t y t o take"*.

h o l d , e n j o y , r e c o v e r , c o n v e y a n d t r a n s m i t t i t l e t o l a n d s

and r e a l e s t a t e o f e v e r y d e s c r i p t i o n i n t h i s c o l o n y a s

i f he were a t t i m e o f t h e p a s s i n g t h i s a c t , a n a t u r a l

h o r n B r i t i s h s u b j e c t and no p e r s o n s h a l l b e d i s t u r b e d

i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o r p r e c l u d e d f r o m t h e r e c o v e r y o f any

l a n d o r r e a l e s t a t e i n t h i s C o l o n y b y r e a s o n o n l y t h a t

some p e r s o n , f r o m o r t h r o u g h whom he may d e r i v e h i s

t i t l e was a n a l i e n . * ^

I n E e b r u a r y o f 1859 L y t t o n s e n t o ut a s e t

o f s u g g e s t i o n s t o g u i d e l a n d p o l i c y . T h e s e a d v i s e d t h e

m a i n t e n a n c e o f a f i x e d h i g h p r i c e . " I t h i n k t h e same . . . . 2 5 . L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n , B.C., 2 Dec.1858

26. A l i e n A c t , B.C., 14 May 1859

202

( p r i c e , , £ 1 a n a c r e } may w i t h p r o p r i e t y he a d o p t e d i n

E r a s e r ' s R i v e r a n d t h e o t h e r M i n i n g D i s t r i c t s , . . I

s i a a l l n o t o b j e c t - t o y o u r naming . . . a l o w e r u p s e t

p r i c e that. £1. a n a c r e f o r o r d i n a r y c o u n t r y l a n d s i n o t h e r

d i s t r i c t s hut, I t h i n k t h a t a u c h a p r i c e s h o u l d be g e n e r a l

so as n o t t o h a v e a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f r a t e s . . . ( o r t o )

i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e c o u r s e o f s e t t l e m e n t . " 2 7 The v a l u e

o f s a l e , by a u c t i o n , was f u l l y d i s c u s s e d . " I t f o r m s

t h e b e s t a v a i l a b l e p r e c a u t i o n a g a i n s t p a r t i n g w i t h t h e

l a n d a t a n i n a d e q u a t e p r i c e . . . and c o n c l u s i v e l y p r e v e n t s

b o t h t h e r e c u r r e n c e a n d even t h e s u s p i c i o n o r I m p u t a t i o n

o f any f a v o r i t i s m o r i r r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e d i s p o s a l o f t h e

p u b l i c p r o p e r t y " b u t " I t may d i s c o u r a g e e n t e r p r i s e b y

e x p o s i n g t h e d i s c o v e r e r t o e l i g i b l e l a n d s t o be o u t b i d

a t t h e i r s a l e ' . . . and may i n v o l v e a d e l a y i n a f f o r d i n g

p u r c h a s e r s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b t a i n t h e l o t s t h e y d e s i r e . "

I t was however d e s i r a b l e , e s p e c i a l l y f o r town l o t s and

on t h e c o n d i t i o n " t h a t o r d i n a r y C o u n t r y L o t s , a f t e r once,

t h e y h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d t o s a l e and n o t p u r c h a s e d may

be b o u g h t b y a f r e s h a p p l i c a n t a t t h e u p s e t p r i c e a s a

f i x e d p r i c e . " The i d e a o f i n s t a l m e n t s was f o r c i b l y

d i s c o u r a g e d . "Prompt payment i s t h e p r o p e r r u l e . I t I s

a b e s t i n d i c a t i o n o f a p u r c h a s e r ' s b e i n g r e a l l y p o s s e s s e d

o f means t o c u l t i v a t e h i s l o t , i t a v o i d s h a r a s s i n g t h e

Government w i t h t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a whole p o p u l a t i o n o f . . . . 2 7 . L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D . S t . , 7 Feb.1859

2 0 3

s m a l l d e b t o r s f r o m whom i t i s n e x t t o i m p o s s i b l e t o

c o l l e c t , t h e i r dues, a n d above a l l i t m a i n t a i n s a s o u n d e r

s t a t e o f s o c i e t y by n o t e n c o u r a g i n g t h e p r e m a t u r e c o n v e r ­

s i o n i n t o p e t t y a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d l a n d , owners o f t h o s e

who ought t o be l a b o r e r s . "

B e f o r e t h i s a d v i c e so t y p i c a l o f t h e

a r i s t o c r a t i c t h e o r y o f S y s t e m a t i c C o l o n i z a t i o n c o u l d

r e a c h B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a D o u g l a s h a d i s s u e d a l a n d p r o ­

c l a m a t i o n w h i c h s e t up t h e f o l l o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f s a l e :

2. A l l l a n d e x c e p t T b w n s i t e s a n d M i n e r a l L a n d s t o be

s o l d f o r 10s p e r a c r e , p a y a b l e h a l f i n c a s h a n d the

b a l a n c e a t t h e end o f two y e a r s *

3* The government m i g h t make r e s e r v e s .

4. L a n d t o be s o l d a t a u c t i o n , u p s e t p r i c e o f 1 0 s ,

when s u r v e y e d a n d due n o t i c e o f s a l e g i v e n .

5. L a n d s n o t s o l d a t a u c t i o n t o be s o l d a t u p s e t p r i c e .

1 1 . New W e s t m i n i s t e r l o t s t o be s o l d a t a u c t i o n , - - o n e

q u a r t e r o f t h e l o t s t o be h e l d f o r p u r c h a s e r s o u t s i d e

o f B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . P r o v i s i o n made f o r t h e i r s a l e

b y a u c t i o n i f t h e y were n o t t a k e n u p .

12. H o l d e r s o f l a n g l e y l o t s , f u l l y p a i d f o r , m i g h t

s u r r e n d e r them a n d a p p l y t h e p r i c e t o t h e p u r c h a s e

o f l o t s i n New W e s t m i n i s t e r

28. L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n , B.C., 11 F e b . 1 8 5 9 . By a s u p p l e m e n ­

t a r y p r o c l a m a t i o n o f 20 J a n . 1 8 6 0 , s e c t i o n 5 was e x t e n d e d

t o I n c l u d e town and s u b u r b a n l o t s a n d t h e i n s t a l m e n t

204

I n r e p o r t i n g t o Downing S t r e e t . D o u g l a s

s t a t e d , that, t h e y l o w e r p r i c e h a d b e e n a d o p t e d " t o e n c o u r a g e

e m i g r a t i o n f r o m England., (t.o d e v e l o p ) a n E n g l i s h e l e m e n t ,

t h e l a c k o f w h i c h l i e s a t t h e root, o f o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s

a n d embarass ( s i c ) a l l o u r a t t e m p t s f o r l e g i s l a t i o n , " 2 9

as w e l l . as. f r o m f e a r o f c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h cheap A m e r i c a n

l a n d a n d t o p r e v e n t s p e c u l a t o r s f r o m p u r c h a s i n g l a n d

" m e r e l y f o r p r o f i t a b l e r e s a l e . "

I n t h e r e p l y f r o m t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e t h e

i n s t a l m e n t , p o l i c y was c r i t i c i s e d and t h e p l a n f o r

" r e s e r v a t i o n o f one f o u r t h o f t h e l o t s i n t h e p r o p o s e d

c a p i t a l f o r s a l e i n t h e u n i t e d Kingdom a n d t h e B r i t i s h

C o l o n i e s " met w i t h i m m e d i a t e c o n d e m n a t i o n . " T h i s i s

one o f t h e w o r s t e v i l s t o w h i c h a new community i s l i a b l e .

. . T h i s p r o v i s i o n s h o u l d be r e s c i n d e d . . . and i f y o u

h a v e a l r e a d y empowered any a g e n t s t o s e l l s p e c i f i c l o t s ,

y o u s h o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y r e c a l l t h o s e p o w e r s . " 3 0

28. ( c o n t ) s y s t e m o f s e c t i o n 2 was a p p l i e d t o a l l

a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d .

29. Dougla'S.;:.(B€) t o L y t t o n , 19 l e b . 1 8 5 9

3 0 . C a r n a r v o n f ' f o r L y t t o n ) t o D o u g l a s (BC) , 7 May 1859.

T h i s d e s p a t c h p r e s e r v e d a t V i c t o r i a i s a n n o t a t e d i n p e n c i l

a s f o l l o w s : — " T h e r e s e r v a t i o n o f l o t s f o r s a l e i n t h e

U n i t e d Kingdom a n d t h e B r i t i s h C o l o n i e s , was made w i t h t h e

v i e w o f m e e t i n g t h e demand a n t i c i p a t e d b y t h e l a r g e

i m m i g r a t i o n e x p e c t e d t h a t y e a r f r o m B r i t a i n and t h e C o l o n i e s

205

The n e x t a p r o b l e m r a i s e d , t h e l a c k o f r a p i d , a n d

a c c u r a t e s u r v e y i n g , was met b y t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f p r e ­

e m p t i o n r e g u l a t i o n s . As e a r l y a s O c t o b e r o f 1859,

D o u g l a s h a d " a u t h o r i z e d t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f l a n d t o t h e

e x t e n t o f 160 a c r e s , w i t h a p r e - e m p t i v e r i g h t t o any

p e r s o n o c c u p y i n g i m m e d i a t e l y a n d i m p r o v i n g s u c h l a n d s

and a g r e e i n g t o pay t h e Government p r i c e n o t e x c e e d i n g

1 0 a p e r a c r e whenever t h e l a n d i s s u r v e y e d a n d t h e t i t l e

g r a n t e d * " T h i s emergency s y s t e m was c o n f i r m e d a n d

e x t e n d e d by t h e P r e - E m p t i o n P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 1860 whose

terms p r a c t i c a l l y m a t c h t h o s e o f t h e V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d 3 2

P r e - E m p t i o n P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 19 F e b r u a r y 1861*

T h i s p r o c l a m a t i o n was r e p l a c e d b y t h e

P r e - E m p t i o n Amendment A c t o f 1861 a n d l i m i t e d b y t h e

P r e - E m p t i o n P u r c h a s e A c t o f t h e same y e a r . To g u a r d

a g a i n s t c o n f u s i o n f r o m t h i s v a r i e t y o f l a w s , t h e y were

30. ( c o n t ) and who I t was f e a r e d m i g h t o t h e r w i s e be d e p r i v e d

o f t h e c h a n c e o f o b t a i n i n g l o t s i n New W e s t m i n i s t e r .

It . was however n e v e r i n t e n d e d a n d we h a v e empowered

any a g e n t s t o s e l l s p e c i f i c l o t s , o t h e r w i s e s u c h powers

would' a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r I n s t r u c t i o n s be w i t h d r a w n . " The

h a n d i s n o t D o u g l a s * — m a y b e Mbod'y*s..

3 1 . Douglas: (BC) t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 12 Jan.1860

3 2 . B.C. P r o c l a m a t i o n , 4 J a n . 1 8 6 0 . F o r V . I . P r o c l a m a t i o n

v . s u p r a c » 9 , n.13, p » l ? 4 . Summary o f p r o c l a m a t i o n p . 1 7 3 .

2 0 6

l a t e r r e p e a l e d a n d t h e i r c l a u s e s a s s e m b l e d i n t h e P r e - .

E m p t i o n C o n s o l i d a t i o n A c t p a s s e d 2? A u g u s t 1861.

The r e d u c t i o n o f t h e p r i c e f r o m 10s t o 4/2

was fiBffltLly a c c e p t e d b y Downing S t r e e t a f t e r the f o l l o w i n g

l o g i c a l p l e a b y D o u g l a s , " I f t h e p u b l i c l a n d c o u l d b e

s o l d <at- a h i g h u p s e t p r i c e a n d t h e c o u n t r y a t t h e same

t i m e f i l l e d w i t h people., t h e r e w o u l d be an a d v a n t a g e

i n c o n t i n u i n g t h e p r e s e n t s a l e p r i c e o f l a n d b u t i f one

o r o t h e r o f t h e s e o b j e c t s must be s a c r i f i c e d i t i s e v i d ­

e n t l y p r e f e r a b l e t o h a v e t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d t o g r a n t

t h e l a n d w i t h o u t p u r c h a s e o r a t a much l o w e r p r i c e t h a n

a t p r e s e n t , " 3 3

The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e w h i l e a c c e p t i n g t h e d r o p

i n p r i c e gave a w a r n i n g t h a t "a maximum p r i c e f o r a l l

Crown L a n d c a n n o t v / i t h p r o p r i e t y be e s t a b l i s h e d b y l a w " 3 4

a n d recommended an i d e a l i s t i c s c h e m e--"such a p l a n a s ,

w h i l s t i t s h a l l g u a r d a g a i n s t a b u s e s and a g a i n s t an undue

a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f l a n d by i n d i v i d u a l s who h a v e n o t t h e

means t o t u r n i n g i t t o a r e a l a c c o u n t , s h a l l a t t h e same

t:ime b e b e s t s u i t e d t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f B r i t i s h

C o l u m b i a , " On t h e b a s i s o f s u c h p e r m i s s i o n D o u g l a s

p r o m u l g a t e d t h e C o u n t r y L a n d Act. o f 1861 b y w h i c h "The • , • •

33, D o u g l a s (BC) t o L y t t o n , New W e s t m i n i s t e r , 23 May 1860

34, L e w i s t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D . S t . , 16 J u l , 1 8 6 0 (#27). A l s o

a c c e p t e d i n N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D , S t , , 28 J u n , 1 8 6 0

3 5 , L e w i s t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D,St,., 16 J u l , 1 8 6 0 (#41)

207

p r i c e o f u n s u r v e y e d l a n d b y p r e - e m p t i o n o r s a l e t o t h e

pre-empto.r . . . a n d t h e u p s e t p r i c e a t s a l e s :of s u r v e y e d 3 6

l a n d was s e t a t 4/2, p e r a c r e . "

R e g i s t r y and t i t l e s were l o o k e d a f t e r b y

t h e L a n d R e g i s t r y A c t o f 1861 e s t a b l i s h i n g a L a n d

R e g i s t r y O f f i c e a n d a p p o i n t i n g R e g i s t r a r s - G e n e r a l a n d

D i s t r i c t R e g i s t r a r s " f o r e f f e c t u a l l y s e c u r i n g t h e t i t l e

t o a n d f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e t r a n s f e r o f r e a l p r o p e r t y i n

t h e C o l o n y o f B r i t i s h Columbia." 3''' and b y t h e Town L o t

Leases. R e l i e f A c t o f 8 May 1860 w h i c h a l l o w e d f o r p e t i t i o n s

whereby d o u b t f u l o r c o n t e s t e d c l a i m s m i g h t be s u m m a r i l y • Z D

s e t t l e d , b e f o r e a m a g i s t r a t e . u

T h i s b r i e f s u r v e y o f a l a r g e f i e l d i s o f f e r e d

h e r e o n l y as a s u g g e s t i o n f o r f u r t h e r e x t e n d e d r e s e a r c h .

The s t u d y o f B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a on t h e same s c a l e a.s t h e

p r e c e d i n g s t u d y o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e

l a n d p o l i c y o f t h e u n i t e d p r o v i n c e s a f t e r 1866, f o r m s

t h e complement, o f t h i s p r e s e n t s t u d y a n d may some day

be a d d e d .

. . . • 36. C o u n t r y L a n d A c t , B.C., 19 Jan.1 8 6 1

3 7 . L a n d R e g i s t r y A c t , B.C., 26 Aug.1861

38. c . p . A c t t o C u r e I m p e r f e c t T i t l e s , V . I . , 10 Dec.1860

v . s u p r a c . 9 , n.46, p.187.

208

A p p e n d i x A

THE ESTABLISHMENT. OE THE PUGET. *S SOUND AGRICULTURAL COMPANY

On t h e 2 7 t h o f F e b r u a r y 1839 a. com m i t t e e o f t h e Hudson"a

Bay Company met at. Hudson's Bay House t o d i s c u s s "a

p r o s p e c t u s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f an a s s o c i a t i o n t o be

a t y l e d t h e 'P u g e t ' s Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company' h a v i n g

f o r i t ' s o b j e c t s t h e r e a r i n g o f f l o c k s a nd h e r d s on a n

e x t e n s i v e s c a l e , w i t h a v i e w t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f Wool,

H i d e s a n d T a l l o w f o r t h e B r i t i s h m a r k e t , and f o r t h e

c u l t i v a t i o n o f o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c e , i n t h e D i s t r i c t

o f C o u n t r y s i t u a t e d t o t h e n o r t h w a r d o f t h e C o l u m b i a

R i v e r . ""** The p r o s p e c t u s was " f a v o r a b l y e n t e r t a i n e d " b y

t h e g e n t l e m e n p r e s e n t , who were c o n v i n c e d " t h a t a v a l u a b l e

b r a n c h o f b u s i n e s s may a r i s e f r o m t h e e x e r t i o n s o f t h i s

a s s o c i a t i o n , and t h a t t h e y may be i n s t r u m e n t a l i n i m p r o v i n g

» • » •

1* E x t r a c t f r o m t h e M i n u t e s o f a Committee, h e l d a t t h e

Hudson's B a y House, 2 7 t h o f F e b r u a r y , 1839. Document i n

B.C. A r c h i v e s , V i c t o r i a , B.C. E n v e l o p e K.P.316

209

t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e n a t i v e I n d i a n s a n d o t h e r p e r s o n s

i n h a b i t i n g that, remote c o u n t r y . . . b r i n g i n g them i n t o

h a b i t s o f i n d u s t r y a n d c i v i l i z a t i o n , " 2 S i n c e t h e

" G o v e r n o r and. Committee, ( d i d . n o t c o n s i d e r ) i t e x p e d i e n t

t o make t h i s new B r a n c h , a B r a n c h o f t h e F u r Trade*,- a

r e s o l u t i o n was p a s s e d g r a n t i n g t h e P u g e t ' s Sound

A g r i c u l t u r a l . Company " p e r m i s s i o n t o c a r r y on t h e i r

c o n t e m p l a t e d o p e r a t i o n s " a n d p r o m i s i n g " t h e a s s i s t a n c e

a n d s u p p o r t r e q u i r e d f r o m t h e Hudson's Bay Company,

t o w a r d s c a r r y i n g i n t o e f f e c t the m e a sures a e t f o r t h

i n t h e s a i d p r o s p e c t u s . * 3 b y t u r n i n g o v e r t o t h e P u g e t ' s

Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company " s u c h p o r t i o n o f t h e S t o c k

of" Sheep and C a t t l e and o f t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Implements,

e t c . , a s c a n be c o n v e n i e n t l y d i s p e n s e d w i t h by t h e P u r

T r a d e . . . a t s u c h f a i r a n d r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e s as may

be d e t e r m i n e d on, b y t h e G o v e r n o r an d C o u n c i l o f t h e

n o r t h e r n D e p a r t m e n t . * 4

L e t us b r i e f l y c o n s i d e r t h e h i g h p o i n t s o f . . . . .

2.. E x t r a c t f r o m M i n u t e s o f Committee, 27 Feb.1839

Note t h a t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s t o M c L o u g h l i n , 16 Mar.1838

( v . i n f r a n.13) c o n t a i n r e f e r e n c e t o employment of n a t i v e s .

3. I b i d . See a l s o P e l l y t o G r e y , H.B.H., 12 Jun.1851

f o r r e f e r e n c e t o t h e "Pur T r a d e B r a n c h o f t h e H.B.Co.*

w h i c h h e l d l a n d a r o u n d V i c t o r i a .

4. i b i d . N o t e t h a t v a l u a t i o n was t o be made by t h e o n l y

p o s s e s s o r s o f s t o c k i n t h e N o r t h West.

210

t h i s P r o s p e c t u s . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t t h e f i r s t c l a u s e

a s s e r t s t h a t t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n i s t o b e f o r m e d " u n d e r

t h e p r o t e c t i o n a n d a u s p i c e s o f t h e G o v e r n o r a n d Company

o f A d v e n t u r e r s t r a d i n g i n t o Hudson's Ba^r,* 3 The

a s s o c i a t i o n was c a p i t a l i z e d a t £ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 i n 2000 s h a r e s ,

b u t p o s s e s s i o n c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d b y an i m m e d i a t e payment

o f 1 0 ^ and p o s s i b l e f u t u r e payments ( n o t more t h a n 5%

e v e r y t h r e e m o n t h s ) . I f t h e h o l d e r w i s h e d t o s e l l

s h a r e s he h a d t o g i v e t h e f i r s t o f f e r o f s a l e t o t h e

a g e n t s o f t h e © o m p a n y , and i n a n y c a s e t o s e l l them o n l y

t o p u r c h a s e r s a p p r o v e d by t h e A g e n t s ,

The management was e n t r u s t e d t o t h e A g e n t s ,

who were r e q u i r e d t o own a t l e a s t t w e n t y s h a r e s o f fit

Company s t o c k . P e l l y , C o l v i l e and S i m p s o n were c h o s e n

f o r t h e f i r s t y e a r , b u t t h e r e were t o be a n n u a l r e -

e l e c t i o n s a t t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g i n L o n d o n , where v o t i n g 7

was b y s h a r e s and p r o x i e s were a l l o w e d ,

• « • ,

5, The d e t a i l ^ s a r e f r o m what a p p e a r s t o be a f o r m s e n t

w i t h t h e c i r c u l a r l e t t e r t o t h e c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r s o f

t h e H ,B»Go» ( v , i n f r a n,9) b u t s e v e r a l c o p i e s were a v a i l a b l e ,

6, Though n o t a l a r g e f i n a n c i a l b a r , t h i s s h u t o u t temp­

o r a r i l y a l l s a v e t h e o r i g i n a l t h r e e A g e n t s , ( v , i n f r a ,

a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f s h a r e s ) . The s t r i c t c o n t r o l o f s a l e s

w o u l d p r e v e n t much e n g r o s s i n g o f s t o c k ,

7 , T . i n f r a , d e l e g a t i o n o f v o t i n g powers o f Hudson's

Bay f a c t o r s t o H,B,H,

211

Hot, o n l y were t h e a p p o i n t e d A g e n t s Hudson*s

Bay men, h u t a l t h o u g h t h e y were empowered "to a p p o i n t

M a nagers, A g e n t s o r A t t o r n e y s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f t r a n s ­

a c t i n g t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e Company . . . and t o make

a g r e e m e n t s w i t h , a n d a d v a n c e s t o , p e r s o n s d e s i r o u s o f

b e c o m i n g A g r i c u l t u r a l i s t s * i t was on t h e s t r i c t c o n d i t i o n

"that, t h e p r i n c i p a l d i r e c t i o n o r management o f the a f f a i r s

o f t h e s a i d Company, i n t h e s a i d d i s t r i c t , be u n d e r t h e

s u p e r i n t e n d e n c e o f a n O f f i c e r a t t a c h e d t o , and i n t e r e s t e d

i n , t h e F u r T r a d e o f t h e s a i d G o v e r n o r and Company . . .

and s u b j e c t t o i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , t o be

i s s u e d b y t h e s a i d A g e n t s i n L o n d o n , * The e a r l y p u r c h a s e

o f s t o c k a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l i m p l e m e n t s f r o m t h e Hudson's

Bay Company was i n s i s t e d upon, a s was a l s o a b o n d

a g a i n s t any t r a d e i n f u r s .

F i n a l l y p l a n s were made f o r t h e i n c o r p o r a t i o n

o f the P u g e t ' s Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Company i n t h e e v e n t

o f t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f the Hudson's Bay Company l i c e n s e

i n t h e West, a n d f o r a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a l a n d g r a n t i n t h a t

c o n t i n g e n c y . D u r i n g t h e summer a n d f a l l o f 1S39, a

• . . • S. c . p . P e l l y t o G r e y , H.B.E., ...4 Feb.l852» v . s u p r a , n.3,

p, 2 1 0 . re l a n d s " r e c l a i m e d f r o m t h e w i l d e r n e s s a n d

o c c u p i e d ' b e f o r e 1846 on V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d * . T h e s e l a n d s

t h e y c l a i m a s t h e i r s w i t h o u t p u r c h a s e * a n d r e c a l l t h a t t h e

B o u n d a r y T r e a t y g u a r a n t e e d them r i g h t s t o s i m i l a r l a n d s

i n O r e g o n . I h a v e n o t f o u n d t h a t t h i s r e f e r s a l s o t o

212

c i r c u l a r l e t t e r w i t h i n t e r e s t i n g e n c l o s u r e s , was r e c e i v e d ,

hy t h e c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r s a n d c l e r k s o f t h e Hudson's.

Bay Company throughout, t h e N o r t h W est. The l e t t e r was

an i n v i t a t i o n t o t a k e s t o c k i n t h e P u g e t 1 s S o u n d A g r i c u l ­

t u r a l Company, and. i t b o r e t h e s i g n a t u r e of George Q

S i m p s o n . The e n c l o s u r e s i n c l u d e t h e p r o s p e c t u s we h a v e

j u s t , d i s c u s s e d . , a n d a s c h e d u l e o f t h e number o f s h a r e s

a l l o t t e d t o t h e d i f f e r e n t r a n k s o f o f f i c i a l s . 1 ^ I n

c a s e any were n o t t a k e n up t h e y were t o be a p p r o p r i a t e d 11

b y t h e a g e n t s . A f t e r , s i g n i n g t h e p r o s p e c t u s , t h e

a . ( c o n t ) P.S..A..CO. l a n d s , b u t t h e a n a l o g y i s i n t e r e s t i n g .

9. The l e t t e r i s d a t e d 25 A p r . 1 8 3 9 , f r o m l a c h i n e a n d may

be f o u n d i n E n v e l o p e E.P.316, B.C. A r c h i v e s , . V i c t o r i a .

1Q. To t h e T h r e e Agents. 20 s h a r e s e a c h

» » G o v e r n o r and Committee (H.B.Co.)10 » »

« M G o v e r n o r o f R u p e r t s l a n d and

*«" » Sec'tary o f t h e H.B.Co.. 10 « ft

« « P r o p r i e t o r s o f H.B.Co. S t o c k , 1 s h a r e

* f o r e v e r y £ 3 0 0 s t o c k h e l d b y them.

H- tt C h i e f F a c t o r s o f t h e H.B.Co. 10 s h a r e s »

•» » C h i e f T r a d e r s * " » 5 w H

* " C l e r k s £ 1 0 0 a y e a r s a l a r y 3 " "

£ 5 0 a n d u n d e r £ 1 0 0 2 " •

u n d e r £ 5 0 1 " "

11. The c o p y i n t h e V i c t o r i a A r c h i v e s i s s i g n e d by W i l l i a m

E r a s e r T o l m i e , F o r b e s B a r c l a y and G . B . R o b e r t s .

213

p u r c h a s e r h a d t o f i l l i n t h r e e f o r m s . The f i r s t was

s i m p l y a n o r d e r on*The G o v e r n o r , D e p u t y G o v e r n o r , and

Committee o f t h e Konl'ble ( s i c ) Hudson's Bay Company

i n London."- "to p a y t h e n e c e s s a r y d e p o s i t f r o m t h e t r a d e r ' s

p e r s o n a c c o u n t . The s e c o n d f o r m was t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n

t o P e l l y , C o l v i l e a n d Simp s o n o f i n t e n t i o n t o p u r c h a s e

s h a r e s , h u t t h e t h i r d i s w o r t h c o p y i n g h e r e .

To J . H . P e l l y ) )

A . C o l v i l e | E s q u i r e s

Geo.Simpson)

G e n t l e m e n :

H a v i n g a c c e p t e d an i n t e r e s t i n t h e P u g e t » s

S o u n d A g r i c u l t u r a l Company t o t h e e x t e n d o f .....

s h a r e s , I h e r e b y n o m i n a t e and a p p o i n t y o u , j o i n t l y

a n d s e v e r a l l y a s my A g e n t s , P r o x i e s o r A t t o r n i e s , t o

v o t e and a c t f o r me i n e i t h e r o f t h o s e c a p a c i t i e s ,

at. a l l G e n e r a l M e e t i n g s o f S h a r e h o l d e r s , and i n a l l

o t h e r m a t t e r s c o n n e c t e d w i t h my i n t e r e s t s i n t h e

a f f a i r s o f t h e s a i d . P u g e t * s Sound A g r i c u l t u r a l Co.,

i n t h e manner a s I c o u l d do m y s e l f , i f p r e s e n t .

I am, G e n t l e m e n ,

Y o u r most o b e d i e n t s e r v a n t ,

We do n o t know how much o f t h e s t o c k was i n t h e h a n d s

o f s h a r e h o l d e r s o r employees o f t h e Hudson's Bay

Company, b u t we c a n s a f e l y presume t h a t i t was a m a j o r i t y

214

p r o b a b l y a m o n o p o l y . ^

On 16 M a r c h 1839 a d e s p a t c h 1 2 was s e n t

b y t h e D i r e c t o r s o f t h e P u g e t * s S o u n d A g r i c u l t u r a l

Company t o J o h n M C L o u g h l i n , who, a s t h e o f f i c i a l i n

c h a r g e o f t h e C o l u m b i a D e p a r t m e n t r e c e i v e d " t h e p r i n c i p a l

d i r e c t i o n i n N o r t h A m e r i c a o f t h e P u g e t ' s S o u n d A g r i c u l ­

t u r a l Company*" 1 The d e s p a t c h g o e s on t o d e t a i l t h e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f two f a r m s , p r o p o s e d f o r d o w l i t z a n d

F i s q u a l l y . A t t h e f o r m e r i t was d e s i r a b l e " t o b r e a k up

a n d l a y u n d e r c r o p , a s much l a n d a s c o n v e n i e n t w i t h the

l e a s t p o s s i b l e d e l a y , i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n y o u r p e o p l e ,

t o r e l i e v e t h e Hudson's Bay Company o f a c o n t r a c t f o r

A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c e w h i c h t h e y h a v e e n t e r e d i n t o w i t h the

R u s s i a n A m e r i c a n Company, a n d t o make p r o v i s i o n s f o r

s e t t l e r s t h a t w i l l b e s e n t out f r o m E n g l a n d a s s o o n a s

y o u c a n c o n v e n i e n t l y r e c e i v e them*" w h i l e a t N i s q u a l l y

• » * *

12.. I n a l i s t o f s t o c k h o l d e r s ( E n v e l o p e E.P.316) c o n t a i n i n g

155 names, 86 were r e c o g n i z e d a s H.B.men by t h e V i c t o r i a

A r c h i v e s s t a f f , and o t h e r s h e l d s t o c k i n t h e H*B.Co.

The l i s t , i s u n d a t e d , b u t f r o m i n t e r n a l e v i d e n c e , r e t h e

d a t e s o f d e a t h o f some m a r k e d " d e c e a s e d " i t ' s p e r i o d i s

between i 8 6 0 and 1876. A memorandum i n c l u d e d i n a r e p o r t

o f Douglas, a n d Ogden t o G o v e r n o r S i m p s o n on H.B.Co. and

P . S * A » C o . c l a i m s i n Ore g o n say3 t h a t s h a r e s i n the P.S.A.

Co* 'were t a k e n by s h a r e h o l d e r s o f t h e H.B.Co. o r p e r s o n s

i n t h e i r s e r v i c e " . T h i s i s d e f i n i t e b u t no e x c l u s i v e p r o o f .

215

a t t e n t i o n was t o be p r i n c i p a l l y c o n f i n e d " t o t h e r e a r i n g

o f F l o c k s a n d H e r d s , c u l t i v a t i n g no more g r o u n d t h a n may

be n e c e s s a r y t o m a i n t a i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d p r o v i d e

M a n g e l , W u r z e l , e t c . , f o r t h e Sheep a n d C a t t l e . " S t o c k

was t o be o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e Hudson's Ba y Company f a r m s ,

b u t p l a n s were made " t o i m p o r t f r o m C a l i f o r n i a a s e a r l y

a s p o s s i b l e , sheep a n d b l a c k c a t t l e , t h e f o r m e r t o be

c o n v e y e d b y s e a , a n d t h e l a t t e r by t h e B ona V e n t u r e

t r a p p i n g e x p e d i t i o n on t h e i r r e t u r n i n 1841, s a y a b o u t

1000 y o u n g cows." T h i s I m p o r t e d s t o c k was t o be k e p t

a t N i s q u a l l y , w h i l e C o w l i t z was t o be t h e s c e n e o f an

e n d e a v o r t o i m p r o v e t h e t y p e o f s h e e p . 1 4 T h e s e i m p o r t s

o f s t o c k were t o be p a i d f o r i n goods " f o r w a r d e d u n d e r

a d i s t i n c t mark i n t h e H u d s o n r s Bay Company A n n u a l S h i p . "

a n d t h e expenses o f f r e i g h t were t o be s e t t l e d b y a g r e e ­

ment o f t h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e companies i n L o n d o n , s i n c e

" i t (was) d e s i r a b l e t o h a ve as few a c c o u n t s a s p o s s i b l e

w i t h t h e F u r T r a d e . " The p e r s o n n e l o f t h e s e f a r m s was

as f o l l o w s :

C o w l i t z N i s q u a l l y

1 P r i n c i p a l F a r m e r A C l e r k i n C h a r g e

1 P r i n c i p a l S h e p h e r d 1 P l o u g h m e n ( s i c )

2 A s s i s t a n t S h e p h e r d s 1 Rough C a r p e n t e r

6 Ploughmen 2 E u r o p e a n . Herdsmen

1 B l a c k s m i t h 2 I n d i a n Herdsmen

1 A s s i s t a n t B l a c k s m i t h 2 C a n a d i a n L a b o r i n g S e r v a n t s

216

C o w l i t z ( c o n t )

2 Rough C a r p e n t e r s

10 C a n a d i a n L a b o r e r s

The p r i n c i p a l s h e p h e r d , Mr. S t e e l , came out f r o m E n g l a n d

w i t h M c L o u g h l i n , but. t h e r e s t were t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m Hudson^

Bay Company p o s t s " u n t i l t h e y c a n be r e p l a c e d b y o t h e r s

t h a t may be s e n t f r o m t h i s C o u n t r y f r o m t i m e t o t i m e b y

t h e A n n u a l S h i p . " a n d t h e C l e r k i n c h a r g e a t K i s q u a l l y

was a l s o t o a c t a s a g e n t f o r t h e Hudson's Bay^ Company

i n t h e f u r t r a d e , f o r w h i c h s e r v i c e t h e P u g e t ' s Sound

A g r i c u l t u r a l Company r e c e i v e d £ 2 0 0 a y e a r .

The d e s p a t c h c o n c l u d e s w i t h a l i s t o f p r o p ­

o s e d c o n d i t i o n s on w h i c h s e t t l e r s f r o m E n g l a n d w o u l d

be r e c e i v e d . The t e r m s p r e s u p p o s e d t h e s e t t l e r t o be a

man o f means a n d p o s i t i o n , t h o u g h i m m e d i a t e o u t l a y i n

c a s h was l i m i t e d t o h i s p a s s a g e o u t . He must, h o w e v e r ,

b r i n g w i t h h i m , two m a r r i e d l a b o r i n g s e r v a n t s ( n o t , I

p r e s u m e , a man and h i s w i f e ) who were u n d e r a f i v e y e a r

1 3 , T h i s d e s p a t c h ( e n c l o s e d w i t h t h e l i s t s , p r o s p e c t u s , e t c .

i n E n v e l o p e E.P.316) was i n a v e r y n a t u r a l c o n f u s i o n ,

o r i g i n a l l y i n s c r i b e d " G o v e r n o r and Committee t o J o h n

M c l o u g h l i n " . B e f o r e t r a n s m i s s i o n however, t h e f i r s t t h r e e

words were c r o s s e d out a n d " D i r e c t o r s o f P.S.A.Co." s u b s t i t ­

uted, i n a n o t h e r h a n d .

1 4 . ""Sheep f r o m C a l i f o r n i a s h o u l d be c r o s s e d w i t h M e r i n o

a n d L i s t e r rams, a n d the p r o g e n y c o n v e y e d a t t h e p r o p e r

217

c o n t r a c t t o t h e Company. The e x p e n s e of t h e s e r v a n t ' s

passage, o u t was made a c h a r g e on t h e f a r m .

^ On a r r i v a l t h e f a r m e r was p u t i n p o s s e s s i o n

o f 100Q a c r e s o f l a n d , 100 a c r e s o f w h i c h were t o be

b r o k e n a n d f e n c e d , a n d p r o v i d e d w i t h "a h o u s e 30* b y 25*

f o r t h e f a r m e r , a n d a h o u s e 20* by 15* f o r e a c h m a r r i e d

s e r v a n t , w i t h a b a r n a n d s t a b l i n g f o r 8 H o r s e s o r Oxen

andsheds. f o r sheep i n p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e f l o c k . " A g r i c u l ­

t u r a l i m p l e m e n t s and t h e f o l l o w i n g l i s t o f s t o c k was t o

be p r o v i d e d t o e a c h s e t t l e r .

500 sheep @ 1 0 / e a c h

20 cows @ 2 0 / "

1 b u l l ® 2 0 / "

6 h o r s e s @ 4 0 / *

8 oxen @ 2 0 / *

The a f f a i r s o f t h e f a r m e r were c l o s e l y r e g u l a t e d . The

Company s u p p l i e d p r o v i s i o n s f o r t h e f i r s t y e a r , b u t u n l e s s

t h e y were p a i d f o r o r r e t u r n e d a t o n c e , t h e y b o r e i n t e r e s t

at. 5% as d i d a l s o t h e c o s t o f s t o c k , i m p l e m e n t s , a n d

o u t l a y f o r b u i l d i n g s d u r i n g t h e t e r m of t h e l e a s e . . E a c h

y e a r t h e p r o c e e d s o f p r o d u c e s e n t t o m a r k e t o r i n c r e a s e

i n s t o c k , was t o be d i v i d e d e q u a l l y between t h e f a r m e r a n d

t h e Company a f t e r t h e wages o f the l a b o r e r s a n d t h e cost,

o f p r o v i s i o n s f o r the year had b e e n p a i d . M o r e o v e r t h e

1 4 . ( c o n t ) age t o C o w l i t z f a r m , where none e x c e p t i m p r o v e d

b r e e d s s h o u l d b e k e p t . "

218

Company r e t a i n e d t l i e r i g h t t o t a k e e x t r a s t o c k up t o one

h a l f o f t h e i n c r e a s e a t a s e t p r i c e , w h i c h m i g h t l a t e r

he t o t h e i r a d v a n t a g e i n a p e r i o d o f r i s i n g p r i c e s . 1 5

A l l p r o d u c e had. t o he s o l d t o , o r h a n d l e d h y , t h e Company

" a t t h e u s u a l c o i m a i s s i o n " a n d t h e f a r m e r s were b a r r e d

f r o m d i s t i l l i n g s p i r i t u o u s l i q u o r s . They were n o t t o be

a l l o w e d t o f o r g e t / t h e i r s o r r o w s , o r to c o n s o l e t h e m s e l v e s

by i l l i c i t t r a d e w i t h t h e r u m - l o v i n g I n d i a n s .

E i n a l l y i f t h e f a r m e r e v e r got. t o g e t h e r enough

money t o go home, t h e Company t o o k f r o m h i s s t o c k , a n i m a l s

e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e o r i g i n a l g r a n t a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e

a n i m a l s were t h e n d i v i d e d as e v e n l y a s p o s s i b l e between

t h e f a r m e r a n d t h e Company, b u t t h e l a t t e r h a d t h e r i g h t

t o t a k e t h e h a l f t h e f a r m e r c l a i m e d , i f t h e y s u s p e c t e d

u neven d i v i s i o n . The l a n d a n d b u i l d i n g were r e t u r n e d

t o t h e Company, a n d t h e l a t t e r h a d t o be i n g o o d r e p a i r ,

t h o u g h no b o n u s was r e t u r n e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t s .

T h e s e , t h e n , were t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s e t t l e ­

ment. The s u c c e s s o f the scheme, h a d t h e C o l u m b i a V a l l e y

r e m a i n e d a f u r p r e s e r v e , i s o n l y a m a t t e r f o r c o n j e c t u r e . . . . . 1 5 . The O v e r l a n d s e t t l e r s f r o m O r e g o n who a r r i v e d s h o r t l y ,

were v e r y a n x i o u s f o r s t o c k . Whitman i s s l s t e d t h a t

"Sheep a n d c a t l l e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y s h e e p , a r e I n d i s p e n s a b l e

f o r O r e g o n . " Whitman t o P r e n t i c e , 28 May 1843, q u o t e d i n

Wm. A . Mowry, "Marcus Whitman- and t h e E a r l y Days o f

O r egon*, Few Y o r k , 1901. p.197

, 2 1 9

The s e t t l e r s f r o m A m e r i c a c r e a t e d a s i t u a t i o n u n e x p e c t e d

b y t h e t r a d e r s who e s t a b l i s h e d t h i s s y s t e m . How. i t

f a i l e d b e f o r e t h e c o m p e t i t i o n o f f r e e l a n d g r a n t s a n d

A m e r i c a n a g g r e s s i v e n e s s i s f u l l y t o l d e l s e w h e r e .

220

/ (1) B i r d Cage Walk T r a c i n g B. Modern ( C O S u p e r i o r

) (3) M e n z i e s

L e g e n d

EECD (Red i n k ) mark the c o r n e r s , o f t h e L a n d on w h i c h t h e Government b u i l d i n g s s t a n d and show t h e l a n d a s a l l o t t e d I n 1858. EFGD i n r e d ,

( B l a c k I n k ) ( T i t l e , s c a l e , l i n e s and l e t t e r i n g a s a b o v e , c o r r e c t i o n s s i c . )

ABCD mark t h e c o r n e r s o f t h e l a n d a s o r i g i n a l l y l a i d o u t i n 1854 and so r e p o r t e d t o t h e Hudson*s Bay Company on 1 s t S e p t . 1854 b y t h e l a t e S u r v e y o r G e n ' l .

( s i g n e d )

P.M.Pearse

A c t i n g S u r v e y o r - G e n * 1 12 t h December, 1865

Appendix B

LEOPOLD LSWEFBERG AND LOT: Z

L e o p o l d L o e r i b e r g , l a t e r . a n g l i c i z e d t o Lo w e n b e r g , was

a u c t i o n e e r - a n d l a n d a g e n t i n V i c t o r i a a f t e r I 8 6 0 , On

o c c a s i o n lie h a d c a r r i e d on s a l e s f o r t h e Hudson's Bay

Company and h e l d some o f the l o t s s o l d o f f t h e R e s e r v e . 1

Sometime i n M a r c h o f 1861 L o w e n b e r g

b o u g h t t h e a r e a known a s L o t Z f r o m t h e H u d s o n » s B a y

Company. 2 The e x a c t d a t e o f p u r c h a s e i s n o t known, b u t

news o f t h e s a l e l e a k e d o u t and t h e " C o l o n i s f o f 20

M a r c h 1 8 6 1 c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t . "We a r e . . . . 1. A t a H.B.Co. l a n d s a l e o f p r o p e r t y s i t u a t e d b e t w e e n

t h e S c h o o l R e s e r v e a n d t h e S p r i n g s h e l d on 1 November

1860, L o w e n b e r g b o u g h t two l o t s .

2. F o r t h e g e n e r a l l o c a t i o n s e e P e a r s e * s t r a c i n g i n c l u d e d

i n K e nnedy t o C a r d w e l l , 2 P e b . 1865

5. The t r a n s f e r w a s / f i l e d a t t h e V i c t o r i a L a n d R e g i s t r y

O f f i c e t i l l 1869. A t the s a l e m e n t i o n e d i n n . l t h e t e r m s

were 1 0 ^ on p u r c h a s e , b a l a n c e w i t h i n 2. y e a r s . The e x t r a

t i m e a l l o v f e d L owenberg was p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e o f h i s t i t l e d i f f i c u l t i e s .

221

t o l d . , on what we c o n c e i v e t o be g o o d a u t h o r i t y t h a t t h e

Government (or. Woe iEi*B*CoV.) (sic-).\h.ave. disp-'os.ed o f one

and e i g h t t e n t h s a c r e s of. l a n d a t t h e r e a r o f the

P a r l i a m e n t B u i l d i n g s . T h i s land, i s a p o r t i o n of. t h e

s e c t i o n o r i g i n a l l y i n t e n d e d f o r a government g a r d e n , M

N o t h i n g f u r t h e r was h e a r d t i l l May 8 when

Lowenberg was a r r e s t e d f o r a s s a u l t , f o l l o w i n g a n a l t e r c a t i o n

w i t h M r . Tlddeman o f t h e L a n d O f f i c e . T h i s o f f i c i a l h a d

s t a r t e d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a f e n c e a l o n g t h e open s i d e s

o f t h e Government R e s e r v e . L o w e n b e r g c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a

c h a l l e n g e t o h i s c l a i m so he employed l a b o r e r s t o b u i l d

a f e n c e on t h e l i n e b e t w e e n L o t Z a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e

R e s e r v e . Tlddeman o r d e r e d them o f f a n d Lowenberg p r o ­

t e s t e d so v i o l e n t l y t h a t he was t a k e n i n c h a r g e . I n

t h e p r e s s r e p o r t of t h i s i n c i d e n t i t was n o t e d t h a t t h e

R e s e r v e t h o u g h o r i g i n a l l y s u p p o s e d t o c o n t a i n t e n a c r e s

was r e a l l y l a r g e r and t h a t t h e r e m o v a l o f Lowenberg's

l o t l e f t j u s t t h a t much. T h r e e days l a t e r an e d i t o r i a l

e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e e x c e s s o v e r t e n a c r e s was due t o a

f i l l on t h e n o r t h s i d e o f t h e R e s e r v e a n d t h e c o m p l e t i o n

o f t i i e Government f e n c e a r o u n d t h e whole was r e p o r t e d .

I t was hoped t h a t t h e t r i a l o f M r . Lowanberg

w o u l d p r o d u c e some r u l i n g on t h e m a t t e r o f t i t l e s i n c e

t h e l o t was one o f t h e a r e a s u n d e r d i s p u t e between t h e

Company and t h e c i t y . B u t t h e o p t i m i s t s who h o p e d f o r

a p r e c e d e n t , were s a d l y d i s a p p o i n t e d . Mr. J u s t i c e

222

Tracing it

Indian. Reserve

(10 acres)

Legend

This i s a t r a c ­ing from the o f f i f i a l map of V i c t o r i a of 1654.

(signed)

Fearse

Acting Survey­or General

12 Dec.1865

JAMES BAY

P e m b e r t o n d e c l i n e d t o g i v e a d e c i s i o n b e a r i n g on t h e c a s e

w h i c h he knew to b e b e f o r e t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l so he

c o n f i n e d t h e c a s e t.o an a c t i o n o f t r e s p a s s a n d L o w e n b e r g

was d i s m i s & e d u n d e r b o n d o f g o o d b e h a v i o r . ^ Thus t h e

i s s u e was a v o i d e d b u t t h e s a l e o f L o t Z was. among t h e

o f f e n s e s imputed, t o t h e Company by S u r v e y o r G e n e r a l J . D.

P e m b e r t o n * s I n d e n t u r e o f 29 May* 5'

The Hudson*s Bay Company however, t o o k up

t h e c a s e of. Mr* Lowenberg* T h e i r s t o r y was s e n t t o

Hudson's Bay House, whence i s s u e d a p r o t e s t t o Downing

S t r e e t . The C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y w r o t e t o D o u g l a s g i v i n g

h i m h i m t h e a c c o u n t a s p r e s e n t e d by t h e Hudson's Bay

C o m p a n y T h e Company's v e r s i o n was a s f o l l o w s . The

w h o l e R e s e r v e was o r i g i n a l l y p a r t o f a Hudson's Bay

f a r m ( B e c k l e y ' s farm), c l a i m e d b y t h e Company b e c a u s e

o f o c c u p a t i o n b e f o r e 1849* L o t 2 l a y b e t w e e n t h a t p o r t i o n

o f t h e R e s e r v e on w h i c h t h e " B i r d c a g e s " " h a d b e e n e r e c t e d

a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r o f B e c k l e y Farm. T h i s d e s p a t c h a l s o

shov/ed t h e m o t i v e f o r t h e Company's a c t i o n . L owenberg

was s u i n g them f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n and damages and Hudson's ...» 4* C o l o n i s t o f 13 May 1861

5* C o l o n i s t of 29 May 1861, Y . s u p r a c . 5 .

6, v . i n f r a n.16, Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 2 Peb.1865

f o r C a r e y ' s o p i n i o n o f why t h e Company a c t e d .

7. B e r e n s t o N e w c a s t l e , H.B.H*, 15 J u l . 1 8 6 1 , s e n t o u t t o

T . I * u n d e r c o v e r o f N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 2 8 JU1.18&1

223

B a y House, c o n s i d e r i n g Tlddeman t h e o f f e n d e r h a d p a s s e d

on t h e c l a i m t o Downing S t r e e t , *

D o u g l a s * r e p l y was a t h o r o u g h a n d damning

c a s e a g a i n s t , t h e Company and L o w e n b e r g . 8 The s a l e was

"an a t t e m p t upon t h e p a r t , o f the Hudson's B a y Company

t o r e p o s s e s s t h e m s e l v e s of. t h e F o r t R e s e r v e , Mr.

Lo w e n b e r g b e i n g m e r e l y t h e i r a g e n t o r i n s t r u m e n t i n t h e

f i r s t s t e p . " ; The r e s e r v e had. o r i g i n a l l y b e e n t e n a c r e s

and s u b s e q u e n t c h a nges i n shape h a d b e e n made t o l e t t h e

Company s e l l more o f t h e w a t e r f r o n t ( a t p r e s e n t o c c u p i e d

b y t h e C.P.R. w h a r f s ) . Lowenberg*s l o t was s e p a r a t e d

f r o m t h e R e s e r v e b y o n l y a " d r a i n o r t r e n c h a b o u t two

f e e t w i d e t o c a r r y o f t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f s u r f a c e w a t e r

d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r . " S i n c e t h e l a s t s u r v e y o f 1858 L o t

Z h a d n o t b e e n c u l t i v a t e d w h i l e t h a U p a r t o f B e c k l e y Farm

f a c i n g i t a c r o s s S u p e r i o r S t r e e t had. b e e n s u b d i v i d e d a n d

s o l d i n l o t 3 d u r i n g 1859. E v e n a s e c o n d row b e h i n d t h e

f i r s t h a d b e e n s o l d b e f o r e Lowenberg s t a r t e d t o f e n c e .

From t h e s e f a c t s D o u g l a s drew t h e i n f e r e n c e t h a t i f Lot. Z

h a d r e a l l y b e e n b o n a f i d e Hudson*s S a y Company l a n d i t

c o u l d h a v e b e e n s u b d i v i d e d and s o l d a t a good p r o f i t

a t t h e same t i m e a s i t s n e i g h b o r s a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t .

Immediate d e c i s i o n o f c o u r s e l a y w i t h

Downing S t r e e t , a n d t h e r e t h e c a s e o f L o t Z was c o n s i d e r e d

a s a p h a s e o f t h e d i s p u t e a b o u t t o b e s e t t l e d b y t h e . . . . 8. D o u g l a s to N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 2:4 O c t . 1861

224

I n d e n t u r e o f 1862.

By t h i s , compromise t h e c a s e o f L o t Z was

r e a l l y s: e t t l e d a n d subsequent, c l a i m s a r e o n l y s p e c i a l

p l e a d i n g . C l a u s e 1 o f t h e I n d e n t u r e s t a t e d t h a t a l l

l a n d o c c u p i e d b e f o r e 1849 a n d s o l d b e f o r e 1 J a n u a r y 1862

were t o be g i v e n a v a l i d t i t l e . ^ T h i s r u l i n g was n o t

a c c e p t e d i n t h e C o l o n y and when D o u g l a s p u t f o r w a r d a

compromise s e t t l e m e n t i n A u g u s t o f 1863 he named l o t

Z a s one o f t h e l o t s t o be g i v e n up b y t h e Company.

He f u r t h e r a r g u e d t h a t L o t 2. m i g h t become a n u i s a n c e i f

b u i l t up w i t h " o b j e c t i o n a b l e b u i l d i n g s " , t h a t a f i r e

h a z a r d m i g h t be c r e a t e d a n d a r e a r e n t r a n c e t o t h e 1 1

Government B u i l d i n g s s h u t o f f .

Hudson's B a y House a c c e p t e d D o u g l a s ' com­

p r o m i s e w i t h t h e r e s e r v a t i o n t h a t s u c h t r a n s f e r s h o u l d

n o t a f f e c t t h e r i g h t s o f t h i r d p e r s o n s . 1 2 a n d when

Tffilmie was c a l l e d upon to make t h e s u r r e n d e r he was

g r a c i o u s l y p l e a s e d t o s t a t e t h a t a l l o t h e r l a n d s r e f e r r e d

t o were " a t H i s E x c e l l e n c y ' s immediate d i s p o s a l on b e h a l f

and f o r u s e s o f the Crown" b u t i n t h e c a s e o f L o t Z

""I h a v e v e r y r e s p e c t f u l l y t o s t a t e t h a t t h i s l o t c a n n o t .... 9. D o u g l a s d e s p a t c h , w r i t t e n 24 O c t . 1 8 6 1 . Would n o t

r e a c h D . S t . , much b e f o r e t h e Hew Y e a r .

1 0 . See t e x t a b o v e , c » 5 , p » 9 8 .

1 1 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 20 A p r . 1 8 6 3 1 2 . See N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 20 Aug.1863.

225

be. c o n v e y e d t o t h e Crown f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t i t h a s l o n g

s i n c e b e e n s o l d , t o a t h i r d , p a r t y whose, r i g h t s , were

d i s t i n c t l y r e s e r v e d , ("saved*) ( s i c ) b y t h e a r r a n g e m e n t

( o f 1 8 6 2 ) . « 1 3

B e f o r e t h e Hudson's Ba y Company's a c c e p t a n c e

h a d l e f t . Downing S t r e e t D o u g l a s had. s e n t a n o t h e r s t a t e ­

ment about. Lot. Z. Though most o f i t . was r e i t e r a t i o n o f

p r e v i o u s arguments he d e l i v e r e d , one new f a c t . , v i z . , "on

t h e map up on w h i c h t h e s e l o t s , " s o u t h s i d e o f S u p e r i o r

S t r e e t ) were p u b l i c l y s o l d by t h e Company I n 1859, t h e r e a r

l i n e o f t h e R e s e r v e was e x h i b i t e d as l a i d down i n 1 8 5 8 . * 1 4

I n s p i t e o f a l l . D o u g l a s * a d v o c a c y t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e

r e f u s e d t o b r e a k t h i s c l a u s e o f the I n d e n t u r e and i n

M a r c h o f 1864 t h e new G-overnor Kennedy was i n f o r m e d that,

s i n c e t h e l a n d h a d b e e n p u r c h a s e d i n M a r c h 1861, Lowen-

b e r g ' s t i t l e was g o o d , 1 5 t h o u g h n o t h i n g was s a i d a b o u t h i s

damage s u i t •

K e nnedy h a v i n g j u s t a r r i v e d i n V a n c o u v e r

I s l a n d was n o t aware o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e c a s e so

. . . . 1 3 . T o l m i e t o Young, F t . V i c t o r i a , 21 Nov.1863

1 4 . D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 11 Aug.1863. The map

o f V i c t o r i a i s s u e d b y P e m b e r t o n i n 1861 shows t h e l i n e

o f t h e R e s e r v e c o m i n g o u t t o S u p e r i o r S t r e e t , and

L o t Z t a s t e f u l l y d e c o r a t e d w i t h i m a g i n a r y f l o w e r b e d s .

T h e r e was no d r i v e w a y a c r o s s I t . 1 5 . N e w c a s t l e t o K ennedy, D . S t . , 16 Mar.1864

226

he c o l l e c t e d , e v i d e n c e f r o m P e m b e r t o n and C a r e y and s e n t

t h e i r s t a t e m e n t s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t r a c i n g s o f t h e a r e a

s u p p l i e d b y P e a r s e , i n h i s r e p l y . 1 6 He s t a t e d t h a t i n

t h e m e anwhile "Lowenberg s u f f e r s no s e r i o u s i n c o n v e n i e n c e

i n s o m u c h as he h a s f e n c e d i n t h e d i s p u t e d l o t know as

l e t t e r Z and. e x e r c i s e d t h e r i g h t s o f o w n e r s h i p o v e r i t

w h i c h I h a v e n o t i n any way d i s p u t e d " a n d s u g g e s t e d

t h a t t h e l a n d be a c q u i r e d b y t h e Crown, i f n e c e s s a r y

p a y i n g t h e Hudson's Ba y Company " t h e o r i g i n a l amount o f

p u r c h a s e money, i f t h e Company d e s i r e i t , b u t on w h a t e v e r

terms i t ought t o be r e l i n q u i s h e d b y t h e Hudson's Ba y

Company." P e m b e r t o n * s memorandum i s e n c l o s e d b.utaadded

n o t h i n g t o t h e f a c t s a b o v e p r e s e n t e d t h o u g h he s a i d t h a t

L o t Z was " a l l e g e d " ' t o h a v e b e e n s o l d t o L o w e n b e r g i n 1 7

t h e s p r i n g o f 1861.•

C a r e y ' s j u d i c i a l r e p o r t a d d e d l i t t l e t o

t h e f a c t s e x c e p t s t a t i n g t h a t t h e f i l l i n f r o n t o f t h e

R e s e r v e h a d b e e n " r e c l a i m e d b y t h e Crown s i n c e 1858

w i t h t h e c o n c u r r e n c e o f t h e a g e n t s o f t h e C o m p a n y . " 1 ® He

. . . . 16. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , D . S t . , 2 Peb.1865

17 . P e m b e r t o n t o K e n n e d y , L a n d O f f i c e , 17 Jun.1864

18. I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o s e e what t h i s p r o v e s . I f y o u

b u i l d a h o u s e on a n o t h e r man's l o t I t b e l o n g s t o h i m .

I f y o u b u i l d up h i s w a t e r f r o n t . I s h o u l d i m a g i n e t h e

same r u l e would a p p l y t o t h e r e c l a i m e d a r e a .

227

e x p r e s s e d , t h e s u s p i c i o n t h a t L owenberg g o t a s p e c i a l

c e r t i f i c a t e g u a r a n t e e i n g t i t l e b e c a u s e h e was aware that,

t h e t i t l e was. s h a k y . Mr. L owenberg was "a r e a l e s t a t e

a g e n t t h o r o u g h l y aware of. t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e g overnment

r e s e r v e i n d i c a t e d on the o f f i c i a l map o f V i c t o r i a Town

o f 1858 a n d b u y i n g w i t h h i s e y es open t o t h e f a c t t h a t

he was p u r c h a s i n g from, t h e a g e n t o f t h e Hudson's Bay

Company, l a n d w h i c h t h e Hudson's Bay Company h a d no

l o n g e r any power t o s e l l , w i t h o u t c o m m i t t i n g an a c t w h i c h

Mr. L o w e n b e r g must n e c e s s a r i l y h a v e known amounts t o a

d i r e c t b r e a c h o f f a i t h , i n a i d i n g w h i c h he became an

a c c o m p l i c e . " He f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t " D a l l a s wanted t o

s e l l L o t Z fco p r e v e n t t h e q u e s t i o n o f i t s t i t l e being-

t r i e d b e t w e e n t h e Crown a n d t h e Company."

T h i s r e p o r t went home t o Downing S t r e e t a n d

a p a r a l l e l c a s e was made out a n d s e n t f r o m Hudson's Bay

House w i t h t h e c a s e f o r t h e Company b a s e d on D a l l a s *

r e p o r t . H i s r e p o r t ends w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g s u g g e s t i o n .

" T t a p p e a r s t o me t h a t t h e C o l o n i a l Government w o u l d h a v e

no d i f f i c u l t y i n a r r a n g i n g w i t h Mr. L o w e n b e r g t o g i v e

h i m i n e x c h a n g e f o r Lot. Z a p o r t i o n o f the s e v e n t y a c r e s

awarded t o t h e c o l o n y by t h e I n d e n t u r e o f 1 8 6 2 . " 1 9

C a r d w e l l * s d e c i s i o n i s g i v e n i n a d e s p a t c h

o f A u g u s t 1865 w h e r e i n t h e a r guments o f t h e Committee

on Crown L a n d s a r e met by t h e o p i n i o n o f E n g l i s h l a w * • » »

19. Head t o R o g e r s , H.B.H., 2 May 1865

228

o f f i c e r s . W i t h r e g a r d t o Lot. 2 t h e y s t a t e t h a t " i t

i s n o t made out., t o o u r s a t i s f a c t i o n , t h a t as b e t w e e n

t h e Crown an d t h e Hudson's Bay Company, i t was e v e r

d e d i c a t e d , i n any b i n d i n g manner, t o any p u b l i c p u r p o s e .

. .. ( i f . ) ( ( L o t 2 had. b e e n o c c u p i e d and t i l l e d b y t h e

Company a n d s o l d t o Mr. L o w e n b e r g b e f o r e F e b r u a r y 1362

and ( i f ) a l l t h i s was known t o t h e Government)) we

t h i n k t h a t t h e i n d e n t u r e o f 3rd. F e b r u a r y 1862. o p e r a t e d

t o v a l i d a t e t h a t s a l e , so t h a t t h e Government cannot. 21

now d i s p u t e i t . " The s o l u t i o n o f f e r e d i s p u r c h a s e f r o m

L owenberg, o r , i f he s h o u l d d e c l i n e t o s e l l , s e i z u r e b y

a c t o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e "on payment o f a f a i r c o m p e n s a t i o n . "

T h i s does n o t q u i t e d i s p o s e o f Mr. L o w e n b e r g .

He was t h e r a i s o n d ' e t r e o f s t i l l more c o r r e s p o n d e n c e .

W h i l e v i s i t i n g E n g l a n d i n 1865-6 he a p p e a l e d t o t h e

C o l o n i a l O f f i c e a s k i n g i f t h e i r a bove d e c i s i o n w o u l d

be s u p p o r t e d and w o u l d "n o t a l l o w h i m (Kennedy) t o u s e

h i s i n f l u e n c e a n d r e - o p e n t h i s q u e s t i o n w h i c h h a s g i v e n

so much t r o u b l e a n d a n n o y a n c e a n d c a u s e d me s o much l o s s .

. . I was a s s u r e d b y some o f t h e O f f i c i a l s a t V i c t o r i a

that, t h e y w o u l d do e v e r y t h i n g t o keep me f r o m e v e r

g e t t i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f t h i s l a n d . " 2 2 T h i s was t r a n s m i t t e d

» » • # •

2 0 . C a r d w e l l t o K e n n e d y , D . S t . , 14 Aug.1865

21. P o r t i o n i n d o u b l e b r a c k e t s (( )) b a s e d on D a l l a s '

s t a t e m e n t .

22. L o w e n b e r g t o C a r d w e l l , L o n d o n , 15 J a n . 1 8 6 6 229

t o Kennedy i n a C o l o n i a l O f f i c e d e s p a t c h w i t h t h e w a r n i n g

that- t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e l a w o f f i c e r s was to he a d h e r e d p-z

t o . H e r e t h e r e c o r d o f t h e documents c e a s e s . The

f i n a l s o l u t i o n s o l u t i o n was f o u n d i n t h e f i l e s o f t h e

V i c t o r i a L a n d R e g i s t r y O f f i c e . A map was p r o d u c e d s h o w i n g

Lot. Z s u b d i v i d e d i n t o t w e l v e l o t s , #1-9 f a c i n g S u p e r i o r

S t r e e t . , 11-12. f a c i n g on M e n z i e s S t r e e t and 10 on t h e OA.

c o r n e r . S e a r c h f o r t h e h i s t o r y o f a l l L o t Z was n o t

a t t e m p t e d h u t p o r t i o n s o f l o t s 2 & 3. f a c i n g S u p e r i o r

S t r e e t were s o l d b y Lowenberg and a f t e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h

t h e hands o f some f i v e owners were f i n a l l y t a k e n o v e r

b y t h e Government on 11 J a n u a r y 1910 f o r t h e sum o f § 7 2 5 0 .

D e l a y o v e r L o t Z must, h a v e b e e n v e r y e x p e n s i v e t o t h e

p r o v i n c e .

.... 23. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D . S t . , 16 Jan.1866

24. C o m p o s i t e map #3535. The s u b d i v i s i o n i s marked as

p l a n 272. A l o n g t h e Government S t r e e t s i d e o f the R e s e r v e

a n o t h e r s u b d i v i s i o n o f 18 l o t s was m a r k e d o u t — p l a n 1 2 - -

b u t no s a l e s a r e r e c o r d e d .

230

Appendix. G

CHURCH AND SPRINGS RESERVE

No t e - T h e s e b r i e f t r e a t m e n t s a r e p r e s e n t e d t o e m p h a s i z e

t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e p e o p l e o f V i c t o r i a t o w a r d s t h e

Hudson's B a y Company R e s e r v e . I n b o t h c a s e s t h e r e was

a v i o l e n t a n d f u t i l e p r o t e s t a n d a f i n a l d e c i s i o n b y

Downing S t r e e t s u p p o r t i n g t h e c a s e o f t h e Company.

I . S p r i n g s R e s e r v e

I n 1858 t h e members o f the A s s m e b l y s e n t a r e s o l u t i o n

t o G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s a s k i n g h i m t o r e s e r v e t h e a r e a a r o u n d

t h e s p r i n g s t h a t s u p p l i e d w a t e r t o t h e c i t y . I n h i s

r e p l y D o u g l a s - r e p o r t e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e s u r v e y o r "to

r e s e r v e t h e w a t e r s p r i n g s and a d j o i n i n g l a n d and t h e

w e l l v/hich f o r m e r l y s u p p l i e d t h e town o f V i c t o r i a w i t h

w a t e r f o r t h e u s e o f t h e p u b l i c • t t l ' T h r o u g h some t e c h n i c ­

a l i t y t h e r e s e r v e was n o t p r o p e r l y " r e g i s t e r e d and i n 18KL

the r umor p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e c i t y t h a t t h e r e s e r v e h a d

b e e n s o l d b y t h e Company t o a p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t . P u b l i c ...» 1. P e t i t i o n o f 29 J u l . 1 8 5 8 . D o u g l a s r e p l y , 6 Aug.1858 .

231

p r o t e s t , was v o i c e d , b y the. C o l o n i s t , * 5 b u t t h i s p r o t e s t

was m i l d compared, t o t h e i n d i g n a t i o n a r o u s e d when a

week l a t e r i t was d i s c o v e r e d t h a t one o f t h e p u r c h a s e r s

was. A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l C a r e y a n d t h a t t h e a s s o c i a t e s p l a n n e d

t o c h a r g e t h e c i t y $60 a month f o r t h e p r i v i l e g e o f

d r a w i n g w a t e r * De Cosmos* i n d i g n a t i o n may w e l l be

imagined.* T h i s o f f i c i a l o f t h e g o vernment s h o u l d h a v e

s t o p p e d s u c h a p l a n . I n t h e A s s e m b l y he h a d s c o u t e d

t h e s u s p i c i o n o f s u c h a scheme, w h i l e a l l t h e t i m e he

h a d b e e n p l a n n i n g t o c a r r y i t o u t . "Was t h e r e e v e r

s u c h consummate d u p l i c i t y ? No wonder G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s *

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s an u n p o p u l a r o n e . S u c h p u b l i c s e r v a n t s .

as Mr. C a r e y w o u l d r u i n t h e a b l e s t m i n i s t r y i n any c o u n t r y

o f w h i c h he was p e r m i t t e d t o be a member." O r a t o r y ,

however f l u e n t , d i d n o t h u r t t h e p o l i t i c a l h i d e o f t h e

A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l and on 8 May, a f e n c e was b u i l t a r o u n d

t h e s p r i n g s and a watchman i n s t a l l e d t o c h a r g e t h e v e r y

m o d e r a t e t a r i f f o f "one b i t " (2 f'ofr 25/zf) p e r . l o a d .

N e xt day t h e c i t i z e n s a d o p t e d d i r e c t a c t i o n .

The watermen o r r a t h e r w a t e r - p e d l a r s , t o r e down t h e f e n c e ,

h e l d t h e watchman a n d h e l p e d t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e w a t e r t h e y

w a n t e d . T h a t n i g h t a p u b l i c m e e t i n g was h e l d u n d e r t h e

c h a i r m a n s h i p o f t h e i r a s c i b l e Mr. W a d d i n g t o n who w i t h

B e Cosmos a n d P o s t e r , was c h o s e n t o p r e s e n t a p e t i t i o n ... * 2. Be Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 26 A p r . 1 8 6 1

3. Be Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 30 A p r . 1 8 6 1

232

t o D o u g l a s a s k i n g f o r f r e e a c c e s s t o t h e s p r i n g s . The

m e e t i n g was e n l i v e n e d b y much i n d i g n a n t o r a t o r y , t h e

i n t e r r u p t i o n s o f i n e b r i a t e s a n d s u g g e s t i o n s o f t a r a n d

f e a t h e r s . D o u g l a s r e c e i v e d t h e p e t i t i o n w i t h sympathy

and. o f f e r e d t o t r y t o a r r a n g e a compromise b u t c o u l d

t a k e no d e f i n i t e a c t i o n b e c a u s e t h e l a n d was p a r t o f t h e

Hudson's B a y Company R e s e r v e a n d t h e t i t l e t o t h a t a r e a

was u n d e r d i s p u t e b e f o r e t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l . W a d d i n g t o n ' s

argument, t h a t t w e l v e y e a r s o f u n i n t e r u p t e d u s e c r e a t e d

a p r e c e d e n t , was h e a r d b u t n o t a c t e d u p o n . (The l a w

demanded 20 y e a r s ) .

-The t r i a l o f the o f f e n d i n g waterman, M o n t r o s e ,

d i d n o t s e t t l e t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r i g h t t o t h e r e s e r v e ,

f o r he was o n l y s e n t e n c e d t o pay damages and c o s t s .

Among t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d was t h a t o f " W i l l i a m H a r r i s o n ,

a waterman, who t e s t i f i e d f o r t h e d e f e n c e t h a t he was

p l a c e d i n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y i n 1858 b y S h e r i f f

M u i r , who t o l d h i m t o see t h a t no one was c h a r g e d f o r

w a t e r . The S h e r i f f s a i d t h a t i n so .doing he was a c t i n g

u n d e r G o v e r n o r -Douglas* o r d e r s . H a r r i s o n a l s o t e s t i f i e d

t h a t he h a d o c c u p i e d a s m a l l h o u s e n e a r t h e s p r i n g s s i n c e .

1858 and h a d p a i d no r e n t . " 4 I n a l a t e r i s s u e De Cosmos

p r o v e d t h a t w h i l e th e S p r i n g a r e a was down on t h e

a s s e s s m e n t r o l l w i t h a v a l u a t i o n o f £ 1 0 0 , i t h a d b e e n

p u r c h a s e d f o r § 7 0 0 0 , t w e n t y - s e v e n days b e f o r e t h e

a s s e s s e d v a l u a t i o n had. b e e n a t t e s t e d t o b y i t s p r e s e n t

2 3 5

owners.^

The n e x t move waa t h e i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t

t h e s a l e s by t h e Hudson's B a y Company o f p o r t i o n s o f

t h e R e s e r v e among w h i c h was t h e l a n d i n q u e s t i o n . ^ The

Supreme C o u r t / h o w e v e r , r e f u s e d , t h e i n j u n c t i o n on t h e

same g r o u n d s u s e d b y Douglas, i n t u r n i n g down t h e p e t i t i o n

( v . s u p r a , c .5, n.45, p . 9 - 5 ) — t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n was a l r e a d y

b e f o r e a h i g h e r c o u r t whose d e c i s i o n w o u l d o v e r - r i d e

t h e i r s .

The d i s p u t e was f i n a l l y s e t t l e d b y t h e

I n d e n t u r e o f 1862 w h i c h g a v e t o t h e Company t h e " O l d

S p r i n g and a d j o i n i n g l a n d ( e x c e p t one w e l l s e t a s i d e

f o r p u b l i c u s e ) , " 7 t h o u g h t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e I s l a n d

became once more v o c a l i n t h e R e p o r t o f t h e Crown L a n d s

Committee, p r e s e n t e d i n June o f 1864. T h i s c o u l d o n l y

r e p e a t t h e c a s e f o r t h e c o l o n y and l a m e n t t h a t i t h a d

b e e n " p a r t i c u l a r l y u n j u s t " f o r t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e t o

award t h e a r e a t o t h e Hudson's Bay Company.

I I . C h u r c h R e s e r v e

The h i s t o r y o f t h e C h u r c h R e s e r v e I s i n many ways s i m i l a r .

4. E v i d e n c e as r e p o r t e d i n C o l o n i s t o f 15 May 1861

5. Be Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 17 May 1861

6. p r i n t e d i n C o l o n i s t o f 29 May 1861

7. I n d e n t u r e o f 1862 t r a n s m i t t e d i n N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s ^

B . S t . , 24 Jan.. 1862

2 5 4

Included i n Newcastle to Douglas, D.St., 19 Dec. 1862

D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d p l a n s f o r i t s s u r v e y i n 1852, and

i n c l u d e d , i t . by name i n 2188 a c r e s r e s e r v e d f o r s c h o o l

and. c h u r c h p u r p o s e s , i n a d e s p a t c h o f t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r , ®

D u r i n g t h e u n e v e n t f u l y e a r s p r i o r t o t h e g o l d r u s h t h e

q u e s t i o n o f t h e Reserve, was u n d i s t u r b e d . I n 1869 A t t o r ­

ney G e n e r a l C a r e y s t a t e d , i n t h e A s s e m b l y t h a t " t h e r e was.

no harm i n g i v i n g v a l u e l e s s l a n d f o r r e l i g i o u s p u r p o s e s

as i t w o u l d be v a l u a b l e b y a n d b y w h i l s t i t was w o r t h

n o t h i n g now.* 1^

The wisdom o f t h i s p r onouncement was a l m o s t

a t once q u e s t i o n e d b y t h e t r o u b l e w h i c h now a r o s e a r o u n d

t h e C h u r c h R e s e r v e . B i s h o p H i l l s h a d b u i l t a r e s i d e n c e

on t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e R e s e r v e not. o c c u p i e d b y t h e c h u r c h

a n d t h e g r a v e y a r d . D e s c r i b i n g h i s a c t i o n as " s q u a t t i n g '

on t h e C h u r c h R e s e r v e * De Cosmos d e c l a r e d t h a t any r i g h t -

p o s s e s s e d b y t h e A n g l i c a n b i s h o p was a l s o p o s s e s s e d b y

" t h e Roman C a t h o l i c B i s h o p , t h e W e s l e y a n S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , 11

t h e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l m i n i s t e r a n d t h e Hebre?/ r a b b i . *

Though demanding a c t i o n on t h e s u b j e c t , f r o m a l l a v a i l a b l e

a u t h o r i t y , De Cosmos f a i l e d t o g i v e any d e f i n i t e a d v i c e .

L a t e r i n t h e month B i s h o p De tters won t h e r i g h t o f e n t r y

t o a p o r t i o n o f t h e R e s e r v e , where t h o s e o f h i s f l o c k

.... 8. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 28 Jan.1852

9. Same t o same, F t . V i c t o r i a , 8 A p r . 1 8 5 3

1 0 . C a r e y i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t , o f 5 Mar.1860

1 1 . De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 10 Af.r.1861. W . F . C l a r k , t h e 235

l l . ( c o n t ) C o n g r e g a t i o n a l m i n i s t e r w r o t e i n t h e C o l o n i s t ,

as. f o l l o w s . : " E d i t o r B r i t i s h C o l o n i s t . S i r , I b e g t h r o u g h

y o u r columns t o c a l l p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s t a r t l i n g

f a c t t h a t t h e r e a l r e a d y e x i s t s i n t h e s e y o u n g c o l o n i e s ,

a n embryo c h u r c h s t a t e , . • From, r e t u r n s t o t h e I m p e r i a l

P a r l i a m e n t j u s t r e c e i v e d i t a p p e a r s t h a t , a C l e r g y R e s e r v e

o f 2118 a c r e s o f l a n d , h a s b e e n s e t a s i d e i n V i c t o r i a

d i s t r i c t a l o n e . S i m i l a r r e s e r v a t i o n s may, f o r a u g h t we

know, have, b e e n made i n o t h e r d i s t r i c t s . * .

How, s i r , p e r m i t me r e s p e c t f u l l y t o a s k my

f e l l o w s u b j e c t s i f t h e y a r e c o n t e n t t h a t . C h u r c h endowments

s h o u l d he made i n t h e s e y o ung r e g i o n s at. t h e r a t e of. 2000

a c r e s o f l a n d p e r d i s t r i c t . . . I n v i e w o f t h e h i s t o r y

of. o t h e r B r i t i s h C o l o n i e s and., e s p e c i a l l y i n v i e w o f t h e

d e c l a r a t i o n o f S i r . E . B . L y t t o n , when a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e

m u n i f i c e n c e o f M i s s B u r d e t t C o u t t s , that. i t . h a d c e a s e d t o

be t h e p o l i c y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n t o make s t a t e endowments o f

r e l i g i o n i n t h e C o l o n i e s . , t h e r e i s r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t

p r o t e s t a n d p e t i t i o n w o u l d n o t be r e s o r t e d t o i n v a i n .

So l o n g as t h e E p i s c o p a l i a n b o d y h a s h e r

Coutts.es she c a n s u r e l y a f f o r d t o d i s p e n s e w i t h t h e c l e r g y

r e s e r v e s . A n d as S i r E.B'.Lytton so j u s t l y o b s e r v e s , t h e

s p i r i t o f s e l f - s a c r i f i c e and d e v o t i o n awakened when she i s

•thrown upon t h e v o l u n t a r y e f f o r t s o f h e r c h i l d r e n b o t h

a b r o a d a n d a t home* i s r i c h e r w e a l t h ' t h a n t h e a m p l e r r e ­

s o u r c e s o f t h e s t a t e * . " ' I n C o l o n i s t o f 7 O ct.1859

235A

we're i n t e r r e d and. t h e e d i t o r s e i z e d on t h e i n c i d e n t as a

s i g n w a r n i n g B i s h o p H i l l s t o move o f f . The I n d e n t u r e o f

1862 t u r n e d t h e C h u r c h R e s e r v e , g r o u p e d w i t h o t h e r p u h l i c

r e s e r v e d i n t o t h e hands o f Her M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t . 1 ^

I n A p r i l 1862, D o u g l a s b r i e f l y e x p l a i n e d t h e

s i t u a t i o n . The • g l e b e " a p p o i n t e d f o r c h u r c h p u r p o s e s a n d

t h e s a l a r y f o r t h e i n c u m b e n t was a 2 0 — a c r e f a r m , o f no r

g r e a t v a l u e at. t h e moment b u t o f g r e a t f u t u r e v a l u e as a

c i t y l o t . I t was. t h e r e f o r e t o be t u r n e d o v e r t o t r u s t e e s ,

T he G o v e r n o r a n d t h e B i s h o p , " f o r t h e g e n e r a l b e n e f i t o f

t h e C h u r c h o f England." and any f u n d s l e f t a f t e r p a y i n g

t h e s a l a r y , r e p a i r s and c l e r i c a l a s s i s t a n c e n e e ded a t

C h r i s t C h u r c h was t o go t o w a r d f o u n d i n g s c h o o l s and

c h u r c h e s i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e I s l a n d , 1 3 T h i s p o l i c y o f *

d e f i n i t e s e c t a r i a n d i s p o s a l o f the p r o c e e d s o f t h e

R e s e r v e was o f f i c i a l l y a c c e p t e d b y Downing S t r e e t i n J u n e 1 4

Thus t h e m a t t e r r e s t e d t i l l t h e a p p e a r a n c e

o f the R e p o r t o f the Crown L a n d Committee i n June o f

1864. The a r e a was v a l u e d a t $60,000 i f s u b d i v i d e d a n d

s o l d f o r b u i l d i n g l o t s . I t was n o t e d t h a t H i l l s a n d C r i d g e

h a d d e c i d e d t o l e a s e p a r t s o f t h e R e s e r v e f o r r e v e n u e a n d

t h e members v i e w e d w i t h a l a r m t h e i d e a o f a g r a n t t o any

p a r t i c u l a r d e n o m i n a t i o n , d e c l a r i n g t h a t "no f a v o r i t i s m

. « . • 12:. N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 24 J a n . 1862

13. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , ST.I., 16 A p r . 1 8 6 2

14. N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D.St.., 12 Jun.3.862

236

s h o u l d . b e shown . . . b u t i f c o n v e y e d t o t h e C h u r c h o f

E n g l a n d s p e c i a l l y i t w o u l d n o t be so g r e a t a p u b l i c i n j u r y

p r o v i d e d t h e R e s e r v e were k e p t open a s a. p u b l i c p a r k . 1 * 1 5

B e f o r e Downing S t r e e t s r e p l y r e a c h e d t h e

I s l a n d t h e A s s e m b l y p e t i t i o n e d Kennedy " t o t a k e l e g a l

p r o c e e d i n g s t o p r e v e n t t h e C h u r c h R e s e r v e f r o m b e i n g

b r o k e n up i n t o l o t s , o r l e a s e d out. i n l o t s i n o r d e r t o

t e s t t h e r i g h t o f any p a r t y o r p a r t i e s t o b r e a k up t h e

same i n t o b l o c k s , o r l e a s e i t o u t f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f TP

C h r i s t . C h u r c h o r f o r any o t h e r p u r p o s e »»• The " C o l o n i s t "

e d i t o r i a l o f d a t e q u e s t i o n e d t h e r i g h t o f t h e Company

t o make the g r a n t a n d f o l l o w e d t h e l e a d o f t h e Crown

Lands Committee i n demanding t h e a r e a as a p a r k — t o a c t

as " l u n g s f o r t h e c i t y * b u t Kennedy's r e p l y s t a t e d t h a t

t h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l had" f o u n d t h e t i t l e u n q u e s t i o n a b l e 17

a n d deemed l e g a l a c t i o n i n a d v i s a b l e *

The C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d c o n t i n u e d f e n c i n g t h e

R e s e r v e a n d p u b l i c o p i n i o n e x p r e s s e d i t s e l f i n a m e e t i n g

w h i c h a d o p t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s o l u t i o n s (1) T h a t t h e

f e n c e s were p u b l i c n u i s a n c e s a n d s h o t t l d b e d d e a l t w i t h as

s u c h ; a n d (2) R e q u e s t i n g t h e mayor t o remove t h e

f e n c e , t h e m e e t i n g p l e d g e d i t s e l f " t o s u s t a i n s u c h a c t i o n s 1 5 . R e p o r t o f t h e Crown L a n d s Committee, 14 Jun.1864

16. De Cosmos i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 23 May 1865

17. K ennedy t o A s . , T . I . , 30 May 1865

237

1

i n e v e r y p o s s i b l e m a n n e r . , l l s When t i i e m e e t i n g d i s b a n d e d ,

c e r t a i n a m b i t i o u s members, r e p a i r e d t o t h e R e s e r v e ,

p r e p a r e d t o t a k e d i r e c t a c t i o n b u t f i n d i n g t h e p o l i c e

on t h e j o b , r e t i r e d . The C i t y C o u n c i l r e f u s e d t o t a k e

any a c t i o n on t h e r e s o l u t i o n s . 1 ^

D u r i n g th e n i g h t o f A u g u s t 3 1 s t , t h e f e n c e s

were t o r n down a n d Thorne, a member o f t h e c i t y c o u n c i l ,

was. se.iz.ed b y t h e p o l i c e . He p r o d u c e d a n o t i c e , i s s u e d

b y t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e c o u n c i l o r d e r i n g t h e f e n c e s t o be

removed, on o r b e f o r e t h e f i r s t o f S e p t e m b e r . ^ D u r i n g

A u g u s t 3 1 s t a n i n j u n c t i o n h a d b e e n i s s u e d t o p r e v e n t t h e

c o u n c i l l o r s f r o m p u l l i n g down t h e f e n c e , b u t T h o r n e may

n o t h a v e r.-eeeived h i s c o p y , t h o u g h t h e M a yor a n d two o f t h e

c o u n c i l l o r s h a d r e c e i v e d t h e i r s . The most c h a r i t a b l e

c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t c a n be p u t upon T h o m e ' s a c t i o n was t h a t

he d o d g e d t h e message a n d a c t e d b e f o r e i t c o u l d be p r e ­

s e n t e d t o h i m . T h i s e x p l a i n s : h i s a c t i n g t h e day b e f o r e

h i s I n s t r u c t i o n s j u s t i f i e d a c t i o n . Mr. J u s t i c e P e m b e r t o n

b o u n d h i m o v e r t o k e e p t h e p e a c e on a |2'000 b o n d an d no

more v i o l e n c e was a t t e m p t e d . When t h e C h u r c h r e b u i l t t h e

f e n c e some c i t i z e n s l a i d i n f o r m a t i o n a g a i n s t t h i s a c t i o n

.... 18. i n C o l o n i s t o f I E J u n . 1 8 6 5

19. M e e t i n g o f 19 Jun.1865

2 0 . I t must h a v e b e e n i s s u e d a t a s e c r e t s e s s i o n s i n c e

no o t h e r r e f e r e n c e o c c u r s i n t h e f i l e s o f t h e

C o l o n i s t .

238

as a b r e a c h o f t h e p e a c e , b u t the p o l i c e r e f u s e d t o a c t ,

t h o u g h t h e r e b y d r a w i n g upon t h e m s e l v e s t h e a b u s e o f t h e 21

" C o l o n i s t * .

I n a m e e t i n g o f t h e V i c t o r i a c i t y c o u n c i l

n e x t day Mayor H a r r i s d e f i n i t e l y r e f u s e d t o h a v e a n y t h i n g

t o do w i t h an i n j u n c t i o n t o s t o p t h e C h u r c h r e b u i l d i n g

t h e f e n c e , a n d i n t h e A s s e m b l y a c o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d t o

i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m a t t e r met once without, a quorum b e f o r e

4. May 1866 when t h e s e c r e t a r y was f o r c e d t o r e f e r t o t h e

m i n u t e s o f t h e House t o r e c a l l t h e p e r s o n e l l o f t h e

c o m m i t t e e .

The d i s p u t e , thus, d y i n g a n a t u r a l d e a t h f r o m

n e g l e c t a n d l a c k o f i n t e r e s t was f o r m a l l y d e s p a t c h e d b y

t h e a r r i v a l o f C a r d w e l l ' s r e p l y t o the R e p o r t o f t h e Crown

L a n d s C o m m i t t e e . He d e f i n i t e l y a f f i r m e d t h e r i g h t , o f t h e

Hudson's B a y Company t o g i v e t h e R e s e r v e and t h e e x c l u s i v e

r i g h t s o f t h e C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d were e s t a b l i s h e d b y l a w .

* l am n o t aware o f a n y means by w h i c h t h a t d e e d c a n be

s e t a s i d e . * 2 2

..... 2 1 . C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 4 Sep.1865

22'.. C a r d w e l l t o Kennedy, D'.St., 14 Aug.1865

239

A p p e n d i x D

SALES EROM THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY RESERVE

We h a v e s e e n above how t h e a g i t a t o r s o f .Vancouver ' I s l a n d

l a i d g r e a t s t r e s s on t h e v a l u e o f t h e s a l e s made by t h e

Hudson's Bay Company f r o m t h e R e s e r v e i n V i c t o r i a , T h i s

b r i e f s t u d y w i l l p r e s e n t a few more f i g u r e s on t h e s a l e s

o f R e s e r v e L a n d - - s t a t l s t i c s w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n t o o

burdensome f o r t h e c h a p t e r s a b o v e . T h e s e w i l l be p r e c e d ­

ed b y t h e f e w r e f e r e n c e a v a i l a b l e on t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d

b y t h e Company i n t h e e a r l y a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e R e s e r v e ,

As e a r l y a s May o f 1850, D o u g l a s was p l a n n i n g

t h e s a l e o f the R e s e r v e ; I n f a c t t h i s was one o f t h e

r e a s o n s f o r t h e p o l i c y o f m a k i n g f r e e g r a n t s t o s e r v a n t s

who h a d c o m p l e t e d t h e i r c o n t r a c t s , D o u g l a s a s k e d t o be

" a u t h o r i z e d t o d i s p o s e o f town l o t s a s so o n as p o s s i b l e

and t o make f r e e g r a n t s o f s u c h I may deem n e c e s s a r y

t.oj s e t t h e b a l l i n m o t i o n , " 1 b u t h e d i d n o t a d v o c a t e any

improvements beyond, t h o s e w h i c h t h e g r a n t e e s w o u l d be

f o r c e d to make. " I n e v e r i n t e n d e d t h a t t h e Company s h o u l d • . , •

1. D o u g l a s to B a r c l a y , E t . V i c t o r i a , 16 May 1850

240.

be p u t t o any exp e n s e w h a t e v e r b e j i o n d t h e s u r v e y o f the

t o w n s i t e . * T h i s s u r v e y was h e l d up h y t h e d e f e c t i o n o f

C a p t a i n G r a n t a n d a s l a t e a s M a r c h o f 1851 D o u g l a s was

s t i l l w a i t i n g f o r t h e a r r i v a l o f s u r g e y o r P e m b e r t o n

b e f o r e m a k i n g a n y s u b - g r a n t s *

D o u g l a s a p p e a r s t o have gone a h e a d n e g o t i a t ­

i n g f o r s a l e s . B l a n s h a r d d e c l a r e d t h a t o ut o f t h e R e s e r v e

t h e Company " a r e a l r e a d y a t t e m p t i n g t o s e l l s m a l l l o t s

t o t h e i r own s e r v a n t s a t g r e a t l y a d v a n c e d r a t e s , " 2 and

i n A p r i l D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f B r .

Helmcken f o r SO a c r e s i n the P u r T r a d e a r e a w h i c h b e i n g

on t h e c o a s t c o u l d b e s o l d " w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e

R e s e r v e . " 4 Under t h e same d a t e however B l a n s h a r d d e c l a r e d

t h a t t h e Company w o u l d n e i t h e r u s e n o r s e l l t h e l a n d f r o m

t h e R e s e r v e , 5 — a s t a t e m e n t w h i c h he r e p e a t e d l a t e r b e f o r e

t h e S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e .

I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o s t a t e when s a l e s a c t u a l l y

commenced b u t i n J a n u a r y o f 1852 D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d many

a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r l a n d " s i n c e t h e P u r T r a d e r e s e r v e was .... 2:. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 21 Mar.1851

5. B l a n s h a r d t o G r e y , V . I . ; 3 Feb.1851

4. D o u g l a s to B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 28 A p r . 1 8 5 1

5. B l a n s h a r d t o G r e y , V.T., 28 A p r . 1 8 5 1

6. B l a n s h a r d t o L a b o u c h e r e , R e p o r t o f t h e S e l e c t

C o m m i t t e e , E v i d e n c e § 15 J u n . 1 8 5 ?

241

i n p a r t thrown i n t o t h e m a r k e t , * ' The p r i c e o f town l o t s

had. b e e n s e t a t £ 1 0 , 8 . 4 and t h o u g h no money h a d b e e n

p a i d o v e r t h e p r o s p e c t i v e p u r c h a s e r s were " g o o d f o r t h e

sum* a n d had. made i m p r o v e m e n t s 'which a r e s e c u r i t y

s u f f i c i e n t i n t h e m e a n t i m e . " T h a t the Company c o n s i d e r e d

t h e R e s e r v e t o be t h e i r own p r o p e r t y a n d n o t h e l d i n

t r u s t l i k e t h e r e s t o f t h e I s l a n d may be shown b o t h

b y t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t — " T h e p r o c e e d s a r i s i n g f r o m

t h e s a l e o f Town L o t s a r e I u n d e r s t a n d t o be p l a c e d t o

t h e c r e d i t o f t h e P u r Trade." 1—and. by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e

cost, o f s u r v e y i n g t h e R e s e r v e was b o r n e by t h e F u r

T r a d e a c c o u n t . Hudson's Bay House s e n t a d e f i n i t e

a c c e p t a n c e o f t h i s p o l i c y b u t D o u g l a s r e p e a t e d h i s a

opinmon i n a t l e a s t two more d e s p a t c h e s .

The n e x t s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n i s a . d e s p a t c h

t o Hudson's Bay House r e p o r t i n g l a n d s a l e s f o r 1857. I t

i s o f c o u r s e m a i n l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e s a l e o f p u b l i c

l a n d s b u t i t n o t e s t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n s a l e s f r o m t h e

Hudson's Ba y Company R e s e r v e and f u n d s f r o m t h o s e s a l e s , . » . • 7. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V l c t o r i a , 28 J a n . 1 8 5 2

8. Same t o same, F t • V i c t o r i a , 31 J u l . 1 8 5 2 r e p o r t s t h e

a c c e p t a n c e b y H.B-E. b u t c o n t a i n s a r e s t a t e m e n t " I

c o n s i d e r ( t h e p r o c e e d s o f R e s e r v e s a l e s ) asj b e l o n g i n g t o

t h e F u r T r a d e * * A. s i m i l a r p a s s a g e o c c u r s i n D o u g l a s to

B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 16 F e b . 1 8 5 3 . I h a v e no e x p l a n a t i o n

f o r the p e r s i s t e n t r e p e t i t i o n , u n l e s s t h e r e p l y o f H.B.H, h a d n o t b e e n d e f i n i t e enough,

242

n o t t o be c o n f u s e d w i t h t h e C o l o n i a l Revenue, amounted

t o £105.* T h i s was, h owever, t h e l a s t y e a r o f s u c h

s m a l l sums f o r l a n d v a l u e s j u m p ed f r o m 1858 on» I n

t h a t y e a r D.ouglas r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e Company h a d d o u b l e d

t h e i r p r i c e f o r Town L o t s s e l l i n g a 120* 3C 64* l o t f o r

£ 2 0 * 1 6 , 8 and s u b u r b a n l o t s o f f i v e a c r e s f o r £ 2 5 *

P r i c e s ; f o r s p e c i a l l y w e l l s i t u a t e d l a n d h a d r i s e n t o a s

h i g h as. £100. a n a c r e .

I t was: p o i n t e d out above t h a t i t was t h e

a u t h o r ' s b e l i e f t h a t t h e s e p r i c e s were t h e o n l y c a u s e

f o r t h e a t t e m p t s t o r e c o v e r t h e R e s e r v e f r o m t h e Company,

De Cosmos' a t t i t u d e h a s b e e n s u f f i c i e n t l y p i c t u r e d i n

t h e c h a p t e r s above b u t h i s p a p e r h a d o t h e r means b e s i d e s

e d i t o r i a l s o f a r o u s i n g p u b l i c g r e e d . The s a l e s o f t h e

Company l a n d were g i v e n f u l l p u b l i c i t y a n d t h e amounts

r e a l i z e d were p l a y e d u p , A s a l e i n November o f 1860

was d e c l a r e d t o h a v e p r o d u c e d $ 2 7 , 8 3 6 t1 1 ' and a l a r g e r

s a l e , of t h e P o r t s i t e , n e t t e d t h e Company $121,223 f r o m

d e p o s i t s on w h i c h " t h e Company r e c e i v e d i n t o t h e i r

c a p a c i o u s a n d e v e r - r e a d y c o f f e r s t h e s n u g sum of" $30,306-

— a p r e t t y f f a i r d a y s b u s i n e s s , we s h o u l d s a y , " " ^ T h i s

was c o r r o b o r a t e d b y a d e s p a t c h f r o m D o u g l a s w h i c h s t a t e d

...» 9. D o u g l a s t o S m i t h , Y . I . , 30 Oct,1857

10. D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , V . I . , 13 Oct.1858

1 1 . News I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 2 Nov.1860

,12. News I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 24 J a n . 1 8 6 1

2 4 3

t h a t t h e Company h a d s o l d 5 1 c i t y l o t s f o r $125,000 a n d 1"^

were s e l l i n g , s u b u r b a n lands, a t £ 1 0 0 an a c r e .

The l a s t and. most i m p o r t a n t document f o r

t h i s a p p e n d i x i s . o f l a t e r d a t e . I t i s a r e p o r t f r o m

Hudson's B a y House t o Downing S t r e e t s h o w i n g t h e t o t a l

r e c e i p t s , from, t h e s a l e , o f R e s e r v e L a n d s up t o 1864

w h i c h a r e a s f o l l o w s . : " V a l u e o f s a l e s up t o J u l y 1855 £ 814.

J u l y 1855 O c t o b e r 1856 191.

O c t o b e r 1856 O c t o b e r 1857 80 .

O c t o b e r 1857 December 1858 21,937.

December 1858 December 1859 9,901.

« 1859 II 1860 25,175.

" 1860 n 1 8 6 1 6,382.

» 1861 n 1862 12,637.

» 1862 II 1863 T o t a l .

9,332. £ 8 6 , 4 7 5 .

L e a v i n g a n e t t o t a l L e s s e x p e n s e s 9,784.

. £ 7 6 , 6 9 0 .

• » » •

1 3 . D o u g l a s to N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 7 Feb.1861

14. Head t o R o g e r s , H.B.H., 1 Aug.L565

244

T h e s e f i g u r e s may he c h e c k e d a g a i n s t t h e R e p o r t o f t h e

Crown L a n d s C o m m i t t e e o f 1864. T h i s g i v e a a. s l i g h t l y l a r ­

g e r t o t a l , d e t a i l e d a s f o l l o w s :

1. V a l u e o f l o t s a n d b l o c k i n s e c t i o n 18, s o l d

by S u r v e y o r G e n e r a l P e m b e r t o n up t o A u g u s t ,

1859. ( v i d e s t a t e m e n t G, A p p e n d i x #2.) . . . . $13,6,817/.

2. V a l u e o f l o t s i n S e c t i o n 18 s o l d f o r t h e

Hudson's Bay Company by P .M.Backus., on May 3

1859. (vi-ae S t a t e m e n t I , A p p e n d i x #1) . . . . 2 9 , 9 5 5 .

3. V a l u e o f l o t s a n d b l o c k s i n S p r i n g R i d g e ,

s e c t i o n 18, s o l d Nov. 1, 1860 b y J . J . C o c h r a n e

f o r t h e H.B.Co. ( v i d e Statement. J , A p p e n d i x #1) 2.8,615.

4. Value, o f l o t s and b l o c k s i n s e c t i o n 1 7 , " f o r t

p r o p e r t y " s o l d b y P .M.Backus Jan.23,1861, f o r

t h e H . B . C o . ( v i d e S t a t e m e n t K, A p p e n d i x # 1 ) . . 121,325.

5.. V a l u e o f l o t s a n d b l o c k s i n s e c t i o n 18, s o l d

a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s b y t h e H.B.Co. ( v i d e

S t a t e m e n t L., A p p e n d i x #1) . . . . . . . . . . 105,700.

6. V a l u e o f p a r t o f s e c t i o n 3 2 , s o l d b y J.W.

McKay o r W.F.T'olmie, b y t h e H.B.Co. as p e r

Government A s s e s s m e n t R o l l . ( v i d e S t a t e m e n t U) 5,825. T o t a l $426,132 .'X

T h i s amount t o g e t h e r w i t h $339,200 t h e e s t i m a t e d v a l u e o f

t h e R e s e r v e gave t h e t o t a l o f $ 7 6 5 , 4 3 7 j and t h i s t h e L e g ­

i s l a t u r e h o p e d t o r e c o v e r f r o m t h e Company. . . » .

15* R e p o r t o f Crown L a n d s Committee, c . p . c . 6 , n.23, p.110

244A

Appendix. E.

LAND POLICY AND THE INDIANS

¥ e h a v e s e e n how D o u g l a s d e p a r t e d f r o m h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s

t o p u r c h a s e v i l l a g e s i t . e s a n d set. up t h e o p p o s i t e

p o l i c y o f l e t t i n g t h e I n d i a n s k e e p a l l o c c u p i e d a n d f e n c e d

a r e a s a s r e s e r v e s . I t i s w i t h t h e e v i l s and p r o b l e m s

g r o w i n g out o f t h i s s y s t e m t h a t t h i s a p p e n d i x w i l l d e a l .

The p r o b l e m s d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e a c t u a l r e s e r v e s

w i l l b e t r e a t e d a t some l e n g t h f o r t h e r e I s much c o r r e s ­

p o n d e n c e and. p r e s s comment on t h e m a t t e r . The v a l u e o f

I n d i a n l a b o r and t h e q u e s t i o n o f the e x t i n g u i s h i n g o f

I n d i a n t i t l e t o u n p u r c h a s e d l a n d s c a n be d i s c u s s e d

b r i e f l y . By way o f c o n c l u s i o n w i l l b e n o t e d two i n c i d e n t s

— t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e i n t e r - r a c i a l a t t i t u d e o f t h e t i m e , and

t o d e s c r i b e a g a l l a n t b u t f u t i l e e f f o r t o f t h e

I n d i a n a t o t a k e t h e w h i t e man's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s upon t h e i r

s h o u l d e r s so s o r e l y weakened by t h e a d o p t i o n o f

t h e w h i t e man's v i c e s .

The R e s e r v e s

I n t h e e a r l y p r e - g o l d r u s h d a y s t h e q u e s t i o n o f r e s e r v e s

was n o t a p r e s s i n g one. T h e r e was l a n d enough and t o s p a r e

245

around. Y i c . t o . r i a . The I n d i a n s d i d not. o f t e n m o l e s t t h e

w h i t e s f o r t h e t r a d i t i o n s o f Company r u l e were s t i l l

f i r m l y i m p r e s s e d upon t h e m i n d s o f t h e I n d i a n s . Goods

were p i l f e r e d f r o m C a p t a i n G r a n t ' s farm. at. Sooke h u t

no v i o l e n c e was e v e r o f f e r e d t o h i s p e r s o n . 1 I t was

n o t t i l l 1856 that, a s e t t l e r was m o l e s t e d and t h e n i t

was S i l l i a m s , t h e i s o l a t e d s q u a t t e r a t R o c k y P o i n t who was 2

t h e v i c t i m a n d h i s m u r d e r e r was b r o u g h t t o summary j u s t i c e .

D o u g l a s a p p a r e n t l y was c o n t e n t t o k e ep o r d e r

w i t h i n t h e n a r r o w e n c l o s u r e s o f t h e f o r t , w h i l e he r e g a r d ­

ed I n d i a n q u a r r e l s o u t s i d e w i t h e q u a n i m i t y a n d i m p a r t i a l i t y .

Yi/hen t h e c o u r a g e o u s P e r e L a m p i t t b a r e l y e s c a p e d m a r t y r ­

dom among the C o w i c h a n I n d i a n s , D o u g l a s g o t h i m an e s c o r t

t o v i c t o r i a and a d v i s e d h i m t o s t a y t h e r e . " I t w o u l d be

a mere w a s t e o f e n e r g y t o s e n d M i s s i o n a r i e s t o t h a t p a r t

o f t h e i s l a n d , as w i t h o u t p o w e r f u l s u p p o r t t h e r e i s not.

t h e r e m o t e s t c h a n c e t h a t t h e c a u s e o f r e l i g i o n w o u l d be

p r o m o t e d by t h e i r p r e s e n c e , w h i l e t h e i r o f f i c e would be

d e r i d e d , t h e i r p e r s o n s i n s u l t e d and t h e i r l i v e s e x p o s e d t o

c o n t i n u a l d a n g e r . " 5 I n r e c o g n i z e d w h i t e man's t e r r i t o r y

. . . . 1. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 21 Mar.1851

2. D o u g l a s to l a b o u c h e r e , V . I . , 22 Aug.1856. The m u r d e r

o f n a v y d e s e r t e r s and t h e s u b s e q u e n t p u n i t i v e r a i d s

were h a r d l y d o m e s t i c c o n c e r n s .

3. D o u g l a s t o G r e y , E t . V i c t o r i a , 28 May.1852.

246

however, t h e I n d i a n s were taught, n o t o n l y t o r e s p e c t t h e

s e t t l e r s h u t to r e s t r a i n t h e i r own f e u d s f o r t h e s a k e o f

th e i n n o c e n t b y s t a n d e r — " I t.each t h e n a t i v e s that, t h e

S e t t l e m e n t s a r e s a c r e d g r o u n d a n d must. not. "be p o l l u t e d

w i t h i n n o c e n t , b l o o d . . 1 , 4

I n t h e i n t e r v a l s between wars w i t h t h e

n o r t h e r n t r i b e s t h e I n d i a n s were a d o p t i n g t h e w h i t e man's

crops, and. a c r u d e f o r m o f a g r i c u l t u r e . I n F e b r u a r y o f

1852 D o u g l a s noted, t h a t t h e I n d i a n s a t F o r t R u p e r t were

c l e a r i n g l a n d s p r e p a r a t o r y t o p l a n t i n g p o t a t o e s , " e v i n c i n g

i n that, a n d o t h e r t h i n g s a l a u d a b l e d e s i r e t o im p r o v e

t h e i r s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n . " 5 L a t e r i n t h e y e a r on a c a n o e

t r i p up t h e e a s t e r n c o a s t o f the I s l a n d , D o u g l a s n o t e d

t h a t t h e C o w i c h a n I n d i a n s h a d "many l a r g e and w e l l - k e p t ,

f i e l d s o f p o t a t o e s i n a v e r y f l o u r i s h i n g s t a t e a n d a number

o f f i n e c u c u m b e r s . " 6

W i t h t h e c o m i n g o f t h e g o l d - s e e k e r s t o

V i c t o r i a , t h e I n d i a n R e s e r v e , l i k e t h a t o f t h e Hudson's

Bay Company, became v a l u a b l e f o r t o w n s i t e l o t s a nd many

a t t e m p t s were made t o open i t t o p u r c h a s e . T h i s

consummation so d e v o u t l y w i s h e d f o r on economic g r o u n d s

was u r g e d w i t h e t h i c a l a r guments o f v/hich t h e r e was

c e r t a i n l y no l a c k . The a b o r i g i n e s o f V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d . . . . . 4. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 28 J u l . 1 8 5 3

5". D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a , 1 Feb.1852

6". D o u g l a s t o F a k i n g t o n , V . I . , 27 Aug.1852

2 4 ?

were, n o t e s p e c i a l l y f i t t e d , t o r e s i s t t h e e n e v i t a b l y e v i l ,

i n f l u e n c e o f the. w h i t e man. I t was t h e o l d , o l d s t o r y

o f h a d l i q u o r , e a s y m o r a l s and. small-pox.. The f i l e s o f

t h e C o l o n i s t p r o v i d e m a t e r i a l f o r a s t o r y gruesomeand. b a s e

enough t o g i v e p a u s e t o any r a v i n g s a b o u t t h e b e n e f i t s ,

of" c i v i l i z a t i o n , b u t t h a t s t o r y cannot, be t o l d h e r e .

R e a l i z i n g t h e r e a l m o t i v e a s w e l l a s t h e

v a l i d i t y o f t h e arguments a d v a n c e d , D o u g l a s was n a t u r a l l y

d i s p o s e d t o s u p p o r t t h e s i t u a t i o n a s i t h a d grown up

u n d e r h i s 3?ule.and t o l o o k on a l l a t t a c k s , on t h e s y s t e m

a s a s p e r s i o n s on h i s wisdom. Downing S t r e e t o c c a s i o n ­

a l l y p r o v i d e d some g o o d a d v i c e , u n d e r t h e p r o d d i n g o f

s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e A b o r i g i n e s E r o t e s t i o n S o c i e t y , ^

o r p r a c t i c a l schemes b a s e d on p o l i c i e s w h i c h h a d b e e n

s u c c e s s f u l i n o t h e r c o l o n i e s . U s i n g t h e a n a l o g y o f G r e y ' s

p o l i c y w i t h t h e K a f f i r s , l y t t o n made t h e f o l l o w i n g

s u g g e s t I o n - t t I t m i g h t be f e a s i b l e t o s e t t l e them p e r m a n e n t ­

l y I n V i l l a g e s . Law and r e l i g i o n w o u l d become n a t u r a l l y

i n t r o d u c e d :among t h e Red Men a n d c o n t r i b u t e to t h e i r

own s e c u r i t y a g a i n s t t h e a g g r e s s i o n s o f I m m i g r a n t s a n d

w h i l e b y i n d i r e c t t a x a t i o n on t h e a d d i t i o n a l A r t i c l e s

t h e y w o u l d p u r c h a s e , t h e y w o u l d c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e C o l o n i a l

Revenue, some l i g h t a n d s i m p l e f o r m o f d i r e c t t a x a t i o n ,

t h e p r o c e e d s o f w h i c h w o u l d b e expended s t r i c t l y a n d s o l e -

...» 7 . C l e i s s o n t o L y t t o n , n.d., i n L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . ,

16 Oct.1858

248

l y on t h e i r own wants and improvement m i g h t o b t a i n t h e i r

c o n s e n t . 1 , 8

I n t h e V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d A s s e m b l y Y a t e s

p r o p o s e d th a t , t h e e x p e n s e s o f V i c t o r i a B r i d g e s h o u l d be

met. b y t h e s a l e o f t h e I n d i a n R e s e r v e . When Speaker.

iRelmEiken warned h i m t h a t any f u n d s so p r o c u r e d , must,

b e l o n g t o t h e I n d i a n s , he l a u n c h e d i n t o a p o i n t l e s s a n d

c o n f u s e d a t t a c k on t h e R e s e r v e s t a t i n g t h a t " t h e Hudson's

Bay Company h a d p a i d , f o r the t o w n s i t e o f V i c t o r i a b y

g i v i n g t h e I n d i a n s t h r e e b l a n k e t s ; t h a t t h e I n d i a n s h a d

o n l y r e s i d e d t h e r e s i n c e t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f the town,

that, t h e Hudson's Ba y Company's f a r m was t h e i r o l d camp;

t h a t t h e y were a n u i s a n c e , t h e g r a n d j u SST h a v i n g Q

recommended t h e i r r e m o v a l . " He e s t i m a t e d t h e v a l u e o f

t h e a r e a as b e t w e e n £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 and £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d t h i s a g i t a t i o n t o Downing

S t r e e t , s t a t i n g c l e a r l y t h e p o l i c y he f a v o r e d - - - " t o l e a s e

t h e l a n d and a p p l y a l l t h e p r o c e e d s a r i s i n g t h e r e f r o m

f o r t h e e x c l u s i v e b e n e f i t o f t h e I n d i a n s . " ^ 0 I n h i s

message t o t h e A s s e m b l y he s t a t e d f i r m l y t h a t " t h e t i t l e

t o t h e V i c t o r i a R e s e r v e was v e s t e d i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ;

t h a t t h e I n d i a n s were g u a r a n t e e d t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f i t

when t h e C o l o n y was s e t t l e d f i r s t b u t i t w a s e a d v i s a b l e

t o d i v i d e up t h e R e s e r v e and r e n t i t , a n d t h a t t h e

p r o c e e d s be d e v o t e d t o s u p p o r t a c l e r g y m a n and t e a c h e r » • » »

8. L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 30 Dec.1858

249

t o i n s t r u c t them. T h e y cannot, he moved." Y a t e s

d e s c r i b e d , t h i s a s ' C h i e f F a c t o r d i p l o m a c y " and b l a m e d

t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s on t h e p o l i c y o f t h e E x e c u t i v e .

"Because y o u (Pemberton.) a n d t h e Governor, h a ve made a

b l u n d e r i n t a k i n g a l l t h e l a n d s o f t h e I n d i a n s , must, t h e

I n d i a n s r e m a i n h e r e t o d i s g u s t e v e r y r e s p e c t a b l e f e m a l e

i n t h e town; ".and a r e we t o s u f f e r t h i s s i n k o f i n i q u i t y

t o r e m a i n i n o u r m i d s t any l o n g e r ? Remove them t w e n t y

m i l e s away f r o m t h e g r o g - s h o p s i f y o u d e s i r e t h e i r 12

improvement."

D o u g l a s was n o t p e r s u a d e d b u t n e i t h e r was

he i n haste t o p u t h i s own t h e o r i e s I n t o a c t i o n . D u r i n g

t h e r e m a i n d e r o f 1859 a n d t h r o u g h o u t I860 t h e r e a r e o n l y

a few c a s u a l r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e I n d i a n s . Downing S t r e e t

s e n t a n o t h e r d e s p a t c h a d v o c a t i n g an a l t r u i s t i c p o l i c y

more e a s i l y p r o n o u n c e d t h a n f u l f i l l e d . "Her M a j e s t y ' s

Government e a r n e s t l y w i s h t h a t when t h e a d v a n c i n g r e q u i r e ­

ments o f c i v i l i z a t i o n p r e s s upon L a n d s o c c u p i e d by members

o f t h a t r a c e , m e a s u r e s o f l i b e r a l i t y and j u s t i c e may be

a d o p t e d f o r c o m p e n s a t i n g them f o r t h e s u r r e n d e r o f t h e

t e r r i t o r y w h i c h t h e y h a v e b e e n t a u g h t t o r e g a r d as t h e i r

9. Y a t e s i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 18 Jan.1859

1 0 . D o u g l a s t o L y t t o n , 9 Peb.1859

1 1 . D o u g l a s t o A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 8 Peb.1859

12. Y a t e s i n A;s. i n C o l o n i s t o f 15 P'eb.1859

25:0

own,."-1*0 The A s s e m b l y a p p o i n t e d an e p h e m e r a l committ.ee

" t o c o n s i d e r t h e p r a c t i c a b i l i t y o f r e m o v i n g t h e I n d i a n s

l o c a t e d i n t h e n o r t h e r n s e c t i o n o f t h e t o w n " 1 4 " b u t no

s e s s i o n s , a r e r e p o r t e d n o r any f i n d i n g s s u b m i t t e d .

I n J a n u a r y o f 1861 D o u g l a s t o o k t h e l o n g -

a w a i t e d s t e p and. a d v e r t i s e d t h e wat.er f r o n t a g e l o t s . of.

t h e R e s e r v e f o r l e a s e . The. C o l o n i s t was a s e n t h u s i a s t i c

a s i t c o u l d be o v e r a n y act. o f G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s . "The

o b j e c t we l e a r n i s t o o b t a i n r e v e n u e by t h i s means i n o r d e r

to. e n a b l e t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t o a p p o i n t m i s s i o n a r i e s a n d

p o l i c e f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n and. p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e a b o r i g i n e s .

. . . A l t h o u g h t h e p r o p e r t y ' s p r e s e n t a v a i l a b i l i t y f o r

" m e r c a n t i l e p u r p o s e s * i s d o u b t f u l , y e t t h e r e a r e many

15

o c c u p a t i o n s f o r w h i c h i t m i g h t be u s e d a d v a n t a g e o u s l y . "

T h i s v e n t u r e a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n f a i r l y

s u c c e s s f u l , f o r i n 1862 i t was e x t e n d e d t o " a l l u n o c c u p i e d

p o r t i o n s " o f t h e R e s e r v e a n d a s p e c i a l a g e n t , J o h n C o c h ­

r a n e , was a p p o i n t e d t o manage t h e r e n t a l s . ^ 6 To t h i s

p o l i c y De Cosmos o b j e c t e d on t h e g r o u n d s t h a t t h e i r r e g u l a r

p l o t s l e a s e d s p o i l e d any o r g a n i s e d c i t y p l a n n i n g . He was

i n f a v o r o f h a s t e n i n g t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e I n d i a n s who

...» 13. C a r n a r v o n ( v i c e L y t t o n ) t o D o u g l a 3 , D . S t . , 11 A p r . 1 8 5 9

14. W a d d i n g t o n i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 26.Apr.1860

15. News I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 16 J a n .18:61. The t e x t o f

t h e a d v e r t l s e m e n t i s f o u n d i n t h e same i s s u e . 1 6 . N o t i c e i n C o l o n i s t o f 10 Sep.1862

251

were r a p i d l y d y i n g o f f . "So l o n g as. t h e y l i v e t h e r e t h e y

w i l l n e v e r he b e t t e r t h a n a n e s t o f t w o - l e g g e d m u s k r a t s ;

and t o d e s t r o y the; o r d e r , b e a u t y and. symmetry o f one o f

t h e f i n e s t b u i l d i n g s i t e s i n o u r community f o r t h e i r s a k e 1 7

i s a p e r v e r s i o n o f common s e n s e . "

A n o t h e r good r e a s o n f o r t h e i r r e m o v a l h a d

been a d v a n c e d when s m a l l p o x h i t t h e R e s e r v e i n l a t e

A p r i l o f 1862:. W i t h I n d i a n s d y i n g i n t h e b a c k l o t s o f

V i c t o r i a , De Cosmos c o u l d w i t h some r e a s o n demand t h a t

t h e I n d i a n s be removed and t h e R e s e r v e c l e a n e d up f o r f e a r

t h e i n f e c t i o n s h o u l d s p r e a d among t h e w h i t e s . I s D i r e c t

a c t i o n was tak.en a t E s q u i m a l t where the I n d i a n h u t s were

b u r n e d b y t h e p o l i c e and t h e i n h a b i t a n t s d i r e c t e d t o

" c l a t t a w a . " 1 9

U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e r e I s l i t t l e m a t e r i a l

a v a i l a b l e on Kennedy's t r e a t m e n t o f t h e R e s e r v e p r o b l e m .

On h i s a r r i v a l he was v e r y i n d i g n a n t a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s

w h i c h he f o u n d : " s h a m e l e s s p r o s t i t u t i o n o f t h e women a n d .

d r u n k e n n e s s o f t h e men who l i v e m a i n l y b y t h e i r p r o s t i t u t ­

i o n . The I n d i a n s must be removed f r o m t h i s l o c a l i t y a n d

t h e p r o c e e d s o f t h e R e s e r v e , j u d i c i o u s l y managed w i l l

more t h a n s u f f i c e t o s u p p l y them w i t h a l l n e c e s s a r i e s i n

a mbre s u i t a b l e l o c a l i t y . . . The I n d i a n s a r e f u l l y

. • . • 17. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 21 A p r . 1 8 6 3

1 8 . De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 28 A p r . 1 8 6 2

19. News I t e m I n C o l o n i s t o f 15 May.1862 252.

coin.pet.ent. t o a p p r e c i a t e j u s t i c e a n d h u m a n i t y , h u t w h i l e

t h e y a r e managed l i m e w i l d "beasts, t h e y w i l l n o t c e a s e t o

be ferocious':.and. d a n g e r o u s . " 2 0 : Kennedy's, a p p l i c a t i o n o f

h i s . p l a n h a s n o t b e e n a c c u r a t e l y a s c e r t a i n e d . The o n l y

e v i d e n c e a v a i l a b l e i s an i t e m i n t h e " C o l o n i s t " w h i c h

s t a t e d , t h a t I n d i a n C o m m i s s i o n e r s P e m b e r t o n and A l s t o n

were p l a n n i n g t o p r e s e n t "a number o f b l a n k e t s and o t h e r

i k t a s t o t h e S o n g i s h I n d i a n s , p u r c h a s e d w i t h t h e p r o c e e d s

o f r e n t s o f p r o p e r t y on t h e R e s e r v e . H i s . E x c e l l e n c y t h e

G o v e r n o r w i l l , be p r e s e n t and a d d r e s s , t h e t r i b e . " 2 ^

S i m i l a r p r o b l e m s a r o s e i n t h e C o w i t c h a n

a r e a . T h e r e t h e I n d i a n s g l a d l y s o l d , t h e l a n d b u t r e t a i n e d

t h e i r v i l l a g e s i t e s and p o t a t o p a t c h e s . ^ By 1865 t h e

R e s e r v e h a d become s u c h a n u i s a n c e a n d t e m p t a t i o n t o t h e

s e t t l e r s that, they p e t i t i o n e d f o r i t s s a l e , t h e p r o c e e d s

t o be g i v e n t o t h e I n d i a n s t o " p r o v i d e f o r t h e i r g e n e r a l 9"5

Improvement a n d g o od g o v e r n m e n t . " They s u g g e s t e d t h a t

a s m a l l a r e a be f e n c e d o f f w h i c h th e I n d i a n s c o u l d c u l ­

t i v a t e i n s a f e t y s i n c e , owing t o t h e I n d i a n n e g l e c t o f

f e n c i n g " t h e i r p o t a t o c r o p s a r e a n n u a l l y d e s t r o y e d b y t h e

c a t t l e a n d t h e p i g s o f t h e s e t t l e r s . " The " C o l o n i s t "

a d v i s e d t h e more d r a s t i c p o l i c y o f r e m o v i n g t h e I n d i a n s

.... 20. Kennedy t o C a r d w e l l , V . I . , 1 O c t . 1 8 6 4

2 1 . Fews I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 17 Dec.1864

22-. News I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 22 A u g . 1862 -

23. C o w i t c h a n P e t i t i o n i n C o l o n i s t o f 18 A p r . 1 8 6 5 253

e n t i r e l y . " T h e r e a r e p l e n t y o f i s l a n d s , l y i n g o f f t h e c o a s t

on w h i c h t h e n a t i v e s m i g h t he e a s i l y i n d u c e d t o s e t t l e

and on w h i c h t h e y cd'iS&ld. he t u r n e d t o a g r e a t d e a l more

p r o f i t a b l e a c c o u n t t o t h e m s e l v e s a n d t o us t h a n t h e y a r e

a t p r e s e n t . " 2 - 4 -

I n December De Cosmos r o s e i n the A s s e m b l y

t o a s k f o r t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e C o w i t c h a n R e s e r v e , a r g u i n g

t h a t t h o u g h a l a r g e a r e a was h e l d f r o m s e t t l e m e n t , " t h e r e

were ( o n l y ) s e v e r a l a c r e s o c c u p i e d by f o u r o r f i v e h u n ­

d r e d s i w a s h e s , c u l t i v a t i n g p a t c h e s o f p o t a t o e s , i n 25

a d d i t i o n t o w h i c h a l l t h e y d i d was t o c a t c h s a l m o n . "

A r e f o r m o f t h e R e s e r v e p o l i c y m i g h t once h a v e b e e n

s u p p o r t e d b y K e n n e d y b u t now he l o o k e d upon t h e m o t i o n

s o l e l y a s a n e f f o r t t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t r o l o f Crown L a n d s

p o l i c y a n d he r e p l i e d s t i f f l y t h a t i n t h e p r e s e n t

s i t u a t i o n o f t h a t d i s p u t e , he c o u l d t a k e no a c t i o n .

I n d i a n L a b o r

The I n d i a n who h a d s o l d h i s l a n d f o r a v e r y

s m a l l mess o f S c o t c h p o r r i d g e i n t h e . e a r l y f i f t i e s h a d

t h r e e p o s s i b l e means o f s u b s i s t e n c e — h e c o u l d f i s h ,

work f o r t h e w h i t e man, o r l i v e on t h e R e s e r v e , d r i n k i n g

t h e p r o c e e d s o f h i s squaw's a c c o m o d a t i o n t o t h e d e s i r e s

' • • •- •

24. C o l o n i s t e d i t o r i a l o f 18 Apr .1865

2 5 . De Cosmos i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 15 Dec.1865

26. Kennedy t o A s s e m b l y , 19 Dec.1865

254

o f t h e i r m a s t e r s . The f i r s t i n d u s t r y s c a r c e l y f a l l s

w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h i s s t u d y a n d t h e l a s t , i s h a r d l y

a f i t s u b j e c t , f o r a M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , d e s p i t e t h e p r e s e n t -

day l e a n i n g t o w a r d pornography d i s g u i s e d , a s p s y c h o l o g y o r

s o c i o l o g y . On t h e e x t e n t a n d v a l u e o f n a t i v e l a b o r we

c a n however g i v e some l i t t l e d a t a .

When t h e Hudson's Bay Company p r e s e n t e d

t h e i r f i r s t b i e n n i a l r e p o r t i n 1851 i t was n o t e d t h a t

some $600 h a d b e e n p a i d i n g oods " t o I n d i a n s f o r work

done f o r the C o l o n y . n Z 1 j n t h i s amibunt was t r e b l e d

• as. was t h e p r i c e o f t h e goods s p e n t f o r l a n d p u r c h a s e ,

i t may n o t r e p r e s e n t a g r e a t amount o f l a b o r . L a t e r i n

t h e y e a r , D o u g l a s rec.ommen.ed t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a

r o a d t o Sooke w h i c h w o u l d r e q u i r e I n d i a n l a b o r c o s t i n g

£50. To c o n f i r m t h e s e I s o l a t e d i n s t a n c e s we may

q u o t e a g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t o f D o u g l a s made two y e a r s

l a t e r — " A g r e a t p a r t o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r o f the

C o l o n y i s a t p r e s e n t p e r f o r m e d by means o f t h e N a t i v e s

who t h o ' ( s i c ) l e s s s k i l l e d and i n d u s t r i o u s t h a n w h i t e

men, work a t a c o m p a r a t i v e l y c h e a p e r r a t e , so t h a t on 9

t h e w h o l e t h e y a r e e x c e e d i n g l y u s e f u l t o t h e C o l o n i s t s . "

N e x t y e a r i t was r e p o r t e d t h a t I n d i a n l a b o r

c o u l d be p r o c u r e d f o r $8.00 a month w h i l e u n s k i l l e d w h i t e

.... 2 7 . B l a n s h a r d to G r e y , V . I . , 12 Feb.1851

28. D o u g l a s t o B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a j 8 O c t . 1 8 5 1 29. D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , Y . I . , 28 J u l . 1 8 5 5

255

l a b o r e r s , g o t from. $2..Q,Q t o $2.50 a day a n d c a r p e n t e r s

a s h i g h as $6.0,0 a d a y . 5 0 L i t t l e , more i s h e a r d t i l l 1858

when Douglas, recommended I n d i a n l a b o r f o r t h e s u r v e y s

o f t h e B o u n d a r y C o m m i s s i o n , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e n a t i v e s

c o u l d , do t h e h e a v y work u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f B r i t i s h

e x p e r t s a n d w o u l d n o t be t e m p t e d t o r u n away t o t h e g o l d

f i e l d s , "a not. u n l i k e l y c o n t i n g e n c y * i f the l a b o r were

r e c r u i t e d f r o m " t h e f l o a t i n g w h i t e p o p u l a t i o n of V a n c o u v e r

I s l a n d . " 3 1

The o t h e r s i d e o f t h e c a s e — t h e i n e f f i c i e n c y

o f t h e I n d i a n , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r 1858 when he h a d b e e n

i n o c u l a t e d w i t h t h e w h i t e man's v i c e s — i s g i v e n r a t h e r

f o r c i b l y b y De Cosmos i n a b i t o f e d i t o r i a l s a r c a s m a t

t h e expense o f the Hudson's Ba y Company. " N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g

t h e I n d i a n t r i b e s o f t h e s e c o l o n i e s h a v e f o r t h e l a s t

t h i r t y y e a r s b e e n u n d e r th e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e Hudson's

B a y Company a n d h a v e e n j o y e d t h e b e n i g n i n f l u e n c e s o f

t h e i r b o a s t e d l a b o r s i n the g r e a t work o f t h e i r r e d e m p t i o n

f r o m b a r b a r i s m , t h e men t o d a y a r e a h o r d e o f t h i e v e s

a n d c u t t h r o a t s a n d t h e women a community o f p r o s t i t u t e s . .

. . They n e v e r c a n compete s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h t h e w h i t e s ;

f o r a l t h o u g h t h e i r s e r v i c e s may be had. a t a much c h e a p e r

r a t e , t h e i r i n d o l e n t h a b i t s , d i s h o n e s t d i s p o s i t i o n a n d

i n t e l l e c t u a l d e g r e d a t i o n w i l l e v e r c a u s e t h e l a b o r o f

. . » . ' • 5 0 . D o u g l a s to B a r c l a y , F t . V i c t o r i a . , 20 A u g . 1864

3 1 . D o u g l a s t o L a b o u c h i r e , V . I . , 5 Mar.1858

256:

t h e w h i t e man t o he p r e f e r r e d t o t h a t o f the. I n d i a n . " -

I n d i a n T i t l e

Though D o u g l a s h a d h a d l i t t l e t r o u b l e i n

"buying l a n d f r o m t h e I n d i a n s at. a v e r y l o w r a t e , he h a d

n o t p u r c h a s e d any g r e a t a r e a a n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f b u y i n g

out. t h e I n d i a n t i t l e t o t h e r e s t o f t h e I s l a n d was f o r

l o n g a p r o b l e m o f t h e c o l o n y . The A s s e m b l y made e a r l y

a t t e m p t s t o s a d d l e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y on t h e Home

Government a n d when that , was r e p u d i a t e d , t h e y t a c t f u l l y

l e t t h e m a t t e r d r i f t , a l l o w i n g s m a l l - p o x a n d t h e encroach­

ments o f w h i t e s e t t l e m e n t t o d e c i d e t h e i s s u e , e f f e c t i v e l y

and c h e a p l y .

E a r l y i n I860., Mr. E o s t e r e n t e r t a i n e d t h e

A s s e m b l y w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g d i s s e r t a t i o n on t h e I n d i a n

t i t l e s : "We a r e t o l d t h a t we h a v e t o e x t i n g u i s h them:

t h e y h a v e n e v e r b e e n a c k n o w l e d g e d by t h i s House, n o r b y

any C o l o n y o r t h e E n g l i s h Government. ( H e a r , h e a r ! )

T hey n e v e r e x i s t e d ^ we m e r e l y a c k n o w l e d g e t h a t a compens­

a t i o n i s due them f o r c h a n g i n g t h e i r p o s i t i o n . T h i s t h e 33

Home Government s h o u l d do."' D u r i n g t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

o f t h e e s t i m a t e s f o r t h e y e a r a n i t e m o f £ 2 0 0 0 f o r the

e x t i n c t i o n o f G h e m a i n l s I n d i a n t i t l e was thrown o u t on

t h e m o t i o n o f E o s t e r a n d w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f C o o p e r who . . . . 3 2 . De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 19 Eeb.1861

3 3 . E o s t e r i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 22 Mar.I860

25?

s t a t e d t h a t " u n t i l t h e l a n d s a r e p l a c e d i n our p o s s e s s i o n ,

t h e Home Government c e r t a i n l y s h o u l d p a y a l l t h e s e demands..

It. was, n o t t i l l 1 8 6 1 t h a t t h e A s s e m b l y

d e f i n i t e l y d e c l a r e d i t ' s s t a n d b u t i n J a n u a r y o f t h a t

y e a r T o l m i e c a r r i e d , a r e s o l u t i o n t h a t " i t . was t h e d e s i r e

of. t h e House t h a t H e r M a j e s t y ' s Government, s h o u l d t a k e

s t e p s t o q u i e t t h e I n d i a n c l a i m s t o l a n d i n t h i s C o l o n y :

t h a t . the. q u e s t i o n o f q u i e t i n g t h e s e c l a i m s was one f o r

the. c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e Home Government a n d t h a t t h e s e

c l a i m s not. b e i n g q u i e t e d , was a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e a. s e r i o u s

drawback t o t h e improvement, o f t h e C o l o n y . * " 0

D o u g l a s t o o k h i s t i m e about, t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e

p e t i t i o n t o Downing S t r e e t , a n d i t d i d n o t l e a v e t h e I s l a n d

t i l l 2.5 M a r c h . M e a n w h i l e t h e C o l o n i s t t o o k up t h e i s s u e .

De Cosmos a d v o c a t e d a s t r o n g l a n d p o l i c y i f t h e A s s e m b l y

w o u l d n o t v o t e t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s . " S h a l l we a l l o w

a. f e w r e d v a g r a n t s t o p r e v e n t f o r e v e r i n d u s t r i o u s s e t t l e r s .

f r o m s e t t l i n g on u n o c c u p i e d l a n d ? Hot a t a l l . . . L o c a t e

r e s e r v a t i o n s f o r them on w h i c h t o e a r n t h e i r own l i v i n g

a n d i f t h e y t r e s p a s s on w h i t e s e t t l e r s p u n i s h them

s e v e r e l y . A f e w l e s s o n s w o u l d s o o n e n a b l e them t o f o r m

a c o r r e c t e s t i m a t e o f t h e i r own i n f e r i o r i t y a n d s e t t l e

t h e I n d i a n t i t l e t o o . " 5 6 De Cosmos a p p a r e n t l y h a d a c c e p t e d

» . • .

3 4 . C o o p e r i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 28 J u n » 1 8 6 0

3 5 . T o l m i e i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 29 Jan.18 6 1

36. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 8 E a r . 1 8 6 1

258

t h e A m e r i c a n d e f i n i t i o n o f a "good I n d i a n , "

T w e l v e d a y s l a t e r , i n r e p o r t i n g a Gowichan

p o . t l a c h , t h e e d i t o r d e s c r i b e d t h e I n d i a n s * d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n

at. t h e d e l a y i n r e c e i v i n g payment f o r t h e i r l a n d s a.nd.

a t t r i b u t e d i t t o n e g l e c t by D o u g l a s . "Year a f t e r y e a r

he h a s p r o m i s e d t o buy t h e i r l a n d , a n d as y e t , h a s n e v e r

done i t . We a r e s o r r y t o h e a r t h a t G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s 1 p o p ­

u l a r i t y i s . on t h e wane among t h e o l d e s t f a m i l i e s on t h e

i s l a n d . S o b e r l y , however, t h e s t a t e m e n t o f t h e Gowichans

shows t h a t t h e f a u l t o f t h e n o n - e x t i n c t i o n o f I n d i a n 37

t i t l e s l i e s a t G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s * d o o r . "

Downing S t r e e t s r e p l y , t h o u g h b e l a t e d was

s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e . "The a c q u i s i t i o n o f t i t l e i s

a p u r e l y C o l o n i a l i n t e r e s t a n d t h e l e g i s l a t u r e must n o t

e n t e r t a i n any e x p e c t a t i o n t h a t the B r i t i s h t a x - p a y e r

w i l l b e b u r d e n e d t o s u p p l y the f u n d s o r B r i t i s h c r e d i t

p l e d g e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e . " 2 8 1

I n t h e A s s e m b l y , M r . B u r n a b y " t h o u g h t t h e

C o l o n y u n f a i r l y d e a l t w i t h b y t h e Home Government, a s

we a r e a s k e d t o b u y l a n d s w h i c h we a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d to

a c q u i r e , 1 * 2 0 and Mr. F r a n k l i n ( v o i c e d h i s f e a r t h a t

i n s u f f i c i e n t " d a t a " h a d b e e n d i s s e m i n a t e d ) a d d e d l a m e n t a ­

t i o n s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t "The C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y c e r t a i n l y

.... 37. Hews. Item i n C o l o n i s t o f 20 Mar.1861. As h a s b e e n n o t ­

e d above (n.22, p.253) D o u g l a s d i d make payments s o o n a f t e r .

3 8 . N e w c a s t l e t o Douglas,, D . S t . , 19 Oct.1861 259

m u s t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e l a n d , h e r e b e l o n g s t o t h e C o l o n y - -

t h e a c t u a l s t a t e o f t h e c a s e c o u l d , n e v e r h a v e b e e n commun­

i c a t e d , " 4 Q No a c t i o n waa t a k e n b u t t h e p o l i c y o f s a l u t a r y

n e g l e c t s l o w l y but. s u r e l y c l e a r e d t h e way f o r t h e s t r o n g e r

r a c e .

The B u t e I n l e t M a s s a c r e

T h i s i n c i d e n t i s n o t e d h e r e b e c a u s e i t was

t h e o c c a s i o n o f s e v e r a l o p i n i o n s on t h e t r e a t m e n t o f

I n d i a n s , Mr, W a d d i n g t o n was c o n s t r u c t i n g a. r o a d t o

t h e C a r i b o o b y t h e n o r t h e r n r o u t e f r o m B u t e I n l e t and

when h i s c o n s t r u c t i o n camps h a d moved about, f o r t y m i l e s

i n l a n d , a n I n d i a n c a i d p r a c t i c a l l y w i p e d o u t h i s g a n g .

G o v e r n o r Seymour l e d . a n e x p e d i t i o n t o p u n i s h t h e I n d i a n s

b u t t h e p r o j e c t f o r t h e r o a d was e v e n t u a l l y a b a n d o n e d

a s 'Waddington a s k e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l g u a r a n t e e s a n d g r a n t s

w h i c h c o u l d n o t be c o n s i d e r e d ,

Seymour a t t e m p t e d to g e t a t l e a s t h a l f o f

t h e e x p e n s e s o f t h e e x p e d i t i o n p a i d by t h e C o l o n i a l

O f f i c e b y C a r d w e l l r e f u s e d any r e s p o n s i b i l i t y s i n c e t h e

p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n h a d b e e n " u n d e r t a k e n e x c l u s i v e l y

i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e Colony"" and " t h e ex p e n s e i s i n

i n a g r e a t measure due t o t h e r a t e o f p r o f i t s w h i c h t h e

c o l o n i s t s a r e r e a l i z i n g and t h e r e f o r e c a n h a r d l y be v i e w e d

39 , B u r n a b y i n A s , 2 f i Mar.1861

40, F r a n k l i n i n A s , 20 Mar.1861

260

a s any m a t t e r o f c o m p l a i n t . " 4 l

Seymour was r e a d y f o r a most f e r o c i o u s

p o l i c y o f p a c i f i c a t i o n "but h i s s u g g e s t i o n " o f i n v i t i n g

e v e r y w h i t e t o s h o o t e v e r y I n d i a n he m i g h t meet* met

w i t h a s h a r p r e p r i m a n d , f r o m t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e . - 2 There

i t was " b e l i e v e d t h a t , t h e sale, o f w h i s k e y was r e s p o n s i b l e .

" i am e s p e c i a l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t n o t h i n g c o u l d , be more

f o r t h e i r b e n e f i t o r more f a v o r a b l e t o t h e g r o w t h o f

w o r t h i e r a n d l e s s p e r n i c i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p s hatvfeen t h e

two r a c e s t h a n t h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the s a l e o f a r d e n t

s p i r i t s t o t h e I n d i a n s b y u n s c r u p u l o u s E u r o p e a n t r a d e r s . "

Kennedy w i t h a g r e a t e r p e r s o n a l k n o w l e d g e o f t h e C o a s t

I n d i a n s , s u g g e s t e d a more s i n i s t e r s o l u t i o n — " I t i s

known t h a t t h e C h i l c o a t e n t r i b e a r e p e c u l i a r l y j e a l o u s

o f t h e i r women and i n t h e a b s e n c e o f any a s s i g n e d r e a s o n

f o r t h i s f e r o c i o u s p r o c e e d i n g I s h o u l d f e a r t h a t t h e

r e s i d e n c e o f a number of" w h i t e men among t h e C h i l c o a t e n s

a n d t h e a l m o s t c e r t a i n r e s u l t s , may be among t h e c a u s e s

w h i c h h a v e l e d t o t h e c a t a s t r o p h e . * 4 4

...» 41. C a r d w e l l t o Seymour, D . S t . , I Aug.1864. The r e f u s a l

t o p a y was r e i t e r a t e d i n a l a t e r d e s p a t c h o f 22 J u l . 1 8 6 5

4 2 . C a r d w e l l t o Seymour, D . S t . , 1 B e c .1864 (#55) r e p l y i n g

t o Seymour t o C a r d w e l l , B'.C, 4 Oct.1864

43. C a r d w e l l t o K e n n e d y , D . S t . , 20 Bec.1864

44. Kennedy t o N e w c a s t l e , T . I . , 13 Kay 1864

2 6 1

The. I n d i a n P o l i c e a t V i c t o r i a

D u r i n g t h e summer o f 1861, t h e p e a c e o f

V i c t o r i a was o f t e n b r o k e n by t h e d r u n k e n f r o l i c s o f

n o r t h e r n I n d i a n s who camped i n l a r g e numbers on t h e o u t ­

s k i r t s , o f t h e c i t y a n d p roceeded, t o e n j o y t h e d u b i o u s

h o s p i t a l i t y o f t h e w h i s k e y - s e l l e r s , a n d l o w e r amusement

h a l l s of t h e "Dawson C i t y " o f B r i t i s h Columbia.. The

numbers o f t h e o f f e n d e r s made t h e p r o b l e m a l m o s t b e y o n d

t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e c i t y p o l i c e f o r c e , so G o v e r n o r D o u g l a s

went t o t h e camp a n d h e l d , a p a r l e y w i t h t h e h e a d men*

They e x p r e s s e d good i n t e n t i o n s a n d e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e

t r o u b l e h a d b e e n c a u s e d by " c u l t u s " i n d i v i d u a l s whom

t h e y were r e a d y t o h a n d o v e r t o j u s t i c e . D o u g l a s

t h e r e f o r e p r e s e n t e d , some o f t h e n o t a b l e s w i t h c o m m i s s i o n s

as. s p e c i a l c o n s t a b l e s . " t o a r r e s t and b r i n g t o t h e

s t a t i o n house a l l d r u n k e n o r t h i e v i s h I n d i a n s who r e s i d e d

a t o r t o o k r e f u g e i n t h e v a r i o u s camps."

The c h i e f s were d e l i g h t e d w i t h t h e i r new

a u t h o r i t y a n d p r o c e e d e d t o e x e r c i s e i t t h o r o u g h l y .

O f f i c e r s " Enensah, G e o r g e , C a n a r y a n d S i r R o b e r t P e e l *

w e r e so e f f i c i e n t t h a t w i t h i n t h e week t h e " C o l o n i s t "

c o u l d r e p o r t t h a t " t h e l o d g e s a r e now v e r y q u i e t a n d a s

l o n g as the c h i e f s who have b e e n c o m m i s s i o n e d a s p o l i c e ­

men do t h e i r d u t y , no do#bt w i l l r e m a i n s o . " 4 6 Uot

.... 4 5 . News Item i n C o l o n i s t o f 20 J u l . 1 8 6 1

46. STews. I t e m i n C o l o n i s t o f 26 J u l . 1 8 6 1

262

c o n t e n t w i t h c o r r e c t i n g t h e i r e r r i n g b r e t h r e n , t h e

c o m m i s s i o n e r s , d e c i d i n g t o g e t t o t h e r o o t o f t h e p r o b l e m ,

p l a n t e d s t o o l - p i g e o n s on one Mr* Wyness, a n o t o r i o u s

s e l l e r o f w h i s k e y t o t h e I n d i a n s * He was c a u g h t r e d -

h a n d e d , m a n - h a n d l e d a n d t u r n e d , o v e r to t h e p o l i c e *

But. t h e b u r d e n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y became

t o o g r e a t when t h e n o v e l t y wore o f f . On t h e n i g h t o f

6 A u g u s t , C o m m i s s i o n e r E d e n s a h a l l o w e d h i m s e l f t h e l i b e r t y

o f s e v e r a l d r i n k s t o o many and, m e e t i n g a n o t h e r I n d i a n

i n the. same c o n d i t i o n , u n d e r t o o k to a r r e s t h i m . The

i n t e n d e d p r i s o n e r not. i l l o g i c a l l y p r o t e s t e d a n d t h e

r e s u l t i n g scrimmage ended i n t h e i n c a r c e r a t i o n o f b o t h

c o m b a t a n t s i n t h e c i t y g a o l . T h i s i n c i d e n t r u i n e d t h e

p r e s t i g e o f t h e I n d i a n p o l i c e a n d t h o u g h E d e n s a h

e n d e a v o r e d t o a t o n e f o r h i s c o n d u c t b y r e p o r t i n g c o n c e a l e d

l i q u o r i n h i s camp t o t h e l o c a l p o l i c e , p o p u l a r o p i n i o n

condemned t h e e x p e r i m e n t and T o l m i e r e a d t h e o b i t u a r y

o f t h i s a t t e m p t t o d e v e l o p I n d i a n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n a

s p e e c h t o t h e A s s e m b l y - - " T h e I n d i a n P o l i c e was a f a i l u r e * " ' - * * . •

47.. T o l m i e i n A s s e m b l y , 14 Aug*1861

263

Appendix. E

•MILITARY 'SETTLEMENT.

T h i s i s a d e v e l o p m e n t c o n f i n e d almost, e n t i r e l y t o t h e

m a i n l a n d . The e a r l y s u g g e s t i o n o f m i l i t a r y s e t t l e m e n t

m e n t i o n e d a b o v e ( c . 2 , n.22, p.29) was abandoned a n d i n

1859, Downing S t r e e t d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e u s u a l l a n d

r e g u l a t i o n s f a v o r i n g r e t i r e d o f f i c e r s "do n o t e x t e n d

t o V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d , t h e s o i l o f w h i c h h a s b e e n g r a n t e d

t o t h e Hud.son rs Bay Company,

When s e t t l e m e n t f l o w e d t o t h e m a i n l a n d

i n 1858, D o u g l a s h a s t e n e d t o a s k "whether i t w o u l d be

d e s i r a b l e f o r t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c o l o n y t o g r a n t

r e m i s s i o n s on t h e p u r c h a s e o f l a n d t o r e t i r e d o f f i c e r s

o f t h e Army and Navy was was f o r m e r l y t h e c u s t o m i n many

o f t h e B r i t i s h C o l o n i e s , * T h i s was f a v o r a b l y r e c e i v e d

a n d D o u g l a s v e n t u r e d a f u r t h e r s u g g e s t i o n — ^ m a k i n g g r a n t s

t o t h e men o f t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r s o f s m a l l p o r t i o n s o f

, » » ,

1, E o r t e s c u e t o L e o n a r d , D , S t . , 24 Eeb.1858

2, A n s w e r e d i n L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s , D . S t , , 2 Sep.1858

D a t e o f D o u g l a s * d e s p a t c h p r o b a b l y a b o u t J u n e , 1858.

264

a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d o n c o n d i t i o n s o f r e s i d e n c e a n d m i l i t a r y

s e r v i c e w i t h i n t h e C o l o n y i f c a l l e d upon • . . ( a n d t h u s )

i n t r o d u c i n g a r e s p e c t a b l e B r i t i s h e l e m e n t t o t h e p o p u l ­

a t i o n a n d e n c o u r a g i n g s e n t i m e n t s o f l o y a l t y t o t h e •z

C r o w n . a p o l i c y w h i c h he. h o p e d m i g h t be c o n t i n u e d

l a t e r when the Crown L a n d s came u n d e r the c o n t r o l o f

C o l o n i a l L e g i s l a t i o n .

The r e p l y f r o m Downing S t r e e t was n o t

e x a c t l y e f f u s s i v e . " I am n o t aware t h a t t h e y h a v e h a d

any e x t e n s i v e i n f l u e n c e i n any c o l o n y , — b u t w h a t e v e r

e f f e c t t h e y h a v e w o u l d b e , as y o u o b s e r v e , t o i n t r o d u c e

a s u p e r i o r a n d v e r y l o y a l a n d a t t a c h e d c l a s s o f s e t t l e r s 1 . ' 4

D o u g l a s however was p l e a s e d w i t h h i s i d e a and i n r e p o r t i n g

h i s L a n d P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 14 F e b r u a r y 1859, i n c l u d e d

among h i s p l a n s a m i l i t a r y r e s e r v e " b o r d e r i n g on t h e

t h e f r o n t i e r o f t h e u n i t e d S t a t e s , " w h i c h was t o be

s e t t l e d " w i t h a p o p u l a t i o n o f e x c l u s i v e l y B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s . "

I n t h i s p l a n D o u g l a s was p r o b a b l y moved by h i s memories

of" t h e s y s t e m o f g r a d u a l e n c r o a c h m e n t by w h i c h t h e

A m e r i c a n m i s s i o n a r y - s e t t l e r s h a d c l o s e d i n on t h e

Company's r e s e r v e s i n O r e g o n .

D u r i n g t h e l a t e summer o f 1860 o c c u r r e d a

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e l a t i v e t o b r i n g i n g out " t h e w i v e s a n d

c h i l d r e n a n d a l s o t h e i n t e n d e d w i v e s o f c e r t a i n n o n -.... 3. D o u g l a s (BC) t o L y t t o n , Y . I . , 8 Nov.1858

4. L y t t o n t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , B . S t . , 19 Mar.1859

265

Commi.saion.ecL o f f i c e r s and. men" o f t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r a .

Downing S t r e e t u n d e r t o o k to f i n a n c e t h i a on t h e c o n d i t i o n

that, " t h e men s h o u l d he r e q u i r e d , t o s i g n on u n d e r t a k i n g

t o r e p a y t h e e x p e n s e s i n c u r r e d and. s h o u l d s t a t e i n w r i t i n g

t h a t , i f t h e i r w i s h e s a r e c o m p l i e d , w i t h , t h e y i n t e n d

t o r e m a i n i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a a f t e r t h e i r d i s c h a r g e

f r o m t h e s e r v i c e » * The d e p e n d e n t s " p r o c e e d e d t o B r i t i s h

Columbia, i n t h e ' M a r c e l l a * w h i c h l e f t f o r the c o l o n y

on 12. November I860.," 6

I n M a r c h o f 1861 t h e " B r i t i s h C o l o n i s t " o f

V i c t o r i a p r i n t e d t h e f o l l o w i g n a r t i c l e u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g

" L a n d G r a b b i n g — W e a r e i n f o r m e d t h a t a g e n t l e m a n , f o r m e r l y

a t t a c h e d t o t h e B r i t i s h Army, h a s l a t e l y a r r i v e d i n

B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a h a v i n g i n h i s p o s s e s s i o n l a n d - s c r i p

t h a t , e n t i t l e s h i m t o 1000 a c r e s o f c h o i c e l a n d a t $1.00

p e r a c r e . C o l o n e l Moody, C h i e f C o m m i s s i o n e r o f L a n d s

and Works f o r B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a , h a s i t i s s a i d p r e - e m p t e d

o v e r 15,000 a c r e s o f l a n d i n v a r i o u s p o r t i o n s o f t h e

C o l o n y . " ' When t h i s s t a t e m e n t was c o r r e c t e d by a

c o r r e s p o n d e n t who e x p l a i n e d t h a t s u c h l a n d was n o t s o l d

b u t g r a n t e d a n d t h e n o n l y on r e t i r e m e n t , De Cosmos

p r o d u c e d a l e a r n e d e d i t o r i a l b a s e d on t h e " C o l o n i z a t i o n

C i r c u l a r o f 1 8 5 9 * w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t i n c e r t a i n c o l o n i e s ,

, . . . . 5. L e w i a t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D . S t . , 21 J u l . 1 8 6 0

6. E o r t e a c u e t o D o u g l a a ( B C ) , D . S t . , 16 Nov.1860

7. C o l o n i a t of. 14 Mar.1861

266

among, which. V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d , was- i n c l u d e d , " t h e c o n t r o l

o f t h e w a s t e l a n d s o f t h e Grown h a s b e e n t r a n s f e r r e d t o

t h e l o c a l l e g i s l a t u r e s , " 8 De Cosmos p o i n t e d o u t t h e

e r r o r o f i n c l u d i n g V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d s i n c e t h e land, was

s t i l l u n d e r t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e Hudson's B a y Company,

The e d i t o r i a l a l s o c o n t a i n e d t h e amount

o f t h e r e m i s s i o n s t o v a r i o u s r a n k s b u t two d a y s b e f o r e ,

t h e s e h a d b e e n p r o m u l g a t e d , on t h e m a i n l a n d i n t h e f o r m q

o f t h e P r o c l a m a t i o n o f O f f i c e r s R e m i s s i o n s , The

f o l l o w i n g t a b l e shows t h e amounts, r e c e i v e d b y d i f f e r e n t

r a n k s o f o f f i c e r s w i t h v a r y i n g p e r i o d s o f s e r v i c e ,

"Ranks o f o f f i c e r s a n d , R e m i s s i o n s on p u r c h a s e s e r v i c e o f c o u n t r y l a n d

F i e l d O f f i c e r s . 25 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 6 0 0

F i e l d O f f i c e r s more t h a n 20 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 5 0 0

F i e l d . O f f i c e r s l e s s t h a n 15 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 4 0 0

C a p t a i n s more t h a n 20 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 4 0 0

C a p t a i n s l e s s t h a n 15 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 3 0 0

S u b a l t e r n s more t h a n 20 y e a r s s e r v i c e £ 3 0 0

S u b a l t e r n s more t h a n 7 y e a r s i s e r v i c e £ 2 0 0 *

F u r t h e r c o n d i t i o n s made e s s e n t i a l two y e a r s o f c o n t i n u o u s

r e s i d e n c e i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a , p r o d u c t i o n o f a c e r t i f i c a t e o

o f s t a n d i n g w i t h i n one y e a r a n d u s e o f a l o c a t i o n t i c k e t

w i t h i n one y e a r o f c o m p l e t i n g t h e r e q u i r e d two y e a r s

• • • •

8. De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 20 Mar,1861

9. P r o c l a m a t i o n o f O f f i c e r s R e m i s s i o n s , B.C., 18 Mar.1861

267

r e s i d e n c e . T h e s e c o n d i t i o n s do n o t seem t o p l a c e any

o p p o r t u n i t y f o r e x t e n s i v e " l a n d - g r a b b i n g " i n t h e h ands

o f army o f f i c e r s .

The o n l y i m p e r i a l t r o o p s s t a t i o n e d i n B r i t i s h

Columbia- were t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r s a n d t h e o n l y r e f e r e n c e s

t o m i l i t a r y g r a n t s a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r members.

When t h e B o u n d a r y C o m m i s s i o n e r s were a t work D o u g l a s

s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h o s e o c c u p i e d i n t h a t work s h o u l d be

a c c o r d e d t h e s e t t l e m e n t p r i v i l e g e s e x t e n d e d t o t h e R o y a l

E n g i n e e r s . N e w c a s t l e r e p l i e d a s f o l l o w s : - - " I f t h e y s h a l l

be. d i s p o s e d on t h e r e t u r n o f the d e t a c h m e n t t o E n g l a n d ,

t o s e t t l e i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a , t h e y s h a l l h a v e the same

a d v a n t a g e s as t o l a n d , i n t h a t c o l o n y a s h a v e been p r o m i s e d

t o t h e men c o m p osing C o l o n e l Moody's p a r t y . . . ( b u t )

r e s i d e n c e a n d M i l i t a r y ( s i c ) s e r v i c e , i f r e q u i r e d , a r e

i n d i s p e n s a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h i s I n d u l g e n c e . ""^ A g a i n

i n 1863 when e i g h t e e n members o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n , f o r m e r l y

R o y a l E n g i n e e r s a p p l i e d f o r l a n d g r a n t s h e a d v i s e d D o u g l a s

" t o submit, t o y o u r c o u n c i l a p r o p o s a l f o r m a k i n g f;3?@e

g r a n t s . . . o f t h i r t y a c r e s e a c h . . . B u t y o u w i l l be

c a r e f u l t o i n s i s t on t h e c o n d i t i o n o f r e s i d . e n c e a n d m i l ­

i t a r y s e r v i c e when r e q u i r e d . " 1 * 1

M i l i t a r y s e t t l e m e n t was t h e r a l s . o n d* e t r e

o f two more a c t s o f l e g i s l a t i o n . The f i r s t was t h e .... 1 0 . N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s ( B C ) , D . S t . , 17 Sep.1861

11. Same t o same, D . S t . , 9 Oct.1863

268

" M i l i t a r y a n d fiaval S e t t l e r s A c t , 1 8 6 3 "• T h i s was

n e c e s s i t a t e d hy t h e d r o p i n t h e p r i c e o f l a n d , a n d c h a n g e d

t h e g r a n t t o a number o f a c r e s o f l a n d , equal.: t o t h e

number o f pounds, r e m i s s i o n u n d e r t h e terms o f the 12

P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 18. M a r c h 18.61V The s e c o n d measure was

t h e " N a v a l and. M i l i t a r y S e t t l e r s . R e l i e f O r d i n a n c e , 1864"

w h i c h , as i t s name i n f e r s was. t o help) t h e s e p r i v i l e g e d

s e t t l e r s . , - I t e x t e n d e d , t h e p e r i o d , o v e r w h i c h t h e P r o ­

c l a m a t i o n o f 18 M a r c h 1861 was e f f e c t i v e and p o s t d a t e d

th e e f f e c t , o f t h e act. o f 1863 t i l l 31 A u g u s t o f t h a t y e a r ,

I am not. aware o f t h e amount o f l a n d a c t u a l l y

o c c u p i e d u n d e r t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s . T h a t t h e r e were some

gr a n t s , made i s p r o v e d by t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a n c e r e f e r e n c e s

w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c h e c k e d . I n 1865

a. d e s p a t c h came f r o m C a r d w e l l t o Seymour, r e f e r r i n g to

t h e p e t i t i o n o f one M c C a l l , l a t e of the R o y a l E n g i n e e r s ,

whose a p p l i c a t i o n f o r f r e e l a n d a s a d i s b a n d e d s e t t l e r had.

b e e n n e g l e c t e d . I n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r was s e n t a l i s t

o f members o f t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r s "who a r e e n t i t l e d t o

t h e g r a t u i t i e s s e t a g a i n s t t h e i r names, on s e t t l i n g i n

t h e C o l o n y , " 1 - 4 A n e n c l o s u r e f r o m t h e War O f f i c e gave .

t h e l i s t o f men--! s e r g e a n t , 4 c o r p o r a l s and 7 s a p p e r s -

t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r t e r m s o f s e r v i c e r a n g i n g f r o m 14

...» 12v A n o f f i c e r who f o r m e r l y g o t £ 6 0 0 r e m i s s i o n on l a n d

p u r c h a s e s now g o t a 600 a c r e g r a n t .

1 3 . C a r d w e l l t o Seymour, 20 J u l , 1 8 5 5 , R e p l y n o t c h e c k e d . 269

y e a r s , t o 18 y e a r s a n d t h e g r a n t s t o w h i c h t h e y were e n t i t ­

l e d ( f r o m £12. t o £3.2.) on r a n k a n d s e r v i c e a n d p o i n t e d

out t h a t , "a m e d i c a l c e r t i f i c a t e may he r e q u i r e d f r o m

e a c h t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t he i s i n good h e a l t h and f i t t o

become a s e t t l e r i n t h e C o l o n y . u l 5

To t h e s e g e n e r a l n o t e s may w e l l b e a d d e d

t h e s t o r i e s o f two m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s — o n e who s u c c e e d e d

a n d one whose p l a n s , n e v e r m a t e r i a l i z e d . The l a t t e r was

L i e u t e n a n t C o l o n e l W i l l i a m S i d n e y O'Connor whose p r o j e c t ,

w i l l b e b e s t s t a t e d , b y h i m s e l f . "The C o l o n e l i s p r e p a r e d

t o p u r c h a s e a n d p a y f o r 500.0 a c r e s o f l a n d t o be s e l e c t e d

b y h i m s e l f - i n f o u r s e p a r a t e l o c a l i t i e s . I f t h e l a n d s

r e q u i r e d , be not. y e t s u r v e y e d b y t h e Government E n g i n e e r ,

C o l . O'Connor c a n h i m s e l f s u r v e y them, t o s a v e t i m e , a n d

t h e y c a n a f t e r w a r d s be r e - s u r v e y e d b y t h e Government

o f f i c i a l . He i s p r e p a r e d t o t a k e out S e r v a n t s ,

A r t i f i c e r s , S t o c k , S a w m i l l s , M a c h i n e r y and i m p l e m e n t s o f 16

a l l k i n d s w i t h a b u n d a n t c a p i t a l t o work t h i s p r o p e r t y » "

To t h i s a t t r a c t i v e p r o p o s i t i o n N e w c a s t l e gave.

g u a r d e d c o n s e n t . " I s h a l l be g l a d i f y o u w i l l a f f o r d t o

C o l o n e l O'Connor any p r o t e c t i o n a n d s e r v i c e s i n y o u r power

b u t . . . I do n o t recommend C o l . O'Connor t o y o u f o r a n y 17

e x c e p t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s i n the^ p u r c h a s e o f l a n d . " . . . . . . . . . . . » » # » < • » » » . » » » » » » . »

1.4. C a r d w e l l t o B i r c h ( v i c e S e y m o u r ) , D . S t . , 28 Eeb.1866

15. R e p o r t f r o m t h e War O f f i c e , 22 Eeb.1866

16. O'Connor t o N e w c a s t l e , No. 2 T a l b o t S q u a r e , 7 Dec.1859

270

B u t t h e r e f u s a l o f " e x c e p t i o n a l , c o n d i t i o n s " 1 seems t o h a v e

daunted, t h e s p i r i t s , o f t h e C o l o n e l f o r n o t h i n g f u r t h e r

i s h eard, o f h i s . p r o j e c t s .

The s u c c e s s f u l e n t e r p r i s e was t h a t o f C a p t a i n

E dward Stamp. He p r o p o s e d t o set. up' a 5.000-foot s a w m i l l ,

a f i s h i n g a nd f i s h - c u r i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t and a p a t e n t s l i p

t o a c comodate v e s s e l s up t o 2000 t o n s a t B a r c l a y S o u n d .

Erom t h i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t he hoped t o open t r a d e w i t h t h e

S a n d w i c h I s l a n d s , S o u t h A m e r i c a , C h i n a , A u s t r a l i a a n d t h e

I s l a n d s o f t h e P a c i f i c . I n r e t u r n f o r t h e s e v a l u a b l e

s e r v i c e s he a s k e d - -

"1.. The r i g h t o f s e l e c t i n g h i s s i t e .

2.. The r i g h t to g e t t a s s m u c h l a n d as he wanted n e a r t h e

s i t e .

3 . The e x c l u s i v e l i c e n s e t o lumber n e i g h b o r i n g Crown

L a n d s •

4. T h a t h i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t b e d e c l a r e d a p o r t o f entry.""'" !

D o u g l a s r e a d i l y a u t h o r i z e d h i m t o t a k e up

any amount o f l a n d up t o 15000 a c r e s a t a maximum p r i c e

o f £ 1 a n a c r e " s u b j e c t t o a r e d u c t i o n i f t h e p r i c e i s

l o w e r e d b e f o r e t h e p u r c h a s e i s c o m p l e t e d . " He r e f u s e d

t h e e x c l u s i v e l u m b e r i n g p r i v i l e g e b u t g r a n t e d t h e r e q u e s t

f o r a p o r t o f e n t r y on t h e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t Stamp wo u l d

make permanent improvements w o r t h £ 7 , 5 0 0 d u r i n g 1860.

. . . . 1 7 . N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 23 Dec.1859

1.8, Douglas,;,.to N e w c a s t l e , V . I . , 26 Jan.1860

271

Downing S t r e e t a p p r o v e d o f h i s t e r m s , w i t h t h e w a r n i n g

t h a t . "The s e l e c t i o n ( o f land), s h o u l d he made i n b l o c k s o f

not. l e s s , t h a n c e r t a i n l e n g t h , a n d b r e a d t h a n d w i t h i n c e r t a i n 19

t i m e , * Downing S t r e e t f e a r e d p i c k e t i n g . I . e . , s e l e c t i o n

o f g o o d a r e a s .

I n J a n u a r y De Cosmos g o t wind, o f Stamp's

p r o p o s a l a n d w r o t e a n e d i t o r i a l a b o u t i t , "A n i c e

l i t t l e scheme i s set. on f o o t t o t a k e up 15000 a c r e s o f

l a n d , i n B a r c l a y Sound on t h e c o n d i t i o n o f l a y i n g out.

137,50.0 i n improvements, d u r i n g t h e y e a r . . » The o s t e n s i b l e

o b j e c t i s . t o e r e c t m a c h i n e r y f o r t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f lumber.*

He a p p r o v e d o f e n c o u r a g i n g i n d u s t r y h u t not. by g r a n t i n g

good a g r i c u l t u r a l : .land w h i c h m i g h t s u p p o r t a g r i c u l t u r a l l y -

minded, s e t t l e r s — " L a y i t down u n a l t e r a b l y t h a t s p e c u l a t o r s

cannot, make m e r c h a n d i s e o f r t h e i n h e r i t a n c e o f t h e p e o p l e . 1 " '

On 3 M a r c h , D o u g l a s p r e s e n t e d Stamp's p r o j e c t

t o t h e A s s e m b l y and i t won t h e s u p p o r t o f A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l 2T

C a r e y , h i m s e l f no mean h a n d a t l a n d s p e c u l a t i o n . * > J ~ L a t e r ,

i n t h e month a p p e a r e d a l e t t e r f r o m Stamp t o Young a c c e p t ­

i n g t h e l a n d p u r c h a s e p o l i c y o u t l i n e d b y D o u g l a s b u t

r e f u s i n g t o t a k e o u t a t i m b e r l i c e n s e on Crown L a n d s

a t 1 0 s a l o a d s i n c e i n g o o d c o u n t r y t h i s w o u l d mean 22

£ 1 5 p e r a c r e * P u r c h a s e o f t h e l a n d w o u l d be much c h e a p e r .

The A s s e m b l y w i t h I t s u s u a l c h e e r f u l n e g l e c t o f I t s

i n a b i l i t y t o l e g i s l a t e where Crown Lands; were c o n c e r n e d , . • . •

1 9 . N e w c a s t l e t o D o u g l a s , D . S t . , 6 A p r * 1 8 6 0 272

voted- a. s u p p o r t i n g r e s o l u t i o n , "That-the -Gapjtain he a l l o w e d

t o p u r c h a s e 2.000 a c r e s o f f a r m i n g l a n d s i n p o r t i o n s a t

d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s , . . The e x t e n t , o f t i m b e r l a n d s s h a l l

be d e f i n e d f o r m a i n t a i n i n g C a p t a i n Stamp's s a w m i l l s f o r

t w e n t y ye a r s , a t a r a t e per. m i l e s q u a r e l i c e n s e d . The

G o vernment t o make t h e most l i b e r a l " t erms o f p u r c h a s e to

t h e c o l o n i s t s , i n t r o d u c e d b y C a p t a i n Stamp a f t e r c o m p l e t i o n '

o f t h e i r c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e m i l l Company, The t i m b e r

r i g h t s h a l l , be m a i n t a i n e d t o C a p t a i n Stamp b u t no l a n d

e x c e p t t h e f a r m i n g l a n d , s h a l l be s h u t out. f r o m s e t t l e -0 3 ,

m e n t » t t E v e n t h i s measure was o p p o s e d i n t h e House by

M e s s r s , C o l e s , C o o p e r a n d W a d d i n g t o n and i n t h e C o l o n i s t ,

b y De Cosmos who w r o t e a s c a t h i n g e d i t o r i a l i n d i c t i n g t h e

scheme as a m onopoly o p p o s e d t o f r e e s e t t l e m e n t a n d f r e e

l a h o r a n d c h a r g i n g t h e A s s e m b l y w i t h h a n d i n g o u t u n s u r ­

v e y e d l a n d i n B a r c l a y Sound l i k e t h e Pope i n t h e t r e a t y 24

o f T o r s e d i l l a s ,

C a p t a i n Stamp seems t o h a v e p r o s p e r e d . I n

J u n e D o u g l a s r e p o r t e d . "Mr, Stamp ha s a l r e a d y f i x e d upon

2.0, De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 19 J a n.1860

2 1 . C a r e y i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 5 Mar.1860. c . p . C a r e y ' s

s h a r e I n t h e S p r i n g s R e s e r v e a f f a l r l He was a l s o i m p l i c a t ­

e d i n a l a n d f r a u d on S a l l a s I s l a n d ,

2 2 . Stamp t o Young I n C o l o n i s t o f 21 Mar.1860

2 3 . F o s t e r i n As,, i n C o l o n i s t o f 3 A p r . I 8 6 0

2 4 . De Cosmos e d i t o r i a l o f 3 Apr.I860

273

a s i t e f o r h i s . f u t u r e o p e r a t i o n s and he h a s s e l e c t e d t h e

l a n d he w i l l r e q u i r e . As s o o n as h i s f i r s t v e s s e l , a r r i v e s .

( a l r e a d y on h e r way f r o m E n g l a n d ) he w i l l commence

a c t i v e o p e r a t i o n s i n p r o s e c u t i o n o f h i s p r o j e c t e d . 25

scheme.." ' H i s a c t i v i t i e s were n o t c o n f i n e d t o saw-

m i l l i n g . I n O c t o b e r he was t h e p u r c h a s e r o f f o u r l o t s

a t a s a l e a t N e w c a s t l e Town. T h e s e l o t s , two o f them

b u s i n e s s , c o r n e r s , one c o s t i n g $115,. r e p r e s e n t e d , an

i n v e s t m e n t , o f $245;, W i t h i n a. y e a r Stamp h a d s e t up

a n e s t a b l i s h m e n t , i n V i c t o r i a a n d i n s e r t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g

a d v e r t i s e m e n t i n t h e C o l o n i s t , recommending h i s f i r e - p r o o f

s t o n e warehouse " f r e e f r o m r a t s and d a m p % and

2 f i r s t , r a t e 12 H.P. S c o t c h s t e a m e n g i n e s

B a s s ' s A l e a n d P o r t e r , C a s e d A l e a n d Champagne

And a b a r g a i n , s u p e r i o r f e l t f o r h o u s e s a n d on

c o n s e r v a t o r I e s •

H i s s u c c e s s i n t h e s a w m i l l b u s i n e s s was

u s e d a s an a r gument i n a n A s s e m b l y d e b a t e o f November

1862 when a m o t i o n was: p a s s e d t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t " l i c e n s e s

t o c u t t i m b e r t o m i l l be g r a n t e d t o p a r t i e s u pon u n s o l d 28

a n d u n - p r e - e m p t e d land's*" Of t h e s u b s e q u e n t c a r e e r

* • . * 25* D o u g l a s t o N e w c a s t l e , V * I * , 21 J u n » 1 8 6 0

26. C o l o n i s t News i t e m o f 2 0 c t * 1 8 6 0

27* C o l o n i s t a d v e r t i s e m e n t o f 25 O c t . 1 8 6 1

28. T o l m i e i n A s . i n C o l o n i s t o f 26 Nov*1862* De Cosmos

e d i t o r i a l o f 1 4 t h I n s t . I n f a v o r o f t h e m o t i o n o n l y on 274

o f t h e C a p t a i n we know o n l y that, he was j u s t i c e o f the.

p e a c e at. A l h e r n i i n 1863. and t h a t , i n t h a t , y e a r he

r e t u r n e d t o E n g l a n d .

28.(cont.) c o n d i t i o n t h a t no o w n e r s h i p o f l a n d s h o u l d go

w i t h t h e g r a n t .

CVS1£

275

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL U.OTE

P r i m a r y So.ur.cea

At. Least. 95$ o f ti i e m a t e r i a l f o r t h i s t h e s i s was

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c h i e f s o u r c e s , w e r e ;

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o f t h e l a t t e r , p r e c l u d e d t h e t h o r o u g h s t u d y w h i c h m i g h t

p r o f i t a b l y h a v e b e e n made.

I t a k e t h i s , o c c a s i o n t o d e c l a r e my i n d e b t e d ­

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t r a n s c r i p t s n o t e d a b o v e . I h a d a c c e s s a l s o t o some o f

t h e documents c o l l e c t e d b y D r . Sage i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r

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Has t h e p e r s o n a l t o u c h w h i c h makes many s t a t e m e n t s

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