Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 24 September 1867, CO 60:29, no. 10835, 174.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
Seymour reports on
the extent of the Public Park at Victoria sold in error by the Hudson's Bay Companyand encloses reports from Young and Pearse on the topic. Seymour discusses the special circumstances of
Lot Zand proposes a special arrangement with the Hudson’s Bay Company for
Lot Zto return to government possession. Cox minutes that the despatch needs to
go to the Land Bdand recommends
repurchasing lot Z.
No. 125
Victoria
24th September 1867
My Lord Duke,
In reply to Lord Carnarvon's Despatch No 14 of the 15th
of February last, I have the honor to acquaint Your Grace that
I have made careful enquiries in respectof
of the extent of the
Public Park at Victoria sold in error by the Hudson's Bay Company,
and of the sum received for it, and I enclose herewith copy of
reports I have obtained on the subject from Mr Young the
Colonial Secretary and Mr Pearse the Acting Surveyor General
of the late Colony of Vancouver Island.
of the extent of the
Public Park at Victoria sold in error by the Hudson's Bay Company,
and of the sum received for it, and I enclose herewith copy of
reports I have obtained on the subject from Mr Young the
Colonial Secretary and Mr Pearse the Acting Surveyor General
of the late Colony of Vancouver Island.
2. It appears from these papers that the exact extent of
public landerroneously
erroneously sold is five acres and one quarter, and
that the money value accruing to the Hudson's Bay Company in
consequence may be fairly estimated at $1700 or £350.10.4.
erroneously sold is five acres and one quarter, and
that the money value accruing to the Hudson's Bay Company in
consequence may be fairly estimated at $1700 or £350.10.4.
3. I notice that no allusion is made to the matter of Lot Z,
which is very much in the same category with the Sale of the portion
of the Public Park. From all that has transpired upon this subject
I thinkit
it would be a cause of future regret if the present
opportunity were allowed to pass without this affair being arranged.
I know not whether Her Majesty's Government may coincide in the
views expressed in the report forwarded by Governor Kennedy in his
Despatch No 81 of the 20th October 1866, so far as Lot Z
is concerned, but whether it may be so or not, or whether the
Hudson's Bay Company may or may nothave
have also agreed to refund
the purchase money of Lot Z, I would urge to avoid future
complications and annoyance that the matter should be settled at once.
it would be a cause of future regret if the present
opportunity were allowed to pass without this affair being arranged.
I know not whether Her Majesty's Government may coincide in the
views expressed in the report forwarded by Governor Kennedy in his
Despatch No 81 of the 20th October 1866, so far as Lot Z
is concerned, but whether it may be so or not, or whether the
Hudson's Bay Company may or may nothave
have also agreed to refund
the purchase money of Lot Z, I would urge to avoid future
complications and annoyance that the matter should be settled at once.
There is every reason to believe that only a small instalment
of the purchase money of Lot Z has been paid to the Hudson's Bay
Company, and it is certain that no title has been issued.
The matter can therefore be easily arranged by theCompany
Company. But
should Your Grace decline to interfere I believe that a compromise
can be effected in respect of the refund to be made for the Park
Land, and that if the one matter be allowed to balance the other
the local authorities of the Hudson's Bay Company can arrange the
matter with Mr Lowenberg and put the Government again in
peaceful possession of Lot Z upon the understanding that by sodoing
doing the claim on them for the refund on account of the Park land
will be discharged. Should Your Grace approve of this suggestion
I will as soon as practicable endeavor to carry it out.
Company. But
should Your Grace decline to interfere I believe that a compromise
can be effected in respect of the refund to be made for the Park
Land, and that if the one matter be allowed to balance the other
the local authorities of the Hudson's Bay Company can arrange the
matter with Mr Lowenberg and put the Government again in
peaceful possession of Lot Z upon the understanding that by sodoing
doing the claim on them for the refund on account of the Park land
will be discharged. Should Your Grace approve of this suggestion
I will as soon as practicable endeavor to carry it out.
4. This proposition is very favorable to the Hudson Bay
Company and is a virtual surrender of the just claim of the Crown
to the land, but it seems a ready and liberal way ofending
ending
a troublesome and complicated business.
ending
a troublesome and complicated business.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F.Rogers
This must go to the Land Bd. As regards lot Z the Comrs reported (see par: 6 of 11971) that the sale was a good one & that they recommended that the money to be recd for Beacon Hill Park shd be
should be [sic] spent in repurchasing lot Z.
Hence the Govrs despatch of 20 Oct. 1866 to which he refers
(see 11379) has remained in abeyance.
This must go to the Land Bd. As regards lot Z the Comrs reported (see par: 6 of 11971) that the sale was a good one & that they recommended that the money to be recd for Beacon Hill Park shd be
should be [sic] spent in repurchasing lot Z.
Hence the Govrs despatch of 20 Oct. 1866 to which he refers
(see 11379) has remained in abeyance.
CC
5 Novr 67
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.A.G. Young to Seymour, 7 June 1867, reporting on the
particulars of the sale of a portion of Beacon Hill Park by the
Hudson's Bay Company.
B.W. Pearse, late Acting Surveyor General, to Young, 2
May 1867, reporting on the size of the parcel erroneously sold by
the company, and the money received for it, with sketch map appended.