Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Nias, George Elmes to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 17 June 1870, CO 60:42, no. 9258, 384.
Abstract
Nias, George Elmes to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 17 June 1870, CO 60:42, no. 9258, 384.
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Nias to Granville
Melbourne
Hall of Commerce
17th June 1870
Hall of Commerce
My Lord
I have to acknowledge the receipt on the 12th inst of a letter
written by your direction and signed Robert G.W. Herbert,
"acknowledging the receipt of my Petition to Her Majesty (a copy
of which is enclosed) praying that the Authorities of
British Columbia may be instructed to
issue a Title to certain land which I have Pre-empted
in that Colony"—in which reply you inform me "that my Petition
has been forwarded to Governor Musgrave."
I beg most respectfully to represent that I did not Petition Her
Majesty until I was wearied out in applying to the Local Authorities.
That Governor Seymour told me
"that he could not give me the Title because some of the
officials wereopposed
opposed to it"
adding "that I should never be disturbed in my possession while he
was Governor."
opposed to it"
adding "that I should never be disturbed in my possession while he
was Governor."
Unless, therefore, instructions have been sent with the Petition
to the effect—that if my claim is in accordance with the Law, the
Title is to issue to me—my Petition is of no avail.
And I ask myself "Is Petition to the Queen a delusion, or a farce."
The officials of British Columbia have constantly refused to
issue the Title to me: and have tried to ensnare me by offering
me a Twenty-one years Lease at a nominal Rent.
To appeal to them is waste of time.
May I therefore, My Lord, beg your further interference, to
direct—
That— "if I have complied in all and every particular with
.usc the Pre-emption Law, that the Title be no longer withheld from me."
The Most Noble
Earl Granville
Earl Granville
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Herbert
He was told his Petition had been sent to the Govr & that he must communicate with him—nothing more can be done. Refer him to previous letter?
He was told his Petition had been sent to the Govr & that he must communicate with him—nothing more can be done. Refer him to previous letter?
CC
27/8
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy of petition previously addressed by Nias to Queen Victoria
asking for redress in his land dispute with the colonial government.
Other documents included in the file
