Colonial Despatches

I transmit to you with reference to the correspondence noted in the margin a copy of a further letter which I have received from Mr. G.E. Nias on the subject of the land in dispute between him and theGovernment Government of B.C.

I have been communicative with Mr. Trutch and Mr. Phil[l]ippo on the matter, which it appears very undesirable to leave in its present unsettled state and I am inclined to think that if your Government is not in a condition or is not prepared to terminate Mr. Nias' occupancy of the land and he is unable to establish a distinct legal claim to it under the decision of a court of lawthe the best course (which I believe has been already under consideration) would be to offer him a lease of the land in question for a term of years at a nominal rent in order to enable him to exhaust the value of improvements he is said to have made upon it.

I enclose for your information a copy of the reply which I have caused to be sent to Mr. Nias's letter and also a copy ofthe the letter addressed to him on the receipt of your Despatch No. 145 of the 16th of November 1870.