Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 27 January 1867, CO 305:30, no. 922, 200.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Murdoch, from the Emigration Board, encloses a letter from the
Hudsons BayCompany, agreeing to repay the amount the company received for selling a portion of the public Park at Victoria. In order to obtain the details around the sale of the public park land, Murdoch suggests contacting
the Governor of Vancouvers Island.Rogers minutes instructions to first contact Kennedy,
now in England,and then the authorities on Vancouver Island. Included documents describe the difficulty in confirming the amount the Hudson’s Bay Company received and instruct Emigration Commissioners to contact Kennedy for information regarding the sale of the park lands.
Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
With reference to your letter of 2nd inst, I enclose herewith the
copy of a letter from the Hudsons Bay Co, agreeing to repay the
amount received by them for the portion of the public Park at
Victoria, Vancouvers Island, which was sold in error, but proposing
that the amount to be repaid should be determined by us. We have
no means of ascertaining the exact extent of the land alienated, or
the sum received for it and we would, therefore, suggest that if
Lord
Carnarvon should approve of the proposal of the Company to
leave in our hands the decision as to the amount to be reclaimed,
the Governor of Vancouvers Island should be requested to obtain the
most precise and accurate information that can be procured on that
point, for our assistance in forming a decision.
Carnarvon should approve of the proposal of the Company to
leave in our hands the decision as to the amount to be reclaimed,
the Governor of Vancouvers Island should be requested to obtain the
most precise and accurate information that can be procured on that
point, for our assistance in forming a decision.
2. In the meantime the preparation of the Deed for the retransfer
of the Island need not be interrupted.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot [and] Sir F. Rogers
Capn Kennedy, now in England, cd probably help us in this matter; but as he holds no official position it will be more satisfactory to refer to the local Authorities, especially as the reconveyance need not be delayed on acct of the referral to V.C.I.
Capn Kennedy, now in England, cd probably help us in this matter; but as he holds no official position it will be more satisfactory to refer to the local Authorities, especially as the reconveyance need not be delayed on acct of the referral to V.C.I.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, Thomas Fraser to S. Walcott, Emigration Board, 23 January
1867, agreeing that the company should repay the sum
received for the portion of the park sold in error, advising
that the actual sum received could not be confirmed by the company
and so referring the matter back to the crown for settlement.
Memorandum, signed by A.G. Dallas, 15 January 1866 [1867],
explaining the difficulty in determining the sum received on account
of the sale of a portion of the public park.
Other documents included in the file
Colonial Office to Emigration Commissioners, 31 January 1867,
asking that they communicate with Captain Kennedy, currently in
England, who may be able to supply the necessary information with
reference to the sale of a portion of the public park.