Kelly to Newcastle

The growing importance of British Columbia—whence I have lately
returned—is my excuse for briefly calling your Lordships attention
to a state of things in that and the sister Colony [earnestly?]

calling for special intervention.

Governor Douglas is a clever man—considering his
opportunities he is not exempt from the influence of self
interest. All his possessions and those of the Hudsons Bay Co
on the Pacific Coast are on Vancouver Island and he naturally
endeavours to [alt?] it at the expense of the mainland. That he has
succeeded is only too easily proved by a comparison [of] the
value of real estate in Victoria and New Westminster.

He first encouraged the belief that Fraser River was only accessible to small coasting vessels of light draft of water
untill he cajoled the mercantile immigrants to establish
themselves in Victoria where they are now as it were rooted. But since the able report of Captt Richards RN dispelled that
illusion the Governor is endeavouring to discover a shorter
northern route to the Carriboo country (via Benticks Inlet) than
that by the valley of the Fraser, which latter is obviously the
natural line of road to the interior and would—as I will show—open
up other vast resources of [made?].

But as I have already said, all
he desires is to secure the supremacy of Victoria by opening up
another avenue of Supply to its merchants.

In order to demonstrate at a glance to [His] Lordship the grievous
injustice to the consumer in British Columbia which this policy
entails I have only to state that the freight shipping charge
insurance &c &c &c from London or Liverpool to either Victoria or
New Westminster are about equal, but as all merchandize is at present
shipped to Victoria it is subsequently saddled with a cost in
transhipment across the Gulph of Georgia fully more than the
entire of that from England around the Horn which of course the
poor Digger has to pay in addition to the 10 p cent Customs Duty.

As Captain Richards has conclusively discovered—there is not
a finer, safer or more accessible harbour on the Pacific Coast than
that within Frasers River—nor can the world produce a more
magnificent naval station than Burroughs Inlet—almost an adjunct
of New Westminster—yet through the adroitness of Governor Douglas
consistently aided by Mr Fraser "The Correspondent of The
Times" (the largest proprietor of real estate in Victoria) We
have been studiously kept in the back ground—in order to
enhance the estimation of the [rural ports?] in the Island.

In a [word?] my Lord Duke if you [but put in?] British Columbia
an independent energetic Governor (not Col Moody) its progress
will transcend that of any other of the British Colonies, for its
mineral and other resources—as it will show by exploration and
comparison—exceed those of other either California or Australia
in extent and variety.

Hoping your Grace will excuse the [freedom?] of this communication.