No. 17

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No.
118 of the 25th August on the subject of Land Privileges to Naval and
Military Officers desirous of settling in British Columbia.

You observe that the preemptive system in force in the Colony is so
liberal that there is little motive to take any advantage of the revised
Regulations, but you suggest in case of future applications that the
grant should be issued if [the applicant] adduces evidence that he or
his family has resided continuously for two years and for the purpose of
this residents improvement must have been made by the erection of
Buildings or otherwise fully to the extent of any amount which it would
be fair to gain in the circumstances of the Colony.

I have in reply to express my concurrence in these suggestions, and
they shall be embodied in the Colonial regulations.