Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)

I have to acknowledge your letter of 5th instant
enclosing an extract of a Despatch from the Governor of British Columbia, with four Proclamations (Nos 1, 2, 3, and 6 of 1861)
on the subject of the disposal of Land in that Colony.

2. The first of these Proclamations provides that land
purchased under the Proclamation of 4th January 1860, by
persons acquiring land by preemption, shall be of the same form
and subject to the same rules in regard to Boundaries as the land preempted. It also makes provision for enabling persons holding land to obtain a Survey and to complete their purchase.

3. The Proclamation No 2 reduces the price of all land
whether surveyed or unsurveyed to 4s/2d an Acre, in accordance
with an authority conveyed to the Governor by the Duke of Newcastle.

4. Proclamation No 3 confers on Naval and Military
Settlers in British Columbia the advantages in the acquisition
of Land formerly granted to them in all the British Colonies and
still in force in several. The rules established by this Proclamation
are substantially the same as those prevailing in other Colonies.

5. Proclamation No 6 attaches to Land purchased under
the Proclamation of 4th January 1860, and the Country
Land Act 1861 the same condition of occupation & improvement as
attaches to Land "preempted" under the Proclamation of January 1860.
The object is to prevent speculators taking advantage of the reduction
in price to buy large tracts to be afterwards retailed by them at
an advanced rate to actual Settlers. The Proclamation further
prohibits the preemption by the same person of more than one block
of 160 Acres.

6. I have the honor to report that these Proclamations appear
to me open to no objection—and I would recommend that they
should receive H. Majesty's approval.