No. 64

I have the honor of Enclosing herewith the copy of a
communication from Mr Pemberton, the Colonial Surveyor,
recommending that certain tracts of land, situated within the
limits of the Surveyed Districts of Vancouvers Island, be thrown
open to the public for occupation without purchase, and that
Settlers occupying and improving those tracts should enjoy a
preemption right enabling them lawfully to acquire and possess
the land, at whatever may be the minimum Government price, when
the land is divided into allotments.

2. The object of that measure is to remove the
disqualifications which, at present, hinder settlers from
entering upon the possession of land, without first making a
money payment as required by the existing land regulations, a
system which it is feared will indefinitely postpone the
occupation of the land referred to in Mr Pemberton's letter,
which consists of spots of fertile land, interspersed among
rocks, forest, or Swamps, not admitting of Continuous
cultivation, and which in consequence, has not been Sold,
though repeatedly put up for sale at the low price of 4s/2d
an acre.

3. I concur with the opinion expressed in Mr Pemberton's
letter as to the Expediency of the measure, and its beneficial
effect in promoting the early occupation of the tracts of land
in question, which may otherwise for years to come remain an
unproductive wilderness.

4. It is further necessary for me to state for Your Grace's
information, that the proposed preemption measure is not
intended for general application, and will be restricted in its
operation exclusively to Surveyed Districts of the Colony, after
the valuable land of such Districts has been all sold on the
usual terms of £1 Sterling an acre, and when the residual of the
land cannot be sold on any terms.

5. Such being the object and character of the proposed measure,
involving no conflict with existing rights, and likely to be
productive of much good to the Colony, I have not hesitated in
authorizing the Colonial Surveyor, as a provisional arrangement,
to permit settlers to occupy the land in question without making
an immediate payment in money, and with the condition that they
will be allowed hereafter to acquire and possess the land, under
a legal title, and hope your Grace may approve of this proceeding.