Murdoch to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)

I have to acknowledge your letter of 9th instant
enclosing a Despatch from Governor Douglas on the subject
of the inconvenience caused by the uncertainty as to the
claims put forward by the Hudsons Bay Co to certain lands
in British Columbia.

2. Governor Douglas encloses a correspondence with the
Hudsons Bay Cos Agent, from which it appears that
certain Lands which have

been sold by the Government to
individuals are claimed by the Company, and that there is
considerable difficulty in ascertaining the exact boundaries
of the Company's claims. There can be no doubt that this is
extremely inconvenient but until the decision of the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council is obtained, which can scarcely
be before next Spring, no effectual remedy can be applied. But
it would be desirable in the meantime that the Local Government
should abstain as much as possible from dealing with Land
claimed by the Company—so as to

avoid increasing their claim
to compensation should their Title to the Land be eventually affirmed.