54 Vict. Reserve in Suburban Block XII., New Westminster. 433 RETURN To an Address to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, praying that he will cause to be sent down to the House copies of all correspondence between the Bishop of New Westminster and the Department of Lands and Works, relative to a certain reserve situated in suburban block XII., in the City of New Westminster, together with copies of Orders in Council (if any) relating thereto, and a tracing of the part of New Westminster suburbs in which said reserve is situated, as shown on the map attached to the field-notes of the original survey of New Westminster City and suburbs, and a tracing of the said field-notes, including the said reserve. By Command. JNO. ROBSON, Provincial Secretary. Provincial Secretary's Office, 12th March, 1891. Victoria, B. C, 4th August, 1881. Hon. Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. Sir,—Lot 19, Block 22, New Westminster City, and a suburban lot, Block 12, on the Burrard Inlet road, opposite the Cemetery, were set apart for the Church of England by the Government, but no Crown grant therefor has ever yet been issued. May we ask if you will issue a grant of these lots to the Bishop of New Westminster in his corporate capacity. Yours faithfully, (Signed) Drake & Jackson. Victoria, B. C, 9th August, 1881. Gentlemen,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your application, on behalf of the Bishop of New Westminster, for a Crown grant of certain city and suburban lands in New Westminster, said to have been set apart for the Church of England. The matter will receive due attention and the title to the lands in question examined into. I have, &c, (Signed) W. S. Gore, Messrs. Drake & Jackson, Victoria, B. C. Surveyor-General. 434 Reserve in Suburban Block XII., New Westminster. 1891 New Westminster, April 28th, 1884. To the Hon. the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, Victoria. Sir,—I beg leave to apply for title deeds of a lot of land in the suburbs of New Westminster, which has been for years reserved for the Church of England, but whereof the Crown grant has never been issued. The lot is situate on Douglas street, opposite the public cemetery, and is shewn on the accompanying tracing marked in red. I have examined the records in the Land Office in Victoria along with the Hon. Mr. Justice Walkem and Mr. Austin, and from the original field-notes downwards there exists an unbroken acknowledgment of the reservation, but no explanation of the withholding of the title. I was recommended to address General Moody on the subject in the hope of gaining information upon which the Provincial Government might be willing to act. I have the honour now to inform you that in a reply to my application General Moody writes as follows : " I do distinctly remember that such reservation was made for the See of Columbia, but I " am hazy as to for what purpose, or as to why the Crown grant was delayed. My impression is " (but mind, it is but an impression ; I think I am right, however,) that it was for general " purposes, such as for residence and for college or school, and not a gift to be chopped up into " lots for leases for annual rents in aid of See or Churches. " It is also my impression that the actual grant was temporarily withheld until such time " as there should be a resident Bishop and See on the Mainland." I need not point out to you that the last-named condition was met by the subdivision of the See of Columbia, and the erection of New Westminster See into a separate Diocese four years ago. In the absence, therefore, of any other explanation of the circumstance of the delay, I beg to request that a Crown grant may be issued to me in the usual form, the Local Legislature having by the Act 44 Vic, Ch. 2, constituted me a Corporation Sole for the purpose of holding land in trust or otherwise for the Church. Yours, &c. (Signed) A. W. New Westminster. Victoria, B. C, July 16th, 1884. My Lord,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 28th, 1884, applying for a grant of a certain piece of land in the suburbs of New Westminster, said to have been set apart or reserved for the Church of England, and regret that by some oversight it has remained so long unanswered. In reply I beg to say I am informed that the matter was thoroughly gone into by Mr. Walkem and yourself, and that official evidence shows that the Bishop of Columbia made application for the piece of land in question, and that he was informed he could acquire it by purchase. The Bishop did not follow up his application after he was informed that he could purchase, no portion of the purchase money was paid, and no steps appear to have been taken to acquire the land by purchase. General Moody appears to be in error when he says that a reservation of the land was made for the See of Columbia. The lot seems to have been surveyed as a lot which the Church, through the Bishop of Columbia, has made application to purchase. It is not to be wondered at that General Moody, speaking from memory at this late date, should make the mistake of thinking that was intended as a free grant which was simply intended to be sold. I regret very much to say that, in so far as I have been able to learn the facts of the case, the Church has not established a title to the land, and I have no authority to issue a Crown grant thereof as applied for by you. I have, etc., (Signed) Wm. Smithe, Chief Commissioner of L. and W. To the Right Reverend Bishop Sillitoe, New Westminster, B. C. 54 Vict. Reserve in Suburban Block XII., New Westminster. 435 New Westminster, July 30th, 1884. The Hon. Wm. Smithe, Minister of Lands and Works, Victoria. Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 16th inst. I now beg to make application to you for liberty to purchase the lot of land therein referred to. I am, etc., (Signed) A. W. New Westminster. Victoria, B. C, August 8th, 1884. My Lord,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ult., making application to purchase a certain piece of land in the suburbs of New Westminster. In reply, I beg to state that your application has been placed on file, and will receive every consideration as soon as the lands which are now under reservation are thrown open for sale. I have, &c, (Signed) Wm. Smithe, Chief Commissioner L. and W. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of New Westminster. New Westminster, April 13th, 1885. The Hon. Wm. Smithe, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, Victoria. Sir,—I beg to draw your attention te my letter of July 30th, 1884, to which I have received no reply, and I am, &c, (Signed) A. W. New Westminster. Victoria, B. C, April 17th, 1885. My Lord,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, calling my attention to a previous letter from you, dated July 30th, 1884, making application to purchase a certain piece of land in the suburbs of New Westminster. In reply, I beg to enclose herewith a copy of a letter addressed to you from this Department, dated August 8th, 1884, and to state that the land in question is still under reservation. I have, * © o SO O O i-l PQ 6 2000 *© II 001 06ZS 001 0r£9 001 0669 -.001 0609 r 10 Continued next page. osos 0088 54 Vict. Reserve in Suburban Block XII., New Westminster. 439 Tracing from Plan attached to Field Book No. 18. — Royal Engineers. 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