Part 3 (1/2)

There are several commodious brick hotels, the princ.i.p.al being the St. Nicholas, the St. George and the Royal. The city is adorned with five churches, two belonging to the Church of England, one Roman Catholic, one Wesleyan and one Congregational. A Jewish synagogue and a Presbyterian church (Pandora Street) are in course of construction.

There are also a theatre (Theatre Royal, Government Street) and a hospital, the latter being supported by voluntary contributions.

”The sittings of the Legislature and law courts of Vancouver Island are held in the city. There are two joint stock banks (British North America and British Columbia), and three private banking houses.

Until lately Victoria was without a corporation; during the past year (1862) an act to incorporate the town was pa.s.sed by the Legislature.

The authorities consisted of a mayor and six councillors. Effective and speedy measures will now be adopted to complete the grading of the streets and laying down sidewalks. The water frontage of the town has since the removal of the old bridge (from foot of Johnson Street to Indian reserve) been greatly extended, and several wharves are now available for s.h.i.+pping above the point where that obstacle to navigation existed. A company has been formed to build a railway connecting Victoria with the capacious harbor of Esquimalt. Among other inst.i.tutions the town may now boast of its gas works. A company has also been organized to supply the town with water from Elk Lake, eight miles distant. The value of real estate in the city has increased in many places over 75 per cent. during the last nine months. The city is a 'free port,' and therefore not troubled with custom duties. Vessels drawing fifteen feet of water may cross the bar of the harbor at high water, and a sum of 10,000 pounds has been voted by the Legislature to the improvement of the harbor. Steam communication is carried on three times a month between Victoria and San Francisco, every alternate trip being made via Portland. A surprising impetus has been given to agriculture by the number of newly-arrived immigrants, who have settled in the most fertile districts around Victoria.

”With land at four s.h.i.+llings an acre, and time allowed for payments, together with the improved state of communication between Victoria and the back settlements, we may hope that the inhabitants of the town will not in future be so dependent on neighboring countries for their supplies of produce.”

Official List for Vancouver Island.

James Douglas, C.B., Governor.

W. A. G. Young, Colonial Secretary.

Joseph Porter, Chief Clerk.

George H. Carey, Attorney-General.

A. Hensley, Clerk.

Alex. Watson, Treasurer.

Jos. Despard Pemberton, Surveyor-General.

W. B. Pea.r.s.e, a.s.sistant.

Robert Ker, Auditor (father of D. R. Ker).

Thos. E. Holmes, Clerk.

Edward G. Alston, Registrar-General of Deeds.

Charles G. Wylly, a.s.sessor (still with us).

Henry Wootton, Postmaster (father of Stephen and E. E. Wootton).

J. M. Sparrow, Clerk (still with us).

The Legislature.

Hon. Rodk. Finlayson, Hon. Donald Fraser, Hon. David Cameron, Hon. Alfred J. Langley, Edw. G. Alston and Hon. Alex Watson, nominative.

J. S. Helmcken, G. H. Carey and Selim Franklin, Victoria City.

Wm. c.o.c.ker, Esquimalt.

W. F. Tolmie, M.D., J. W. Trutch, and Jas. Trimble, M.D., Victoria District.

Geo. F. Foster and W. J. Macdonald, Lake District.

J. J. Southgate, Salt Spring Island.

D. B. Ring, Nanaimo.

John Coles, Saanich.

Robert Burnaby, Esquimalt.

Victoria Fire Department.

John d.i.c.kson, Chief Engineer.

John Malovanski, a.s.sistant Engineer.

Chas. Gowen, President Board Delegates.

Jas. S. Drummond, Secretary Board Delegates.

ORGANIZATION OF COMPANIES.