The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-19 00:00:00

DISEASED SHEEP.

In answer to a question from Mr. WODEHOLTSE,
Mr. LABOUCHERE stated that communications from
our consuls abroad had been very recently received on the
subject of diseased sheep. He had directed that the papers
should be prepared, and they would immediately be laid on
the table of the House. In answer to another question, he
stated that the Bill on this subject, now before the House,
reserved the rights of the city of London, but that reserva-
tion would in no degree interfere with the jurisdiction con-
ferred by this Bill on the Government in London and else-
where.
MR. O'CONNOR AND THE LAND SCHEME.
Mr. I. WILLIAMS said he had given notice of certain
questions
awhich
uht el
emeant
gt
thato put t t
hoos
etqhuee
sltii
oo
nn
bad Member for
been
put
on a toi mer evening and satisfactorily answered, he would
not repeat them. He wished, however, to ask the Hon.
Member if it was true, as stated in the Examiner newspaper,
that he derived a considerable profit from printing the rules
and regulations of the society ?—(Order, order.)
Mr. O'CONNOR rose, but
The SPEAKER said the Hon. and Learned Member ought
not to answer the question. It was contrary to the rules of
the House for any lion. Member to put a question to another
touching the profits he derived from any source.
Mr. O'CONNOR persisted in saying that he had not
derived, and could not derive, any profit from the source
indicated.

VANCOUVER'S
companyro toeat
the
etclaims
Ithe
ISLAND.
St Nnf
the
Dne
was made
CadHelttolStTh .soeft
ttlheersHoouagshet to
On the motion that the Speaker should leave the chair, to
go into Committee of Supply,
the proposed grant of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's
Bay Company. He considered that before any such grant
be investigated. The company's charter had been granted
by Charles H. in 1670, but tl • operations
their had only com-
menced in 1690. The Honourable Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to give a sketch of the company's operations. The
company was established for trading purposes ; it was
monopolising and restrictive in its proceedings, and as such
rwas most unfit to carry out a proper system of colonization.
1 hey had but three vessels coming to the port of London,
and the goods imported
by them did not amount to more
than 30,000/. The settlers also coin lame d that
p the circu-
lating medium consisted entirely of paper (with the exception
of a small copper currency ) , payable in London only at sixty
days after sight. No person could hold land in the colony
without binding himself to military and civil service for the
defence
of the company's extensive territories. He could
neither sell nor underlet the land without their especial per-
mission. No person could trade with any country, even
England or America, without a license. It was to such a
company that the Government held oat hopes of giving the
Island of Vancouver, which was likely to become in the
course of time a place of considerable importance. It was
the only place which had good sheltered harbours up to the
Russian territory. It was fertile in many places, and had
the groat advantage of possessing coal mines. It lay on the
route to China from America, another circumstance of great
importance. For these reasons, and particularly because
the Hudson's Bay Company was inimical to colonization,
he hoped the Government would not grant them Vancouver's
Island t:11 further inquiries at least had been instituted, and
till the charges which had been made against the
_company
were refuted.
Mr. HAWES said that the facts of the case brought under
the notice of the House by the Hon. Gentleman were these.
As soon as he had been appointed to the office he held, many
parties came forward and manifested a desire to colonise
Vancouver's Island. Several plans had been proposed, but
it did not appear that the parties who proposed them would
be in any degree able to carry out the objects they had in view.
It should be borne in mind that Vancouver's Island was one
of the most distant spots on the earth from this country, be-
cause to reach it they must sail round Cape Horn. It was
also most expensive, and, therefore, was the least likely in
the world to afford advantages for colonization. The
Hudson's Bay Company had requested the north-
west territory, including Vancouver's Island, but
that was refused. Subseqaently, they asked for Van-
couver's Island. Now, what were the objections to this
grant? In the first place, a series of charges had been
brought against their administration of the affairs of the
territory by Mr. Isbister, a native of Rupert's Land. His
Noble Friend at the head of the Colonial-office thought it his
duty to have these charges inquired into, and for this purpose
a communication had been sent to the Governor-General of
Canada. Lord Elgin's answer, dated the 6th of June, had
been received, and he stated therein " the results of the in-
quiries I have hitherto made are very favourable to the corn-
, pang, and they have left on my mind an impression that the
authority they exercise is on the whole very advantageous
to the Indians.' But his Noble Friend was not satisfied with
that, and he resolved to institute a still further inquiry.
What were the other objections to the grant? It should be
remembered that this was simply a territorial grant; let
it also be remembered that the company possessed by
charter the exclusive right of trading both with the na-
tives of the continent and those of the island, and that they
should be taken into consideration in any plan of coloniza-
tion. But the grant was only territorial, the company would
not govern the island. There was to be a Governor and an
Assembly, in whose hands the collection and application of
the revenues would be placed, and not in those of the Hud-
son's Bay Company. Ix establishing a constitution there
would be great advantage in establishing it in connexion
with a company on the spot, a powerful company who pos-
sessed the exclusive right of trading with the natives. They
could not establish an independent colony without large
contributions of public money, or by means of private funds.
He believed that most of the Members of that House would
agree with him that the present was not the time for
f r the purpose
making large advances of the public money. 0_
dividuals came
of founding another colony, and no p
rivat
to carr
forward to do so who would be at all like y
hand, there werevery
their object. But on the other
slan'd.—( Hear, hear.)
strong reasons for occupying the
1 it would be occupied
Unless occupied very speedily by t
t was, besides, the
by • others.—.(Hear, hear.)
And
that h
th ere
e island possessed
very important consideration
f advantage should be
coal mine*- -which 3' -fo British commerce. He
worked for the interests o