Edgar Fawcett - Some Reminiscences of old Victoria

"At no time since the excitement attending its first settlement in 1858 has Victoria made greater strides, or her prosperity so materially increased, as during the past year. Since the commencement of last year her population has at least doubled, and the increase of buildings and improvements has been almost in proportion. During the winter season the town is thronged with strangers from British Columbia and elsewhere, who migrate in the spring. Apart from that the number of the inhabitants may be set down at 6,000. Victoria contains about 1,500 buildings, some of them very creditable to the size of the city, among them the Government offices and the jail. There are several commodious brick hotels, the principal 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 passed 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 shipping 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 institutions 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 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 shillings 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. Pearse, Assistant.

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

• Thos. E. Holmes, Clerk.

• Edward G. Alston, Registrar-General of Deeds.

• Charles G. Wylly, Assessor (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. Cocker, 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 Dickson, Chief Engineer.

• John Malovanski, Assistant Engineer.

• Chas. Gowen, President Board Delegates.

• Jas. S. Drummond, Secretary Board Delegates.

ORGANIZATION OF COMPANIES.

• Union Hook and Ladder, November 22nd, 1859, D. A. Edgar, Foreman.

• Deluge Engine, No. 1, March 5th, 1860. Jas. S. Drummond, Foreman.

• Tiger Engine No. 2, March 23rd, 1860. Samuel L. Kelly, Foreman.

Note. – Of these pioneer firemen of Victoria of this date, Sam Kelly is (1910) the only surviving member of the executive.

H. M. S. Ships of the Pacific Station.

Rear-Admiral, Sir Thomas Maitland.

Bacchante , 51 guns; Chameleon , 17 guns; Charybdis , 17 guns; Clio , 22 guns; Devastation , 6 guns; Forward , 3 guns; Grappler , 3 guns; Hecate , 6 guns; Mutine , 16 guns; Naiad , 6 guns; Nereus , 6 guns; Tartar , 20 guns; Termagant , 25 guns; Topaz , 51 guns; Tribune , 23 guns; Sutlej , 51 guns.

Note. – One-third of these were on southern station. – Ex.

Consuls at Victoria.

• France, P. Mene, Esq.

• United States, Allen Frances, Esq.

• Sandwich Islands, Henry Rhodes, Esq. (father of Chas. Rhodes).

Municipal.

• Thomas Harris, first mayor of Victoria.

• John Copeland, James M. Reid, Richard Lewis, William M. Searby, Michael Stronach and Nathaniel M. Hicks, first councillors of Victoria.

• Algernon Austen, Town Clerk. J. C. Colquhoun, City Inspector.

Educational.

• Henry Claypole, Master at Craigflower.

• William H. Burr (my old master), Master at Victoria.

• Cornelius Bryant, Master at Nanaimo. Salary £150 and fees.

Police Department.

• A. F. Pemberton, Commissioner.

• Horace Smith, Superintendent.

• Preston Bennett, Storekeeper and Clerk.

• George Blake, Sergeant Police, with eleven constables, including Francis Page.

• Steph. Redgrave, Cook and Steward.

• George Newcombe, Jailer.

• D. B. Reid, Assistant Jailer.

• Edward Truran, Superintendent of Convicts.

It was customary for the "chain gang" to emerge every morning from a side gate of the jail yard on Bastion Street and march to Government Street to the music of their chains, with two guards in the rear with loaded shotguns. The gang often contained seamen from the ships at Esquimalt who were serving sentences, usually for desertion. This in course of time caused such indignation that the practice of putting men-of-warsmen in the chain gang was discontinued. The gang worked on the streets, on the Government ground and at other Government work. The uniform consisted of moleskin trousers with V.P., a checked cotton shirt and a blue cloth cap. It was thought a wrong to put a Jack Tar with malefactors of all grades, such as Indian murderers, thieves and whiskey sellers to Indians. It was the custom when a fire of any dimensions took place to telephone or send word to Esquimalt, and squads of Jacks were soon on the way to town, running all the way. After working maybe all night in saving property they would walk back to their ship, tired out and wet through, and all for nothing in the way of recompense. All the time they were at work they sang and joked as they do now. Is it any wonder that we have a soft place in our hearts for Jack? I know I shall not forget them and the days that have gone by, and I think we all shall regret the late change that takes him away, and his merry laugh and joke are things of the past.