DIARY, REMINISCENCES AND

ESSAYS ON EARLY LIFE

IN THE COWICHAN DISTRICT

OF

JOHN NEWELL EVANS

COWICHAN PIONEER

(1846-1944)

 

 

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Remisances of a life time John N Evans

 

Born Lower Penthryos Beniw-Montgomeryshire ( editors note: I believe correct spelling Penthryn Berriew) May 9th 1846 an old Farm house thatched would say the thatched about a foot deep, one Storey with Rooms under the thach used as bedrooms for working men and boys, some 6 rooms down stairs the floor of all except 2 were of flagstones you had to pass from one Room into each other no halls or passageways-bed rooms all had great four posted Bedsteads hung with curtains all would what we today would call double beds. Never saw any single or three quarter Beds, no stoves not even a cook stove, open fire places some fire places had a brick oven set in behind with a sheet of steel at back of fire place. Roast meat was cooked by hanging in front of fire by a string from the ceiling or by a Jack; you kept both turning around all the time with a pan underneath to catch the driping from the meat and you would have a spoon to lift the driping to pore over the meat to keep it wet so it would not burn: nearly every farm house had a large Brick Oven in what we usualy called the back kitchen, and it was usaly heated with bush which came from trimming the hedge every year; and was stacked in the yard for use in the oven, Baking usaly once a week a open fire place in the living room burnt both wood and coal in it, most of our light was tallow drips made at home with tin molds usaly your mold would be four or six candles  (some farms burnt peat cut from Bogs) hung your wick in mold the bottom of your mold would be the top of your candle for it was tapered to a point and the wick would fill the space so the fat would not run out, then when you filled your mold it did not take long for it to cool and set; you reversed the mold and your candle came out, But tallow drips were not the principal light by any means the usal light was rush light, you went into the swamps or bogy places and gathered the green Rushes took them home peeled them leaving a piece of a narrow strip to hold the center or pith together then you dried the striped rush; when dried you got a pan of hot grease pretty well boiling take your dried rush and draw it through your hot grease until it could absorb no more grease; put them in a pan to drain then let them dry there is your light, but anything but brilliant one, and we had a clip on a stand somewhat higher than your table, the clip was somewhat like a clothes peg-and it took a lot of attention to move it along in the clip. My recolections of my early boyhood, was going to school, my first school teacher was an old widow, I do not know what fee’s were paid but later schools was one penny a week and I do not know what her qualifications were had to walk something over half a mile My elder Bro’s and sisters went to Berriew some two miles further on the same Road I went to Berriew later. Berriew was an endowed school you paid one penny per week for the first two children of one family; the rest went free; and the school furnished all Books, slates and every else needed free; I have seen many schools all over the world since and have never met with any nearly its equal: the Master and Mistress were fully qualified teachers plenty of Black Boards, Maps, Globes, the assistants to the Principals were pupil teachers, Teachers in training who served so long and then went to some Collage to get their Cirtificates to teach: we had a fairly large play yard enclosed by a stone wall some ten or twelve feet high, the Girls had also a similar play ground on the other side of the building-I had not mentioned there both boys and Girls attending the school, the school building was a two storey stone building the Girls were upstairs=after attending Berriew school I was sent to a private school taught by an old crippled man, who had been a companion of my fathers in their boy hood he lived in the opposite direction from Berriew and his qualifications he could teach the three R’s while his hands were all broken up he was a fine penman, that was his only qualification to teach; he had no map or any other equipment for teaching, I think the reason my father sent me to him was to help the old fellow along. I don’t know how the poor old fellow lived. I think a good deal on the left over of the children’s lunches.

My Mother died when I was about ten years old and very soon after, the home and nearly all the buildings were burnt down. The Land Lord would not rebuild, so the home was broken up, some cousins of my mothers living in London, Mrs. Arber and her youngest son Edward gave me a home; and sent me to a private school in Lower Belgrave Place supposed to be one of the best schools in London it was not nearly so well equiped as was the Berriew; not nearly so many maps and no library and I have doubts it our teachers were so good, however I attended it for a year or more; when I was sent to Shrewsbury to a cousin who owned a Drapery business on Pride Hill, I was to have been apprenticed to him, for some reason my father came and took me home to Wales: he was then living on a small farm, near Llandissil, had been home sometime when I again went to London, and got apprenticed to Wm Bunting 13 King’s Street Covent Garden in the Drapery Business the back windows look out upon the old grave yard of St Pauls Covent Garden and on front opposite the Garick Club; Bunting was a widower had two unmarried daughters who kept house and also worked in the store they later got married that up set the home arrangements and broke up the house keeping so the old Gentleman decided to go out of Business and we sold up the stock and I was relieved of my apprentice ship. I got employment with a Mr. Knight on the Wallworth Road that was in 1860 I worked with him until May 1862-My two elder Bro’s decided on coming to British Columbia; May 2 1862; so I wanted time of to see them away from Southhampton I asked Mr. Knight for a days leave so I could accompany them to Southhampton; he refused to grant it, so I quit the job right there; and saw them away to B.C. I next got a job in the East End of London, in Bishopgate St. I only worked a few weeks, when I was taken ill, and Dr. order me to the country so I went home to Wales to my Uncle’s, when I recovered I again went to London and got employment with the Bennetts on Brixton Hill I staid with them until the New Year of 1864 when I decided I would join my brothers in British Columbia the Bennetts were a family Mother Son and daughters was very happy there.

I went down to Wales and staid with different Relatives and friends until I left April 2nd 1864 for B.C.

 

 

 

Diary of passage out to British Columbia in the LaPlata

from Southampton April 2nd, 1864. Left London at 8 oclock A.M. by South Western Railway from Waterloo Station for the Southampton Dock Station where we arrived at 10.20 A.M. Left the Docks in the tug boat for the ship at 11.40 A.M. We set sail from Southampton waters 3.20 P.M. we started with a head breeze and beautiful sea, we went on very lively until we went to bed.

 Sunday April 3rd the sea was very rough with a head wind most of us was sea sick and lost all sight of land during the night we had no service today as most of the passengers was in their berths sea sick.

 Monday, a fine morning with strong head wind, our boat is heaving a good deal and the passengers more all sick except one or two our mess room is in the fore peak so we feel the heaving of the ship very much there is not many of us that can sit down to a meal without been made to run away from the table with sea sickness we live but very middling as yet. Our diet is for breakfast coffee bread on the French fashion by the yard. Butter, Ashed meat very tough and having very salt, some good bacon that is for breakfast which take place at 8 oclock. Diner at one is salt beef, salt pork and Ashed, meat; sometimes there is a sprinkling of fresh, with potatoes and bread; Tea at five with bread and butter, that is our last meal for the day the lights is put out in the fore peak at nine oclock.

My cabin is shared by three Cornish men one is going to the silver mines of Mexico with some companion on board the others are going to California with some more Cornish companions. So most of our English Third class passengers are from Cornwall there is two more Irish men for California one English man for Victoria with me. There is three sargent for the 5th West Indian native regiment now forming as passengers on board, that, is I think all the different parties in the steage except a lot of French men.

Tuesday the weather much clearer with a fresh south west wind, we sighted a ship 10 or 12 miles of at 9.30 A.M. home ward bound,10.30 heavy swell on sea with fog, clear’d of at noon 2.30 P.M. a ship in ful sail about a mile on our right with another at a great distance.

Wednesday A beautiful morning with a nice cool breese, we spoke to a schooner home ward bound from the Western Iles laded with fruit we had the company of a swallow for several hours, then, he took his flight, we was then joined by a bowswain a beautiful bird which also took its flight after remaining with us a short time. We had some good sport of the sailors on board after Tea until dark.

Thursday Strong head winds with heavy sea dashing against our good ship, the spray dashing all over the fore decks.

Friday One of the passengers came to call us about six to say the Western Islands where in sight when I got on deck I could see them at a great distance on the right, they look very like the Mongomeryshire Hills the highest is call the Peak of Picha is very like Briden Hill the top of which is genaraly covered with snow. We saw a ship at a great distance. One of the firemen met with an accident a lump of coal fell on his head which fractured his skull the doctor gave very little hope of his recovery.

Saturday We have now been on the mighty deep a week today and another week we hope to run into St. Thomas. The stoker is a little better.

Sunday. A beautiful morning saw a sail at 930 A.M. Went to church at 10.45 saw three more sails in the afternoon. We had preaching in the evening at 7.0 by a minister on board the text was in the 5 chapter 16 verse of the Epheasins.

Monday. We have a beautiful day we are 1018 miles for St. Thomas we have run 285 miles during the last 24 hours.

Tuesday. We have seen two sails today and twelve porpuses and lots of flying fish, we have had an awning over us this last three days and the sea has been as smooth as glass.

Friday. Everything has passed on much the same as usal the last two days; but we hope to see land tomorrow morning when we get up.

Saturday. I turned out of my bunk at 5 oclock to look out for the America Island. I forget the name of it we saw it about 8 oclock it is very small a little schooner run out of the harbor as we was passing and continued its course before us sometime the wind took it along beautiful we passed it at last we have ninty miles to go to St. Thomas; we expect to run in the afternoon. 6 o’clock P.M.we arrive here at St. Thomas at three oclock. I have been ashore and over the Danish fort and barraks there is not many soldiers there their guns are very bad, they have smooth bore muskets and very short bayonets the large guns are very old; they have a monkey and jackal in the barraks square, the barraks are very cool; with good beds. Most of the soldiers can speak English they where asking us a great mony questions about the Danish war. The town is a good size with some large stores, most of the inhabitants are Blk. There is a good deal of shiping in the harbor there is two Yankee merchant ships  a feard to go out because there had been a Confedrate cruser in the harbor in the morning it left before we got in. I cant find out the name of it; there is three ships lading out of the LaPlata. Our is the bigest. The Tyne is the name of it. The Conway is the one for the Gulf of Mexico and a small screw steamer for Barbadoes we expect to start tonight.

Monday. They had a great deal of cargo to get into this ship it was 11o’clock Sunday morning by the time we started. I like this ship better than the LaPlata we have two separate rooms with Bunks in there is about twelve in each room the Mess is in the same room we live a great deal better in this ship than the other, the man that waits on us is a darkey and all the crew are Blks the fire men are white men.

Tuesday we are in sight of land imagine we shall run into to the Port of Jack Mal; to land the mails. We got in Jack Mal about 10 o’clock. We stayed about an hour, we are even of under the side of land all the time it look a very hilly country it is worse than Wales from what I can see of it we shall run in to Kingston Jamaica tomorrow morning.

Wednesday. We run into Kingston town Harbour about half past ten o’clock, the Harbour is a very fine one but very dangerous to enter as there is a great many sholes in side, we shall stay here twenty four hours to take in four hundred ton of coal; there is about fifty Blk women at work carring it in on their heads in Wicker baskets such as you see apples in Covent Garden Market. I have been up in the town the streets is all sand and in very bad repair and the houses are very large and they too have seen better days the builder and  painter seem to have been strangers to them for some years. The inhabitans are chiefly black and creole and a few whites carrying on business there is some good large shops here and they appear to be doing a good trade. I went up with sargent T. Simpson to his quarter at the camp Barraks which is about a mile and three quarters from the wharf. They have very nice cool Barraks and the Blk look very good solders. Simpson walk with me back to the town. I had some leamonade which they have on shore and which they charge six pence. The Porter on the draugh is six pence a quart; and for a small bottle of ale and a half a pint of rum for a shilling. I bought hapenny worth oranges I got 16 of them and 2 pineapples for sixpence.

Thurday. The black women where carrying coal all night last night and sing they make a woeful noise, I don’t which their faces or their clothes are the blackest. I went to a west Indian dignity ball last night there was a lot of sailors from the Royalist man of War the sailors had sticks some what longer than an Irish mans shalaly and the darkey and them where dancing. We left the wharf at eleven o’clock A.M. we are now out of sight of land again ploughing the mighty deep we are due at Colon at 7 P.M. on Saturday some think we shall be too late for the other boat.

Friday. Some say one thing and others another about the California boat; I expect we shall be in time if we are not we must do the best that we can.

Saturday we expect to make land this afternoon about four o’clock. We saw land about five o’clock and anchour’d at the wharf about five minutes to 7 o’clock. I saw the poor old Avon of London ashore as coming in she was driven there on night about twelve months ago in a storm they cannot get her of. The New York boat arrived here this morning with 1300 passengers they crossed today about two o’clock.

Sunday. We came ashore at Colon about eight o’clock we where told that we should start at ten o’clock for the other side when ten came there was a notice put up that we should not start before two. After that one of our passengers had to go to the Agent and Agent told him that the boat had started at four o’clock this morning then one of the men in charge of the train said he was there when he left so when we got here ( to Panama ) we found the Agent was correct so we shall have to stay until the 3rd of May. All of us Third class passengers have come to the Europa Hotel at a dollor and a quarter per day board and lodging. Colon is a very shabby town it look better at a distance than in it. All the shops where open’d and tailors and shoemaker at work there is no place of worship open there is a church in the building ( Roman Catholic ) the County we past through was chiefly all swamp and small hill there is a great deal of underbrush growing everywhere we came along the side of a good large river. I saw an aligator just on the edge of the water we saw  some good cattle as coming along and in good condition but the horses pigs and dogs look misrable their bones nearly through their skins the pigs and dogs are everywhere there is also a great many mules.

Monday. Some of our fellow passengers are disapointed with accommodation so eight of them have left and gone to the American side. We other four went to see their accomadations but I don’t like them as well as our own. We have a great deal better room since they have gone. I must say we live very well the first thing we have in the morning is a cup of good coffee and a fresh roll we can have it any time between 6 A.M. & 10 A.M. We have what they call Beakfast at 10 A.M., we have two corses of fresh meat, ham, potatoes bread and a cup of tea we dine at 4.30 P.M. We have two corses and sweets and a cup of tea we have tea again before 8 P.M. so I think the fare is pretty good for a dollor and a quarter they have to buy the water here men go about with it in little casks in carts and on mules Backs.

Tuesday. We have been all around the town we say no less than 14 old world churches & monestery they have been abandoned since 1845, the preist was used to go on with their foolery untill the President of New Granada told them they must either submit to the law or leave the country they chose the later they have had splendid building the town is the same decay’d state as Kingston.

Wensday. I have been this morning to change my ticket I cannot find out when we start. No chance to write on this part of the trip.

In the front of this book you will find a diary of my trip as far as Panama from there to Victoria there was no chance to write, the accommodation on the Boats on the Pacific were vile= we had good cabins and good food on the British Boats, but oh the accommodation and food on the American Boats was vile, when we got to Aspinwall on the East side of the isthmus of Panama we arrived in the evening the New York boat had got in a few hours ahead; and she was more than full with passenger; in 1864 the Great American Civil war was raging people were getting away from the Draft and the lure of Gold in California was the cause of it; the draft was never enforced in any of the Pacific states; well the Railway authorities told us they would take us across in the morning in time to connect with the San Francisco boat; alas in the morning we found she had pulled out at 3 A.M. leaving us behind, we crossed to Panama in morning to wait 10 days for the next sailing. Aspinwall in those days was a dirty port; Panama was a clean old town with many old ruined buildings & churches but a nice clean place a few of us found accommodation in the European Hotel, clean room and bed and board $1.25 per day; and the food was good the best Tea; or at least in those days and still do think it was the best Tea that I ever drank. My recollection of my stay there are pleasant memories, but my memories of the trip up the Pacific Coast are not so pleasant we had got abourd the San Francisco boat and settled in our Berths before the next New York boat had arrived, the accommodation was vile; tier upon tier of bunks end on end four or five in each tier and only a narrow passage way between the bunks; straw mattress non e to clean; and no bed clothes if you did not have any Blankets or Ruggs you went without; and perhaps the food was even worse it was served on tables hung from the deck above by Iron Rods tin plates tin cups; meat and potatoes served in great tin dishes and if you reach your fork for a helping you may get two or three forks stuck into your hand: having come aboard a day before the New Yorkers I had made the acquaintance of one of the stewards so I got food all the way up the coast to San Francisco, that was the worse travel I have ever made, we had a very smooth pleasant trip up to San Francisco, it was well we did if anything appeared at sea to attract the passengers attention on either side naturaly the passengers would flock to that side to see what it was; then you would hear the officer Roar trim the ship to keep the top heavy old tub on an even keel; well we got safely into San Francisco but again delay as we were going into the Golden Gate the entrance to San Francisco harbor and here we might say one of the finest harbor in the world both land locked and hill protected; we met the boat for Victoria direct coming out of the Golden Gate, the next one would go up the Columbia River to Portland before she proceeded to Victoria; and a stay of ten days in San Francisco; however it gave a chance to see the different stoping places on the way. It was well I had enough of funds to see me through; quite a change in San Francisco since then; and all over the Pacific Coast; No overland Railway or Telegraph then and Fries street from Montgomery to the water front, were all planked and oh after sundown Rats and then more Rats you could scarsly put your foot down without steping on one and out around  Market; then the old Mission and the sand hills Fleas the sand was alive with them; but there is a bright picture of that wonderful city which I think I should copy here by Ida D. Coolbritte.

     

              City by the Golden Gate

Little the goodly fathers

Building their Missions rude

By the lone untraversed waters,

In the Western solitude;

Dreamed of the Wonderful City

That looks on the stately Bay

Where the bannered ships of the Nations

Float in their pride today

Dreamed of the beautiful city,

Proud on her tawney height

And strange as a flower up springing

To bloom in a single night

For lo but a moment lifting

The veil of the years away

We look on a well known picture

That seems but as yesterday

The mist rolls in the gateway

Where never a fortress stands

Oer the blooms of Saucilito

And Yerba Buena’s sands

Swathing the shores were only

The sea birds come and pass

And drift with the drifting waters

By desolate Alcatraz

We hear when the night drops down

And the bay throbs under the stars

The ocean voices blending

With the ripple of soft guitars

With chiming bells of the Missio

With passionate minors sung

Or a quaint Castilion ballad

Trilled in the Spanich tongue

Fair from thy hills O city

Look on the beautiful bay

Prouder far is the vision

Greeting our eyes today

Better the thronged waters

And busy streets astir

Purple and silken rainment

Balsam and balm and myrrh

Gems of the further Indies

Gold of they own rich mine

And the pride and boast of the people

O beautiful Queen are thee

Praise to the goodly fathers

With banners of faith unfuried

Praise to the sturdy heros

Who have won thee to the world

That was a day to dream of

That was a life weded

Bleeding the veins of the mountains

Draining the torrents bed

Scaling the dusky canon

Tracking the pathless glen

He shot the knife and the struggle

With savage beast and ???

But blasted in the mist that follows

In the thought of a labor past.

Blessed in the homes we have built

The peace and rest at last

And blessed indeed the water

That rivals the smiling spring

When hands the seed have scattered

May gather the blooming.

 

Certainly a most beautiful and lovely city; well our stay came to an end and we boarded the old tub The Pacific ( she was later lost ) for Victoria: by the way of Portland we crossed the Columbia River bar the entrance to the Columbia River and on up to Portland not much of a town in those days, the principal building then was the Brewery we stayed two days discharging freight and taking  freight on, she did not call into Portland on her return from Victoria so she took on freight for San Francisco and there were no steam Winches in those days however at last we were going down the River and headed for Victoria after a good passage we arrived in the straits just as the sun was rising one fine June morning it was a beautiful sight looking at the wooded hills all clothes in Green; it was the first glimps of my future home, we landed at Esquimalt and walked in to Victoria our baggage was brought around to Victoria by a little old steamer named the Emily Harris after the wife of the first Mayor of Victoria. My tow elder brothers had come to British Columbia during the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1862 they did not get so far; Many a disappointed Gold seeker was on their way back; so they decided to stay and work on the old Cariboo Road at Yale, nearly every one in the Earlier days of B.C. returned to Victoria for the winter so then many one Roomed Cabins built all over town, most along store street and Humbolt. The had both returned to Yale in 1863 and also to Victoria for the winter in 1863. My elder bro Jim went to Cariboo David staid on in Victoria lived in a cabin of Store Street, working odd days around town when I arrived in June 1864; so when I had been here a few days I found there was plenty of work building Roads around Victoria. I went out to interview Charley ???? the Craig Flower Road he had a contract from Craigbloom to Parsons Bridge. I got work both for myself and my brother so we moved out to the Oak Camp my first days work was just under were E&N Ry Bridge crosses the road by the  4 mile house, and oh my poor hand they were just raw; skin all peeled of them; some the boys told Ashe the state they were in; so he stoped and asked me to show them mine; so he sent me into camp for a few days,We had nearly finished the job when that never to be forgotten Gold Rush to Leach River broke out; Victoria went gold mad; Craigflower Road was just black with men all the Road gang except myself and an old Scotsman joined the stamped we stuck to Charlie until we finished up the job; well when I got to Victoria I was looking for a job I run across Billy Tyler who owned a team of horses and was teaming around Victoria; he had work for Ashe, so he sent me to see Rodrick Finlay at the Hudson Bay store; wharf street then he needed a man, Finlayson Wife and the man who working around Finlaysons had some trouble, over Finlayson Boy, but I found when I saw Finlayson they had settled everything and the man was staying on, but he sent me along to his mother  in Mrs Work at Hillside, I do not know if Mrs Work was a half Breed or full blood Indian any way when I got there I hunted up old Billy Pottinger he had charge of the outside work he took me to see the old Lady stated I wanted work and she said she wanted a man; that were the trouble came in, I must have been  a hard looking Guy; but she would not  give me work until I went to Finlayson and got a certificate of ??? which I declined to do as Mr. Finlayson was a stranger to me, so I did not get work, when we left her Pottinger took me over the Road to Carters who then rented Hillside farm, which belonged to the Work Estate; it was just noon and they were all in at Grub, and it was in the middle of harvest: Yes Carter did want a man and was one badly to bind oats, after a cradle. I did not ask for and referances simply if I could bind oats and I said I had bound oats, so I went in had lunch, or I think we in those days called it dinner it was the chief meal of the day and we went to the field with the Cradler while I bound oats and what at home and now learned to make a bunch  in the English way it as a slow way the cradle showed me how to make it in the American way so pretty soon I could keep up with him cradling, and its good work keep up with cradle. I staid with Carter until we finish harvest-when Harry King of Church farm Cedar Hill came and asked me to go and work for him, while in those days there were not many acres of cleared land on the Church Farm which belong to Bishop Hills; Harry was paying $500.00 per year rent and clearing land all the time which the Bishop did not pay for; Harry was running considerable of a milk business in Victoria; milked about 20 cows; used to buy a lot of feed principaly Brewer’s Grains from the Brewery and California Wild Oat Hay; a lot was baled and shipped to Victoria; it used to grow all over the California Plains today you can only find it in Enclosed Cemeteries or some were fenced of ; I worked at Cedar Hill away into the fall and I could see he had to many men so I quit and went to another Milkman down on Moss Street the name of Geo. Peirce or it should be Pear’s he had only two acres rented from Judge Permberton; run his cows in the bush and on Beacon Hill; bought; his hay and Brewers grain and some milk feed grew roots on the land he kept about 10 or 12 cow’s he made money and he kept it to, I remember on the 24th of May we as  usual had our Celebrations on Beacon Hill, and we were both then a kind friend thought he had more use of a few dollar and anything else that was laying around, walked in an helped himself to what he could carry  without been seen. I was the principal loser I lost two watches and about $20.00 in cash. I had left home but they overlooked an old 3 gallon rusty milk tin hanging from the rafters of the cabin which contained $600.00 in silver, George lost but very little, the dairy herd paid well while the dairy man bought most of his feed and then as now he would have some bad milk bills which he could never collect, I worked some 9 or 10 months in his employ when I returned to work for Harry King, the general pay by the month at that time was $35.00 per month and Board; Harry King was one of the finest men I have ever worked for; and he would not think of asking you any work he would not do himself. I worked for him up to the day I left to go to Gold Mines in California. He drove me to see us of, we went away in the fall of 1866. My Bro Jim had gone down some months previously and wa working steady at $3.00 per day so many people would think that is would be a far better pay I have experienced both but would say you would save more working at $35.00 per month; around a mining camp or town some thing would allways be cropping up to cause you to expend money were you would not think of it on the Ranch; and was rarly we did not get in a full months work; however we were away to the land of sunshine Fruit and Flowers- any it is a wonderful country within the boarders you can grow from the Semi Tropic to temperate ??? or may say form the Tropic to perpetual snow. I seem were we marked the trees with 20 feet of a snow fall; yes a most wonderfull climate, yet its heat is ont oppressive you can usualy sleep during the night; I returned there in 1866- My destination was the Gold Mines in an around Forrest Hill a ridge running from the foothills to the Sumit of the Sierra Navada, a lond that had produce lot of Gold= were the miners had built many many miles of Great Ditches to carry the water which they washed away the great Gravel Beds in which the Gold had be stored from remote Ages; but I cannot picture to the reader of these lines the marvel of it all, but I must try and give you the impression left upon my mind, you must remember there was no Great Overland Railway the vision was then just dawning upon those men who a few years later built that wonderfull band of steel that was to link the Atlantic to the Pacific.  Well arriving in San Francisco our next move was up the muddy Sacramento River to the City of Sacramento arriving there we took stage’s for different points. Mine was along the Route to Auburn which in a very few years was the Route adapted by the Great Central Pacific Railway, but leaving Sacramento  by stage the traveler would not be very favorable impressed by the appearance of the country for the making of future homes a dry desolate land all Brown and dry. A few starved sheep running there on but what a change was in the making the miner in the development of his mines had brought water in great Ditches from the high Sierra Mountains along the high ridges across canyons by means of high tressels and fumes to convey the water he needed to carry on his mining, and then came a dark day for the mining interest they could no longer send their debrish down the canyons and rivers which was choking up the Rivers and overflowing her valley land but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for there was water waiting for the farmer to do his irrigation, which as brought forth  such wonderfull crops that all the world wonders; producing crops that no other spot on the earth can compare or compete with her, but my mission to California was not the production of crops but to dig into her Mountains for that precious metal Gold, while gold had been produced from her what we may call her surface mining it had now entered another stage the drifting into old River Beds over which the old Rivers had flowed ages and ages ago; leaving their deposits that some future generation may dig up many of the old Bed were many hundred feet from the earth’s surface and perhaps the same from bedrock; and when the miner gives a thought to those things he may begin to realize what a punny thing he is himself; but we certainly want to leave some Records of the drift Gold mining for California; and here I would boldy assert without fear of the fact; that there are other miners in existence who may make a claim for theirs as the best of all; but were are they when something crops up that upsets all they had previously learned of mining; they are generaly helpless; I have seen them; so I know were of I speak; but the drift Goldminer is never at a loss he allway on the lookout for trouble for it is allways at his elbow; take the difference with a coal miner nearly allways a good roof; the Gold drift mines allways a bad roof; need of timber from start to finish often he as to force laging a head of his work to keep up his roof; it would not do to allow his roof  to leak or it would leave a space that would keep poring down all the time; and the miner had to carry his timber up close to the face of his work so I certainly doff my cap to the drift Gold Miners of California, and I made many friends during my stay in that sunny land; perhaps the Happiest days of my life I spent there; I found good noble hearted men and women; of whom I made friends, my return to B.C. was caused by the death of my Bro Jim’s wife she left a little girl behind, without any one except her father to look after her, so my wife decided we must return, I had in the mean time married Mary Jane Davies of Nortonville and brought her to Cowichan to live but a short stop I had to return with her to California on account of sickness, so when Jim’s wife died we had again to reverse it, and return to B.C. we have seen many changes all over the Pacific Coast during the many years of residence here, when we first came you may say it was all dense Forrest, take for instance Duncans, the east side of the Railway was carved by a heavy thick growth of maples and alder timber; growing very thick on the Ground on the West side a heavy growth of second growth pine but oh so thick and long; and our tools were not such as we have today single bitted axes, saws with no lance tooth or rackerts to draw out the saw dust, we had no stumping powder all clearing was done by manual labor so you of the present day cannot begin to picture what the old Pioneers had to face. The first thing he did after establishing himself in his cabin, would decide were in the thicket he would do his first clearing having decided that point he would start under brushing it; by cutting all the underbrush and pile it into heaps on the ground; he would follow up this by gradualy cutting and piling the larger and longer growth by cutting the larger trees into log length and limbing them all up; and piling the limbs upon the brush piles; most of the trees so cut was saving of labor later the green tree was far easier to cut into lengths green than later when it became dry or half dried; so the more carefull you did the first work you saved labor later, to when you had brushed and chopped what you had estimated you could do you would have left a free ground around your chopping to keep your fire; when you did burn out of the green timber, to save your labor later when you would extend your chopping you would not want to be cutting into dried stuff, in chopping down the larger and longer trees you would chop them into log lengths while still green for the purpose of saving time later, cutting the trees into lengths you were looking forward to a log Bee; when you invite your neighbours near and far to attend a loging Bee, you would have been preparing for it for some time in advance, first you would lay in a stock of hand spikes for many would be broken during the Bee, and you must bear in mind our Pioneers were the Cream of the Race wherever they came from, and at an age when Manhood was in its prime; and Muscle was well developed; so when the pioneer got his handspike underneath a log either the log rolled or the handspike broke; you very probably have two or three yoke of oxen to hawl the logs into piles and you would make you Bee up into so many gangs so many men to a gang and a Captain to every gang, and at the work go you would see the logs move into piles, we did not burn the log piles the day we rolled them up only logs that required two or more men were rolled up; smaller logs were left until the next day when they would be fired and the smaller logs piled on as the fire burned the piles; and we all were there to work and every one did his best. The following day the owner of the land would begin to fire up the piles he would generaly start his fire on the top of the pile by gathering up the small dry stuff laying around; and pile it on to the fire; and then he would keep rolling in the logs as they burned; plenty of work to keep the fires stired up and picking the small stuff and also raking up the chips all laying around, nearly every settler would own a Blacksmiths made Rake; with longer teeth than the bought store Rake. Yes, the burner would find plenty of employment , and he usualy worked a little quicker than he usualy did, to keep up with his work, yes will say when burning he kept up his speed and then having raked over the ground he would be able to see many of the larger roots extending from the stumps he would cut and grub them up to burn, most of the smaller stumps he would grub and then he would grub up and then he would try to plow between the stumps slow heart breaking work calling for the pacience of Job, then came the sowing ahd Harrowing with a little home made Harrow usualy make of three triangular poles, Blacksmiths made teeth holes bored and teeth driven in tight harvesting came next. Wheat was often reaped with syckle slow work but it was in better state when you considered how you were going to thrash; with the flail or more commonly called the poverty sticks, you placed your sheaves on the thrashing floor usualy half a dozen or a dozen at a time; half of them pointing to the center of the floor from one way the others from the other way points slightly over laping; then your work would begin; to beat the sheaves with your flail if the grain had not been properly harvested and was on the tough side, you would harm your Grain; well having laid your sheaves upon the thrashing floor you would do considerable  pounding upon them before you would move them, then you would turn them over and go at them again next time you would untie the sheaves and pound them until you could see no grain fly from the flail blow; then you would take your fork and well shake the straw and throw the straw away; and shake or rake all the longer straw left in the grain from the floor, and push back the grain to one side of the floor and repeat your thrashing program, when the floor would get crowded with grain you would stop your thrashing and clean up your grain, your thrash floor usal had door’s or opening on each side, if you were fortunate enough to own a fanning mill or could borrow one from  your neighbours you would get to work and clean up your grain and stow it away, if lacking a fanning mill you would pile your grain on one side and with your two (2) doors open you would take a shovel and throw your thrashed grain as high as you could up against the wall between your two doors of the thrashing floor; the wind between the doors would carry the chaff away and the grain been heavier would fall in a heap, you may have to repeat according to your wind, but many was the devices adopted by Pioneer, what changes are taking place all the time the flail was replaced, perhaps first by spreading the grain upon the thrashing floor then driving your horses over it to tramp out the grain, then came horse power, in ammerica the tread power one or two horses, the tread was an endless apron you elevated it about a pitch of 45 and placed your belt on your machine place your horse in the tread it would be necessary for him to be shod with good toe caulks to keep his feet on the tread, a hard ? thing on a horse, but he had far more power than on a sweep power, they were generaly in use in the early days of America horse power, but I don’t think they ever made

( you  had a Brake on your horse power)

Any head way in England, in the early 60’s the sweep power was in full force. I can well remember  my father owning one which he hired out to neighbours at so much per day he sent two men and four horses with it; those were soon followed with steam power which cleaned the grain and then change was made by the charge of so much per bushel of grain but looking back we cannot see any reduction in cost of thrashing. My old friend Wm Robertson of Westholme used to go around thrashing with his flail at 10 c/a Bushell Oats and 12 ½ c for wheat. Your big power machines cannot reduce those figures; when you add  up the costs; but we have made great progress when we compare the syckle or the sythe with binders that most wonderfull of inventions the Automatick Knoter that when so much grain get into the Arms extend the string around the Bundle as ties it up automaticly and cuts the string; and now carries the bundles and drops them in bunches to be stoked up; to dry, then you would hawl it into the Barn to be trashed the same work year after year, our crop yield per acre are not so favorable as in the Pioneer days when the land was in its Virginity, today more care is required to cultivating it; the many little fiberous roots have disappeared out of the soil leaving more compact and not so easy to work but I also thing the trouble is with the man and not the soil we try to cultivate to many acre’s; we want to do the work in to easy maner, riding a sulky plow skiming the surface instead of stiring up the soil so it could hold moisture for the growing crop and we don’t follow our rotation crops enough.

     In the foregoing no mention as been made of churches, school or any other gatherings and they were all way to the fore perhaps the churches should be placed before schools they came first. My old Friend Father Roundault was the first Priest of Preacher to come to the District in fact he was the second white man to settle in the Cowichan District, the late Jack Humprhs was was the first , if memory serves me right Humphys came in 1957. Roundault in 1858, that was four years before the great Carriboo Gold Rush: but it was the year’s of the Frazer River Gold Rush, we have had many Rushes to different spots in the Province but the three principal ones Frazer River 1858 Carriboo 1862 and Leech River in 1864,, when Victoria went Gold Mad the Craigflower Road was black with men, I was at that time working for Charlie Ashe nearly finishing his contract when all his men quit except myself and an (old Scotchman, and old Hudson Bay man) we staid with him to finish up; after we had finished and gone into Victoria But we are now considering churches. The Pioneer priest was that noble old man The Reverand Father Roundault who built the old stone church over looking  Cowichan Bay which stands as a mounement to his memory. The best Christian I have ever met, and during my stay in London during my younger days. I met through my friends the Arber’s the most prominent Clergy of the day-allways attended the Exeter Hall Lectures every Season and all the most eminent preachers from all over England gave lectures: The Rev. Father was the friend of every one, he met every one with a smile and a word of cheer, when I state that in my youth , I had been brought up to abhor and detest Catholics, the life of that dear old man gave me a broader view of life; and I owe much to his life and example if I have accomplish anything in after life, and my memory of his friendship I will carry with me through life, the Catholic stone church was not the first but there was a little wooden one built nearer to the bridge before the Stone one, and there are many Tales and Legends floating around that there was never any service held in the old Stone Church the church was blessed and dedicated By Bishop Demers and service was held in it for some ten (10) years the reason service was discontinued was when the Sisters of St. Ann located were they at present reside; the distance was then to great for the children to attend service in the church. You must also bear in mind our roads in those days were mud roads not hard finished. The next church Built was St. Peters not on the site of the present St. Peters but about the lane leading to the Rectory barn, I think I am correct the Rev. Archdecon Reese was its first Resident Rector, but services had been held previous to his advent by the Rev Ganett who later left B.C. and went to Texas he used to ride up over the old Sooke trail from Victoria once a month he was doing that service in 1864, he also supplied Ceder Hill in 1864 were I fist met him a fine man a good horseman, he would look aber his horse before himself. But Cowichan District is very much in Debt to Archdeacon Reese the father of the Cowichan Agricultural Society, at the out start of the library we could not get a Libarian who was available at all times so we set one evening a week when we met to exchange Books and the Rev Mr. Reece conceived the Idea of putting in an evening by having a debate to fill out the Evening and in the early 1870’s we spent many a pleasant evenings with profit to all and we went to our several locations looking forward to our next meeting; for very probably we would not see anyone until we met again mind we only got our mail once a week at the most and sometime that failed us; and then our nearest post offices were at the several Bays 9 or 10 miles away, but oh the neighbours were so kind if any one went to the Bay on Steam boat days; he would carry home the mail for his neighbours.

The old Methodist church Maple Bay was the next church built but for years it had not a resident Minister; Rev Bryant Nanaimo and others supplied the service; in the early 70’s many other churches were built But we have omitted any work of the old Log Building on the North side of Somenos Lake used before St Petes’ I have never been able to discover weather it was built for a School or Church; was used as both in 1870 and stood there for many years and the name of Wm Fly Lomas who was the first school Teacher in the District taught school there all of the Pioneer children of the District had to go there- there was no other; and many a weary mile they had to walk through the woods to get to school and our Roads in those days were simply tracks cut through the woods stumps cut level with the ground, Mr. Lomas used to take his canoe across Somenos Lake to bring his school children  to school and take them back after school, the parent paid so much fee’s per Month; and then later the old Mission building Quamichan was built and Mr&Mrs Lomas were in charge when I first came to the District 1870; he teaching the children and she teaching the girls to sew; that was before there were any sewing Machines at that time the Mission was by far the prettiest spot in the District lot of flower Beds from the Road up,The church of England paid or made up his salary in adition to fee’s up to $40.00 per month which was the first rate to pay, while he was the first School Teacher in the District he was not the first Public School teacher paid out of Public funds, the First Public school teacher was RM Cleminson and he taught in the first Public school built on the end of the Lakes Road at junction with Maple Bay Somenos Road, now known as the Herd Road, Lomas shortly afterwards got the appointment to (2) two schools on the south side of the Cowichan River namely the Bench and the Kokasilah schools, he taught on alternate days in each school; three days one week and two days the next. He later received the appointment as our first Indian Agent from the Dominion Government an office he was so well fitted to fill; there have been several Agent since fine noble men but none touched the Indian’s heart the same as Lomas, he could say anything to them and they would take it all in good part and do as he wished them to do; he in some way had a great influence over them.Two men who have lived here , held the love and Respect of our Indians namely Wm Fly Lomas, and the Rev. Father Roundalt at the funeral of Wm Fly Lomas from Campbell corner to the Long Bridge the Road was black with Indian came from every were to pay their last token of love and respect to their friend. I have allway thought how very much this District are indebted to those noble men, mind you the Cowichan tribe of Indians did not bear very good name in the early days, in fact the war ship once up after a murder and hung him from the limb of an Oak tree near the Rectory, I think it as since been cut down, while it stood, no Indian would go under it. When we look back over the years we can hardly realize what advancement as been made not alone in school but in everthing the Pioneer children often walked five miles each way to school through dense forest with but few settlers living on the wayside= today a Bus you may say picks them up at their own door and returns them home after school; then one school served all North of the Cowichan River and the old school held all Grade and one teacher to teach all grades only one wagon and one Team of horses in the District in 1870 owned by those noble Pioneers Wm and Joseph Drinkwater they had brought them all the way from Ohio USA they were Englishmen natives of Glostershire came out to Ohio then on further West to Oregon, two staunch Englishmen Vancouver Island with the British flag afloating was calling them, they first came to Saanich were they wintered 1861 and came to Somenos in 1862, located on Range 3 Section 3 Somenos District at that time they were both Batchlors, the government brought out a ship load of Brides on the Robert Low around Cape horn and Wm slected one of them they lived very happy, a few years later they dissolved partnership and divided the land they originaly located on 300 acres. Wm retained the Valley farm of 100 acres Joseph taking the west 200 acres and built up on Fawn Hill, two of our best Pioneers, nearly all the Bachlors of the near neighborhood made their home at Fawn Hill, two very remarkable men Wm one of the cooles men you could imagine when seting milking a cow one morning his wife gave the alarm of fire, Wm thought what was the trouble but thought he would finish milking his cow before going in the meantime some of our younger people were returning home from a dance happened along and put it out, Drinkwaters were allways early Risers, 4 A.M. was their time; and our dancers kept up the dance until daylight so you see how they fit in, and our dances were not a very large affair usal held in a private house; but usaly our living Rooms were pretty large, and the music for dance was usaly one Violin, but I would say we had more enjoyment to the square foot than you do today with 5 or 6 instruments, we use to have two events that all attended: Red lettered days of the year; Harvest home with a dance held in the Gleibe Barn, St. Peters rectory and the Batchlor Ball given in some Residence, the batchlors would invite all married people in the District and some from outside also and of course the young ladies was well as old one were not left out, the Batchlers provided everything and it would be a night given over to enjoyment.

Well I have omitted any mention of living conditions in 1870 I said one one team of horses in District and one wagon but there were several Yoke of Oxen and home made sleds with dog wood shoes the sled was of a natural grown crook if you found a tree with the right crook big enough to make two runners you would wipsaw it, if not you may have to spent considerable time locating two crooks alike and you made your sled at home the same as you did everything you needed around the house and buildings then the living conditions no furnature except home made-Bedsteads Tables stools etc no cook stove open fire place a few Iron pots with adjustable bales; to hang over the fire; A Dutch oven for Baking, an Iron pot with straight sides about a foot deep with Iron legs underneath 6 0r 8 inches long and also a dished Iron Cover; to hold your hot coals for Baking; you Kept hot coals underneath and on top the legs underneath was to keep it of the hearth so you keep fresh hot coals on it and under it all the time; you had to attend it constantly, but I consider the bread baked in a Dutch oven nicer than out of a stove; if we had Beef (fresh) or venison to roast we had the choice of the Dutch oven or hang on a sting in front of the fire; the oven some what the quickest we also consumed considerable Corn Beaf. Neighbours would club together and kill a Beef in turns 4 of them and each would take a quarter and salt it down in a barrel, some would eat it up quicker than others and would be calling for more our Baking in the Dutch oven usaly on Sundays for most of the Settlers were Batchlers and Sunday was their cooking and wash day usaly a full time busy day. When if possible we would try to find time to visit our neighbours all together we had not much spare time on our hands; but most of us were very happy; looking forward towards the future with hopr for success and prosperity.

Our locations were nearly all heavy timbered the District I think was originaly Surveyed by Mr. Wells according to my information in 1858 our settlers came in 1862, in those days our land Laws were such you could buy the land out right from the Government at $5.00 per acre, and you got your deed for it’s the other  mode was you could prempt it at $1.00 per acre but you had to live so long and put so much improvement there on before you got your deed, the Survayors furniched information to the land speculator what Sections  were fairly cleared of heavy timber and in good locations, hence when the land was thrown open to preemption the land grabber had the choice bits. But I do not call to mind that any of them realized any thing on their speculation; in fact most of them after paying Taxes thereon for many ????(missing line) sold it for what they gave for it, and lost very considerable in interest and Taxes; We have seen our mud Roads develop into Graveled Roads with many light Buggies drawn by light horses to the hard finished Roads with auto traveling 60 miles an hour quite a difference to the oxen at 3 miles; our mud roads for our then needs were better than our hard finished road would be; with only one Team of horses and one wagon, could not begin to fill the need for transportation, hence our mud Roads with our woken sleigh drawn by oxen served better than would have we had hard gravel Roads, which would have taken more power to draw a load there on; and also after nearly every trip you would need new shoes for your Sled, so our Roads have developed according to our needs, the sled suited the mud Road better than wheels, what our future Roads will be is hard to foresee, at the present rate of auto growth the Roads must be made wider and the Police must place more control over traffic, possible and I think very probably our aroplanes will relief the Road traffic by taking it into the air, I myself have a dream that inside the life time of some of our children we will all be equipped with a little machine we could carry in our pokets or about our body with set of wings folded up like a bird set the little machine agoing expand the wings and away you go.

In the foregoing pages no mention as been made to public or municipal affairs and I was allways more or less mixed in them I have not the dates at hand so will give the facts as I remember them.

The Government in the first place looked after and had control of our Roads things went fairly smoothly for some years without any friction. They appointed a man named Titus to take charge and administer our Roads, a man who lived in Victoria. I will not say what his qualification for the job, but this he was a self contained man, coming to the District in the Summer Months when all the Roads were dry and hard he could not conceive what those same Roads were during the Winter months, the settlers would point out to him the bad winter spots and asked to have them fixed during the time he was on the job=he just went on doing work were ever fancy led him, well the settler were pretty well fed up with Mr. Titus and his work; and a lot were very dissatisfied. Wm C. Duncan after whom the City of Duncan was named and myself had many a talk over it, Mr. Duncan had live in a Municipality in Ontario before he came to British Columbia so knew all about the way they were worked and administered there so we decided we would take around a petition for the settlers to sign asking that North Cowichan on the north side of the River including Chemainus be formed into a Municipality nearly every one signed I forwarded to the Provincial Secretary just as I was leaving B.C. for California the Petition was Granted and Municipal Council was duly organized. First Warden was the late Thomas Skinner of
Fairly: Warden was the title of its presiding officer in the early days; later changed to Reeve; only one member of the first Municipal council today alive Mr. Horace S Davie of Somenos, now of Chemainus, North Cowichan Municipal was a success from the start for many years she lived with in her income and greatly improved her Roads and built new ones. Then some of her leaders conceived the Idea of borrowing to give more improvement to her Roads, and the cry they used to get the money was "Let future generation pay for it”, oh what a mistake the present generation must begin to pay; even before they get the money=they don’t get 100 per cent par in the first place so they are paying the Bond holder interest on money they never reached them, yet I believe North Cowichan as per Capt Rate is the lowest in BC and her Roads have cost her less than any other District, in her earlier days she did all or 99 per cent by contract and she as allway been very fortunate in having good Road Superintendant; I have ofter been asked by Road Engineers and othe how we had done it: and the answer would be by Contract: and then few Districts have been blessed with the numbe of Gravel pits available all over the District and drainage of her Roads usaly good; all of which as been in her favor and added to all to men who have given their time and energy to the service of the Municipality, the change from her Mud Roads to her present hard finished one’s as been a slow gradual development.

Well I have only mentioned in the earlier pages of my marrage to Mary Jane Davies of Nortonville California and I could not be so ungratefull to her memory to let it go at that, I who owe so much to her companionship love and labor during the 63 years of married life together. I have often thought that I was a selfish brute to ask her to come to the bush in BC to make a home out of the wilderness you of women of today would certainly Rebel at the then conditions nearest woman neighbor some three miles away; no Roads simply trails through the bush the nearest place she could purchase anything wereable for herself would be in Victoria, Steam Boast to the different Bays once a week and you perhaps living 9 or 10 miles away from the bays; and on top of all this the living conditions were poor, the early settlers of Cowichan Valley were not wealthy by any means, I had come $300.00 when I decided on Cowichan as my future home. I paid $150.00  to Tom Nichol abandon his preemption Rights so that I could prempt it; there was a cabin of logs ( all our Buildings were of logs) a barn of logs, 20X30 about 3 acres of land cleared, all the rest heavily timbered.

     Not a promising spot to bring a bride to ; yet through all the year’s I never heard a word of complaint at our condition and many times there were very good grounds for them, we all tried to save the Dollar were ever we could and what we thought was an opportunity Mr. Crate decided to build and operate a Flour Mill on the outlet of Quamichan Lake the Mill was built just below the Trunk Road, so the settlers set to work to grow wheat to save buying flour, well I took a Bag of wheat to be ground brought it home, wife set the spounge that evening thinking we would have some home grown bread to eat the following days the spounge did not look anything to promising and the head was less so; instead of Bread it produced liver, our flour Barrel was empty so instead of waiting to send to Victoria for a Barrel as usal I walk to Boudon store five miles away and pack a sack home so we had the experience of home grown bread, but I think it was a very bitter one to her, we can grow wheat on Vancouver Island, but to soft to make Bread, well we had no stove or any other Kitchen conveniences, a Dutch oven and all the Kitchen furnishing were very primitive, and you would allways find two articles present a frying pan and a tin Billy to make tea or coffee in.

     We must give some notice of our improvements, our Pioneers came in 1862 there were then no Roads, the first thing a Pioneer did after building his cabin would be to cut a trail from any then existing Trail or Roads to his location while we called them Roads; we today would not use the word Roads to describe them. A more appropriate description of them would be a blazed trail through the woods for  you would be watching the trees ahead of you for Blazes on the trees about shoulder high, good deep Blazes to keep you on the way; for little or no work would have been done other than chopping small trees level with the ground; and the ground leveled about 6 feet wide, was what constituted a Road, but we were allway making some improvements there on, in the first place many of the soft spots we had to corduroy to get over them at all: you would lay a long tree about 9 inches to a foot through on each side of the Road; then you get your covering either small poles or split slabs of biger trees, you would spot or flatten your covering on your stringers so they would not roll when you crossed it and in adition you would put guard poles on each side and peg down to keep the covering down and from rolling out of place; these when worn out rotted away would be replaced by first filling in the large Rock and covered by a coat of Gravel, so our Road have been developed by degrees from the mud Road to the hard finished one.

Then our councilor carried on their duties of graduly improving our Roads according  to the funds at their disposal and so well have they done their duty=that today no district have any better Roads than Cowichan and our Roads have cost us less for some years after the Municipality was organized the Government continued to collect all taxes, which they paid over to the Municipality later, and the feeling between them as allways been most friendly. The Government use to impose a two day statute labor on each individual living in the Municipality from years of 18 to 65, when called out by the pathmaster of the District they had to perform two days work upon the Public Roads were ever the Pathmaster directed; and he had to furnish his own tools, then the law was changed to the individual could pay into the Government the sum of $2.00 which exempted him from the two days statue labor: then later it was further amended that each Council could impose a $2.00 Road Tax instead of Statue labor, North Cowichan was the first to make the changes to Road Tax of $2.00 instead of two days work; and found she got far better results, to many men under statue labor just turned out to have picnic, no intention of trying to do a days work or to improve the Roads=mind some did a good days work and the Roads were improved but the majority shirked the work=For many years the Councillors acted as pathmaster without any pay=but we must not forget no one in regard to Statue labor received any pay therefore after returning to BC from California I have served many years upon the Municipal Council I think 14 years as Reeve and about the same as Councillor have seen many changes and much development during that time and the very many points at which we held our meetings, but I want to pay a tribute to our many Councillors, I cannot call to mind any act or action of any member there of which was done for personal gain we often did not look at all questions in the same way, the different Councillor sent from the different wards to represent that ward and the Councillors would make a fight for what he considered the wards rights and during all the years we have been organize as a Municipality there as never been a breath of scandal or of wrong doing in connection with the member of the North Cowichan Council and this of its self stands to the Credit of the many men who have represented the several Wards for so many years. In the above no mention was been made of Fraternal or other Kindred Societies my first venture was in the Sons of Temperance don’t remember the date but in California on my first I think 1867 it was a Temperance organization it did not live many years, it was followed by the Good Templars which rolled up quite a membership and did good work for many years. I filled all the offices in the Temple also in Grand Temple I joined the order of Knights f Pythias in California as a charter member of the Black Diamond Nortonville 1874 have served in all its subordinate Lodge offices in the Grand Domain of California joined by card Maple No 15 of Duncan have passed through all the Grand Lodge chairs in B.C. I have also served many years as school Trustee of the old Somenos school on the corner of the Trunk and Norcross roads also on the old Maple Bay school, when one school District served all North of River. The first Public School teacher was R.M. Cleminson he taught in the old Maple Bay school at junction of Lakes Road with Herd Road-the second was Mr. Monk first taught in old Mission Building until the school was built, she was the second Public School Teacher in the District the next Public school was the old Somenos School corner of the Trunk and Norcross Roads opposite the Methodist Church taught by Ed Stuart now of Salmon Arm Mrs. Monk and Stuart Wort are still alive 1937;

                            R.M.R. No 2, Duncan, B.C.
                                      July 15, 1938

Dr. Lamb

     Provincial Archivist

                     Dear Sir

                           I am sending you two papers Pioneer Women of Cowichan, and Pioneer Men I don’t know if you already have papers upon same subject or not; mind I have not consulted any records or individuals; they are records made from memory so mistakes may be made, but am pleased my memory is still good after 92 years, and our early Records should be preserved, have you made any progress towards geting feild man or woman, to comb all our B.C. Districts for early Records, could you not spare Mrs. Cree once in a while if you fail to get a regular employee, she would fit the Bill better than any one I can think of she would know what you want in your records, and aid I can give will be gladly given, but mind it must be with my pen have not been away from the house for about two years, but in the best of health; so it you want to use me in any way you must do it soon, and who ever goes out I would say by car, then if they heard of any one on by Roads they could turn of and would be independent of Bus or train. It would not cost so very much, and the Government would be far richer in Records you I know have a very great wealth of them yours Truly John N Evans.

          

 

 

Pioneer Women of Cowichan District

We will head our list with women who are the most outstanding. Mrs. Neil Bell born in Scotland migrated to New Zealand previous to coming to British Columbia in 1862. Sometime ago I visited the graves of her and her husband in the Somenos grave yard; alas to late; the headstones were standing allright; but the names have all peeled of all was Blank stone, Mrs. Bell was a trained nurse and midwife before coming to British Columbia, and in the early days we had no resident Dr. in the district or any nearer than Victoria so Mrs. Bell was a God send to the District, but our Pioneer women were a healthy sturdy lot of Men and Women. I think a Dr. would have starved to death if he had been stationed here, if he had to depend upon his practice for a living,-so if any one got very sick we called Mrs. Bell= then as people got more numerous and more women came in=and don’t forget in the early days our Government imported brides by the ship loads, the first was the Robert Low, some of that load came to Cowichan District, so Mrs. Bell services were in more demand. A most wonderfull woman, full on energy and endurance, she would walk from Somenos to Chemainus wharf and back and do her regular house work; and she would go to Mrs. Chisholm at Maple Bay the same way, and don’t forget our Roads were mud Roads, sometimes of the year, far  nicer to walk on than gravel Roads, and at other times you would think your foot lifted a ton=at last when she had to take to her bed, she would not have a woman in the house, her young son Angus was the only one at home= but she needed for nothing I take of my hat to him, for giving that noble woman every care and attention; she who had spent all her life, aiding and ministering to the sick and ailing.

Mrs. Archibald Keir was another of our Noble Pioneer women a fine sympathetic woman, she mothered the Batchlors of the District and sometimes they needed it badly, and many a one just away from the old land and mothers influences, were kept on the straight Road, with her kind advice and sympathy,-and her door was allways open and every one and all felt at home when they entered her door it was the rendovos of all Batchlors on the North side of the River, the same a Bodes on the south side, even before the Post Office was established there, we were all indebited to her for many many kindnesses, and her home was also open to all dissenting Ministers to hold services there in long before any church was built= and many of our Pioneers looking to make a location were fed at her table with a chance to rest his weary feet and given information to aid him on his way certainly one of Natures Noble Women.

     Next we would place the name of Mrs. David Alexander Senior of Oak Bank Quamichan, she also came by the way of New Zealand in 1862, Cowichan as all way been famed for it Butter and to Mrs. Alexander should go the Credit of been one of its first Pioneers,= while Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Bednall run her a close race she usaly came out a head= while her home was not visited like the Keir home, you would all way receive a warm welcome when you called.

     Another of our Pioneer Woman I must not omit, a woman oh how shall I try to picture her to you, Mrs. Manly who later became Mrs. James Boal Cowichan Flatts a Noble Woman who overflowed with friendship and a great heart full of generosity, you could not offend her more if you refused to eat her food and she would produce it at all hours of the day, a woman who bestowed her friendship upon all, oh what a fine lot of Pioneers, both men and women who came and made their homes in the Cowichan District. I feel it was a blessing when my footsteps was turned to make my home and to mingle, meet and share the toil of pioneers of the Cowichan Valley to have shared in their joys and sorrows for we have had both. I greatly doubt if the world will ever produce their equal, they were the Cream of the lands who produced them; and they came from all lands-all have gone to their rest, they had a very hard stenirious life, the women of today cannot conceive what the pioneer women endured, think of your nearest neighbour three miles away nearest Dr. in Victoria and only steam Boat once a week or make the trip by canoe, she could not buy anything she needed to wear nearer than Victoria the general stores at the several steam boat landings stocked shirts overall and shoes for men but not for women.

We must not omit some mention of Elizabeth the only name I knew her by for many years, I later discovered her name was Elizabeth Blackmore, and we must make a record of her advent into the Cowichan District, in 1862 one of the earliest of our Pioneers, she was I don’t know how to describe her, she was supposed to be a servant of Dr. Davie the elder in Victoria, but she was far more than that, she was a mother to his motherless children, and no mother gave more care and attention to her children than Elizabeth did to the Davie family well her advent in Cowichan District was on foot over the old Sooke trail leading a cow, Young Alex Davie riding a poney, he later became Premier of British Columbia, also his younger Bro. Theodore Davie, became Premier of BC and built our Parliament building which anchored Victoria as the Capitol of B.C. Well they arrived safely in Somenos District, then her work began, she milked the cows, churned the Butter, fed to calves and if you wanted to get her soft side praise her calves no mother thought more of her children than Elizabeth of her calves. After all her service and labor for the Davie family without any pay her last days should have had a happier ending.

     I could write reams about that Noble Band of the Pioneer Women of the Cowichan District, but will give you a list of names which come to my memory of the days long ago. I think they are all gone home to rest after a hard life of it here, I will omit the names form the list of which I have given brief sketches of and will head the list with the name of Mrs. Thos Skinner of Fairly Maple Bay probably the earliest of all

Mrs. John Morley  Maple Bay       Mrs.Bednall Maple Bay

Mrs. Hale    Maple Bay   Mrs. John Flett, Maple Bay Mrs. Edgson  Maple Bay    Mrs. Beaumont  Maple Bay Mrs. Brobank   Somenos           Mrs. Rev.Reece  Rectory

Mrs. Pat Brennan  Cowichan    Mrs. Shaw ,Cowichan

Mrs. Geo. Lilly,  Crofton      Mrs. Maniner Cowichan

Mrs.James Boal  Cowichan    Mrs. John Nelson Cowichan

Mrs. Robert White Cowichan  Mrs. Mat Bottrell Cowichan

Mrs. Geo. Askew  Chemainus  Mrs. Robert McLay Koksila

Mrs. Chisholm  Maple Bay     Mrs. Alex Blythe   Koksila

Mrs. James Leask  Maple Bay   Mrs. Randall  Maple Bay

Mrs. Wm Drinkwater Somenos Mrs. Ambrose Skinner Somenos

Mrs. Tait   Somenos         Mrs. Richardson Cowichan

Mrs. John N. Evans Somenos Mrs.Harris John Bull   Cowichan

Mrs. T, Williams   Cowichan    Mrs. Hollings  Cobble Hill

Mrs. Chapman  Cobble Hill      Mrs. Dougan   Cobble Hill

Mrs.Bob Mearns  Koksila      Mrs. Walter Ford   Koksila

Mrs. Todd   Cowichan          Mrs. Rutledge   Cowichan

Mrs. Murphy   Glenora         Mrs. Waters    Glenora

Mrs. McKennally  Glenora         Mrs. Rowe    Glenora

Mrs. Mollett   Glenora         Mrs. Bowden   Glenora

Mrs.Merryman  Glenora      Mrs. Harry Smith Cobble Hill

Mrs. LaFortune  Mill Bay    Mrs. W.R. Robertson Cowichan

Mrs.Rogers  Rogers Lake     Mrs. G.T, Cornfield Cowichan

Mrs. Fred Maitland Dougall Cowichan Mrs. Dr. Robottom Quamichan

Mrs. Frazer   Duncans       Mrs. Symonds  Maple Bay

Mrs.Crate  Quamichan        Mrs.Fly Fry   Chemainus

Mrs. Neil Campbell Westholme  Mrs. Hall   Westholm

Mrs. Frank Lloyd    Westholme  Mrs. Jame Habbord Westholme

Mrs.Porter  Chemainus        Mrs. Fuller  Fullers Lake

Mrs. James Evans  Duncan     Mrs. Monk  Quamichan

Mrs. J. Menzies  Quamichan Mrs. John Blair Quamichan

Mrs. James Auchinachie  Sathlam  Mrs. Rev. D. Holmes  Duncan

Mrs. W.C. Duncan  Duncan      Mrs.David Ford Glenora

Mrs. James Charley  Somenos  Mrs. Sam Gray Chemainus

The Currie family Sathlam Mrs. Currie  Mrs.Somerville Mrs. Golding     Mrs. Mary Currie

Mrs. N. May  Somenos  Mrs. Wellbourn Quamichan Lake

Mrs. Ashdown Green  Somenos Lake

Mrs. Musgrave  Somenos Lake    Mrs.Martin Somenos

Mrs. Kingston  Somenos Lake     Mrs. Barry Cobble Hill

Mrs. Herbert Hall  Westholm   Mrs. John Michell Somenos

Mrs. Michell Smith  Crofton  Mrs. J. Shepland Maple Bay

Mrs. Summer  Gibbon Road    Mrs. Fremento Cowichan

Mrs. Young  Cowichan Lake Rd  Mrs. A. Drummond Maple Bay

Mrs. Ordano  Cowichan      Mrs. Pimbury Cowichan Flats

Mrs. W.P. Jaynes  Quamichan  Mrs. Frazer Cowichan Lake      first white woman at the Lake         

Mrs. Thomas  Westholm  Mrs.Maxine Allard  Quamichan Lake

Mrs. Fletcher   Herd Road

 

    

 

 

Pioneers of Cowichan District

I have written of our Pioneer Women, but not of our men and will try to place on Record some of the names of those who Pioneered and hewed out homes for themselves and families from the Forrests of Cowichan District, for what few little Prarrie spots had been corralled by the Land graber or Spectilator before the advent of most of our Pioneers, who came with the Carriboo Gold Rush 1862, the first white man to settle in Cowichan was the late Jack Humphres of Quamichan,I think I am correct that he came and located in 1857 and he was fullfilling Sir James Douglas’s advice, go up into the Cowichan District, settle down and take an Indian Woman, but my observation; that those who took his advice never progressed very far in the development of the District, but there were no other women available until later; When our Provincial Government imported Brides by the ship loads to supply the want the Robert Low was the first one, and some of them came to this District to found homes-

The second man to settle in Cowichan was that Noble old Christian the Rev Father Rondault who labored many years amongst the Indians and Whites, he came in 1858, built his first house and church of logs  nearer the bridge than the old stone Church, he and the Indians built the Stone Church in 1870, most of the stone was carried on hand barrows “not wheel barrows” two Indian carrying the rock, he and the Indians built the main portion of the Church, a Stone Mason from Victoria built the Arches of the Windows and Doors, and he as made a claim that he built the Church, My Brother Harry Evans did the finishing wood work the Rev Father kept quite a Herd of cows which he milked and made Butter, indeed I fancy he told me that it was Butter that paid for the first lumber church at the present site I have during my life time have met a great many Divines of all Sects, but he comes the nearest of all to what a Christian should be I feel it was a very great privilege to have been his Friend; The great influx of Pioneers came to the Cowichan District in 1862 the year of the Carriboo Gold rush, the Cowichan Pioneers did not take part in the Gold Stampede, they came to settle on the land and build Homes for themselves, I don’t think that any of the original Pioneers of 1862 are now alive, I came to Victoria in 1864, went to California in 1866 returned to Cowichan 1870, there are none left of the 1870 pioneers in this District except myself, Many of our Pioneers came by the way of New Zeland, but nearly all of British by birth and I do not know what name should follow the names of Humphres and Rondault, perhaps the name of the Rev Archdeacon Reese he was the first resident Church of England Minister, the Rev Garrett had preceeded him, but he live in Victoria and came up the trail very second Sunday-other Sundays he held service at the Cedar Hill Church, Garret held service in the old Log Church on the West side of Somenos Lake and at the John Bull In Cowichan Bay, have never been able to find it the old Log building on the lake was built for a Church or school it was serving as both in 1870. Wm Fly Lomas was holding school there in 1870 and the school was a Church of England school, the children paid so much in fees and the church furnished the balance, that was before the days of Public schools in Cowichan, Lomas also ?????? session ?? Quamichan at the same time. We divided the school Teacher up in those days he would have two school to teach on alternate days one school would get 3 days one week two the next, Lomas later taught to public school in the same way, Cowichan Bench School and Kokasila on the south side of the River, but to return to Archdeacon Reese he was in the forefront of every movement for the benefit of the people, he was the father of the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the thought came to him during a harvest home service at St. Peter with its agricultural display, our Library and many other local endeavours; the District is greatly in his debt he left and returned to England; now we have the names of Humphries, Rondault and Reese and Lomas. I would next place the names of the Drinkwater Bros. William and Joseph, while you will find the name of William in our Public Records, he served in Municipal work for many years and several times Reeve, yet I have very great doubt if he gave so much service as Joe; William was slow and methodical he could not be excited to wit one morning his wife discovered the house was on fire; William siting under a cow milking he thought he knew what was the matter he decided he was going to finish the cow before he would go-in the mean time some of our young fellow were coming home from a dance chanced by and put it out; Wm was slow in every way yet when he took a stand on what he thought was right you could not move him. In the early days the Council Chambers were moved yearly and sometimes more often, then the question came up in one council either to buy or lease a piece of land across the Road from the old Maple Bay school house William was Reeve and he refused to sign any lease, and by the next meeting the Council found the taxpayers were behind him, no one ever called upon Joe for help, but it would be forthcoming, one of my very dearest friends, on of Natures Noblemen, oh it was a great privilege to have met such men as Joe Drinkwater to have a share in their friendships their joys and sorrows to have been a Pioneer amongst the Noblest set of men the world as ever produced the B.C. Pioneers so we will start our list of Pioneers with the names mentioned, and we will have to tax our memory to remember the names; nearly all in fact am sure that none are alive who were here previous to 1870 WC Duncan should also be to the front, after whom the City of Duncans is named a fine public spirited man, and by the way a few words upon the Duncan location, when first I saw it, he had a log cabin down on the East end of his location with about two acres cleared and least choped and burnt up, but the stumps were still there, and so thick you could not drive a wagon with a Hay rack, through them the East side of the Railway was a very heavily timbered with maple and alder, and he named his home Alderlea which was the name the City of Duncan first bore, on the West of the Railway was timbered with a very heavy and very long growth of Pine “second growth” have never such growth elsewere, you could not see the road on a bright starlight night, WC Duncan took very great interest in Public events, and was allways present at Loging and Building Bees, at building Bee’s he was usaly one of our corner men, ?? four of our very best axe men one for each corner of the building, to cut and fited the corner logs he was so good an axeman he scarcely had any feet left all choped up-now I hear the reader think if so good an axeman why his feet all choped up. Mr. Duncan came from Ontario were the choping is mostly done in the winter when all timber is frozen and the axe oft time glances from timber into the foot; When our Municipality was first formed we kept Duncan out of the Council so as to be advailabe on the Roads: and by the way he should be given the credit of the formation of the North Cowichan Municipality he had lived in a Municipality if memory serves me right Lambton and the cause of the formation was the Government in Victoria were administering all our Roads, and they used send a Road foreman and a gang of men, to work on our Roads in the Summer when the Roads were good and passable, well the foreman name was Titius a head strong fellow who knew it all, and would not listen to the Settlers; who would point out the bad soft spots in Winter, but he did the work were ever he saw fit and many of the settler would have been glad of a few days work which they did not get. In those days I was living along side of Duncan and we had many a talk over the matter at last we decided to take around a petition asking that portion of Cowichan on the North side of the Cowichan River and including Chemainus be formed in a Municipality nearly every one signed hence the North Cowichan Municipality then we kept Duncan out of the Council as the Best available Road man and his services were ever in demand he was named by the Council for Road work at ($3.00) three dollars per day when at work, he was a good road man as well as a good axeman, our Road men in the early days were outstanding men for the work asigned to them, they could lay out and superintend the Road work far better than when later the Council decided to place and Engineer  in charge, Mr. Duncan was for very many years Church Warden at the St. Peters Quamichan was very active in the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the Library and other kindred societies, he was altogether an outstanding man who left his impress for good upon the District.

Wm Fly Lomas was one of our earliest Pioneers, 1862; his first located on the west side of Somenos Lake, “the old Log Church I fancy was on his location” and he taught school therein, also taught in the old Mission Building as well, I think on alternate days the schools then were carried on by the Church of England they were the Pioneers in our schools in Cowichan District the children paid so much in fees and the Church the Balance: so the Church of England was fore runers of our Public School. The first Public school was the old Maple Bay school and the firs Public school Teacher was RM Clemiston, and Lomas the second he taught two public schools on the South side of the River also on alternate days. He later became the first Indian agent in the District and the most popular one with the Indians we have ever had allways present at our Loging and building bees and when a settler had got enough  of trees choped down and cut into log lengths so they could be hauled together he would call for a bee: to pile them up into piles to be burnt.” But he had first burnt up the Brush and small stuff”, and it a settler wanted to build a cabin, Barn or any other building, he would do like wise; then we would pick out the four very best axemen present and place them on the four corners of the building, the settler would have had his logs hawled near his building site so two yoke of oxen could keep the logs supplied as the corner men need them and the ground men would roll them up on skids as they were call for, Duncan was usaly one of our corner men he was one of the best axemen whoever came to the District, good with either a choping or a broad axe. We kept him out of the Council when we first organized to have him available for Road work.

( large blank space, half a page on my copy)

From all over British Columbia and some from Washington to pay their las tribute of love and esteem for the man who had given his life and services to benefit and uplift them, the Road from Duncan’s to the long Bridge was black with people mostly Indians, but the white inhabitant were all out but were swamped by the Indians.

But to return to the Rev Archdeacon Reese he was in the forefront of every movement for the benefit of the people, he was the father of the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the thought came to him during a harvest Thanksgiving Service through the decoration of the Church, with Reese to think was to act, hence our Agricultural Society, he was also the one who started our Library we were sometimes short of reading matter in the early days no daily paper in Country places-only one mail a week, and I greatly doubt if we had daily mail we could have afforded to have paid for daily papers, dollar were not plentyfull amongst our Pioneers so the formation of a library was a blessing, many a weary lonely hour was lightened by a book from the library and not been able to pay a Librarian we met one a week on a certain evening to exchange Books and have a social evening together and we started a Debating Society, Rev Reese was generaly chairman of our meetings, so we were greatly benefited there by often  we would not see a person from our meeting night until we met again our evening at home were often busy ones we were nearly all Batchlors and had to do our cooking, baking and often put a patch on over alls or shirt, socks was generly Cariboo sox.

William Fly Lomas was one of our earliest Pioneers, his first location was on the Westside of Somenos Lake. I think the old log Church was upon his location; and at the time he taught school therein, and also taught school in the old Mission building Quamichan, he was then paid fee’s by the parents and the Church of England paid the balance-the Church of England were the Pioneers in the school of Cowichan District he later became a Public school teacher in two Public schools the Bench School, Cowichan, and the Kelvin Creek school Koksilah he taught them on alternate days one school would have two days school one week and three the next, he was the second school Public teacher in the District; the first was R.M. Clemiston who taught the first public school built in the District the old Maple Bay school at the junction of the Herds Road and the Lakes Road=” in those days the Herds Road was known as the Somenos Road “ there is no doubt but he was the first school teacher in Cowichan: he finished up his life in a position he was so well qualified to fill, namely the first Indian Agent in the District also the most popular one with the Indians as such the words of Tenyon are fulfilled=what ever record leaps to light his never will be shamed=he held the love and respect of the Indians “as no one else as done, except that worthy old Christian the Rev Father Rondault=two men who stand head and shoulders above any other who have worked for the uplifting of the Indians=and speaking as a Pioneer I credit to their efforts that the white settlers were able to live in Peace and Harmony with them, and on the death of Lomas the Indian Villages was filled with mourning and lamentation for their friend, for he certainly was their friend ( missing line)

For over a mile the Road was Black with men and women to pay their respects to one who through life had loved and had worked for them and who they loved in return, there were many a sad heart in that assemblage.

     But to return to the Rev Archdeacon Reese he was in the forefront of every movement for the benefit of the people; he was the father of the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the thought came to him during a harvest thanksgiving service at St Peters Church through the decorations of the Church; with Reese to think was to act; hence our Agricultural Society, he was also the one who started the Library, we were sometimes very short of Reading matter in early days, no daily paper in Country places; only one mail a week; and I greatly doubt if we had daily mail; we could have afforded to have paid for a daily paper; Dollars were not plentifull amongst our Pioneers, so the formation of a Library was a blessing; many a lonely hour was lightened by a Book from the Library; and not been able to pay a Librarian, we met one a week on a certain evening, to exchange Book and have a social evening together, and we started a debating Society, Rev Reese was generaly Chairman of our meetings so we were greatly benefited thereby;; often we would see no person form our meeting night until we met again, and our meeting place was the old Mission Building Quamichan our evening at home was often busy ones; we were nearly batchlors often a patch on overalls or shirt, sox was generaly Cariboo sox.

Archibald Keir of Somenos was one of outstanding Pioneers if memory serves me right; he had crossed plains in the early day of California, three times previous to coming to British Columbia in 1862: a man of wonderfull experiences, what a pity he had not left a record of them, he was one of the best read men I have ever met, He was first appointed postmaster and Mail Carrier away from our several Bays, he came to Somenos in 1862: During one of our Dominions election; soon after Confederation, Sir Francis Hicks was defeated back East, he was a member of Sir John A. McDonalds Cabinet: and Sir John appealed to B.C. to find a Seat for Sir Francis all elections in those days were not held on the same day and British Columbia was one of the defeated one’s it would take to long to tell of the work done to give him the seat, of of the wires that were pulled, however when the polls were closed Sir Francis was one member, and I never heard he ever put his foot inside the constituency during the whole time he represented it: But Mr. Keir became our Mail Carrier and Postmaster at Somenos the only thing we ever got. The Keir family have walked largely in the District, the eldest of the son’s who came to B.C. James Keir done much to help in the development, by bring in improved Machinery such mowing Machines-Reapers Binders and improved machinery of all kinds which he hired out.

Neil Bell, a Scotchman who came to B.C. by the New Zealand route as of our early settlers came that way an quite a number returned there to their first love or choice in the early 60’s, he settled with his family in Somenos, his wife was the most outstanding of our Pioneer women, see Pioneer women of BC. They had several sons and daughters but today the family is nearly extinct, and none residing in BC they built a nice home now in the hands of strangers.

     The Davie family home in Somenos they located in 1862, only Horace S Davie is the only one left he resides in Chemainus. I think the whole of the family considered Somenos as their home while alive, the old Dr. died years ago three of the sons who lived in Victoria have left their mark upon B.C. history Dr. Jack Davie one of the outstanding surgeon in Victoria, and Alex an Theodore became Premiers of B.C. and Theodore built our Parilment Building which has anchored Victoria as the Capital of British Columbia.

     Jim Kinear first located on the North side of Cowichan Bay on Mt. Tzolam he had a cabin there: while there was no land to justify a man to locate, a very pretty view and lots of fish at his door, he later moved to Cowichan landing, Jim should have made his mark in the County he was a well educated a great book worm all together a good companion perhaps it was the last was the cause of his down fall where the Library was first started Jim read more book than any other of our members, most of our members had settled on the land and after a hard days work would feel more like hiting the Blankets than reading but I realy think we read more books in those days than we do today, one thing we did not have daily mail or daily or daily papers in the country places, we only had weekly mail and weekly steam boats, and our two Victoria Newspapers publish weekly edition to me the needs of country readers, the Victoria Colonist “ the oldest Newspaper in B.C.” and the old Victoria Standard which later became the Victoria Times, but we are getting away from Pioneers- when we discuss Newspapers.

     The Alexander family of Oak Bank Quamichan came from down under in 1862, David Alexander Sr. was born in Scotland and moved to New Zealand before coming to B.C. Many of our Pioneers came that way; and many in the 60’s returned to New Zealand, David in his younger days was a fine upstanding man carried himself very straight and had fine square shoulders and of Great strength he would carry two deer from Mt Provest instead of making an extra trip, he hewed out a fine farm out of the Forrest one of the most productive one’s in the whole District, and Mrs. Alexander was one of the Butter makers that put Cowichan on the map many of their decendants still live in the District. Most of our real pioneers came here in 1862. I came to Victoria first in 1864 went to California Gold Mines in 1866. Returned to Cowichan District in 1870. There was then only one wagon and one team of Horses then in the District and they had come by the overland Route from Ohio U.S.A. brought by the Drinkwater Brothers of Somenos, all the rest were oxen, and Alexander’s of Oak Bank; held to the oxen longer than any other settlers oxen and sled, he considered cheaper and more adapted to our needs than horses; well under the there existing condition they likely were, consider our Roads were mud Roads, and in very many spots the wheels would go down ??????? and with much trafic they would soon be stuck there.

     We must not omit the name of
Samuel Bednall who was located on the now Elkington place on the Maple Bay Road perhaps one of our most energetic of our settlers, he was English; very active and developed a fine farm and home, was the first to ship Timothy Hay to Victoria, Native Tide Water Grass had been cut on the Cowichan Flatt and Baled and shiped to Victoria some years previous, I had hawled it from the Schooner to some of log Barn’s on the Fairfield Road which was then controled by Judge Pemberton, it was sold principaly to dairymen, speaking of Bednall bring to memory my old friend Fly Bonsall who was a stepson of Bednall, then later went on his own, on the farm Mr. Dunlop now owns, then he got married and moved up to Westholm, he was the first to establish a Herd of Pure Bred Holstein cattle, the first pure Bred Herd in the District; there may have been a few individual animals eligible for registration but no herd, I believe the old jersey Elizabeth led from Victoria was one, and you will find more pure Bred Cattle in the Cowichan District than any were else in B.C. in early days it was difficult to register, any way Fly Bonsall made a name for himself and a Record for the District.

     William Beaumont of Maple Bay came to Victoria in 1862 and started in the Express business, now don’t run away and think he owned a horse or an express wagon, he conducted his express business with a push cart, and he made more than a living at it, saved enough to come to Maple Bay, and buy out Tom Windsor his Hotel and store, but neither were very much, it was were the Maple Bay in now stands and by the way there was also a wharf he had a small country store, but the stock of our Bay stores were limited, and capital of the store keeper’s was also very limited, and the capital of the store patrons more so, Beaumont made enough and saved enough to retire and live near the Willows in Victoria.

     Mathew Bottrell was in the Butcher Business in Victoria, he bought out the Lowland farm Cowichan Bay, from its original owner John Companion, Bottrell sent up his Younger Bro Tom to run the farm, poor Tom got drowned in the River trying to take an animal across the River on a rope: he got tangled up with the rope and was drowned, those were the days we had no Bridges across River or Creeks, had to wade through, and sometimes we would have to wait for the tide to ebb to do so, you may be able to get an Indian to put you over in his canoe, but then you would have to pay him, and silver coin was not plentyfull with the Settlers, so we striped of our clothes rolled them in a bundle on your head and waded in, Resident of the present day cannot begin to picture, what the Pioneer had to face, if your Floor Barrell it meant you would walk eight or nine miles to the Store and pack a sack of Floor home on you shoulder, or you would take your oxen and sled for it; and that meant more time, and perhaps time was more valuable then than now; so much waiting ????? are some names we must mention we could not pass up Hugh Drumond of Maple Bay, the Pioneer list would not be compleate with his name omited, a Scotchman by birth if there ever was one, at any Public gathering Hugh would be present and at the steam Boat landing when ever a boat  came in, living close to Maple Bay, he could hear the Whistle and would be there to meet her, he seldom failed, he spent very considerable time meeting the Steamers, did not do much land clearing, but was one of the first to raise sheep, most of our settlers were shy to tackle sheep on account of the Wolves and Panthers, both very numerous in the early days, especialy Wolves, you would hear them howl around your Cabin during the night; not a very pleasant sound to go to sleep with: we gathered in our pigs, sheep, and calves, and placed them in the Barn during the night.

     In the above list not a word about Thomas Skinner of Fairly Maple Bay: who was one of our earliest settlers, and old Hudson Bay employee, before coming to the District, I believe previously he had been in charge of Craig Flower, and many spots still bear his or some of his family’s names around Victoria, such as Constance Cove, name after one of his daughters, the family left its impress upon the District. The Pimbury Brother’s I don’t know that we may class them as Pioneers of the District of which they later became Residents of the Lowland farm Cowichan Bay in 1864 they resided at twin Oak Cedar Hill then went to Saltspring Island and went extensively into sheep raising they sold out to Mr. Musgrave and moved to the Lowland farm Cowichan Flatts, I believe that farm as changed ownership oftener than any other in the District.

     The Fletts Brothers (2) Jim came first and if memory serves me right located on the present Dunlop place at Maple Bay for many years he was a batchlor, but he fell for the wiles of a widow Mrs. Morley, who had led so many men to the alter to console her for the loss of previous husbands, I think the record was eight, they later sold and lived in Duncans.

     John Flett the other brother lived were now Mrs. Peter Flett lives, he had also been an old Hudson Bay employee, he took some interest in Public affairs, you will find his name amongst the Councillor of Comenacken Ward.

     John Morley name bulkes largely in the early History of the Cowichan District, he was a J.P. and acted for sometimes as  Government Agent, while there were many more J.P.in the District he took most of the justice work, many of our J.P. shirked the work they wanted the honor but not the work: he had a nephew H.A.S. Morley who was the first Municipal Clerk in Cowichan he later entered the Government service in Victoria in which he served many years. William Chisolm and John Mahoney two Irishmen who located, Mahoney at Genoa Bay Chisholm on Maple Bay, two very close friends were you would meet one you may be sure the other was not far away= we had had two such examples of that friendship in the District, Bill Dring and Jim Miller, they were not parted even in Death, Dring and Miller were murdered by Indians together in both cases they were ????? exemplified the friendship of Damon for Pythias, so the old world is not all together selfish, we still have friendships runing through the Ages; while many claim we are going backward at no time in the World History can we point, to any period, were such provision; were made that as today; for the Widows and orphans; the sick and the main to our hospitals, to our Homes; all over the country, ministering to the needy; Then the name of Jim Leask who settled on the Milton Edgson place at Maple Bay he left soon after I came so I know but little of him but his name should be amongst the Pioneers, his successor Milton Edgson, work with him we both worked for that fine old Pioneer Harry King on the Church Farm Cedar Hill in 1864, Milton was a remittance man used to get very considerable money from home every month quite a number of our Pioneers were remittance men some it aided, but to the majority it was a curse, they lived in the Barroom as long as the money held out, when it was gone they get kicked out.

     My old friend John Carr Smith who located on what is now the Cliff property, he came from Ontario, he had left his wife and daughter, they had some disagreement so he left and came to B.C. at one time I had considerable correspondence with them in an effort to bring them together, while possible there may have been fault on both sides, I think my old friend was most to blame.

     John French located near Maple Bay, were the constantines ??? of our old Pioneer a Batchelor and quite a chum of Hugh Drumond who’s loacations were adjoining a man of rather quick temper and some times his stick would be flying around his head but never heard it came down on anyone head.

Geo. Lilly Sen.- was located near Osborne Bay now Crofton a typical Englishman he had a family one became prominent in Business in Victoria Lilly candy was

     James Evans was born in Berriew, Montgomeryshire North Wales on a farm, when a young man he went to Liverpool and for a time served on the police force there when the Carriboo Gold discovery reached the old country in 1862 he and his younger Bro David decided they would come out to B.C., and try their luck they came by the English Route from Southampton to St. Thomas, hence to Panama and up the coast to San Francisco, and Victoria and on the way to Carriboo, all went well until they got to Yale when they had to shoulder their packs of Blankets and food and strike the Trail for Carriboo, they had not proceeded far when they met so many disappointed one’s returning they decided to stop on the way and help to build that wonderfull Road; the Carriboo Road, they returned to Victoria for the Winter, they all returned to Victoria for the winter in the 1860’s he returned to work on the Road in 1863 in 1864 he went through to Carriboo but made nothing in 1865 he went down to California and went up into

( ends here, apparently some missing pages)

     Early School of Cowichan District

Copy of letter from the Rev. Alex S. Garrett appointing Wm Fly Lomas first School Teacher

                           Victoria March 18 th  1864

Gentlemen

     I have the honor to inform you that I submitted your Petition on the School question to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary who is also Senior Member for the City. He desires me to acquaint you, that the House of Assembly have voted the required sum, In pursuance of his instructions I looked about for a suitable Teacher, Wm Fly Lomas long and favorably known to you all applied for the appointment. I examined him in ??? of knowledge required for the situation and have laid his written answers before the Colonial Secretary  who has signified his approval. Mr. Lomas will therefore open school without delay.

I have obtained from the Bishops Librarian a supply of books, which will be sold to the children considerably under cost price in England.

     I rely upon your Zeal and Gratitude  as sufficient to gravitie your most ernest cooperation did assistance in carrying out this most important measure. To wit the speedy opening of the School.

           `                         I remain Gentlemen

                                      Very faithfully your

                                           Alex S. Garrett

To messers

Bell, Alexander

Bednall & Kier

The first school in Cowichan was held in the old log building on the west side of Somenos Lake of the present Norcross Road. I have never been able to discover if it was built for a school or a church it was used for both purposes in 1870 and was used before St. Peters, Rev. Alex S. C. Garret use to ride up over the old Sooke trail in 1864 when I first knew him in 1864, he also supplied St. Luke Cedar Hill at that date.

           Copy of Memo of Agreement

We the local Board of North Cowichan School District hereby contract with and employ Wm Fly Lomas to teach from the date hereof at the Rate of $40.00 per month from such mon     eys as may come to our hands by virtue of the Common School Ordinance 1869 and the Common School Amendant 1870 and we bind ourselves to employ all the powers  with which we are legally invested by said ordinance to collect and pay to the said teacher during the continuance of this agreement, the sum of which we hereby become bound and the said W. Fly Lomas binds himself to tach and conduct the said Common School, according to the rules and regulations prescribed by compement authority there to, this agreement shall continue in place for one year from the datehere of, dated the 12th day of September 1870.

Wm S Reese chairman    Wm Fly Lomas teacher

Ashdown H Green          Wm F Crate

 A W Rogers                 witness       

                           Copy

At a public meeting held 1869 been law full conscined after due notice. A Resolution was unaminly adopted, voting that the School Teacher Salary should not be less that $600.00 per annum $600.00

I hereby declare that the agreement between the Local Board on the one part, as expressed on the other side, was entered into on the distinct understanding, that the additional Sum of ($120.00) one hundred and twenty dollars necessary to carry out the Resolution of the above mentioned meeting, should by paid out of the Sum collected by the local Rate of Two Dollar ($2.00) per head which was also voted. It was on this understanding, Mr. Lomas accepted the post of school teacher.

     Signed  Wm S. Reese

A.W. Rogers

School fees 1870=1871

Mr. Keir=20 month @ 25 5 copy Book 121/2 75= $575

Mr. Bell=28             7 copy                   87=$7.87

Mr. Alexander 22=           6 copy          75= $6.25    

Mr. Rogers   21=        4 copy           50=$5.70

Mr. Humphry    15            5 copy  621/2= $4.37

Mr. Reese       4             3 copy  371/2= $1.37

Mr. Shaw          20                6 copy  621/2=$5.60

Mr. Brenan         2                        2 copy 25=75c

Total $37.75

It would appear from letters from Mr. Lomas and W.C. Ward that Mr. Lomas salary was paid by the Church of England Fund up to 1870 and while Mr. Lomas was the first teacher who taught school in the District he was not a public school teacher-the first Public School Teacher was Rita Cleminson who taught in the first Public School built in Cowichan District the old Maple Bay school on what is now known as Herd Road at the junction of Lakes Road. Mr. Lomas a few years later taught two Public Schools on the south side of the Cowichan River, the old Bench School Cowichan and the Koksilah at Kelvin Creek-he taught on alternate days one school would get three days one week and two days the next week.

    

 

 

Copy of letter from W.C. Ward to Mr. Lomas

                                Victoria April 9th 1870

Mr. Wm Fly Lomas

           Cowichan

                Dear Sir

           Enclosed find the cheque for quarter stipend to 31st with as follows 3Pds $97.00 D.C.S $12.13=$109.13 this was the utmost that the D.C.S. could make up for the last year, the S.P.G. having further reduce the for the present year; and ???to the D.C.S. having also fallen short of last year receipts am sorry this should been, but every effort as been made here without avail, your Truly

                                                     C ????

Mr. Lomas was teaching for the Church of England in the Old Mission Building Quamichan in 1870 when I arrived here in 1870. It was the only Lumber building in the District, shortly after the Old Maple Bay school was built and the first Public School opened. But the credit should go to the Church f England in Pioneering schools in Cowichan District. The Provincial Assembly passed the first Public School Act in 1864 but no steps had been taken to establish a Public School until the Maple Bay School if memory serves me right it was opened in 1872. Cleminson was followed in the Maple Bay School by Mrs Clyde who later became Mr. Ambrose Skinner.

The third Public School was the old Somenos School at the junction of the trunk and Norcross Roads, opened Ed Stuart Wood, which school should receive credit for erecting the first school Flag, and she also Pioneered the first Christmas Tree I realy think in the province, 1886-Mrs. Blair was then teacher, then our children would walk many five miles each way a long Roads in winter were knee deep in mud, now our Buses pick them up we may say at their doors and deliver them back after,in those days we had oxen the old Somenos school opened first Monday of 1885. Sleds traveling three miles per hour over mud Roads; and mud Roads with sled was more suitable than McAdam or hard finished Roads.

     Today many Rural School have disappeared their places filled by a consolidated school with a teacher to each grade, truly the world moves on, so Cowichan kept in step with modern improved conditions our schools compare favorable with those of our cities perhaps we could claim to B.C. school system one of the best in the world.

     During the first years after the Municipality the Provincial Government continued to Assess and collect our taxes, and gave the Municipality so much to expend upon her Roads and Bridges and we got far more than they collected during the first years, in the first year we asked for $2082.00 we finish that year with a Balance $285.13, to give an idea of the then conditions of Roads the following are specifications for work widen section of Chemainus Road.

Logs to be cut 12 feet trees, 3 inches and over to be cut out 10 feet wide, Track to be stamped and Graded 6 feet wide, let to Jos Richards $400.00 consider the changes from 1874 Roads 6 ft. wide to what they are at present and the increased auto traffic and speed then width will have to be increased to meet changing conditions.

The first meeting of the Municipal Council of North Cowichan was held July 15, 1973. The following Gentlemen composed the first Council.

The Warden later changed to Reeve

Thomas Skinner

Councillors Mr. Wm Drinkwater ?? Fay (senior) Edward Marriman, Wm.Fly Lomas; Horace Davie;=and John Flett senior.

At the second meeting: July 30th Mr. W.C. Duncan was appointed to go over the Road and make an estimate of the amount of money required=Duncan’s report $2400.00 the Council cut of the $400.00 and sent in to the Government an estimate of $2000.00; the Warden was in those days elected by the Council you must bear in mind in 1973 we did not have many Roads or Trails on March 25, 1874 the Richard Trail was ordered opened and we find after Mr. Duncan had made his report on the Roads he was appointed Road Supertendant August   13th 1873. At the rate of $3.00 per day when on duty; previous to the formation of the Municipality all Road work done by the Government had been by day labor well that was all changed for we find on May 27, 1874 the Council sold by Public Auction, we gave tools, tents and cooking outfit, and all Road work for the future was to be done by contract.

The Road Supertendant would draw up specifications to work to be done; and invite tenders to be sent in to the Council by a certain date, those specification were posted in many places in the Municipality and also in points on the South of the River and compition in Tendering was very keen and they certainly got value for their money we find July 29, 1874 a Petition was presented to them to build a wharf at Maple Bay. Mr. Beaumont owned a wharf about were the Maple Inn now stand a poor and unsafe one and he charged wharfage on everthing that passed over it and the settlers though that a free wharf was as necessary as a free wharf and also a sage wharf, the estimate to build a wharf was $1000.00 it was built by Tender by Joseph Richards and Hugh Drumond for $740.00 and they had previously given up their rights to the wharf lost.

We had not many Roads in those days and it was a busy time for the Councillors to locate new Roads and keep in repair the existing ones laying out contracts and passing them when done. The appointment of Mr. Duncan as Road Superintendant relieved them of a great deal of work but they generaly went with him when he laid out work, an item of interest would be the building of the Menzies Road from the Cowichan Lake to the Menzies location on the river side nearly three miles lon the rule of the council was then and I think it still is not to expend any Municipal Money unless there were two or more Residents there on, well Mr. Menzies was the Pioneer on that Road and his location was at the extreme end, well soon after he had built the Road many settlers located there on, and Mr. Menzies was entitled to pay for the work done on the Road not only the length of Road there was a very long Bridge over the big creek, far longer then than now for there been a lot filled in the Council were so very generous they gave him $50.00 for his work took it over and made a Public Road of it, April 8, 1874 Mr. Archie Dodd wrote the council for a Road he was located on Cowichan Flatts, there were no Bridges or Roads across the flats in those days May 18, 1874 clerk instructed to call for tenders to construct Norcross Road from the Wesleyan Church on Trunk Road to a connection with the Somenos Maple Bay Road, Mr. James Keir tender for $398.00 including Bridge across Evans Creek, There was a John Evans prevous to me=

In 1874 the Provincial Government took over the Trunk Road.

We should state when; the wharf ws first built fees were charged much the same as usal fee’s for wharf age with this exception that Boxes of butter eggs and produce wen free; all fees were abolished January 17,1876.

June 19th 1886 Mr., John Watson and others petition the Council to construct the May Road.

A vote was taken in regard to building of Wharf at Maple Bay result for 127 against 27. Estimate sent to Government Roads was for $6000.00 including $1000.00 for wharf. July 24th 1876 was change following the swamp instead of going straight over the hill it was a very narrow grade when first built just room for a wagon to travel if two met one would have to stay at one end until the other got through.

March 25th 1876 Fly Fry senior was appointed Clerk and Assessor, Harry Morley had been the first clerk. January 17, 1887 Mr. Herd introduced a By law to indemnity the Councillors at the rate of $2.00 per day but confined their meeting to 12 during the year, the bylaw was submitted to a vote by the rate payers vote in favor of bylaw a request was made to C.C. of Works, to declare Road from the Methodist Church to connect with Somenos Maple Bay Road is known as the Norcross Road. Some actions of the council could not been according to law, at a special meeting Feb. 8th, 1877 a resolution was passed asking the Provincial Government legalize all acts done by the Council since January 1875= November 3, 18877 a bylaw was passed of 50 voters qualifican Tax the proceed of said Tax to pay a bounty of 50 c a dozen heads of Blue Jays, the Blue Jay at that time was very troublesome destroying crops today they are pretty nearly extinct, Council suspended payment of clearing Roads except by order of Council, they had been receiving many bills for clearing without any authorization, which during the year would amount to quite a sum.

     In 1878 the first Telegraph line was built and the Council had considerable trouble with the contractors and poles left in Road, the Council certainly kept down expenses they authorized the building of a pile driver, but not to exceed $50.00 and the House of Assembly was petition not to make any change in the number of Councillors in North Cowichan or to incorporate it into a County Council.

In 1880 election there were two running for the office of Reeve, Wm Fly Lomas and Wm Beaumont, result Beaumont 2 Lomas 23, I petition to the council from the anti Chineses Ass. Against Chinese, Council reply no Chinese in the Municipality. Mr. Geo. Askew owner Chemainus Saw Mill leaving Mrs. Askew with a large family to support. The Council donated her the taxes from 1880, May 22nd clerks salary cut from $120.00 per year to $75.00 Sept 4th no Councillor to let any work upon our Roads without consulting the Council.

It may be of interest to state in regards to Statue Labor a report.

Comenaken 22 worked 9 did not.

Somenos 10 worked 4 did not 3 paid

Quamichan all had worked except 1

The Council often exceeded her powers take for instance Fred Inwood living outside of the Municipal Boundary summon for none payment of Statue Labor and he paid it, and he had sat as Councillor but the Council spent money far over the boundry, I call to mind they expended money up Curries Creek bridge= see next page. Council had considerable trouble with owners of steam boats plying up the coast, Mr. Spratt and others swing their boats upon the wharf coming in and leaving. Sutton Trail was before the Council as a report of committee that it could not go any lower toward water on account of Rock Bluffs. Some business houses had been opened on Sunday. Mr. Duncan gave notice of by law with object of shuting all up.

An amendment to Municipal Act North Cowichan may still have 7 councillors.

W.P. Jaynes in 1883 elected councilor Quamichan Ward Mr. Beaumont objected to him taking his seat not having property qualifications he did not take his seat, R M. Millar elected. The council were considering replacement of our wooden culverts by use of stone a committee appointed to look for suitable stone in the days of wooden culverts every meeting took up a certain amount of time in ordering repair or rebuilding culverts and I mind we once had a damage suit and had to pay for a horse.

The council of the early 1880 had very considerable trouble in connection with the Somenos long bridge Mr. Hugh Bell one of the best Road men the District ever had and he conducted some of our best Road improvements, he had a contract to build the long Bridge he spent very considerable of both time and money and appeared before the Council stating he could not build it his crib fill toppled over side way he got nothing for his work done May 10th, 1884. The Council asked the Provincial Government to construct a Road to Cowichan Lake.

The clerk was instructed to write the Superintendant of Provincial Telegraph that the poles and wires were in a dangerous state and requested he have them placed in repair. Instruction issued to pathmasters Bell and Davie to have bridge across Curries Creek repaired Fev. 15th, 1885.

March 7th 1885 Statute labor by law repealed and Road Tax of $2.00 passed.

Pigs trespassing on Roads.

Sutton allowed to spend Rd Tax collected upon his trail.

           The Evening Bell’s

“Those Evening Bell’s those evening bells

Flow many a tale their music tell

Of youth, and Home, and native clime

When I last heard their smoothing chime.

“Those pleasant hours have passed away

And many a heart that then was gay

Within the tomb, now darkly dwells

And heard no more those evening bells

 

On visiting a scene of Childhood

Long years had elapsed since I gazed on the scene

Which my fancy still robed in its freshness of green

The spot where a school boy all thoughtless I stay’d

By the side of the stream, in the gloom of the shade.

I thought of the friends who had roam’d with me there

When the sky was so blue and the flowers were so fair,

All scattered all sundered by mountain and wave

And some in the silent embrace of the grave.

I thought of the green banks that circled around

With wild flowers and sweet brier & elglantine crown’d

And I thought of the trees under which we had stayed

Of the broad leafy boughs with their coolness of shade

And I hoped though disfigured some token to find

Of the names and the cawings impress’d on the wind

 All eager I hastened the scene to behold

Render’d sacred and dear by the feeling of old

And I deemed that unaltered my eye should explore

This refuge the haunt thie Elysium of you

 

Twas a dream not a token or trace could I view

Of the names that I loved of the trees that I knew

Like the shadows of night at the dawning of day

Like a tale that is told they had vanished away

 

And me thought the lone river that murmur’d along

Was more dull in its motion, more sad in its song

Since the birds, that had nested and warbled above

Had fled from its Banks, at the fall of the grave.

 

           The Burial of Sir John Moore

Not a drum was heard not a funeral note

As his corse to the ramparts we hurried

Not a soldier discharge his farewell shot

Oer the grave where our hero was buried.

 

           My Mothers Voice

Though far away I wander

From the scenes of early youth

I shall ne’er forget its peasures

Hours of innocence and dtruth

Oft my spirit hears the voices

Of the loved of long ago

Father, Mother, playmate Brother

Since to love thee never no

Yet of all the welcome voices

That my memory longed to hear

Twas the sweet voice of my mother

With its tones so soft and mild

Oft in love so gently chiding

With her wayward thoughtless child

Yes I hear that voice as ever

Though long years have passed and gone

As my mind oft wanders backward

As I journey on alone.
                                                         

                                         

    

     My maiden address delivered at the Cowichan debating class November 22nd 1871

      Subject Wood vers Iron which most useful

      to mankind

Mr. President and Gentlemen

            I am truly pleased that the first subject which we are to have the honor to debate is on the two substances have and are playing such very prominent parts in this worlds history and civilization.

      But still it appears to me to be all put in the space of a nut shell by John Sooke who truly observes that. Were the use of Iron lost among us we should in a few ages be unavoidably reduced to the wants and ignorance of the Ancient Savage Americans. So that he who first made known the use of that Contemptible mineral, may truly be styled the Father of Arts, and the Author of plenty. Without Iron we should not have any houses which is the germ of civilization, or Cities which are the centers of Industry Learning and Civilization.

      With only the common crude tools which necessity would sugest if there where no Iron in use we should not be met here this evening as the pioneers of this province, for to chop down a tree would be the work of a season with a stone hatchet such as where uses by the Ancient and uncivilized of our own race.

We should not be housed clothed or have any of the Benefits which we now enjoy, such as Museums Librarys Maggizens and Newspapers sowing knowledge and pleasure broad cast over the civilized world which I conceive to be the greatest blessing of this the 19 century.

We should not enjoy the bond of friendship with distant far friends by letters or quicker still the Magnetic Telegraph, which is the bond designed to draw Nations together in the bonds of friendship and peace.

Without the aid of Iron we should not be able to delve in the bowels of the earth to the depth of 1100 and 1200 feet after what is termed the precious metals Iron; or deeper still after coal, tin and salt.

Nor should we have any Banks with their fireproof vaults and fireproof Iron safes with their Patent, Bramah locks for safe keeping of our valuables Gold, silver and gems.

      Again where would our manufactures and commerce be without Iron, we should not have the bright of our own history. Ilumed by the Bright  names of Arkwights, Watts Stephenson’s Maudslays, Nasmyth, Huntsman and a host of others who’s names burn brighter that any warrior hero’s. G. Stephenson said of Iron at the opening of the North Wales Railway (at Bangor) We are daily producing from the bowels of the earth a raw material in its crude state apparently of no worth but which when bridges of the same material with a speed exceeding that of a bird: advancing wealth and comfort throughout the country. Such Gentlemen are the powers of that all civilizing instrument Iron. Without the steam engine our manufactures and commerce would be at a standstill and we should not advance our national wealth, it is due to her Iron and steel that England still continues to hold the first Rank among nations of the earth. And still more to her workers in Iron and steel to her Armstrongs, Withworths and Fairbaines.

Le pays the French Professor speaks of the invented of cast steel by Benyn Huntsman as a memorable discovery made and applied with admirable perseverance, and he claims for the inventor the distinguished merit of advancing the steel manufactures of Yorkshire to the first rank, and powerfuly contributing to the establishment on a firm foundation of the industrial and commercial supremacy of Great Britain.

      It is to the superiority of English Iron and Machinery for the manufactory of the same, that she does the carrying trade on the world. The American press years ago may rail about the Alabama and other confederate cruisers destroying their carrying trade, but their shipbuilders admit in their report to the U.S. Senate that it is owing to Iron Vessels superceeding wooden ones that they cannot compete with the English ship builders. The Americans with all their enterprise have not a single line of steamship running Eastward from New York and their home lines of Ocean steamships have not a single screw vessel in the Pasenger trade.

      If any one had told our Grand parent that Iron vessels would float and run from Queenstown to New York in eight and nine days they would have thought them fit subjects for a Lunitic Asylum or that we would make steam and Iron plough our land, reap our grain thash it carry it to market grind it into flour and become the drudge of man in everything.

I would tell the last speaker that we are not even dependant on coal for smelting, Iron; as the Black Band Iron ore is fuseable in its self.

Again the vast amount of labour Iron gives employment to mankind Scotland produces 1000,000 tons yearly, at a cost of L 1,800,000 giving employment to 50,000 in her furnaces of which she employs 125 on cost principal (the above is the cost of smelting in the furnaces which don’t include the mining. England produces upward of 4,000,000 tons yearly.

In our debates we were not allowed use manuscript only note.    J.N. Evans

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art more attractive than Nature

Affirmative W. Duncan  Negative J.N E.

      Mr. President

            The subject which is to engage our attention this evening is the Arts is more attractive than Nature. In taking up this Negative I would much rather seem someone more able and gifted than myself open on the subject which is one of deep interest. But I will try and do my best to show that Nature is more attractive than Arts, if I fail on me the blame and not on Nature.

      By arts we understand something to be created out of the Brain of the artist, or the more common occurance the copying of something from Nature such as the painting of a landscape picture by the painter of the chisling of a statue by the sculptor in the shape of a human model which we all admire when the Master mind of the Artist as well copied his model from Nature; but which is it we admire the copy or the original we praise the Artist for the ingenuity of his execution but after all the artist is only portraying Nature, his copy however well executed is only a poor copy of the real, it is the attraction of Nature which draws him to his art.

Again with the photograph of friends we love to look on a Mother, sisters or Brothers but it is our love for the original which cause’s us to value them, the photograph of a perfect stranger would not interest is except for the moment, so with paintings if it was not for Nature. We should not value them more than we do a Barbers pole painted red and white.

      The landscape painter is a slave to nature how he toils at his easel, striving to portray nature in all her loveliness which throws its enchantment around him, still nature is more lovely and sublime than anything he can form or deleniate on canvas. Emerson in his essay on Nature says, Indeed it is the Magical light of the horizon and the Blue sky for a back ground which saves all our works of art which where otherwise Baubles.

      Even Sir Edwins Landscer’s sporting pictures would not have so much attraction for my worthy oponent as the sport of a good day hunt, it is not many week since he was facing a foot or two on snow on Mount Provest after noble game deer, and the next day after the ignoble game swine. I can speak of the latter day and the game which I helped him to bring to bay and also to drag about half a mile through the bush and I can assure you Mr. President that he entered on the sport with a spirit which showed he enjoyed it, now I do not think he would travel two days through snow to see the whole collection of Sir Edwins Landscers work of Arts which I think is well worth seeing which shows nature as a strong hold upon him.

      Again pictures of fruits are very nice to look upon but my eye does not relish them as much as my palate does a peach or a bunch of grapes I am quite willing for my worth friend to have all the arts if he will leave me the fruits of Nature, they are much more to my taste than picture or wines.

      What painter or what language can portray the loveliness of a waterfall or a dewdrop sparkling so brightly in the Gorgous morning Sun, or a gushing spring bursting from the virgin earth. Paul Denton came nearer to it than anything I have met with in his aprostate to Water.

      There is liquor which God the eternal brews for his children not in the simmering still over smoky fires choked with poisonous gases and surrounded by the stench of sickening odors and rank corruptions doth your Father in heaven prepare the precious essence of life the pure cold water but in the green glade and grassey dell where the red deer wanders and the child loves to play, there God himself brews it and down down in the deep valleys where the fountains murmur and the rills sing and high on the tall mountain tops where the naked granite glitters like gold in the sun where the storm cloud hoods and the thunder tones crash; and far out on the wide wide sea where the hurricane houls music and the big waves roar the chorus, sweeping the march of God there he brews it that beverage of life health  giving water and everywhere it is a thing of beauty Gleaming in the dew drop singing in the summer rain shining in the ice gem till the trees all seem turned to living jewells spreading a golden veil over the setting sun or a which gauge around the midnight moon sporting in the cataract sleeping in the glacier dancing in the hail shower folding it bright snow curtains softly around the wintery world weaving the many colour’d iris that seraph love of the sky whose roof is the sunbeams of heaven all checked over with celestial flowers by the mystic hand of refraction still allways it is beautiful that blessed   

What artist can draw the bursting volcano or the sublime lightning flash we have toiled until it is brought into subjection to man will and bears his thoughts to the extreme ends of the earth this Mr. President is the great discovery of this nineteenth centuary and is entirely owing to Nature and the attraction which it had for Franklin and others before him which as given us the Telegraph, the most dreded of Natures Agents become harmless when we know Natures Law’s.

Nature is the great artist which all try to copy she makes no mistakes in her pictures the colouring is perfect even to the shade all blend in harmony together.

      The sculptor however well he creates marble into statues and models he with all his striving and toil cannot equal much more excell the original his is a slave to Nature. Nature is his schoolmaster and a very had one at that, with the toil of ages and the cultivation of the refined senses our own sculptors cannot excel those of ancient Greece after a toil of nearly 3000 years, even models in wax fall very far short of the human frame no art or skill of hands or brains can produce anything near equal to it: the sleeping beauty of madam Tusards does not draw so much attraction as the beauties of flesh or blood; to wit marrage proves that living beauties carry the day by their personal attractions and stronger attraction of natural maners and actions.

      Poets of all ages and counties have attracted to nature and have sung natures praise from Homer to Tenyson and in none more sweet than in the verse to Nature which I think is by Cowper.

      Nature is a temple worthy thee that learns with light love and whose flowers sweetly bloom below whose stars rejoice above whose altars are the mountain cliffs that rise along the shore whose anthems the sublime accord of storm and ocean were speaking of Poets remind me of what one immortal poet as said of another what Dryden said of Shakspeare was the man who of all modern and perhaps ancient poets had the largest and most comprehensive soul. All the images of Nature were still present to him and he drew them not laboriously but luckily: when he describes anything you more than see it you feel it too. Those who accuse him of wanting learning give him the greater commendation he was naturally learned he needed not the spectacles of books to read, Nature he looked inwards and found her there.

      Not only Poets but all other writers either give the record of natures events or draw their substance from nature even the romancer as to go to nature for the ground work of his novels and the novels which draw the truest pictures of nature are most valued such as Charles Dickens and a host of other writers and books on travels are pictures of nature in different climes from Capt Cooks voyages to Capt McClintock artic sea and north west passage and Doctor Livingstons Africa to Stuarts the Astralatia travels they are all hunters after different features of nature and are attracted by nature to explore unknown land and sea.

      Machanical Arts are copies of human hands in the weaving of cloths of different kinds it was through seeing of his  wife knitting which caused the Rev W. Lee to invent the stocking frame for the machine knitting of hose; and to reduce the labours of his wife: such Mr. President is the foundation of all Machinical Art, they either originate through a demand for Machinary; or to lift a load of some ones shoulders are ease the burden of their labour and not so much attraction for the Art as to supply a want, the steam ??? was invented by Nasmyth to supply a want; at the time of the building of the Great Britain steamship when it was found that no firm in England was capable of forageing the shaft for her paddle wheels when Nasmyth was applyed to, he set to work and invented his steamhamer although no used on the Great Britain shaft as the design was changed and she supplyed with a screw instead of a paddle wheels.

      Astromony is one of the most sublime of all sciences in everything else man can cope with what comes before him but in Astromony he learn what a poor feeble worm he is when compared with his maker and all astronomers are attracted to nature in watching the movements of the different heavenly bodies they have watched nature so close that they are able to tell of many things before they appear such as comets and eclipses of the sun and moon.

      Geologists are also attracted to nature in working out the formation of the earth. Nature is his teacher and Nature laws guide him to work out the problem of the different stratas of which the earth is formed and to fix the dates of the different formations; Hugh Miller the Geologist speak of toil and Nature Save for thee and thy lessons man in society would everywhere sink in the sad  compound of ?? and wild beast and this fallen world would certainly a moral and natural wilderness, but I little thought of the excellence of thy character and of thy teachings when with a heavy heart I set out about this time of a morning of early spring to take my first lesson from thee in the stone quarry. Nessesity which made him a quarry man taught him to be a Geologist speaking of his discovery in the Scotish Lias

Lying athwart some of the pages thus strangley inscribed we occasinaly find like the dark Hawthorn Leaf in Bewicks well known Vignette, slim shaped leave coloured in deep umber and Branches of extinct pines and fragments of strangely fashioned ferns from their ordinary garnishing page after page repeat the same wonderful story

      The great Alexandrian Library with its tomes of Ancient literature the accumliations of long ages was but a meagre collection not less puny in bulk than recent in date compared with this marvelous library of the Scotch Lias.

      The Zoologist is attracted to nature in his research after different animals and the collections of Museums and Zoological gardens are indebted to the Zoologist, we who have spent any portion of our lives in large cities know how they are crowded with visitors if a new specimen be added to the collection. I well remember when the Gorilla was first shown in London and large number of visitors who flocked to see it showing what an attraction there is in nature for the human mind.

      The Botonist is also attracted to nature in his research of different plants, the number of useful plants is stated by a German to be 12,000 with other parts of the world to be examined even this as been an enormous amount of labour to have even 12,000 plants classed and different uses found for each seprate plant.

      Public Parks in large towns and private Gentlemens Parks are copies of nature in miniture they are to a certain extent artificial which tend all the more to show how much nature is prized by mankind. Even the Yankees of Maine been said they could not see anything good or beautiful unless there was a dollar in it; are expending an enormous amount of dollars to have a piece of nature in New York in their central park.

      My worth oponents as never been shut up in a large town, where arts are plentiful and Nature other wise; or he would know what a pleasure it is to get out into the country of a fresh morning and be with Nature; I have therefore I can better appreciate Nature in all is lovelyness and freshness many times have I longed for the country with its hedgerows of ever green, for

            Sweet it the breath of a fair dewy morn

            Sweet is the spring when the roses are born

 

      Tourist from large cities are attracted to Nature how the London tourist travel after the beautiful in Nature as soon as the spring sets in some rush of to the seaside some to the Westmoreland lakes some to the highland some to the alps and else where, all attracted by nature to leave their counters desks and tools behind them and be with nature.

      Now Gentlemen I will close with one remark that all love flowers which is one of Natures Gems. Even my worthy opponent cultivates some of them which show he is attracted to Nature not only in cultivating flowers but all farm produce he certainly would not plant if nature did not

 

      We hear when the night drops downward

      And the bay throbs under the stars

      The ocean-voices blending.

      With the ripple of soft guitars

      With chiming bells of the Mission

      With passionate Minors sung

      Or a quaint Castilion ballad

      Trilled in the Spanish tongue

      Fair from thy hills O city

      Look on the beautiful bay

      Prouder far is the vision

      Greeting our eye’s today

      Better the thronged waters

      And busy streets astir

      Purple and silken rainment

      Balsam and balm and myrrh

      Gem’s of the further Indies

      Gold of thy own rich mine

      And the pride and boast or the people

      O beautiful Queen are thine

      Praise of the goodly fathers

            With banners of faith unfurled

            Praise to the sturdy heros

            Who have won thee to the world

            That was a day to dream of

            That was a life we led

            Bleeding the veins of the mountains

            Draining the torrents bed

            Searching the dusk canon

 

 

 

Transcribed in 2016 from the hand written record by Dr. Donald Martin from a photo copy made in 1965 by Gerald Auchinachie. Copy made by kind permission of his daughter, Mrs. Lilian Savage.