Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1892
Date
1892
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Jack O’Reilly recovers from typhoid fever at home attended by Drs Davie & Helmcken, the doctors recommend Jack be moved to the hospital if he does not improve – Arthur Pinder in debt, sheriff to take possession of home – death of Roderick Finlayson – Jack’s health shows some improvement – more holly planted in garden.
FEBRUARY
Peter O’Reilly attends shareholders meetings where dividends are declared – Peter and Carry O’Reilly become sick with colds – water pipe bursts in kitchen range causing “general confusion” – Sir Joseph Trutch considers renting his home “Fairfield” to Thomas Ellis.
MARCH
Meetings of B C Corporation, Canadian Pacific Navigation Co, Victoria Gas Co, Anglican Synod – interest and dividend payments sent to Carry Hare and Capt Knox - Point Ellice veranda rebuilt, and house, fence, and gates painted.
APRIL
HMS Warpsite returns to Esquimalt – dinner and tea with the Admiral and other officers – Frank O’Reilly arrives from Buenos Aires after an absence of five years – Sir Joseph Trutch prepares to rent Fairfield and specify the sale of some its property – Sir Joseph & Lady Trutch depart for England – Carry and Peter have colds again.
MAY
John & Zoe Trutch and Robert & Lydia Ward depart for England – meeting held for the purpose of starting a new club – Queen’s birthday regatta and fireworks at Beacon Hill.
JUNE
Death of Dr Joseph Matthews – Peter acts as caretaker for Fairfield – frequent meeting of B C Corporation in the absence of director Robert Ward – Executive Council meeting of the church synod – Jubilee Hospital Bazaar opens – three-day trip to Chilliwack to review a reserve boundary.
JULY
Smallpox outbreak in Victoria – “Carry Kit Jack & I were Vaxinated by Dr Davie” – “Very alarming rumours in regard to spread of small-pox” - Forbes Vernon contracts smallpox – “54 cases reported – 3 deaths” – “Vancouver & [Puget] Sound Cities declare a quarentein against Victoria” – “Reports of small pox alarming” – summer tennis parties continue – funeral of BC Premier John Robson.
AUGUST
Jack prepares for “articled pupil” exams with Revd Barber – Indian Reserve Commission departs for Quesnelle – Peter visits Henry Cornwall at Ashcroft who is very ill, Cornwall dies three days later – IRC defines reserves for the Stony Creek Indians on Tachick and Nulki Lakes – many Indians sick and in need of medicine – Indian Agent Robert Loring “lazy & useless as ever”.
SEPTEMBER
Reserves created near Fort Fraser on Fraser Lake – Peter dismisses Agent Loring – reserves created at Fort St James on Stuart Lake, and Fort McLeod – reserves created at Trembleur Lake and Tachie River – return to Stuarts Lake north side to create Tachie and Pinchi reserves encompassing their villages – return to Fort St James.
OCTOBER
Reserve creation continues at Fort George and for Blackwater Indians – return to Victoria – visit from Sir Michael Culme-Seymour – Peter visits with Lady Macdonald in Victoria.
NOVEMBER
Bishop of Columbia George Hills returns to England after 33 years in Victoria – Edgar Dewdney sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of BC by Sir Matthew Begbie – Sir Culme-Seymour returns to England – Peter buys shares in the B C Corporation for Frank.
DECEMBER
Peter protests “excessive” property assessment – agrees to sell a right of way across his Vancouver lots or to sell the lots – Peter’s leg injury from 1885 flares up again, consults Dr Helmcken and remains in bed.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1892. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01910, Box 3, File 2.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century