Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1897
Date
1897
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
New Year’s Day spent visiting friends – Frank Garforth promoted to Royal Navy Commander - Peter O’Reilly attends director’s meetings of Albion Iron Works and B C Corporation.
FEBRUARY
Peter visits Temple Cornwall in hospital – Peter and Frank O’Reilly inspect the new Albion Iron Works stove factory – Carry O’Reilly holds a musical party and dance – ash trees pruned and apple trees sprayed.
MARCH
Peter’s leg again “troublesome”, he remains part of the day in bed – cold winter weather leaves 14 inches of snow – water pipes, milk, and meat frozen – HMS Imperieuse departs and HMS Comus arrives, officers immediately visit at Point Ellice – Peter’s leg shows improvement, but foot now also swollen, he sits in a chair outside.
APRIL
Peter purchases claret through Captain Garforth – the Cornwall girls leave after five months in Victoria – Jack O’Reilly spends time at Hatley Park – Frank O’Reilly leaves for Rossland, BC – “Rosie” the cow, recently calved, requires a veterinarian.
MAY
Carry O’Reilly gardening – discussions regarding Beddoe timber lease continue – Albion Iron Works agreement regarding manufacture and sale of machinery – John Trutch arrives – Peter’s leg once again “very troublesome”.
JUNE
Most days spent with John Trutch - Peter sends off his IRC field books to Ottawa – attends directors’ meetings of B C Corporation – celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in Victoria with church services, speeches, fireworks, band concerts, a carnival, and races - Peter continues maintaining the Frederick Seymour’s grave at the Naval Cemetery in Esquimalt.
JULY
Inspection of the new Albion Iron Works rock crusher – new bath installed at Point Ellice – John Trutch departs for England – Peter and Carry witness the departure of the steamer Islander for the Klondike with more then 375 miners, ”a sene not witnessed since the early days of Cariboo.”
AUGUST
Carry and Jack entertain Miss Stapleton – Peter has a “serious talk” with Jack regarding his law exam – Peter experiences fever, chills, perspiration, and remains in bed – Beddoe lease land to be surveyed at the cost to shareholders – Peter, Carry, and Jack spend time at Hatley Park with Roland Stuart.
SEPTEMBER
Kit O’Reilly returns from England after of an absence of eleven months, Peter travels to Vancouver to meet her – a visit to the new Parliament Buildings in Victoria – Indian Reserve Commission departs for Douglas on Harrison Lake to define reserves along the lower Lillooet River.
OCTOBER
Captain Garforth and his crew leave for England – Jack hunts at Roland Stuart’s Hatley estate – Sir Charles Tupper interested in renting the Fairfield house – Herbert Smith succeeds Frank Garforth as Captain of the HMS Pheasant.
NOVEMBER
Kitchen range, boiler, pipes, house foundations all in repair – mangolds and carrots harvested from garden, flower bulbs stored in cellar – Rosie the cow cured of “Tubercolosus”.
DECEMBER
Peter suffers from a toothache, meets with a dentist – death of John Fall Allison – Frank O’Reilly returns home from Rossland – Peter exchanges securities at the bank – Peter draws principal and interest to wire to Carry Hare in England.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1897. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01911, Box 3, File 7.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century