Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1891
Date
1891
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Charlotte Cornwall and son Temple stay at Point Ellice – Peter O’Reilly’s leg injured in an 1885 carriage accident causes problems, bed rest prescribed for three weeks - Kathleen “Kit” O’Reilly organizes a party and dance at Point Ellice.
FEBRUARY
Peter attends shareholder meetings of the Victoria Gas Co and Canadian Pacific Navigation Co, dividends declared paid – ice skating at Skinner’s pond – Miss Emily Brealey arrives for a visit, investigates a grave monument for her brother Alfred.
MARCH
Miss Brealey and Peter meet with the stonecutter regarding the monument – Carry O’Reilly sprains her ankle and is confined to bed – Capt Martley arrives for a visit and stays at Point Ellice – garden manure and walkway gravel delivered.
APRIL
Robert Jackson returns from England for a visit – violin concert at the theatre – duty of $131 paid on imported claret wine.
MAY
Peter speaks with Forbes Vernon about reserves and the proposed electric tram in Vancouver and its effects of Peter’s property there – Peter suffers from a prolonged cold - Jack O’Reilly arrives home from England after being away at school since 1882 – Queen’s birthday celebrations – negative report about Prime Minster John A Macdonald’s health.
JUNE
Death of Prime Minister Macdonald in Ottawa at age 67 – Georgie Ellis spends two weeks in Jubilee Hospital – Peter procures twine to create tennis netting for Point Ellice.
JULY
A two-week trip in the north coast islands of BC to establish Indian reserves – meeting with Forbes Vernon and Theodore Davie regarding Chilcotin reserve – Robert Jackson leaves for England.
AUGUST
Polo and cricket at Beacon Hill – Indian Reserve Commission departs for the northwest coast and Skeena River region, crew and party includes surveyor Ashdown Green, O’Reilly employee Arthur Tubb, Chinese cook Sing, Jack O’Reilly, and Julia Trutch – stop in Port Essington where Julia Trutch departs, crew starts up Skeena River to Hazelton – Jack goes hunting and fishing.
SEPTEMBER
Reserves at Babine Lake laid out – Peter O’Reilly finds Indians and the Indian agent Loring “ignorant of the country” – Peter discouraged about lack of mail – return to Hazelton - at Kispiox village “Very stormy meeting spent over 2 hours in explaining about the reserves to Inds…large number of men & women objected & prevented our proceeding”, one reserve defined despite objections – Kispiox chief apologizes for the conduct of his people - Jack O’Reilly injures his leg with an axe.
OCTOBER
At Kitwanga “Held meeting most unsatisfactory. Chief & nearly all the people absent, the man appointed to speak demanded 35 miles of the river – when refused he left” – Kitsumkalum reserves laid out – Jack shoots a caribou – return trip to Victoria with stops at salmon canneries where 5,500 cases are taken on board – Peter purchases 250 shares in the B. C. Corporation.
NOVEMBER
Peter attends directors meeting of the B. C. Corporation - Admiral Hotham and Lieutenant Stanhope call to say good bye, HMS Warspite departs Esquimalt – the O’Reillys begin attending the “Mission Church” St Saviour’s Church in Victoria West – Sir Joseph & Lady Trutch plan to go to England via Hong Kong and India – Frank O’Reilly intends to leave Buenos Aires.
DECEMBER
Jack contracts typhoid fever, Drs Davie and Helmcken attend him at home – Peter attends meeting of the church synod, also the B. C. Corporation from which he receives a one quarter salary – new water closet installed at Point Ellice.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1891. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01910, Box 3, File 1.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century