O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-04-012025-04-011870https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21953Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1870. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 1, File 14.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Peter O'Reilly remains in Victoria awaiting further instruction from Governor Musgrave - attends two plays at Victoria Theatre with John Trutch. FEBRUARY On his fourth birthday Frank O'Reilly wears knickerbocker pants for the first time - Legislative Council opens with Peter in attendance, "a large attendance of spectators." MARCH Legislative Council debates confederation. APRIL Peter and his wife Carry attend a Beacon Hill cricket match - Peter attends meeting "on the subject of Responsible Government, an abusive affair." - leaves Victoria to work at Yale and Lytton. MAY Travels to Cache Creek, Kamloops, Ashcroft - receives offer to purchase house on Fort St in Victoria, "sent a cheque for $1000- to ensure the bargain." - holds court at Lytton - sends ninth letter to Carry. JUNE Peter requires a "Lunatic" from Quesnel, to be escorted to New Westminster - deals with man who attempts suicide by poisoning - Yale house cleaned in preparation of arrival of Carry and children - Peter returns to Victoria, "Went to the Gorge in the Governors Carriage to see the Regatta, spent a most miserable day." - Tommy Ellis proposes a partnership with Peter to buy 1/3 interest in his Penticton property. JULY Few diary entries - court held at Lytton. AUGUST Few diary entries - court at Lytton - telegraph line to Yale established, first message sent. SEPTEMBER Peter and Carry travel from New Westminster to Hope by canoe - while traveling to Penticton by horse Carry is thrown from horse but suffers minimal injury - Peter lays out Indian reserves north of Yale and at Cheam and Popkum on Fraser River - returns to Yale for court. OCTOBER Reserves laid out Chapmans Bar on Fraser River - John Trutch assists in laying out reserves between Hope and Yale - Peter travels to Ashcroft to attend horse races - first snow of the season on October 28th. NOVEMBER While in Yale Carry becomes very ill, recovers, then Frank becomes sick - "Carry & children, servants horse cow & baggage left...in a down pour of rain" to return to Victoria - alone in Yale Peter notes, "everything dirty & so lonely that I could not bear to go near the house." - Clement Cornwall from Ashcroft is elected to the Legislative Council. DECEMBER John Trutch marries Sarah "Zoe" Musgrave, daughter of Governor Anthony Musgrave - anxious to return home Peter engages two Indians to navigate ice-filled Fraser River in canoe - arrives in Victoria in time to spend Christmas with family - daughter Kathleen very ill and in pain, Dr Helmcken prescribes "hot bath, & powders" which provide little relief.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory19th centuryOther