O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-04-022025-04-021869https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21954Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1869. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 1, File 13.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Peter O'Reilly attends Legislative Council of British Columbia in Victoria as a sitting member. FEBRUARY Peter inquires about purchasing adjoining lots near their Rock Bay home - attends several plays - regular meetings of the Legislative Council, confederation is a topic. MARCH Auction at the Wallace house on Pleasant St - field across street from O'Reilly home fenced- visits to the Trutches at their Fairfield estate - dinners at Government House. APRIL Court held at Yale and Lytton - Peter writes numbered letters to wife Carry - Carry and the children travel to Yale to be with Peter. MAY Court held in Lytton with "a heavy Calendar." - few diary entries. JUNE Few diary entries - death of Governor Frederick Seymour aboard the HMS Sparrowhawk - Peter returns to Victoria after being away for three months - Carry and the children remain in Yale. JULY Returns to Yale after ten days in Victoria to hold police and county courts - on July 25th, "Thermometer 100 in the shade" - "Smoke as thick that with difficulty the opposite bank of the river could be seen". AUGUST While traveling to Hope, "very much damaged many of the bridges & Corduroys (wooden roadbeds) having been burnt & an enormous quantity of fallen timber, rendering it in many places almost impassable." - fires and smoke continue for three weeks - coloured man sentenced to three-month imprisonment for giving liquor to Indian woman. SEPTEMBER Peter conducts an inquest after a steamer employee falls overboard and drowns - investigates shooting of John Alway, a Yale-based freighter, by his Indian guide. OCTOBER While traveling through mountains to Yale, Peter digs up rhododendrons to plant in his Victoria garden - Indian guide Moutsaic put on trial for shooting John Alway, found guilty & sentenced to be hanged. NOVEMBER Hen house and stable built - Caroline's mother, Charlotte Trutch, turns 70 years old - four days after departing Victoria for Yale, Caroline gives birth to their third child Mary Augusta O'Reilly on November 23rd. DECEMBER County court held at Kamloops - Peter negotiates a dispute of water rights - "the whole day lost in hearing the charge against the Chinamen for stealing Skukums (Indians) blankets." - returning to Victoria Peter learns of Governor Anthony Musgrave's intent to reduce his salary - Peter is expected to return to work immediately.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory19th centuryOther