O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-04-042025-04-041867https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21956Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1867. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 11.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Peter O'Reilly attends regular meetings of Legislative Council of British Columbia as sitting member - Peter & wife Carry frequently visit Sapperton, the former Royal Engineers camp near New Westminster, BC. FEBRUARY Peter notes that eight years have passed since leaving Ireland - proposed governmental budget reduces Peter's salary by $1000- meets with Gov Seymour to protest wage reduction - learns of governor's desire to station Peter closer to the seat of government, not at Big Bend. MARCH Peter plays frequent games of fives at ball court - dinners held at Government House in New Westminster. APRIL Governor Seymour prorogues Legislative Council - Peter is offered Yale district replacing Edward Sanders instead of returning to Big Bend - Sanders bookkeeping at Yale is poor and Peter must reconcile before taking over - Peter prepares his Yale house, plants garden, joins church committee. MAY Arranging the Yale home continues - delivery of a piano - court held in Lytton and Ashcroft - Peter and Carry entertain the Seymours at their Yale home. JUNE No significant diary entries. JULY Departure for Kootenay area and Wild Horse Creek with John Trutch and assistant Mashell - lame pack horse treated with "Brandy & Ceyenne" - due to a missing bridge over Okanagan River horses must swim across, John Trutch narrowly escapes drowning - visit with Tommy Ellis - John Trutch accidently cuts leg and must stay at Fort Shepherd. AUGUST Meeting with constables at Wild Horse Creek - examination of record books, cash accounts - four Chinamen fined for mining without licence which causes rush by others to obtain mining certificates - an assault and murder occur. SEPTEMBER Peter departs Wild Horse Creek to return to Fort Shepherd to reunite with John Trutch - visits with Tommy Ellis at Penticton- returns to New Westminster. OCTOBER Travels to Victoria to see wife and young son Frank where they have gone to prepare for moving from New Westminster to Victoria - returns to Yale and Lytton to hold court - investigates four Indians for alleged assault on Father Le Jacq at Lytton. NOVEMBER Settles Le Jacq assault case fining four Indians $25 each - two Indians sentenced to death for murdering a Frenchman and two years of hard labour for killing a horse - Peter holds inquest and determines a death is caused by exposure and starvation. DECEMBER Execution of two convicted Indians - four Chinese men investigated for stealing $3300 from safe - Peter returns to the New Westminster home to prepare furniture for the move to Victoria - new home in Victoria burns down before moving in - another house is found, and they move in after preparing two rooms - birth of second child Charlotte Kathleen O'Reilly on December 31st.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory19th centuryOther