O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-03-102025-03-101892https://hdl.handle.net/1828/22259Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1892. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01910, Box 3, File 2.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Jack O’Reilly recovers from typhoid fever at home attended by Drs Davie & Helmcken, the doctors recommend Jack be moved to the hospital if he does not improve – Arthur Pinder in debt, sheriff to take possession of home – death of Roderick Finlayson – Jack’s health shows some improvement – more holly planted in garden. FEBRUARY Peter O’Reilly attends shareholders meetings where dividends are declared – Peter and Carry O’Reilly become sick with colds – water pipe bursts in kitchen range causing “general confusion” – Sir Joseph Trutch considers renting his home “Fairfield” to Thomas Ellis. MARCH Meetings of B C Corporation, Canadian Pacific Navigation Co, Victoria Gas Co, Anglican Synod – interest and dividend payments sent to Carry Hare and Capt Knox - Point Ellice veranda rebuilt, and house, fence, and gates painted. APRIL HMS Warpsite returns to Esquimalt – dinner and tea with the Admiral and other officers – Frank O’Reilly arrives from Buenos Aires after an absence of five years – Sir Joseph Trutch prepares to rent Fairfield and specify the sale of some its property – Sir Joseph & Lady Trutch depart for England – Carry and Peter have colds again. MAY John & Zoe Trutch and Robert & Lydia Ward depart for England – meeting held for the purpose of starting a new club – Queen’s birthday regatta and fireworks at Beacon Hill. JUNE Death of Dr Joseph Matthews – Peter acts as caretaker for Fairfield – frequent meeting of B C Corporation in the absence of director Robert Ward – Executive Council meeting of the church synod – Jubilee Hospital Bazaar opens – three-day trip to Chilliwack to review a reserve boundary. JULY Smallpox outbreak in Victoria – “Carry Kit Jack & I were Vaxinated by Dr Davie” – “Very alarming rumours in regard to spread of small-pox” - Forbes Vernon contracts smallpox – “54 cases reported – 3 deaths” – “Vancouver & [Puget] Sound Cities declare a quarentein against Victoria” – “Reports of small pox alarming” – summer tennis parties continue – funeral of BC Premier John Robson. AUGUST Jack prepares for “articled pupil” exams with Revd Barber – Indian Reserve Commission departs for Quesnelle – Peter visits Henry Cornwall at Ashcroft who is very ill, Cornwall dies three days later – IRC defines reserves for the Stony Creek Indians on Tachick and Nulki Lakes – many Indians sick and in need of medicine – Indian Agent Robert Loring “lazy & useless as ever”. SEPTEMBER Reserves created near Fort Fraser on Fraser Lake – Peter dismisses Agent Loring – reserves created at Fort St James on Stuart Lake, and Fort McLeod – reserves created at Trembleur Lake and Tachie River – return to Stuarts Lake north side to create Tachie and Pinchi reserves encompassing their villages – return to Fort St James. OCTOBER Reserve creation continues at Fort George and for Blackwater Indians – return to Victoria – visit from Sir Michael Culme-Seymour – Peter visits with Lady Macdonald in Victoria. NOVEMBER Bishop of Columbia George Hills returns to England after 33 years in Victoria – Edgar Dewdney sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of BC by Sir Matthew Begbie – Sir Culme-Seymour returns to England – Peter buys shares in the B C Corporation for Frank. DECEMBER Peter protests “excessive” property assessment – agrees to sell a right of way across his Vancouver lots or to sell the lots – Peter’s leg injury from 1885 flares up again, consults Dr Helmcken and remains in bed.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory19th centuryOther