O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-04-112025-04-111860https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21733Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1860. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 3 & Microfilm Reel A01913, Box 8, File 1.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Rev Pringle opens library at Hope - Peter O'Reilly pays subscription and entrance fee its use - discussions with miners about new 1859 mining rules. FEBRUARY Issues mining licences and records claims up and down Fraser River - Hope town lots laid out by Royal Engineers. MARCH Peter sets up animal traps and frequently inspects them - attends church services and discusses funding of a church and rectory - issues court summonses and holds court - writes to Mamsey in Ireland - Gov Douglas offers £1500 to build a trail to the Similkameen - Peter becomes treasurer of committee to raise funds for Quaquealla (Coquihalla) River bridge near Hope. APRIL Contractor selected to build Coquihalla bridge - Peter inspects bridge progress - plants vegetable garden including potatoes - purchases newly created town lots in Hope. MAY Meets with Gov Douglas to discuss repairs to Boston Bar trail and an expedition to the Similkameen - Douglas tours British Columbia with stops at New Westminster, Fort Langley, Port Douglas, Hope, and Yale - Peter partakes in Governor's luncheon - "I dont think I shall ever get reconciled to remain out here." JUNE Rev Sheepshanks visits Hope and selects site for cemetery - clearance of new burial ground begins - Revs Pringle and Sheepshanks file for pre-emption claims of 160 acres each - Pringle's claim including an Indian village is rejected by Peter- freight duty rates are set for the Boston Bar trail - Peter inspects trail to determine repairs. JULY Repairs to Boston Bar trail begin - starting point of Similkameen trail construction determined - most white miners leave Fraser River for Similkameen - Peter purchases ten more lots in Hope. AUGUST More pack trains of horses and mules leave for Similkameen on rough foot trail - Edgar Dewdney signs contract for £ 1000 to build Similkameen pack trail - Royal Engineers blast rock for Boston Bar trail - Peter travels to Rock Creek, site of a new gold camp, to assess conditions - encounters resistance to paying for trading and mining licences. SEPTEMBER Returns to Hope to hold court - prepares a report on state of Similkameen trail for Gov Douglas - travels along Fraser River to collect fees and issue mining licences - invests in a silver prospect with Philip Nind - inspects mining ditches at Comish Bar. OCTOBER Attends Rev Pringle's singing class - Gov Douglas arrives with drunken assistants and boards with Peter - Peter requests pay increase and another constable - attends blanket tearing and potlatch - travels Similkameen trail again. NOVEMBER Peter feels uneasy as no letters received from Ireland - derives comfort from visiting friends, reading, or spending evenings at Fort Hope - lends money to those in need - receives income from rental properties in Hope - receives a pay increase - buys 100 lbs of beef for the winter - discussions about keeping Similkameen trail open during winter. DECEMBER Attends consecration of Trinity Church in New Westminster and attends church meetings - visits Glennie family in Hope and their newly constructed home - "I have been thinking of home & feel anything but cosey at the prospects of my getting back." - receives letter and package from Mamsey, posts his twentieth letter of the year to her.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory19th centuryOther