REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE.
CLAIM OF SAMUEL GREER TO CERTAIN LANDS AT ENGLISH BAY.

Mr. Speaker..
Your Committee appointed to enquire into the claim of Samuel Greer to certain lands in the vicinity of English Bay beg respectfully to report as follows:—
We met on Saturday, the 14th April, 1888, at 10 o’clock, and inasmuch as it appeared to us that the C.P.R. Co. had adverse claim to said land, we directed written notice to be given by our Secretary to Messrs. Drake & Jackson, Solicitors for the C.P.R. Co., that the Committee would meet at 10 o’clock on Monday, the 16th April, 1888, and the notice was duly delivered to Mr. Jackson, as he himself admits.

Your Committee adjourned and resumed our sitting at 10 o’clock A.M. on Monday, when Mr. Holt appeared for S. Greer, but no person appeared for the C.P.R. Co. After taking Greer’s evidence, we adjourned till 10 o’clock on Tuesday, 17th April, 1888, when Mr. Idea and Greer again appeared at 11:15. After the evidence was closed, and we were considering our report, Mr. Jackson came before us and asked us to hear Mr. Drake’s evidence on behalf of the C.P.R. Co.

We pointed out to him that due notice had been given him of our sittings, which he admitted, but stated, as we wanted to hear both sides, we would meet again at 1:30 P.M. this day and take Mr. Drake’s evidence at that hour.

On the reassembling of the Committee, Mr. Drake’s evidence was duly taken, and certain documentary evidence on both sides was handed in, which is referred to in Schedule to this report.

After hearing all the evidence, and carefully considering the same, we are of opinion that Samuel Greer bond fide acquired Samuel Preston’s pre-emption claim 1,003, New Westminster District, and that at the time Greer acquired said pre-emption claim it was in a position to be so acquired by him, and that he (Greer) has since bond fide occupied said land and made improvements thereon.

We think that Greer has been subjected to much persecution and expense in respect to same, in endeavouring to remove him therefrom.

We beg most respectfully to recommend to the Government to take into their earnest consideration the advisibility of issuing a Crown Grant of the land comprised in pre-emption 1,003 to Mr. Greer, or take such other steps as may be proper to secure Mr. Greer’s title to the land.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
EDWARD ALLEN, Chairman, GEO. THOMSON, WM. H. LADNER, SIMEON DUCK, W. NORMAN BOLE.