s -

Bastion Square Gaol: Built in 1858, used as gaol until 1885 (1870s) BC Archives (D-07224)

judicial establishments. The British
Government would not provide a grant.

Records for the Police and Prisons Department
at Victoria were kept, starting in 1858. These
records contained a list of charges, the
magistrate’s sentence, gaoler’s report and
accounts for the gaol and police. The first
gaoler’s report, which appeared on November
15, 1858, listed the number and type of
prisoners:

» 8 confined in gaol;

« 3 admitted on bail;

» 5 insane men; and

» Several arrests for being drunk, or drunk and
disorderly.

These offenders were generally discharged or
fined the equivalent of £1.25 sterling. Fined

offenders were sometimes ordered to pay costs.
Other common offences included selling liquor
without a licence, gambling and assault. Most
prisoners were confined in gaol for a couple of
days or a week, up to three months.

Although the use of transportation was
discontinued in 1853, there was at least one
attempt to revive it as punishment in the
colony.’ For example, on September 14, 1858,
William King was convicted of manslaughter
and sentenced to transportation.

When thousands of people began arriving on
Vancouver Island and the mainland for the gold
tush, Governor Douglas was eager to transport
prisoners from the colony. However, no prison
was strong enough to confine sentenced
offenders for any length of time. Douglas wrote
to Colonial Secretary Lytton asking whether the

9 Reference taken from Hudson’s Bay Company, Victoria Affairs, October 1852-December 1859, Administration

of Justice Account. AC 15 H86. PABC.

Era of Colonial Rule (1849-1870)