At the instance of the secretary of state the government agreed to build immediately a road from Esquimalt to nanaimo on Vancouver Island, to prosecute the surveys with vigour, and make arrangements for the completion of the railway in 1890. Mr. Blake opposed these terms, and in doing so no doubt represented the views of a large body of the Liberal party, who believed that the government of Canada had in 1871 entered into the compact with British Columbia without sufficient consideration of the gravity of the obligation they were incurring.
"Canada under British Rule 1760-1900"
John G. Bourinot
The commons, however, passed the Esquimalt and nanaimo bill only to hear of its rejection in the senate, where some Liberals united with the Conservative majority to defeat it.
"Canada under British Rule 1760-1900"
John G. Bourinot
We were due at nanaimo for the next concert and despite the storm we started and arrived safely Wednesday morning, March 8. We sang in Institute hall and a fine place for sound it was.
"Sixty Years of California Song"
Margaret Blake-Alverson