[Bcma-l] 1865 cane presented by Governor Seymour to Fraser River chiefs for sale

Thu, 7 Aug 2008 17:04:31 -0700

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A retired antiques dealer has for sale one of the 100 canes (aka "staff"
or "mace") about 5 feet long presented by Governor Seymour in 1865 to
"Fraser River Indians" to celebrate the Queen's Birthday. As 100 were
presented among about 3,500 native attendees, it is likely that they
were presented to chiefs. The canes were ordered from England in 1864
during the Chilcotin War in an effort to reassure the native populace
that even though Governor Douglas had retired, they were still
recognized by the government. The canes appear to me to be 1865 vintage
military Drum Majors' maces. There are no markings - neither maker's nor
presenter's. There is no clear provenance but have no reason to doubt
the seller's story.=20

=20

The brief story of these canes appears at the bottom of page 206 in
"British Columbia: A History" by Margaret A. Ormsby 1958 Presumably
there would be some mention of the purchase and presentation in the
colonial papers and newspapers in 1864 and 1865. A search on
www.paperofrecod.com <http://www.paperofrecod.com/> would likely yield
results.=20

=20

A photo of one of these "canes" in use historically is at BC Archives #
B-03803 "Group of Interior Salish"=20

http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_105/b_
03803.gif=20

The one in this photograph appears to be identical to the two that I
have examined (RBCM storage one and the one for sale by the collector).=20

=20

I have located two others, both held by the Royal BC Museum. One is in
storage at RBCM and appears to be identical to the one for sale except
that the one for sale is complete with the orb and cross at the top (it
screws in). The second one, which I did not view, was later located in
the Legislature in Victoria and has apparently been shortened.  Thank
you Dr. Lorne Hammond for your research assistance and access to study
RBCM's specimen.

=20

Does anyone know of any other surviving examples and/or other photos?=20

=20

I have photos that I took of this item and I can forward them to
interested parties. The price the owner has set is $20,000.00

=20

As Governor Seymour was here in the capital city of New Westminster at
the time we have an interest of course but not the means.=20

=20

I would suggest that this cane would be a good very early artifact for a
First Peoples' museum located along the Fraser River as it is likely
that each band was originally presented with one. =20

=20

I am not involved in this sale other than passing on the information and
providing contact between interested parties.

=20

Colin MacGregor Stevens,

Manager,

New Westminster Museum and Archives,

302 Royal Avenue,

New Westminster, BC,=20

V3L 1H7

=20

Phone Office:    604-527-4639

Work Cellular : 604-830-6965

Fax:                  604-527-4641

E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca=20

Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca=20

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

A retired antiques dealer has for sale one of =
the 100
canes (aka &#8220;staff&#8221; or &#8220;mace&#8221;) about 5 feet long =
presented
by Governor Seymour in 1865 to &#8220;Fraser River Indians&#8221; to =
celebrate
the Queen&#8217;s Birthday. As 100 were presented among about 3,500 =
native
attendees, it is likely that they were presented to chiefs. The canes =
were
ordered from England in 1864
during the Chilcotin War in an effort to reassure the native populace =
that even
though Governor Douglas had retired, they were still recognized by the
government. The canes appear to me to be 1865 vintage military Drum =
Majors&#8217;
maces. There are no markings &#8211; neither maker&#8217;s nor =
presenter&#8217;s.
There is no clear provenance but have no reason to doubt the =
seller&#8217;s
story.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

The brief story of these canes appears at the =
bottom
of page 206 in &#8220;British =
Columbia:
A History&#8221; by Margaret A. Ormsby 1958 Presumably there would be =
some
mention of the purchase and presentation in the colonial papers and =
newspapers in
1864 and 1865. A search on <a =
href=3D"http://www.paperofrecod.com/">www.paperofrecod.com</a>
would likely yield results.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A photo of one of these &#8220;canes&#8221; in =
use
historically is at BC Archives # B-03803 &#8220;Group of Interior =
Salish&#8221;
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href=3D"http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir=
_105/b_03803.gif">http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/i=
mg_med/dir_105/b_03803.gif</a>
</span></font></p>

The one in this photograph appears to be =
identical to
the two that I have examined (RBCM storage one and the one for sale by =
the
collector).

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

I have located two others, both held by the =
Royal BC
Museum. One is in storage at RBCM and appears to be identical to the one =
for
sale except that the one for sale is complete with the orb and cross at =
the top
(it screws in). The second one, which I did not view, was later located =
in the
Legislature in Victoria
and has apparently been shortened. &nbsp;Thank you Dr. Lorne Hammond for =
your
research assistance and access to study RBCM&#8217;s =
specimen.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

Does anyone know of any other surviving =
examples
and/or other photos?

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

I have photos that I took of this item and I =
can
forward them to interested parties. The price the owner has set is =
$20,000.00

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

As Governor Seymour was here in the capital =
city of New
 Westminster at the time we have an =
interest of
course but not the means.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

I would suggest that this cane would be a good =
very
early artifact for a First Peoples&#8217; museum located along the =
Fraser
 River as it is =
likely that
each band was originally presented with one. &nbsp;

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I am not involved in this sale other than =
passing on
the information and providing contact between interested =
parties.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span lang=3DEN-CA =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Colin MacGregor Stevens,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Manager,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
  12.0pt'>New Westminster</span></font> Museum and Archives,</p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
  12.0pt'>302 Royal Avenue</span></font>,</p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
  12.0pt'>New Westminster</span></font>, BC, </p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>V3L 1H7</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Phone Office:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 604-527-4639</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Work Cellular : 604-830-6965</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Fax:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
604-527-4641</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>E-mail: <a =
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</a>
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Web Site: <a =
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</a></span></f=
ont><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-CA
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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