Hey group,
I went through the diary of Melrose and found some references to Craigflower and the McKenzies, which I've included below. There were also some interesting footnotes that the editor added in the 1940s. Unless someone else really wants to, I'll take a look at some of the Colonial Correspondence this week and see if I can turn up something a bit more useful.

Here's some of the stuff from Melrose that might be useful. There was actually more than I thought. Melrose included lots of info about slaughtering animals, etc, which I haven't included here but you can see later.

(from footnote) Kenneth McKenzie had been engaged as Bailiff on behalf of the PSAC, to take charge of one of their farms in the neighbourhood of Victoria. Upon his arrival, he was assigned to the tract of land which soon became famous as the Craigflower Farm. James Stewart and Robert Weir had been engaged as land stewards by McKenzie.

(From footnote) At this time, travel between Victoria and Craigflower was by water, up an down Victoria Arm.

Monday, January 17, 1853 - English people went ashore, with McKenzie, WEir, Stewart and Fort Victoria.
Tuesday, January 18, 1853 - Scotch do. also do.
Saturday, January 22, 1853 - went up and saw our new abode (pen note in journal says <-- not Craigflower)

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1853 - James Downie and James Whyte removed to the farm. Ship wreck in the rapids going home.

Tuesday, March 1, 1853 - Mr. McKenzie's Steam Engine taken up to the Farm.
Thursday, March 17, 1853 - Mr. McKenzie's store house finished.
Monday, March 21, 1853 - scough load of Provisions taken up to the farm.
Tuesday, March 29, 1853 - scough load of Provisions taken up to the farm.

Friday, April 1, 1853 - Mr. McKenzie, Wife and Family removed to the Farm.
Thursday, April 7, 1853 - Mr McKenzie's steam engine set agoing.

Thursday, May 5, 1853 - garden seeds sown.
Tuesday, May 10, 1853 - commenced to plough a piece of ground for potatoes.
Saturday, May 14, 1853 - one dwelling house finished. One dwelling house finished. [sic]
Monday, May 16, 1853 - William Veitch, James Liddle, James Wilson and The Author all removed to the farm.
Thursday, May 19, 1853 - Horses and Cows brough up to the farm. John Russel removed to the Fort.
Tuesday, May 31, 1853 - Field potatoes all planted.

Monday, June 6, 1853 - one dwelling house finished. One sow pigged.
Tuesday, June 7, 1853 - James Tait removed to the Farm. John Bell started to work.
Thursday, June 9, 1853 - four cows brought up to the farm. Slight showers.
Tuesday, June 14, 1853 - 7 cows brought up to the farm.
Thursday, June 16, 1853 - W Veitch, J Wilson, A Hume, J Liddle, J Tait and The Author got a cow each.
Friday, June 17, 1853 - James Downie got a cow.

Friday, July 1, 1853 - James Stewart removed to the farm. Wilson and The Author got a gun each.
Thursday, July 14, 1853 - attempt to make [take?] Robert Weir a farmer at Fort Victoria.

Monday, August 15, 1853 - one Indian died, that was working with Mr. McKenzie here.

Wed, Dec 7, 1853 - Mr. McKenzie got the Brig "Vancouver"'s Boat.

Monday, Jan 9, 1854 - John Russel removed to the Farm. Rain.
Wednesday, Jan 25, 1854 - J Hall removed to the Fort. J Downie removed to Hall's house. P Bartleman removed to the Farm.

Saturday, Feb 11, 1854 - Canadians put up a bught [?] for catching cattle.
Wednesday, Feb 15, 1854 -Canadians commenced to fence a field.

Tuesday, March, 7, 1854 - More Indians started to work. Commenced to plough.
Friday, March 10, 1854 - one field fenced in. Canadians dropped work. One Sow ferryed.
Monday, March 20, 1854 - commenced to plant in the gardens.

[entries for Apr and May are missing in the original]

Monday, June 12, 1854 - John Crittle and wife removed to Mr. Skinner's. Mail came in. - footnote: That is, to one of the other farms of the PSAC, of which Skinner was bailiff.
Friday, June 23 - turnips sown.

Saturday, July 1, 1854 - public sale of horses at View Field Farm. Mail came in.
Monday, July 31, 1854 - turnips thinned.

Saturday, September 23, 1854 - school house frame erected, whole company in general notoriously drunk. Footnote: The Craigflower school is meant.

Thursday, November 16, 1854 - school vents finished.

Friday, December 8, 1854 - schoolmaster got a house. Footnote: Charles Clarke, who arrived in the Princess Royal to be master of the new school at Craigflower.

Tuesday, December 12, 1854 - Mr. McKenzie whole d. [I think he means "whole drunk"]

Friday, February 23, 1855 - school and school-house finished. Pine field fenced in.

Tuesday, March 27 1855 - Mr. McKenzie laid seige to Peter Bartleman's castle and destroyed it. Footnote: The meaning of this entry is not clear [!!!].

Tuesday, May 1, 1855 - Mrs Clarke gave birth to a female child. Mr McKenzie and J Downie trying a wrestle.

Saturday, June 2, 1855 - James Downie, wife and family removed to Mr Skinner's farm.

Wednesday, July 18, 1855 - Mr McKenzie bought the Schooner, "Black Duck".

Saturday, August 18, 1855- Mr McKenzie and Mr Barr breaking the peace.

Saturday, September 22, 1855 - John Vine engaged with Mr McKenzie.

Thursday, November, 1, 1855 - Mr. Longford's men completed their five years engagement. Frosty. Footnote: Langford is meant.

Thursday, Feb 7, 1856 - Cap. Wishart gained a law-plea over And. Hume. Mr McKenzie one over W Millingto[n].

Wednesday, March 19, 1856 - Schooner "Jessie" sailed along with Mr McKenzie for potatoes.
Wednesday, March 26, 1856 - Great Ball held at Victoria, riff-raff exculded [ok, so this has nothing to do with farming....it made me laugh].
Saturday, March 30, 1856 - Mr McKenzie gave a great dinner in opposition to Mr Clark.

Thursday, May 1, 1856 - Mr McKenzie removed into his new house. Heavy showers. Footnote: this dwelling, now known as the Old Craigflower Farmhouse, is still standing and in good repair. It was sold to private owners by the HBC only a few years ago.

Friday, December 26, 1856 - Mrs McKenzie gave birth to a male child.

Saturday, February 14, 1857 - Mr Clark received a respectable round from Mr McK[enz]ie. Rain.

Sunday, March 22, 1857 - Mrs McKenzie, Mrs Veitch, Mrs Whyte and Mrs Hume's chldren baptised by the Revd E Cridge.

Monday, April 20, 1857 - Mr McKenzie gained a law-plea over Mr Clark