IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ^^ 1^ I.; ^ 1^ m ■ 4.0 ■ 2.2 Vi lU lU ■il 12.0 M IL25 III 1.4 1.6 6" Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRIET WIBSTni,N.Y. M5M (716)S77-4S03 :\ i from the Govkrnor of JiuiTisii CobUMiuA to the Skcretary OF Statk kor TiiK Coi.oMKs, jiiid ffoiu tlu' Skcuktary ok IStatk to the Governor, relative to the Government of the Colony. $res((nt(ti to I)otI) %cius(C£( of ^nrliamtnt I))) Commanti of ^rr ;inajefiitp. I860. LON DON: PRINTED BY GEOROE EDWARD EYRE AND WILLIAM SPOITISWOODE, PRINTERS TO THE OUEENS MOST EXC'ELI-ENT MAJESTY. rOU llEll MAJESTY'S STATlONEliV orFICE. I860. iu SCHEDULE. DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR. Number in Series. Number and Date. SUBJECT. Page. Aprils, 1859 (No. 127.) April II, 1859 fNo. 12j.) April 11, 1859 (No. 135.) 4 i April 12, IS.TO (No. 136.) April 12, IS.'JO (No. 137.) April 25, 1859 (No. 141.) April 25, 1859 (No. M-3.) May 8, 1859 - (No. 150.) 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 III. May 12, 1859 - (No. 153.) May U, 1859 - (No. 15*.) May 23, 18.59 - (No. ISO.) May 2 J, 18.59 - (No. loS.) June 6, 1859 - (No. 165.) June 8, 1859 - (No. 167.) July 1, 1859 - (No. 175.) July 2, 1859 - (No. 182.) July 2, 1859 - (No. 183.) ABSTRACT OF KEVENUE AND EXPENDITURE to the 23rd of February with remarks on the expediency of cttu- blishing an ASSAY OFFICE at Vancouver^' Island, tur British Columbia ....... CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD BY HARRISON'S RIVER. Expenses amounting 14,000/. paid out of Local Revenue re- ported ....... ASSAY OFFICE. Further as to the expediency of establishing an Assay Office ....... GENERAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE COLONY TRANSFER OF FOREIGN FOR BRITISH REGISTERS. For the navigation of Fraser's Uiver . . . . EXPENSES OF THE COLONY Announces th.it the Colony will be able to meet its expenses and ultimately repay the advances made from Imperial Funds .... GENERAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE COLONY. Earnings of Miners at the Bars below Fort Yale GENERAL REPORT. Announces the prosperous state of the Colony --...... OLD LANGLEY". Reasons for selecting it as the site of a com- • mercial town -..-... GOLD AND COPPER QUARTZ. Reports the existence of rich diggings in the upper country .... LAND SALES. Observations relative to the cystem of Land Sales and Mining Licences ..... ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINT. Encloses a Report from Captain Gosset, the Treasurer . .... LAND SALES. Reporting the sale of town lots at Queens- borough, and enclosing statement of amount realised GENERAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE COLONY. ENCLOSES REPORT BY MR. BEGBIE - ADMISSION OF BARRISTERS AND ATTORNEYS to practise in the Court ...... POLICE FORCE. Forwarding statement supplying the inform- ation called for by Despatch No. 48 of the 11th April 1859 EXPENSES OF THB COLONY. Acknowledging Despatch No. 50 in reference to the purchase of a Steam Boat, and to tlie Fiuancial State of the Colony * • • • • A a 10 13 10 16 25 26 27 11 1 n ^ H 12 1 It SCHEDULE. h ■ NambcT in flcrivi. 18 Itf 2() 21 22 23 2o 2S 29 SO 31 32 33 Xunitwr and Diitr. SUHJKCT. July 4. 18,ji) . (Ni). IH.1) .July (). IHr)9 (No. '20t.) August 18. 18u9 (No. 2(HJ.) (iKNKUAL HEI'OllT OX THE STATE OF THE COLONY. DfcliiriHl value of Iinpurls tor the quurtcr ending ;)Olli June amounts to ,S2 17,7.^.1. and the Itevenue derived from Customs Duties for the same perioil nmuunts to 4.133/. !(>«. PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS. Keturn of enclosed ?4 /' -igiist 23, 1 8.59 ( No. 207.) Sepioii.her 13. I8.W- 'No. 'J 1 8.) 26 Octobir 18, ISlit (No. 224.) November 10, 18.59 (No. 231.) Novenibir 10. 1859 (No. 234.) November 21, 1859 (No. 2.35.) December 22, 1859 (No. 239.) December 22, 1859 (No. 240.) December 23, 1859 (No. 241.) .January 9, 18fiO (No. 1.) LKiHT HOUSES. Straits of I'utu Relative to the erection of, on points of REPOIIT OP SUIIVEY OP THE DI.STUICTS IIORDER- IN(; ON THE THOMPSON, PKASEIl, AND HARRISON RIVERS, BY LIEUT. RICHARD MAYNE, R.N. - NEW WESTMINSTER. Enclosing Proclamation that the town hcretut'ure known as Queensborough shall henceforth be called and known as " New Westminster " - RECONNAISSANCE OF THE HARRISON AND LIL- LOUET ROUTE TO THE UPPER ERASER UY LIEUT. W. S. PALMER, R.E. GENERAL REPORT. Satisfactory progress of the Colony. Money required for carrying on the waggon road from Douglas to the Upper Eraser ; probably might be completed for iiO.OOO/. General prosperity of the gold-diggers. Reports the departure from Vancouver's Island of 100 gold diggers to explore Queen Charlotte's Island ...... PROCLAMATIONS enclosed as under : No. 7. Naturalization ol' Aliens. „ 8. Oaths Act, 1859. „ 9. Customs Duties on Imports. „ 10. Timnngc, Pilotage and Harbour Dues. „ 11. Do. do. Amendment. „ 12. Spirit Licenee>, &c. „ 13. Gold Fields Act and Regulations- GENERAL REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE COLONY. Reports official tour to the towns of New West- minster, Langley, Douglas, Fort Ho)ie and Y'ule, and an Inspec- tion of the Mining Districts. The " Gold Fields' Act " met with the a])proval of the mining population. Imports for the quarter ending 30th September imiuunted to 207,848 dollars, and the Customs for the same period amounted to 5,202/. SALE OF CROWN LANDS, relatiTc to - - - POSTAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND VICTORIA, relative to .... GOLD EXPLORATIONS. REPORT BY MR. WM.DOWNIE of his journey to Queen Charlotte's Island, and thence by Fort Simpson to the interior of British Columb- .. Gold in small quantities found on the Skeona River, alst . xtensive beds of coal .--..-.. PROCLAMATIONS transmitted. No. Small Debts Act, 1859," and No. 15, ' Stock Companies Act, 1859." - 14, " British Columbia ' British Columbia Joint PROCLAMATION transmitted. No. IG, imposing a charge of 12s. i)er ton on all goods transported from New Westminster to any place in British Columbia - . . . . RESERVES OF LAND FOR NAVAL PURPOSES in Burrard's Inlet. Transmitting letter from Colonel Moody on the subject - REPORT ON THE COUNTRY BETWEEN FORT HOPE ON THE ERASER RIVER AND FORT COLVILLE ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, BY LIEUTENANT H. SPENCER PALMER, R.E. Transmitted - l'»ge. 28 31 31 32 39 40 49 65 69 69 75 77 78 79 SCHEDULE. Number in Number and Date. SL'IUECT. r»K«. 3» ■Mi 3G 37 38 39 40 41 Janimry I'i. IHGO (No. '2.) Jammrv 12, 1H(H) ■(.\u. .'!.) .laiiunry ''U IWiO (No. «.) .Iiiiuiarv 'i4, ISfiO (No. 9.) January 25, 1860 (No. 10.) January 25, 1860 (No. 11.) January 26, 18(j0 January 27. 1860 (No. 15.) HF.TUUN OV THE VAl-UK oK IMPORTS AND CUSTOMS HKCKIITS AT NKW WKS I'MINSTKU lOU TllK rWKLVK MONTHS KNDlNCi 31st DlUKMllLU Ib.VX Customs, lH,4()t/. Iniiiorls, 177,21!!/. 7*. 5; real pro|)erty," and I have desired him to jMcpare a report on the best means of carrying; those views into eH'ect. . If such duties be confined even to conveyances of real estate, they will be productive of considerable revenue. 10. The want of an Assay Otiice in the Colony in felt as a public inconvenience, and in no doubt hij;hly detrimental to the commercial interests of the country. There bein),'at piesent no means here of ascertaining the true commercial value of gold dust, the niercliuiii to save himself from loss will oidy jjurchase it at a low rale, which the nuuer will not accept, or the gold dust is retaineil in the merchant's hands in deposit, until samples of it are sent and tested at San I'lancisco. Ilimdred of ndners worn out with the expense and delay HO occasioned, fly in disgust with their gold to .San I'rancisco. 11. An Assay Office established here, tlie evil would cease to operate, and the gold would remain in the country. 12. The establishment of an Assay OfHce would otherwise 1 believe |)rove of signal advantage to the public revenue, inasnnich as it would give facilities for levying an export duty on gold. Thai is now impossible, and will be, so loii;^ as the miner cannot get a fiiir price for his gold in this country, and in consequence keeps it in his own hands. If collected at all, in those circumstances the duty would have to be wrung from each individual miner, and they, to elude the payment, would cross the frontier and fly with their treasures into the United States. 13. The Assay Oftice would |)rovide a remedy for the evil. Every man might, throiigii its aid, learn fiom an official source the true value of any gold in his possession, and either speuil or exchange it for coin in the country. This would llirow the export of gold into the hands of large dealers, wiio, having no inducement to smuggle equal to the risk, would export througii the lawful channel, paying the duty, which they in turn would take care to levy on the miner, by ileducting it from the price paid. M<. An export duty might then be imposed with advantage, and be foimd easy and ciieap of collection. The other features of the Australian system of taxation on miners might also be adopted and made applicable to the circumstances of British Columbia, in which case the liceni e fee on miners, so objectionable on account of tlie expense and afiiays produced in its collection, would cease to be enforced. 15. 1 have only further to state in reference to the Abstract of British Columbia Accoimts forwarded, that the Treasurer, Captain Gosset, has now the sole and entire arrangement of the Financial Department, over which 1 have hitherto had to maintain a rigid control. 1 have, &c. 'I'he Right Hon. Sir K. B. Lytton, 15 rt, M.I'. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS. &c. &c. &c. I'APFRS Ri:r,ATINO TO nRITISH COLUMIUA. Kind easy and ion on miners ish Columbia, i expense and tish Columbia )!e and entire to maintain a Brttibh Columbia. No. 2. • Vide papers presented AuguHt 1859, page 77. 4 , PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. No. 2. Copy of DESPATCH fioni Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. 13. Lytton, Bart., .M.P. Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 11, 1859. (No. 129.) (Hcccivcd May 28, 1859.) J^IU (Anawerod No. 76, .luiio 4, 1839, pnge 97.) I HAVE duly received your Despatch of the 2^2m\ January IS.'JQ, No. 7,* conveying to uie your approval of tiie construcijpu of the route by Harrison's River, and acquaint- ing me tliat you look to the payment of ail expenses connected with it out of local, and not from Imperial, funds. 2. The gratifying expression of your approval in this matter is very acceptable to me, and I am happy to be able to state that we have paid the whole expenses of the road amounting to 14,000/., out of the local revenue. The undtrtal:i>ig lias been a severe tax upon our s-^all resources, but the work was indispensable for the 'levelopment of the country, and it will in the end greatly benefit the revenue by the increase of the imports which it is the means of introducing into tiie interior. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir. E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor No. 3. Puge 1. No. 3. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bi.rt, M.P. (No. 135.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 11, 1859, (Ueci'ived May 28, 185.9.) Sin^ (Aii.-wi'itd No. 22, Sopt. 19, 1859, pago 101.) In continuation of the remarks on the expediency of establishing an Assay Office in this Colony, which I was unable to continue in my Despatch No. 127* of the 8tli instant, in consequence of the reported arrival of the mail steamer from San Francisco, which remains here at each visit only a few hours. 2. I have further to remark i.iat we have attempted to induce tiie owners (not Americans) of private Assay Offices in San Francisco to establish brandies of their houses at Victoria, but without success. The objections made by them were to this effect : That Her Majesty's (government would at no distant date probably establish a mint at Victoria, and tiieir business would therefore then cease. That being foreigners they could not expect tiie same privileges as are granted to English houses taking up the assaying business. Their chief reason however was this, that they had already the whole assaying business of British Columbia in their hand.s, as nearly all the gold produce of the Colony is now carried to San Francisco anil they had therefore nothing to gain by extending their business to Victoria, or to compensate for the certain outlay of capital which the process would involve. 3. I do not know what steps can be taken by Her Majesty's Government to deliver the Colony from so great an evil as is the piesent drain of its resources towards San Francisco, and the loss and delay to which miners are exposed in selling gold here; but I clearly see the advantage of a direct trade between the Mother Country and British Columbia, and I am of opinion that the establishment of an Assay Office in Victoria would be an important step in advance. 4. Having an Assay Office here, the miner would only have to take his goM there, have it assayed, anil receive value for it; or if he preferred it, have it run into bars at a very trifling expense, and then he could dispose of his bars, which would bear the fineness and weight upon them by mint mark, just as readily as he could of coin, or he could convert them into coin ; in fiict, bars would be currency. 5. An Assay Office must, howevei , be the property either of the Government, to give it the stamp of character unsuspected, or it must be owned by a private party possessed of capital, in high credit, good mercantile reputation for probity, and well known to the mining comnuniity. This last quality above all is requisite. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 6 As no private person on the Pacific coast who could fulfil the chief conditions, which I consider indispensable to success, namely public confidence, is disposed to come here the only prudent and efficient plan is to establish a Government Assay Oltice. It should be on a large scale, for there will be abundance of work. 7. The expense would be small, involving little more than the erection of a house, a tire-brick furnace, a few crucibles which could, no doubt, be made here, a good assayer, and a few assistants. The |)rocess is simple to a degree, and the wliole expense of the plant of an Assay Office would not exceed (iCMJ/. Its operation, judging from the experience of tlie 'San Francisco private iissayers, who have alhietome wealthv, would leave a profit. I therefore believe that a well mauaL'cd Government Assay Office wo'.ilil, at least, \ra\ its own expenses. 8. Its advantages to the Colony would be incalculable. Keepmg the gold circulating in the country, the status it woidd give the place, the confidence it would inspire abroad, the benefits to the miners, the contentment it woidd diffuse amongst them, by the certainty and fairness and celerity of its operations, and its security, are amongst the advantages of such an establishment. 9. A mint would certainly be more efficient, but that is an expensive establishment, though if Her Majesty's Government were to set one up, I think the circumstances of the country would justify the outlay. It would also require time to complete and perfect its details, but the establishment of an Assay Office involves little delay, and a very moderate expense, therefore I beg to recommend the plan to the fiivourable consideration of tier Majesty's Government. I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart, M.P. Governor. &c. &c. &c. British COH'MBU. No. 4. No. 4. establish a mint i are granted to Sir, Aupust 1859, page 70. Copy of UESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B.Lyttcv, Bart., M.P. (No. 13G.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 12, 185y. • (Received May 28, 183 ) (Answered Nn. 75, Juno 3, 1859, piifte 97.) .Since the last report I had the honour to make on the state of the country, con- tained in my Despatch of the S.Oth of March, No. 123,* I have received various com- • vide papers niunications from British Columbia, the substance of which I will proceed to impart for 5i\'ipuTii your information. 2. Judge Begbie is now on circuit in British Columbia, having successively opened court at Langley, Fort Hope, and Yale, and by last accounts was proceeding to " Lytton" with a similar object in view. 3. The docket did not contain many cases, and was soon disposed of. Two cases of shooting were tried at Langley, but the jury did not convict capitally in either of the cases. 4. The last reports from Mr. Commissioner Brew are dated from Port Yale, 2nd of April. That officer has not been successful in collecting the miners' licence fee. The following is an extract from his letter on that subject : — " Dnrin"' the last week we collected over 150 dollars from miners about Fort Yale. Some men paid the tax most willingly, but from the majority of the miners it was ex- tracted with difficulty and after great grumbling. I intend to make an excursion towards Fort Hope next week to settle some difficulties about ditches, and I shall avail myself of the opportunity to have the miners' tax collected from parties who on a former occasion refused to pay. Mr. Justice Smith, from Fort Hope, was at Fort Yale yesterday. He informs me that he hopes to be able to collect the tax from the greater number of miners about Fort Hope. " On the SOth ult. I went in a canoe up the river some distance to visit the Bars and ascertain if any mining was going on. The snow was too deep on the ;;round to admit of sluicing, and, except at one place, where there was a hand machine for lifting water, all the miners were idle." B 2 6 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. British Columbia. 5, It may be observed in apology for Mr. Brew's want of success in collecting revenue that the miners have not yet fairly got to work but he will no doubt insist on a strict compliance with the established mining regulations as soon as the weather becomes genial and more favourable for mining pursuits. G. The migration of miners to the upper districts of Fraser's River continues unabated. SOO boats, carrying on an average five white men each, had passed Fort Yale previously to the 24th of March, and a greater number of men are reported to have gone towards the same quarter by land, having packed their provisions either on mules or on men's backs to the various diggings, giving thus a collective number of about 3,000 men. 7. Favourable reports continue to arrive from Bridge River. It had just come to Mr. Brew's knowledge that two men had arrived at Fort Yale with COO ounce.', of gold dust which they had washed out during the winter at Boston Bar, 40 m'les beyond Fort Yale. 8. A nugget, weighing 3 ounces less 2 pennyweights, was lately found at Bridge River, which I herewith forward for your inspection, on account of its being the largest piece of gold yet found in British Columbia. 9. I forward a copy of a communication from Mr. Assistant Commissioner Travaillot, dated " Lytton," iGth March. The country was perfectly quiet, and tiie Commissioner was engaged in erecting a small building to serve as Government House, at a cost of 2,100 dollars, 1,000 dollars of which he had already paid out of the proceeds of local revenue, and the balance he would be in funds to meet about the 1st of April. • Nos. .18 to 44 10. The numbers of the "Victoria Gazette"* herewith forwarded will give some from March li'j additional intelligence, which may be interesting. to April 12, o ' J T 1 » „ c 1859. i have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. End. in "So. 4, * Harrisons River. * Seaton Kiver. * Government House, Enclosure in No. 4. Copy of Letter from O. T. Travaillot, Esq., Assistant Commissioner, dated Lytton, British Columbia, March 16, 1859, to Governor Douglas. ]\10NSEIGNEUI!, J'ai eu riionneur de recevoir avani-hier au soir les ordrcs de votre Excellence, en date du 14 .Janvier, ainsi que vos Proclamations du 8<= ct 14"-' Fuvrier do cettc annee. Conformdmcnt a vos onircs du 10 Janvier et ii sa requotc j"al adressu mes rapports dircctcnient a ^lonsleur Brew, ct me prepare a lui transmettrc pour la fin do ce mois un coinpte rendu gC'ncral de finances de ce di.strict. Blen que vos ordrcs soient de corrcspondre directement avcc le Chef Commissionaire, je pense nuanmoins, !Monseigneur, qu'il est de nion devoir de vous informer do la direction que prenncnt lea iiflTaues ptibliques, afin que votrc Exccilcr.ce puissc donuer dcs ordres pour etabllr et malntenir partout le bon ordre. Suivant toutes les apparences, le mouvement do remigration se fera dans les hauts de la RivltTe Fraser ; les mines du canot sont rc'putL'cs trt's riches, et depuls deux semalnes que les voyages ont conmienci'', une grande quantitd de mineurs s'est portcc sur ce point. La lllvlore Salloet* n'cst pns gank'e, et par cette vole doivont passer les a()provislonnements de toute espcce. Le Trosor Public peut-C'tre fustre d'un grand revonu en ne survelllant pas Tembouchure de cettc riviore, qui va dev-..ii' la clef du Ilaut Fraser. II seralt done desirable d'y ctablir au plus vite un poste, do ni'2,100. J'en ai dcjii paye ,<>' 1,000, et suij prt't a j)ayer la balance lorsque la maison sera aclievt'e, c'est-ii-dlrc, fin ^lars. ifc me suis adressc '■ Mr. Brew pour avoir dcs lice- ;s de mineurs, la saison s'ouvrc et de cellcs quo j'ai re^u de votre Excellence a Fort Lanaley 11 no no restc quo 150, qui ne durcrout pas longtcms, vu quo dans deux jours jc serai en route pour collocter, J'ai riionneur, &c. (Signed) 0. T. TuAVAiLLOT, Assistant Commissioner. PAPERS RELAXING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. aOiue, un jiige )mmissioucr. No. 5. Cory of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to tlie Uiglit Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. niiiTixB C'dl rMUIA, No. 5. Sin. CSo. 137.) Victoria, ^'ancollvcr's Island, April IQ, 18.50. ^ (Received May L's, IH.jg.) (Answered No. ;i. .lime 30, \H59, iiiifrc !)". ) I REGiiET to State tliat no small amount of injury has uniioubtcilly been caused to the colony of British Columbia by the owners of il,ie steam boats whici) are now and have been for some time past running on Eraser's River. These individuals are citizens of the United States, and they oppress alike the miner and the merci)ant by their exorbitant charges for passage and freigiit. 2. Tlie rate now levied for the transport of a ton of goods from this phice to Fort Hope is 72 dollars, or more tiian 14/. sterling. The charge made last summer, when 1 possessed the power of regulating prices, was 25 dollars, or 51. a ton from tiiis place to Fort Yale, which is fifteen miles of difficult navigation beyond Fort Hope, and large profits were made at that rate. I fear the owners are now combining to perpetuate the evil by taking out British registers for their vessels, by means of transfers to British sub- jects, which there is every reason to believe are only nominal and fictitious, altliough, ail the requirements of the law being complied with, it is difficult to establish legal proof of that fact. 3. In this part of the world competition is not allowed to produce its legitimate effects ; it is the practice to buy up every rival line, or to pay them handsomely for allowing their ships to lie idle, and the public are charged a higher rate to cover the additional expense which their oppressions iiave incurred. The American Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company is a notable example of this method of proceeding, this comj)atiy having hitherto bought ofl' every line established to compete with it. I will instance another case. Last year a steamboat called the " Maria" was started on tlie Sacramento lliver in opposition to the boats of, I believe, the California Steam Navigation (Company. She was bought oft" by that company. Her proprietor immediately brought her up to this place to run on Fraser's lliver, buying oft' anotiier boat which he on arrival found on the river, and sending this second boat down to San Francisco to commence another opposition on the Sacramento lliver in order to be again bought oft". 4. The Victoria Steam Navigation Company, a British company, who have one large river steamer employed between this port and Langley, are now engaged in building a smaller vessel for tlie higher navigation of Fraser's lliver. The directors of this com- pany lately applied to me for the protection of Government against tlie maciiinations of these foreign speculators. I commented u])ori the extravagant rate of freight, and sug- gested a large I'eduction as the best means of meeting their competitors, whereupon tlie directors offered to provide vessels in sufficient numbers to perform the whole transport business on Fraser's lliver at the rate of 2.5 dollars, or .5/. sterling a ton, provided they were secured against these, in reality American owners of British registered vessels, in the exclusive privilege of navigating the river until the end of next September. MonojiDly would in such a case be a public gain, but being illegal, I could not entertain the pro- posal, though I cannot but regret that, under such circumstances, I have no power by which I could protect the public interest. 5. The directors further assured me that they had been invited by the American owners to join in the combination for maintaining the high rates of freight; but as the directors declined making the statement in writing, no legal use could be made of it. G. The Government legal authorities here are of opinion that we have no ])ower to refuse the change of register from American to British, even for vessels emj)loyed in British inland waters. 7. I transmit a copy of two letters from the secretary of the before-mentioned com- pany, and as the matter is one of much importance to the interests of the colony, as well as being a national question, I should feel obliged if it were submitted for the o])inion of the law oflicers of the Crown, and that I may be informed whether 1 should be justilic'd in withholding a British register from vessels becoming Ihitish under such circumstances as those described, which appear to me simply an evasion of the law. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. B 3 i vw *% I^.VrfHil' V ■J, i r'n I %■ H !(! \ '.Hi 'Jm '' ■)« .' '-'Mti ■ i-'y'¥ ' ■ .>* m I British Com Mill',. Kncl. I in Ho. .' "Maria " ami ' Enk'nirisi'." C( PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Knrlosure 1 in No. />. ii'Y <)(■ Letter from .lames \. Tliniii and Alexander Siiielair Murray, of the Vietoria and Hritish Coluiiiliia Steam Navi^'ation Comjjanies, dated Victoria, April 7, 1H.">9, to (iovernor Dor(ii,.\s. Sill, 1 s cnnformity with the desire expressed by you, at a recent interview held with you on the subject of the navijfatioii of Fraser River, that we should considerably reduce the present scalp of charjres on freijfht to the dirt'erent i)oiiits on that river, we bej; respectfully to make tlie fr>ll()win(! tender: That on conditiim of the exclusive i)rivilevfe of the navijfation of the inland waters hoiim LTantcd to us, as re|)reseiitiii"' the (»nly /«(»./ ////c owned Hritish vessels running on the Fraser Ulvpf ■■- .1. . r- _ 1 .1... TI...I '.'ll^..f > 1 ..II I .^r_'_i.. .i .L _ ' we will carry the Clovernment, the Hudson's Hay Company's, and all merchant freight at the rato ol twenty-five dollars (>''J")) per ton, from this to Fort Mope or Port Douglas, from the time the risiiifr of the water will admit of our steamers reaching those [loiiits to the end of the month of September next. We are induced to make this low tender (the present rate of freight from here to Fort Hope lieinn ^■'i per ton of t;,()ii(ilbs.) in order to protect owners of Hritish steamers built in the colony from the prejudice they would suffer ii' any nominal transfers of foreign vessels be effected, such wo are informed iieing at present contemplated. We have, &e. (Signed) Ja.mms N. Tiiain, Secrctiiry, Victoria Steam Navigation Company. Ai.i;x.\xDi;i( S. Miiihav, for British Columbia Steam Navigation Company. End. 2 in No..'). Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Copy of a Letter from the \'ictoria Steam Navigation Company, and from the British Columbia Steam Navigation Company, to his Excellency Governor Douc.i.as, April 7, 1859. SiK, I\ compliance with your Excellency's desire that we should state in writing the substance of our conversation with you this morning, we willingly repeat the same, feeling that the interests of all British shipowners are at stake in this matter. The owners of the American steamers " Maria," Lubbock master, and the " Enterprise," Wright master, now lying at Langiey on Fraser river, contemplate making a change of register for the purpose of enjoying the trade of Hritish Columbiii, which we contend they are unable to do, from the fact that the vessels are entirely foreign built, and, as such, should be debarred running on British inland waters. Our construction of the law is that a difference exists between the rights of foreiirp vessels, which may become British property, to navigate ocean and inland waters, the latter privilege belonging only to vessels actually Hritish built, and entirely owned by British subjects, unless the persons buying foreign steamers built expressly for inland navigation comply with the English law- previous to \^ol. If such is not the case, there is no longer any jirotection to British shipping. In the intended disposal of the steamers we have alluded to, we also think that the actual require- ments of the law will not bo complied with by the cash payment of the value of the steamers. The acceptance by the owners, of promissory notes accompanied by a mortgage for the value of the steamers, payable out of their earnings, would actually leave the ownership of the steamers in their liands until the profits enabled the purchasers to i)ay ; but as we look upon the matter, the intended sales, being a mere evasion of the law liy the owners, would at once be cancelled, and the payment of the notes would not be enforced should one or both of the steamers be lost before the acceptances became due. 'I'he estimated payment for the two steamers* will be sixty thousand dollars. We may mention that the " Entcriirise" was at one time sold for eight thousand dollars, and the " Maria" was also recently offered for twenty-five thousand dollars. If these transfers are carried out, Ikitish ship interests on the r'raser Hiver will almost cease, as the entire carrying trade w-llbe performed by these and other American vessels which will be sent up from California. In concluding our remarks, we wouUl inform your I'^xcellency that British steamers are now bein<' built in England for the inland navigation of the Fraser River, whose owners would most assuredly not have contracted for them had they supposed that American vessels could be thus transferred to the entire prostration of British interests. W.. have, .*L-c. for the Victoria Steam Nangation Company, (Signed) Jamks N. Tiiaix, Secretary, for the Hritish Columbia Steam Navigation Company, (Signed) Ai.kxaxijkh Sin-claik Murrav. No. 6. No. 6. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor 13ouglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (No. 141.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 25, 1859. t^j,, (Received .hmc 10, 18o9.) 'i^'j'ntor'^'^ I iiAVK duly rcc-fived your Despatch of the l','tli February hist, So.'2Q* expre.ssiiig A^gilliuss", to iiiu the satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government at tlie tranquilhty prevaihng in the pagesr. j»APER.S RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 9 colony of British Columbia, ami commending the eflorts I have made to avoid dr;nvii)>T upon the Imperial treasury thv the expenses of the colony. 2, I need not say how gratifying; is this approval to me. Her Majesty's (ioven.ment may rest assured that I will not relax in tiie ap|)licati()n of the most ri;,'id eeim^'my to the public aflairs of the colony; and I doubt not tli.it, apart from the expenses incurred by the detachments of Royal Engineers and Royal .Marines, we siiall ontiiuie to be able to meet the other expen.ses of the colony, and that ultimately British Columbia will be able to repay the advances made to her by the mother country. 1 have, &c- The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMKS !)0U(;L.\S, &c. &c. Sec. (jovernor. Ui:lTnii ;'nl 1 Mill \, No. 7. Copy of DESPATCH from (Jovernor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (No. 143.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April '25, 18.59. §,j, (Hoci'ivca .luni: 10, lHo9.) Since my report of the 12th instant* nothing of much importance has occurred ' respecting the colony of British Columbia. 2. Mr. Begbie returned yesterday from Eraser's River, after visiting all the settlements as far as the Fountain. The country appears by his report to be everywhere (juict. 3. The Indian population have suffered much privation of food in consequerice of the dearth offish and their natural improvidence; but the white miners were well suj)plied, though provisions were selling at a high price, caused chiefly by the distance from the sea and the heavy expense of transport. 4. The snow w.is still lying deep in many parts of the road when Mr. Begbie le(t the Upper Eraser. The miners were, however, beginning their labours, and were moving into the upper country in great numbers. ,5. The accounts from the mining bars below Fort Yale are most satisfactory. Mr. Perrier, late justice of tlie peace, wiio arrived lately from that part of tlie country, has given me much interesting information respecting the earnings of tiie miners, of which I will proceed to give a synopsis for your information. Hill's Bar, on wiiicli lie holds a mining claim, is yielding more gold than at any former time. The receipts of the com- panies who supply water for sluicing amount to 1,200 dollars a week, and four men took out of one mining claim tliL- large amount of 4,000 dollars' worth of gold dust in six con- secutive working days. Prince Albert's Flat yields from .5 to 12 dollars a day to the man. Emory's Bar was nearly deserted in conse()ueiice of the rush of miners to the upp'.r country. Texas and Victoria Bars are yielding fair wages, ami even as far down and below Fort Hope the miners are doing rcniarkablv well for the season. Tiie bars are now generally deserted for bank diggings above the highest level of the river, and Mr. Perrier is satisfietl that all the table lands between Forts Yale and Hope in the valley of Eraser's River are auriferous, and will yield large wages to the industrious miner. Those diggings arc yet but imperfectly prospected and little known, but wherever exjiloratiohs have been made, a highly auriferous stratum, varying from three to four feet in thickness, has been discovered about eight feet below the surtiice, and my informant further adtls that the surface mould itself contains enough of gold to cover all the expense of its washing and removal. (i. TJie Royal Engineers and Royal Marines have been all safely landed at Queens- borough, where they arc now stationed, and (.'olonel Moody is also at that place making arrangement for their comfortable accommodation and directing the surveys of public land and other affairs connected with his department. Several numbers of the " N'icloria Gazette," as per margin, are herewith forwarded for your information. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JA.MKS DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. No. 7. I'age ; 1 lApril 111 19 31 li'l \ >:,'). B 4 i ^« i: British Cui.U.MIlUt No. 8. April 20 to May lu. 10 PAPERS RFXATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. No. 8. Cci'Y of DESPATCH from Governor Doiigi,as, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lyttos, Bart., M.P. Victoria, Vancouver's Island, (No. k^O.) May 8, 1859- SiK (lUreivfa June 27, ISoO.) 1. The latest advices from British Columbia, report satisfactorily as to the peace anil fjood ordor which reigns in the Colony ; the confidence of the people in its auriferous wealth, notwithstanding occasional fits of panic, is unbounded; but there is a general outcry for better roads into the interior, the dlHiculty of access still forming the great impediment tc the development of its mineral resources. Q. The cos , of transport enhances the price of food, and of all other necessaries of life, from Lytl m upwards ; to an extent which absorbs nearly the whole of the miners' earnings, large is they occasionally are. The production of food by the cultivation of the soil in the mining districts, and the improvement of the Harrison river route into a waggon road, aid otherwise opening the great commercial thoroughfares of the country, are measures of elief to which I have urgently directed the attention of the Commis- sioner of Lands and Works. 3. The extensive plains on the Pitt, Smess, and Chilwhayook rivers, are to be hurriedly surveyed, and thrown into 80 acre sections for immediate occupation for the jjurpose of raising food and retaining a permanent population in the country. 4. Sales of town land are soon to take place at Queensborough, Forts Yale, Hope, anil Port Douglas, which I trust will bring in a considerable amount of revenue. 5. The Custom House receipts for the last fortnight amount to something over 773/. sterling, and will rapidly increase witii the growth and expansion of the country. C. The mining districts yield hardly revenue enough to |)ay their own police expenses, in consequence of the difficulty of collecting the Licence Fee on miners, who will pay no tax except through the force of compulsion. 7. We must, I think, adopt some other system of taxation pressing less directly upon tile individual miner. The miners' right, and the export duty on gold, — features of the Australian system, — recommend themselves from the case and simplicity of their col- lc:tion, and having already the machinery and stafl' required for that purpose. Tiie sti te of the country is, however, hardly ripe as yet, for the imposition of an export duty on gold, but the day is probably not fiir distant when the gold will be exchanged in the country and exported in large quantities by banking and commercial houses, when the difiiculty of collecting the duty will cease. 6. Many reasons induce me to try another plan, which under firm management would I tliink work well. By remodelling the whole system of mining regulations in British CohiUibia, and instead of levying mining fees which would, in that case, be abolished, I would purpose to treat the gold fields simply as crown land, and letting it out in large or snail allotments, on leases at a fixed rent, to any persons disposed to work the soil. The levenue would thus be derived from a Land Rent, and not be levied under the name cf an obnoxious tax, and tenants would be ejected at will on their failure to pay the stipulated rent. I will have more I hope to communicate on those subjects by the next mail. y. Captain Richards is now engaged in Her Majesty's surveying ship " Plumper," in making a survey of the lower part of Fraser's river, and Lieutenent Mayne has been detached to make a reconnaissance of the river to the fountain, with instructions to return by Harrison river for the same purpose, I anticipate much valuable information from the report of that o: icer, which I will forward to you when received. The numbers of the Victoria Gazette mentioned in the margin are herewith forwarded. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M,P., (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, «kc. &c. &c. Governor. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 11 No. 9. Copy of DKSPATCH from Ciovcrnor Dufii-As, C.B., to the Riglit Hon. Sir K. B. LvTTON, Bait., M.P. Goveinment House, Victoria, Vancouver's Isiand, (No. 153.) A iiy 1'2, lS,i9 J5,„ (Received .Inly 11, 18,J9.) I HAVE the honour to acknowlcdffc the receipt of your Despatch of tlie 11th February, No. 20,* referrinks for the same and for your kindness in furnishing me with the Canadian Acts, which will prove of great service in legislating for that class in British Columbia. 8. With reference to your remarks respecting the position of the town, I would beg to state tliat I was guided in choosing Old Langley as the site of a commercial town chiefly by the partiality displayed for tiiat s|)ot by the mercantile community of the country, whose instincts in sucii matters is generally unerring. 4. The place, moreover, possesses great natural advantages for trade, being accessible by land from Semiahmoo, having deep water, a bold shore, and good anchorage. The land is also clear of trees, and was surveyed at a very small expense, and theretbre per- fectly suiting our pecuniary means. ,5. The operation on our part was a financial measure rather than one founded on any cogent reason of policy. The locality was popular, and the land realized a larger return of revenue than any other spot on the river would have done. You will doubtless have perceived fiom my Despatch No. !),f 3rd Novend)er last, that I never proposed constituting Langley the sea-port town of Fra&er's Kivei, for which purpose it would not, in my opinion, have been adapted, owing to the obstructions caused by ice iu the winter, and its greater distance from the sea than the pro])Obeil port of entry, Queensborough. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Ciovernor. BniTisB CoLrMBU. No. a * Vide paptn (irt'Sfnli'd Atiguat 18S9. page 80. t Vide papers presented Aiigu8t 1859. pujie 1?>. are herewith No. 10. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.I'. SiH, (No. LO*.) Government House, Victoria, A'ancouver's Island, May 14, 1809. (Received .Tune 27, 1S.59.) Bv an unexpected conveyance, which is on ti.e eve of departure, I beg to com- nninicate to you the latest intelligence I have received froni British Columbia. 2. In a letter addressed "to the Collector of Customs at X'ictoriaby a Mr. G. B. Wright, a respectable merchant, and dated at Bridge Hiver, Aprii 23rd, some .specimens of native copper quartz and gold are enclosed; and .Mr. Wright states tliat the reports at that time from the upper country are of very rich but shallow diggings ; tliat large quantities of gold were then being taken from the bars; and that a great many of the .sluicing companies who have permanent diggings were commencing work; and also that men were con- tinuing to rush forward to the Upper Eraser in large nimibers. 3. 1 forward herewith the latest numbers of the" Victoria Gazette." I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. No. 10. 1 2 th and Utb May. IIL I t f-' BfflTItH (lOLL'MUl.t. No. 11. I.rtwntetl August. IS.IQ, page Tfi. + Do. ilo .('t x/i 12 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. No. 11. Coi-y of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Riglit Hon. Sir !•:. 13. LvrroN, Bnit.. M.P. Government House, Victoria, Vancouver's Island, (No. 156.) Miiy '23, \85>]i such liberal regulations asniay encourage the exploration of the country by letting out the said lands to the discoverer. 8. I feel greatly obliged for the information you have kindly given me of the practice in other colonies in such cases, which will be of much assistange h> me. y. We propose to abolish the system of licences for digging gold, which at present barely pays the expense of collecting, and to substitute an export duty on gold and a direct tax on miners, from both of which measures we expect to derive a large increase of revenue. 10. Surveys are being extended to all the open districts of land on Eraser's River, so that the country may be laid out for immediate settlement and occupation. 11. I shall not fail to furni.sh her Majesty's Government with copies of all maps and plans which he may prepare, and which I trust may be found useful in awakening an interest in the public mind respecting these colonies. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. i:» Sir, No. 12. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.U., to tlio Right Hon. Sir E. B. LvTTONj.Hart, M.P. (No. 158.) Victoria, Vancouver's I.slmid, Muy 2,'5, 18.59. (KeiTivi'd.Iuly 11, 18.')!).) Having called upon Captain (josset, the Treasurer of IJriti C'olunibia, tofurnisli me with sucli information in connexion with tlie estahiishinent of a mint as he had been able to acqnire previous to his departure from Knjjiand, I received from him tiie enclo:,ed letter, wiiicii in compliance with liis recpiest I forward for your perusal. '2. The only point to which I would desire to draw your attention is the allusion made l)v Captain Gosset to the inconvenience exjierieneed from the want of Hiitish coin in tliis country. This is a serious evil, and if Her Majesty's Government would entertain the siiijgestion of sending out a supply of coin, it would confer a real benefit on the colony. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) .lAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. IlRrriuf CoLtMBIA. No. I a. I Encliwurr. I e country, and )erty, and on a : of the practice aser's River, so Enclosure in No. 12. Treasury, QurenborouRli, British Columbia, Sir, Ai)ril '■JO, 1859. Commissioned by the Secretary of State for Her Majesty's colonics to iiiidcrtake the task of orffanizing a mint (of wliicb an assay office forms a ]iart), sboidu the necessity arise for such an esta- blishment in this colony, 1 made it my rare to study (kindly permitted by their officers so to do) the American institutions of the same class, both in New York and San l'"rancisco, at wliicli places I was unavoidably detained some weeks on my journey from England. And not alone the modes of working these institutions, and the difTercnccs between their arrange- ments and those of the Royal Mint, but I made the effect of tlieir operation upon the condition of tin- people, likewise, the subject of careful inquiry ; for alike in so many respects, as .are the cin'umstances attending the infancy of this colony, to the first conditions of California, that from the errors of our neighliours as well as from their successful measures a wholesome lesson seems derivable and an index obtainalile of the advantage or otherwise of establishing certain institutions similar to those existing in the adjacent gold state. It was with deep interest, therefore, and an anxious desire to arrive at a sound conclusion, that 1 sought information from various classes of persons in San Francisco, including many who had returned from prosperous and non-prosperous ojierations on the Fraser l{i\cr. Not, however, until byi)ersonal inquiry amongst the mining population remaining on the Fraser (pro- secuted in the month of January last), and amongst the miners //( transitu to our gold Helds since that time, as to the feelings of that imj)ortant clas.;, nor (in consc(iuence of the discouraging accounts at the beginning of this year) until the yield of gold seemed to warrant nie in addressing bis Excellency the Governor without danger of error, have I felt myself justified in stating, as I now do, in conlident terms, my opinions that those branches of a mint comprised under the heads of a smelting house .and assay departments should be est.iblished in Queenborough with the least jjossible delay ; not merely as being certain to prove directly benelici.al to the public revenue and to the community at large, but for the broader purpose of developing the wealth and advancing tbe general prosperity of this colony. In California I became convinced of the following points : — 1st. That the establishment of an assay office has qreuthj tended to retain pnpnlation in the state. 2nd. That the public, although not hitherto perfectly satisfied with the arrangement of flie San Francisco Government Mint, yet placed more confidence in tlie smelting and assay departments of tiiat instituti(m than in the smelts "or assays made by jjrivate ])ractitioners. Hy those familiar with the con- fidence justly reposed in the i)rivato assay iiouses of London this assertion might be re.asonalily d()ul)ted, were it not explained that in a new country so few are tbe estalihslicd firms, and so numerous tiic ignorant and questionable characters who embark in all kinds of ])rofcssions, trades, and callings, witli or without the slightest knowledge of the subject or guarantee for integrity, that general distrust in engenderetl against the whole. 3rd. That, therefore, nine-tenths of the gold of California is smelted and assayed at the San Francisco Government Mint; one moiety of the remainder seeming to find its way to the Government Asay Office in New York. C 2 hue', in No. IS. 'H ^ n 14 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Britwii .Uli. 'I'liat nearly, if not quito, the whole of the Uritish C'oluinbiuii gold has been smelted iind assayed CoLi'MDU. at the San Francisco (iovcrinnent Mhit. 5(11. That by u trifling charge [ttsr weight the Bmelting and assaying departments are made self- supporting. ()th. That the mining population of Uritish C'ohinihia, innihle to obtain proper valne for their gold in Hriti.-h ('oliuiil)ia, did, in large numbers, return to San Francisco solely for the purpose of havinjr it axsayet but one o|)inion that the first steps towards the formation of a mint at Queenboroiigh will materially tend to aid every other measure of Government, to strengthen commerce, and to check the nomadic habits of the miner. Hy the admirable express arrangements of the transit houses, the gold will follow one known ehannel, — trade I'ompels this, — and that channel will be to, as it is already by, the declared cajiital of Hritish Colund)ia. At the cajiital, therefore, as in most countries, there should the mint ho established, and not on \'ancouver's Island, as jiroposed by the House of Assend)ly of Vancouver's Island, and, in all respect I venture to think, inadvertently ac(juiesced in by his Excellency the Governor of the two colonies. The very be-^t intentions of so costly an establishment would be frustrated hy taking the gold, for coinage, imi miles across the sea, away to a colony not itself gold producing, nor likely to be otiier than of secondary magnitude as compared with Hritish Columbia, to be again returned with the charge of double freight and double insurance to the producers of the metal. The very eagerness of the Vancouver House i.f Assembly to gras)) at a mint is evidence of this ; the House doubtless felt that a mint in N'ictoria would tend to draw populaticm and trade away from Hritish Cohnnbiii, and to raise their town into the jiosition of a capital to Hritish Columbia, to their own advantage, but to the detriment of their sister colonj-, of which I venture to count myself one humble guardian. Not only, in my humble opinion, does it apjiear imprudent for the Government of Vancouver's Island, esi)"ecially in the present state of its finances, and without any immediate prospect of increased resources, to contemjilate the establishment of a mint for the purpose of coining the metal derived from the heart of a neighbouring colony, but I should even deem it unadvisable for Hritish (,,'olumbia to come to too hasty a resolution on a matter involving, as proved by the cost of the Sydney Mint, 60,()iJO/. to ><(),0(iO/. For although the want of coin, and especially of British coin, at the present moment must be a matter of serious disfiuietudo to his Excellency, yet, on arrival of the bank, expected daily, this griev- ance will beles.-ened by the circidaticni of notes ; and, could the Home Government be induced to send out (not as a loan, but to be repaid in bullion), of, — Sovereigns - - - - .i 60,000 Half do. - - - - '20,500 Florins - - - - 11,000 Shillings - - - - ."),0()0 Pence . - - . '2,500 Half do. - - - - 1,000 Total ^100,000 the grievance would, in my opinion, be removed for a considerable time to come. That under any circumstances of prosperity two mints should be formed, I presume no one would contend ; one has been found amjile for the whole of the Australian Colonies, Van Diemen's Land, and the New Zealands. In that colony, therefore, firstly, yielding the precious metal; secondly, jws- sessing even now, depopulated as it may be considered, the larger iiopulation, and jiromising a jiropor- tion immensely greater, wherefore greater means, greater revenue, and all those many other conditions which would alone juttify Her Majesty's Government in assenting to the introduction of so imiiortant a department; and iii that colony alone should it, in my humble judgment, be understood, that when the ue(;essity arises, there, and not in Vancouver's Island, will a mint be formed. That it would be premature even in Hritish Columbia to establish an entire mint, I have stated, but that the time has now arrived for introducing a portion of such an establishment there I have likewise premised, and now recommend immediate action. I shall therefore propose that I be permitted to communicate with the Commissioner of Lands and Works, in order that suitable smelting and assay buildings may be prepared by the time the subordinate otlicers for these branches may arrive from England; and further, that these gentlemen, three in number, with two assistants, and all the smelting and assaying implements, should be sent out by way of Panama. Should further assistants be required, I have no doubt of obtaining suitable men in the colony for instruction in the manipulations, whereby in three months after the arrival of the party from England PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. l^ I would giianintco to l)i' in a poMitioti to meet tin- i'nu'rj{i'iicy t'xprcxH |iiii'|ii)><(' of rii;;i-iul il('|iartinciit al tin- iml-it, I look upon thi" priM'iiral of at^iKtaiitx in tin' lii>t in>tHn<'i' diri'ct t'nuu llic inotliiT country a* of t)n' ntincwt inipoit- aiicp. A-inaycrs niiKli' I"' olitaincd from ( 'alifornia, Imt for tin- m'iv rcaxint udM'rtrd to in a forint-r part of this report, such men would not invest the dep.irttneiit wilii thit lliornm,'li leli.iliilily which it IS altsnlutely essential that it siiould at once command, not only that it tniv :-iiccecd, hut for tin of the (ioV4'rnnient in so delicate a matter ns the adjuilicatin^ the (juiilily of the preciDUs uu-tal. The expense of such an arrangement will prohahy he, for tiie Krst and second year : — 1 AssayiuK ollicei 1 .Smeltinff ollicer ii Assistants 1 Ac<'ountant clerk Implements Transit of party and stores HuildiuKs ht IM Vi'ur. liixl Vi'i - t-llH) (.l.Vi - 100 4.-,(l - ,>(I0 (KH) - :{(Mi ;l,)() - l..)()0 KM) . ,'l(lll . _ - .'jllO --■ llairuii CoLi kail. l'-i,10() I'l.'J.jd Properly conducted, I sliould have little douht of making aueli a department self-supporting after the first year. As the Master of the lloyal Mint, with whom 1 was placed in eommunication hy the Lords Com- missioners of the 'I'reasurv, will douhtless he called ui)on for report and assistance in this matter, I purpose doing myself the lionour of transmitting him a copy of this report, and addressing him on the suhiect of those nuiny details, which would hut encuniher this letter, and will he nerha|)s hetter arrangcti, heing purely professional, hy direc t corresiioiulence hetween us as professional men. In conclusion, having referred to ihe expense of the Sydin-y Mint, w ithout connnitting myself to any opinion that experience and iniiirovemcnts in tlie manufacture of machinery since IS.Jl uiiglit not enahle a similar departnu-nt to l)e outfitted at a somewhat less cost tiiau (l(),i«M./. to H(Mloo/„ yi't I siiouhl certainly deprecate any attemjit to estahlish, in any of Her .MajestyV colonics, a dcpartincnt of so important a class on any other than the most jjciiect footing. The coinage of ller Ma jc-ty's realm shouhl ever stand j)re-eminent amongst nations; its sterling ipialitics, value, and workmau.-iiip sliould never he sacrificed at the shrine of economy or present convenience. With regard to the a(lo])tion of the c.irrency of the United J^tates, I do not perceive the necessity foi hastily declaring in favom' of a foreign metie; ; nor, in my own oiiiniim, i- there any ground for departing from Tier Majesty's initial coin, the Uritish sovereign, ])ossihly suhstituting for the existing a decimal arrangement proceeding therefrom; of which already there has iieen is>ued(l helieve as a tentative coin) the much-esteemed llorin, the tenth of which might he termed a groat, reuving an old English name of scmicwhat the same wdue, with one-tenth again, as amilormille; such a decimal arranircinent heing that which (I lielievc) would have heen rcconnncnd.-d hy the ('onnni^^ion of In- quiry into the suhject, hut for the one argument, advanced hy dealers who received and dishursed farthings in thousands per diem, viz., that the poor of (ireat Mritaiii would sutler hy the alteration of the farthing, or .J ,';,, of a i)ound to the , „',,,„ an argument which would have no weight here, where poverty is unknown, and where the liKV'its of the iieojile and their prosperity induce a positive disregaril effractions under a o cent (or ahout 'jyi.) piece. It seems jiroper, hefore closing this report, that 1 .should draw his Kx<'ellency"s attention to your letter of the 8th of this month, rely of Vancouver's Island, praying that the (iovernor of X'ancouver's Island would "urge up.in the Home " Goverimient the desirahility of eslahlishing amint" in their colony, to which letter this report, com- menced as soon after the termination of last (piartev as I was ahle to procure from the various dealers accurate statistics of the gold yield, and enlarged to meet his Kxcellcncy's desire for my opinion, is intended as a reply. If in stating my views, when in opposition to thos-e entertained hy his JAcellency, I have hcen led into any observations that may seem ohjectiouahle, 1 imist heg to he excusetatements, than representations enleel)led hy a weak desire to avoid points of the greatest motiient which may be at \ariance with the (iovernoi's sentiments. Having been re(picsted by Sir Edward I.yttoii to place him in possession of uiy ojiinions on the sub- ject of a mint in Hritish (.'oiumbia, so soon as I coiddgive a reliable report through the jiroper idiainiel, I have the honour to re(pu'st that his Excellency the Governor may be pleased to forward the accom- panying coiy of this conununication to the Colonial Olhce. I have, «:c. The Acting Colonial Secretary, (Signed) \V. Ditisc oi.i. CJosskt, kc. kc. . (See. T'reasurer. C .3 *• I h II ■ i liniTiNii C'of.i'MniA. N". i:i. 16 PAPERS KELATINO TO BRITISH COLUMniA. No. 1.'3. Coi'Y of UESPATCn from Cjovi-nior Douoi.ah, CM)., to tlic Hiulit Hon. Sir E. I). LvTTox, IJiirt., M P. Government IIoiiko, Victoria, Viincoiivcr's Lslund, (No. 10,'!.) .hnif (i, \H.V.). Sin, (H.civ.J July !','>. IH.'jO.) Till", nail' of buildinf; lots at tlio new town of (^iicen)tl)oroiij|;li took ])lrtcc on the 1st and '.'nd of llu- pn-'sont month ;it Victoria. y. Till' ri'siilt has proved most Hatisfhctory ns a financial operation, and indicates a general confidence in the future of the colony. 3. 'ilie actual aiiiomit of sales was rather over .S'),()()0 dollars, on wliicli a deposit of 2.5 per cent, was made on the purchase, the renuiinin^ halance to he paid in three equal instalments on the 1st day of .Iidy, .Vujfust, and Scptend)er next respectively. I: ;< IS lots were od'ered for sale, and .U() were sold. IK) lots are reserved for (iitiire sale. I he largest sum realized (or a sinj;lc lot wn8 1,92^ dollars, and the average price of the lots sold was nearly '2[)0 dollars. 5. The accompanyinif statement from the Department of Lands and Work.s Ih trann- mitted (iir yoio' information. It distinuuishes tiie actual simis of money received and due oil the .sale from the amounts already paid on l-anijley titles, which were transferred to Queensl)orouj;h under the provisions of the I'roclamation of 14th February last. It it not impossii)le tliat this concession led in some manner to the high prices obtained for the Queensborough lot.s. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart.. M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGL A.S, &c. &c. &c. Governor. . I Kncl. ioNd. I.". Enclosure in No. 13. UlllTISn Coi.lIMIUA. Sale of Queensborough Town Lot8. Actual amount of sales Amount of instalments received in cash Ditto receivable in cash Amount received in Langlcy titles Ditto receivable ditto ,S89,170 11,363" ,<((!'2,227 11,11)2 15,7.51 ;f'89,170 June 4, 18.^)9. (Signed) Hodt. Hurvaby, pro the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, British Columbia. No. 14. No. 14. Cory of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. Government House, Victoria, Vancouver's Island, (No. 167.) June 8, 1859. (Rpccivod .Tilly 2,5, IS.W.) Sin (Answered No. 16, September '>, 1859, pnge 101.) Since my last report a number of miners, originally from California, have returned to Victoria from the Upjier I'laser llivcr. Many of these men have amassed large sums in gold ; the majority of them have not, however, been so fortunate. 2. They assign various reasons for leaving the country ; some the high price of provi- PAIM-.llS IIKI.ATING TO lUlITISH COI.UMniA. 17 3ritish Columbia. lioni; otheri* « (It'sirc to HOC their frifiidt, and to uprnd a tVw monllii comfortably in Culif'oriiia ; ollicrtt the irrt'nulaiity uod Hliallowni-M of llie diu'^i'iK'* '" ••'i' Upp'T I'Van-r dintrii't; all, iiuwcviT, admit tli.it any indiistiions man cm .it anv Mine ni.iki' Irom funr to Hvf dollars a day, Init owinjj to the lii^ili priro of |)lVJVl^ions that sum wHI noaru'ly muintaiii the miner in that part of the country. ,S, The tost of tran.sport liom Victoria to Lytton is tiio real caiiu* of the hi^h price of provisiiiMs. 4, The rKcr Hleanicrs, however, iiave lately reiliiced their fares, and now make u fcasoiiahle cliarj;e for In i;;lit, prohahly not more than is remunerative. The jjie.il im- nciliiiient to the development of the interior resources of the country now arises trom the want of roads. Ilritisli Colmnhia can never hecome great or prosperous without them, and we purpose devotinjj all our means and energiis in improving the Harrison Kiver road into a good waggon road. ,j. A l)ody of Iloyal Engineers and Uoyal .Marines, tiiniihering about 100 men. aiig- niciiteil by -JO civili.m laboureis, will he iletaehed tor liiat service as soon as I.ieiitenaiil Palmer, who is now employeil in Mirveyiiig the road, has completed his rejiort. 0. The successful completion of this great enterprise will open a .safe, easy, and com- uirutively iiie\pensive route into the interior oi liritisli C'oliimliia, and give f.ieiiities, ut pii'seiit unknown to the miner unit the merchant, t()r the develo|iment of its mineral resources. 7. The j)cople at Port Douglas have expressed their willingnes.s to aid, either by their personal labour or by pecuniary contributions, in this important work; as, however, none of tlieiii are wealthy, their contributions will not lie great, but their zeal lor the progress and prosperity of the country is encouraging to us and very honourable to themselves. h. Another road is now being opened from Fori Ho|)e to I.ytton on the left bank of the Fraser ; it tlillows the valley of the Quiquialla, and from thence strikes Anderson Rivev, which it keeps as lar as Quayome, from whence there is a good road to Lyltou. This route was discovered and ex|)loreii by an inhabitant of Fort I lope, and the people with great sjiirit inunediately raised the sum of 'J.OOU dollars among themselves f<)r the purpose of opening a horse-path, which is made nearly half the distance to (Quayome. Lieutenant Lempriere anil two men of the Royal Kngineers, who were lately sent by Colonel Moody to examine that line of roatl, will report upon it hereafter, and we propose giving further assistance, if re(|uisite, to promote so useful a work. 0. Our latest advices from Fort Yule report that a number of miners had arrived at thut place from the upper country wilii unfavoinable re])orts of the gold districts ; 011 the other hand, the Conuiiis.-,ioner at l.ytton reports that the j)er.sons who have left that part of the country arc a cla.ss that can well be spared, being principally gamblers and idlers, who will not steadily follow any avocation. Tlie feeling against the mining licence fee is very general among the miners, and tiie tax is almost unproductive of revenue. 10. We are now engaged in remodelling the mining laws of British Columbia, so as to approximate them as nearly as circumstances will permit to the mining laws of y\ustralia. 11. We have issued the new Customs Act anil the Alien Act, which I will shortly forward to you. A very interesting report from Mr. Begbie, Judge in British Columbia, is herewith forwarded for your information. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) .lAMFS DOU(;LAS, &c. &c. &c. (jovernor. liNiTim .'oi.eMHU. I r.iii'iiiMiiv. 1 price of provi- Enclosure 1 in No. 14. Sir, .... Viptoria, April W, 1 «.",!». 1. 1 HAVK to report to you my return trim the circuit which I have just liold in British Columbia, as far as the Fountams, to which jjoint I followed nearly tfie course of Fraser River. From thence 1 returned by the Lilloet route and the Harrison River to Langley. 2. I have already had the honour to report for your information the proceedings at Langley, at Fort Hope, and at Fort Yale. 3. Accompanied by Mr. Nicol the High Sheriff of British Columbia, and by Mr. Bushby the Registrar and Assize Clerk, or who at least acted in these capacitie^j, I left Fort ' 'ale on foot on the C 4 Ktulostiri No. 14. I >'rl BniTifin COLUMIIIA. .j l;OLUMll 18 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 28th ultimo with an Indian hody servant, and seven otlier Indians carrying our tent, blankets, and provisions for Lytton on the forks of Thompson's l{ivcr. Actiiifr on tlie suggestions of the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, Mr. Nicol and myself made a reconnaissance of the entire road travelled over, the result of which I hope shortly to be ahle to plot out and ])lace in your Kxcellency's hands. 4. There being a considerahle (|uantity of snow on the ground, we eoidd not follow the mule trail, i)ut kept on the right hank of the I'Vaser River until two or three miles below Quayome or Boston 15ar. There are one or two restaurants on the road, one at Spuz/.en, one at the top of the hill im- mediately above Yale, one at (^iiayonie, and another about IX miles from Lytton ; but we foiind it would have lieeu an extreme inconvenience to have been without a tent and without a suHicient n\i])ply of ))ro\isions for the entire route. It would even be extremely economical to provide at Fort Yale the whole of the necessary stores to carry round the whole way across the portage between Luke Anderson and Lake Lilloet. i'rovisions we found to be at (to us) unusual prices, — flour, r.ft, 20(/. to 2.S'. per lb. until we arrived at Lake Lilloet. T). The trail l)etween Fort Yale and (i)iiayome, by which we advanced, was at that time I should think utterly impassable for any animal but a man a goat, or a dog. It might, doubtless, be very much imjirovcd. In many places a very painful and dangerous ascent and descent of 20 minutes, in the whole cotirse of wliich the traveller depends almost as much on his hands as (m his feet, brings the path to within a few yards of the projecting ])recipice through which a few poimds of powder would have mad(> an easy way. Hut it suggested itself as extremely doubtful whether it would be wortn while at present to engage in any imi)roveinents on this part of the line until the far easier Lilloet route be rendered practicai)le, as it might for a considerable extent very readily be for carts. (). Hetwccn I'ort Yale and (,)nayome there did not appear to be any laud, except a few spots liore and there of a very few acres in extent, capable of cultivation; but the soil was rich and well (itted for roots, and at Spiizzen accordingly the Indians had considerable potato patches; but nothing like an Fnglish farm c(ndd be estal)lished. 7. Above (Jnayome the trail to Lytton ])resents no serious obstacles to prevent a cart road l)ping made, except in two places. The country above Qiuiyome very much changes its aspect. There are almost immediately found benches of fertile laiui, comparatively free from underwood, but tolerably thickly wooded with large trees not more than convenient, however, for farming purposes, which in fences, fnel, and log huts, rapidly consume timber. About half a day's journey below Lytton a con- siderahle enclosure of about 'iOD acres is made by felled trees, a Frenchman, whose name I did not learn, intending to make a farm there; very many such might be made. 8. There arc considerable beds of slate opening on the Eraser River, a couple of miles above Quayome, and these make their appearance two or three times before arriving at Lytton. At the place where I observed the first slate bed there is also apparently a spring highly charged with carbonate of lime, but it does not appear to be abundant, and, as far as I could trace, a])peared to flow l)Ut from a very little distance atiove the bank. Leaves and branches of trees were thickly encrusted witii a chalky or marly deposit, but were not hardened or petrified. There were also on the beaches of the river, often seen limestone boulders ; but 1 did not observe any in situ. There was a great change in the climate after passing the Quayome River; it was much drier, the sjjrings less frequent, the soil sandier, the undergrowth much less dense, and the spruce, hemlock, Douglas, and codars which we had carried all the way from the sea all disai)))eared by degrees, and were replaceil by a ])ine, very similar to the Scotch lir, but with longer spines. The first jilace where we noticed this tree we named Scotch fir point. 9. Lytton does not appear a well chosen site for any town. It is on the higher of two benches parallel to each other and to the River Fraser, the lower one being the narrowest, both terminating in a very stce|) descent, as steep as a man can descend without using liis hands, to the River Thoni|)son, 1 should thiidv :!oO or 400 feet deep. The ujjper jdateau, on which Lytton is ])laced, descends by a similar bank of about 100 feet high to the narrow bench, which again descends by a similar precij)itou3 bank upon I'raser liiver. At the south end of the town there is a very deep gully, which runs a considerable way into the nu)untains on the east of the river. U[) this gidly a road might be brought from the Fraser; if is, I think, the easiest way; but it would jirobably be from 1 mile to \h mile in length for carts. There is only one little rill of water to sup])ly the town; it is adequate for the few houses now there, hut quite insuHicient for a town of any size. Mr. N'icol and myself ascended its course (it is an artificial ditch t)rought by miners) for about 1^ mile, in order to see whether it was larger at its source, or diminished by ]iercolati()n, as we had been told that at that distance it was 15 times its bulk i)elow. We tound that this was an entire misrei)resentation ; we fancied indeed, iiut sonu times entirely changed our opinion, that the stream above conta'ned sonunvhat more water. We had no means of gauging the rill. It is |)rohahly the fact that sonu' water is lost, which by a careful system of w aterproof ])ij ig might be available for the supjily of the tow n ; but at best it would be no more than a tolerably rapid flow in a channel a foot wide antratiou of. Mr. Nichol and myself washed about 20 pans .and obtained 75 cents' worth of gold. The next 6 pans taken from the same spot yielded 2 dollars ; all in rusty scale gold. 15. The singular feature of level benches of various breadth, consisting of vast thicknesses of alluvial deposits, loam more or less sandy, and water-worn boulders, gravel, and pebbles, the benches being of various heights one above the other, parallel in their general direction with the course of tlu' river Tuid the mountains, between which it runs, and generally matched on either side of the river, forcibly recalls the " parallel mountain roads," as they are called among the (irampians in Scotland: wlii.h are now generally accounted for by geologists on the theory of the whole sjjace between the boundary hill .augcs having been originally a vast lake, and of successive elevations of the earth's surface; a theory to wlmli tlie neighbourhood of active volcanic ranges gives much plausibility. ,^V According to this theory, to which Mr. Nicoi and myself gave attention in considering the country, and which seemed to explain all the jilienonKna, and to accpiire additional jilausiliility irom the dirt'ereiit appearances which wc remarked as we jiroceeded, but a detail of which would be out of iilace, a a along the dotted line formed at one time the bed of the lake. The earth's surface was locallv rai-cd so that liniriMi C il I MlllA. ' I '« IlL D i I El! |il; i, H \y\ r TJHiTtsn I'ol.l-MIIIA. 20 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. I) II stood as hiffh iibovc the level of the sea as a a oriffiiially stood. The sudden rush of water swept iiwav by ilt'mi(iatii>n all the jmrtion of the orifjiiial ue|)Osit included between h ii a a. A similar up. lii'aval i\jxn\\\ occiined, wliicii cauM-il the doniulation of the space /' c c />. A third denuded c D d c, and Icl'l the water to How no lonffer in a lake, hut contracted to the limits of a river, in its present bed dd. It is ijrobahle that when so large a lake existed above the Forks, it would arrest as in a trough, exactly as is (lone l)y tiie miner's sluicing' trough at the ])re8eut day, only cm a gigantic scale, all the liner par- tides of gold brought down by the river from tiie mountains in the distant uiijier country. It is pro- l)al)le, therefore, that at tlie distant geological epoch, when a long lake or a long series of lakes extended for many miles above the I5ig Canon, as far as 1 visited the country from about Quayome to some miles above tin; Foinitains, a distance of 80 or 90 miles; the banks and bed of the river below tlie>e lakes was i-nf auriferous, at all events not so highly auriferous as at the present day. But on tiietiieory that the sediment at the bottom of these lakes was all more or less auriferous, and that vast quantities of tiic sediment in successive jiortions were, upon each successive u])heaval of the surface, hurried down bv tile mighty rusli of waters througii the Caiions, and into and over the smoother country below them, "ommencing at Fort Yale, we have again an exact reju'tition of the process witnessed every day in e\(My rocker tiiroiighout the country. An enormous quantity of "])ay-dirt" was at each uiiheaval cast into the vast sluice of the Fra/.er. The scale gold would be all intercented in the rough beds of the river as it successively grooved out for itself another and another cliannel through tiu> ancient bed of the original lake, or at all events in the holes and eddies in the rocks in its passage through the Caiions. This is tiie sieve of tlie rocker, where the scale gold is, unless the rocker be unevenly worked, always retained. The liner particles, — the Hour or dust gold as it is called,^ — would be carried over the sieve by the rush of water on to tlie blanket, and woidd principally l)e retaiiUMl in the first |)art of the lilankot nearest tiie sieve. Hill's Har and Prince All)ert"s Flat, and the district generally from Fort Yale to I'"(irt Hope, acidnliiigly are all impregnated with Hour gold more or less, and generally more so than tile country below, or far lieiow Fort Hope. Hut the whole of the blanket in a rocker is wditli searching, "and is accordingly searched liy tin; miner periodically; and we find "floiu- gold" accordinirly down to I-angley. It is a furtlier corroi)oratiou of this theory, that while Hour gohl does not anumnt to above \'> per cent, of tlie gold found at the Forks, Xo per cent, or u|)wards of the gold found there being scale golil, I have never heard of a single s(!ale being found at or l)elow Fort Yale. 1(). If this view be correct, there are therefore in the benches at and around Lytton dry diggincrs on tlie most enormous scale. The district I visited from Quayome to the Fountains is about "n miles long, and from one mile to five or six miles wide; and in many places \(I0, mw, and 40(1, in some even 1,000 feet thick. Every spadeful I believe to be auriferous. The bed of the river ]iays the whole distance from ,'12 is not unusual. It is, however, probable that the banks high above the river could not be worKed advantageously without the applic^atiou of copious washing, liut the streams from the mountains on each side are very rare, compared with what is found below the Quayome, and water privileges are correspondingly valuable. Tliere is, of course, a never-failing sup|)ly in the Fraser; but many of the benches are 600, and even, I should guess, 1,000 feet Jibove its ))resent I ed (by estimation), and considerable hydraulic works would have to be undertaken, and by very dill'cieiit ditclies, and on diH'erent principles from those now in force. It would be a question of engineering on a large scale. 17. The character of the country at Lytton is preserved all the way to the Fountains, and for as far as the eye can reach ab"ve Fountains, some four or five miles. The whole of the country is tolerably well adapted" for stock. It appears rather too dry a climate for arable cultivation. There is abundance of bunch grass. Water is not everywhere metwith on the benches above the river, but the Fraser is always there. The soil is sometimes covered with shingles, at other times too sandy, but in general a light loam. The pine trees already described appear by their resinous, spiky leaves, which strew the ground ill great abundance, to make it much drier than it otherwise would be. These trees would soon be removed for liring, enclosures, and houses, anil the country im})rove accordingly. There is no under- wood. We jirocured horses from the Indian chief Spindlem for carrying our blankets, &c. over this jiortioii of the route. In consequence of the dangerous nature of one part of the trail, called the " Slide," a few miles above Foster's Bar, 18 miles from Fountains, the mule trail quits the Fraser at Foster's Bar, and ahcciids a small stream to an elevated plateau, desceiuUng by a beautiful valley to the plateaus above the Fountains. On the top of the pass we found (7th April) three lakes all frozen. Mr. Nicol and myself got iilioii one, and found the ice about 4.\ inches thick. This pleateau, however, wherever the snow was cleared away, showed an uncommonly rich vegetation in grass, eijual almost to that on the Pitt Meadows — a tine rich black mould — and uiicomnion advantages (save for its great cold) for dairy farming. It ai)])ear(Hl as if an unbounded number of cattle might be maintained in this valley, or rather double valley and pass, the lower parts of which seemed well adapted for the plough. The ])ass, which we estimated at about lOi miles long from Foster's Bar, opens on the two vast level plains, on the lower of which Fountains is situated. These each of them contain apparently 1,000 to l,r)00 acres, with scarcely a tree or deviation from level, covered only with bunch grass, and terminated on all sides, exeeiit towards the mountains, by ]iiecipitoiis descents towards the river, each of which we conjectured to be not less than 500 feet, so tiiat the upper plateau might be l,0oo feet above the level of the river. l''roui hence ]'"raser's river is seen coming down in a succession of beds in a narrow bed, edged with high narrow lienches from the north-west, closely confined by lofty mountains, from 4,000 to 7,000 feet high. PAPER3 RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 21 d be a question of on the two vast level 1?. On the southern part of the lower plateau are a few houses, stores, and tents. This is 'he Fountains. W(> hati fresh meat here, the iirst since leavini,' I'ort Vale. We found that Captain Travaillot, who had promised to meet tis liere. had left on the previous day. leavinj; won! tliat he would wait for us at the point where the I.illoet trail falls on the Kraser Hiver. " Tlu're were n"tili- cations of the new ditch orders ; and that one Mr. Kelley, who kept store there, was appointed to receive payment of niininj? licences and other (iovcrnnu'ut monies. The price of |)ro\isiniis was higher, if anything, here than at Lytton. T'he place seemed very dull. There were a few niinci , Diiisins u]) and down. Some settlers seemed disposed to huild, hut the majority of those persons I -nw wore an idle look; the hulk of the miners pass along the river far lielow, and. heinir supplied with thiMV own provisions, they do not climb the high steep bank, at the top of which there is nothing to reward then- pains, for the stores are of the connnonest sort, and there are no drinkable iiipiors, nor, so far as I cndd see, any facilities for gambling. T'he spot is jmihabiy the best in the immcdiMte neighbourhood for a town. ll). We left the F(uuitains the same afternoim for the place called I.illoet in this neighbourho il. I.e., the spot where the Lilloet route falls on the Fraser, and which 1 shall dcsiginite i)y the name Cavoosh. The river which drains the lakes .\ndersoii and Seton. and falls into tiie I'raser at this point, is called " Nkoompteh Falls." Hut two miles above the Fraserit receives a considerable iiccc^- gion in the Cavoosh brook, whifli, being easier pronouiu'ed, is preferable, and is used in the loialilv amon" the whites to designate the N'koomtch proper. The trail, which is in general on a bench, with interruptions in some places, i)ut which might easily be made into a good waggon road, passes in lidiu id' the mouth of the Seclat(|ua or Hridge Uiver, at two miles ; and. at I'oiMiniies below Fdunlains, crosse-. bv the ferry recently granted by ('ajitain IVavaillot to Aimable Hoinu>t and Calniel. The toils arc perhaps not too high for the jiresent rates of wages and provisions. The rigiit i^ only granted In, ,i year; an is an abundance of bniicli giMs>, well adapted for stock of any sort. The soil is unilbrinly a ■•• 'i loam, in some plaie.~ of exceediiig richness and friability, degenerating in some parts into satui, in othei , co\,'-ed thickly witii large watiM- worn pebbles. I have already ])ointed out to your Excellency a sketch of the particular plau-.i,; on which wc Mr. Nieol and myself, thought a town could with most advantage be placed. It is on the right bank of the Fraser, immediately above its <'ontluence with the t'ayoosh. 21. Two chiefs, said to be of extensive authority, j)aid me a visit while at Cayoosh. Tiiey com- plained of the c(mduct of the citizens of the 1 nited States in ]iieveiiting them from mining, in destroying and carrying away their root crops without comjiensation, and in laying wiinllv iijion the Indians many depredations on cattle and horses which these Indians informe(i me were in piirt at least committed by " Boston men." On the other hand many cases of cattle st,.aling were alleged by the whites of all nations against the Indians, and stealing indeed of anything which cild by possibility be eaten. For even the cattle which Imliaus stole they did not attem|it to :^el! or make use of otherwise than as food; and it was admitted on all haiuK that many hiindrecK of Indian- IikI died of absolute starvation during the winter. The Indians said that the salmon had failed them miw for three years together. The whites alleged, what is ibvions to everybody, tiiat the Indians are extremely averse to work ex<'ept under the luessure of immediate hunger; and that they are so improvident as rarely to look beyond the wants of the day, and never to consider the wants of a winter beforehand. If I may venture an opinion, I should think that this is much nun-e true of the savages who have never been brought into contact with civilization, than with tlios(> who have hail even a little actpuiiutance with the whites. We foiuul almost everywhere Indians willintr to lalmur hard for wages, and bargaining acutely for wages, and perfectly ac(piaintcd with gold dust ami the minute weights for measuring one and two dollars with. These circumstances are inconsi-t-iit with an utter lioedlessness for next day's provisions; for in all case-, we had to find tlie-e hidians in provisions as well as wages. And the amount of wages fm- tin most abject drudgery to which human laijour can be put (viz.; carrying burthens, being .s.v. ])er day and provisions pretty imiformly wherever we went, shows of itself a very high average rate of profit as the w age> of labour in British Columbia. If this is the average renuuieration of tiie nio>t unskilled laliour, what nii;;|it skilled labour supinu'ted by capital to earn y It was the uniform practice of storekeepers to entrust these Indians with their goorls, generally loolbs. flour, beans, or pork, and provisions for tbeir own subsistence. T'hefts were said to he unkiinwii, and great care taken of their burdens. And these individuals who work I foniul extremely llesliy and hearty. My impression of the Indian ](opulation is that they have far more natural iiitciligenec, honesty, and good manners than the lowest class, say the agricultural and mining populatimi, of any European country I ever visited, England included. At Cayoosh I tried to cause a grand jury to be summoned to present all tiicse uiatteis formally to me ; hut there w ere not twelve Hritish subjects there. D 2 T>RITt sfri-am a(ror(lin;,'ly at i)resL'iit. llie muleteers projmse to l)ri(l;,'c tin- f^tream before the summer Hoods set in. They have already l)rid{,'ed it in one plaep^ between Lake Setnn and Lake Ander.-ion, at tlieir own expense, ,S'lH(l. Witii one exception, tiiere is no l)ri(if(e on the Lilloet trail eomparable to this, and witli that one exeeption (worth perhaps ,<.'S(i to SW>)h no ten bridges on tliat trail are together as considerable. This part of the route might l)e easily made a good carriage road by means of two bridges; one of which, however, on to the IxMich at Cayoosh, woidd be a considerable undertaking. Tlie rest of the distance would be a very simple matter indeed; the ground is flat and tolerably clear, the bottom very sound, large coarse gravel affording excellent foundation ; and there is on different slides from the cliffs any amount of beautiful naturally broken Macadam of any size. The actual trail, shrinking from crossir.g the stream, follows generally a narrow, rocky, precipitous winding goat path along the cliff. The mules follow the other trail partly. 23. On T-ake Seton there is excellent access to, the water: it never freezes. There are here two or three ho\ises used by the boatmen and muleteers. This little settlement, I suggest, may be called Seton-foot. There is a very good whale boat and a scow in bad condition on this like. The mountaiuj come down on it so steeply for the greater part of its length on both sides, that I should consider a road out of the (|uestion. At the upper end there were also a few houses and another boat buildjnir, probaldy launched by this time. It is stated that from the jioint where the Nkoomptch and the Cayoosh join the valley of the f 'ayoosh jiroper leads to another large lake, which leads to a pass, the other side of which descends on Harrison Lake, a distance of three days. This point of junction of the C^ayoojh and Nkoomptch is of course below Lake Seton; it would of course be extremely important to discover such a ]iass. as it would be shorter than the present Lilloet route from the mouth of the Harrison River to the r.iiildle Kriser, es])ecially having in view the very bail access to the upper ends of the Lilloet and Harrison Lakes at I'emberton and Douglas. I conceive, however, that a shorter way may he found which will uot pass over any part of the Harrison River, and which may ])roceed by' this Cayoosli Lake across S(mie pass yet to he discovered, down upon a very long valley which opens npnn Fraser IJiver from the nort-west, and falls upon Fraser's Uiver about 1.") miles aln)ve the Harrison, iuiii which was iu)ticed last .lauuary and marked in tlie reconnaissance then made. There are a few houses at the u])i)er end of Lake Seton, which I suggest might be called Seton Head. 24. From Lake Sefon to Lake Anderson about 1^ mile is i)racticahle for a cart. There socms very little fall in the stream which runs from oiu' lake to the other. It might probably be canalized at u;i great expense. A steamer could then go from the upper end of Lake Anderson to the lower eiui of Lake Sct(ni without unloading. 1 calculated the lengths at lo.V to 14J miles for Lake Seton, and 12i to l.'i miles for Lake Anders(ni. They are generally reckoned three miles longer each of them; but boatmen usually exaggerate, and I was as cnreful as 1 couhl, and reckoned both by estimation and time. A steamer would be very useful, as we found on all the lakes. On every one we found either a dead calm, or a fresh breeze blowing up or down the lake, sometimes both ways at the different ends, which greatly delays the navigation in the row boats now in use. On two lakes we had favourable winds ; on two we were delayed for 24 hours by contrary winds. 2o. At the upper end of Lake Anderson there is a pretty little site for a small town. The Lilloet trail properly so called commences here; it is a cartway for some little distance; it might very readily and for a few hundred dollars l)e made practicable for carts for some miles; indeed, at a very small expense, for the whole distance to Lake Lilloet. It generally follows the old I'ldian trail, which may be seen here and there swerving to the one side or the other. It only deviates in two places : close to Lake Anderson, and again a few miles before arriving at Lake Lilloet, in l)oth instances apparently to avoid bridging >treams which the Indians forded, and which could be bridged, the first for a very few score, the second for a very few hundred dollars. The deviations in each case apjjcared to be rather for the w orse. There are many places in which a slight deviation and the removal of a lew barrow loads of earth or of a tree or two would have effected a great improvement, but there the trail was followed. The other deviation, near Lake Lilloet, leads by a shorter road over a hill to the lake. The Indian trail proceeds down the watercourse to the river Lilloet, scmie few miles above the head of the lake, where there are reported to be some live or six s([uare milcsof exceedingly rich prairie land. If the road were carried by a l)ri(lge across the Homush or Xoblish Uiver, and again across the Lilloet, it would run nearly (m a level all the way from Lake Anders(ni, and would open out this fertile vallev, and fall on the Lilloet Lake at a point nuu'b better adapted for a harbour than that selected, and which is only a])proacliahle within three-(iuarters of a mile when the lake is Hooded. On neither side of the lake, indeed, is tliere any space for even a goat-path, unless it were hewn away. IJut on the side actually chosen (the east or left side) there is for miles from the lake no place where three houses could he jihucd together, the ground is so excessively rocky and irregular, and there is no natural facility for forming a harbour. On the right side of the lake there are two islands, which seem to invite a couple of spars to be laid, which is all that is necessary to form a beautiful harbour; and the country, onfc escape a couple of hundred yards from the lake, is capable enough of being built on. There is at i)resent a complete inouoi)oly thrown into the hands of the restaurateur in the only building at I'emberton. 20. Lake Lilloet is (piite impracticable, I conceive, for a road along its shore. The terminus at the lower end (where tliere is also a restaurant) is very badly placed, and the jieople were about to remove it 4()u or .Olio yards lower down. This lake connects by a twisting ra])id stream of about l,2()o yards with the little Lake Lilloet, extending six miles further. This may at some future day be canalized, sn as to allow a steamer to run about 21 or 22 miles without unloading. At present the navigation of the upper lake stops al)ove the rajiids; and as a good level road may easily be made ah)ng the edge of tlie lake on the left shore, where the ground is flat, well wooded, and not too much underwood, not sub- PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. U nt of departure, is in le muletuers propose fed it in one place, ine exception, tliere tioii (worth i)erliap8 s part of the route lii'Ii, however, on to distance would be a I very sound, large from the cliffs any inking from crossir.ir long the cliff. The There are here two ^rgcst, may be called ike. The mountains ; I should consider a lother hoat building, tell and the Cayoosh L pass, the other side ction of the C^iyoosh mportant to discover f the Harrison River r ends of the I.illoet shorter way may he nay proceed by this [■y which opens npnn ve the Harrison, and lore are a few houses cart. There seems irohably he canalized iidcrson to the lower niles for Lake Soton, longer each of them; 1 both by estimation I every one we found ■s both ways at the i>. On two lakes we 1 town. The Lilloet it might very rcadilv deed, at a very small idian trail, which may 1 two places : close to instances apparently d, the first for a very case appeared to be the removal of a few int, but there the trail he lake. miles above the head lingly rich prairie land. :ain across the Lilloet, out this fertile valley, at selected, and which leither side of the lake, he side actually chosen ouses could be phued ■al facility for forming to invite a couple of lid the country, onre iig built on. Tliero ,n the only building at The terminus at the were about to remove 1 of about 1,200 yardi ire day be canalized, so sent the navigation of lade along the edge of di underwood, not sub- ject to overflow— in short, very well adajited for a road— not much use can perhajis at jiresent be made of this lower or smaller lake. 27. Kor 20 miles further there might easily bo a cart load carried down the Lilloet, which it would prolialilybe necessary to bridge twice. Mr. Nicol coiijei tuied that a good bridge niigtit cost ,v'8(M) or *;l,000; but this was, of course, an estimate of the loosest dcscriiitimi. There arc some very curious hot wells about 13-^ miles from the lower end of the Lilloet Lake. The water issues from a mass of conglomerate, six or eight feet high, and the same width, partially imbedded in the hill side. From the eenrrc issues the hot sjiring, large enough to fill a trough of the urea of four inches scpiare, probably at a hci'^ht of about two feet from the bottom of the rock. On each side, out of the same mass of conglomerate, there issues a spring of cold pure water, of about the same bulk, and all three unite in a small ])ool, and form one stream, wliicli fnlls into the Lilloet about 100 yards off. The trees in the lieighbourliood are of a singular vijiour and l)caiity ; both hemlock, cedar, licc, and also maple and other deciduous trees. The water is extremelv soft and ai'ioeable to wash in; it has a slight suliiliureous taste, and also is slightly chalylicatc. It das a very perceptible odour, but is perfectly clear and colourless. We had no means of testing its tciiipcraturo accurately, but even after some admixture of the cold springs, it is hotter than the iiaiul can bear. I should say probably 140° I'". \\"e gave to it the name of St. Agnes' \\\'\\. 28. The last 15 or 'JO miles of the trail towards Port Douglas undoubtedly jnesent greater dillicul- ties than all the other part of the Lilloet rimte; and the worst [lart is tiiat immediately falling on the Harrison Lake, which at present terminates at Port Douglas. This situation, though romantic and beautiful, and offering to vessels lying in its little lake a secure harl)our during seven or eight months in tiie year, has such natural defects tiiat nothing imt nece-sity can justify its adoption or retention for a nunncnt. Kor four or hve moutlis in the year, if not for a longer period, it may be said to be inaccessible either by land or water, except on foot. It is situated at the foot of a hill; the trail ascends fVn- upwards of an hour immediately from high- water mark ; and we found the greater part of this hill encundiered with snow to such an extent ( fstli April), that pack mules could only make 10 miles in two days, and were marly exhausted with that distance. In summer time the snow will not be there, but the waters will then be out ; and ii is to bo apprehended that some jiarts of this trail will be less ])assable in June than in April. Tiie snow, tlniui.di often four and five feet deep, had begun to melt a good deal during the day, though it geneially froze again at night: and the trail was in seveial ]ilaces for 100 yards ankle deep in water; indeed, it often appeared as if the trail had been led into and along the dry bed of some watercourse by the persons who under- took to make the trail ; a plan which is open to the olycction that when the waters are out, and a mad is most needed, the road is at its worst. This observation is not to be conliiied to the [xirtion of the trail next Port Douglas; on the contrary, this part shows more freciuciit indications of the hand of man than any other portion of the route. At one point, however, it is pnrticularly annoying to find that tiie. trail is conducted up and along some rather unusually broken ground into the very centre andstrengtli of a waterfall of considerable size, far more than sutHcient to turn any ordinary mill ; and although we were able to s('ramble round it at a considerable risk of a tumiilo and ankle dee|) in water, it is probable that neither mule nor man can pass there in June. Neither mule nor man could have stood on the trail when we were there. The waters were not out when the trail was laid out. .Xnd it is of the utmost importance that the whole locality should bo carefully surveyed before tiie floods, and then again when they are at their height. 29. To return. Behind Port Douglas there stands this ditllcult hill; before it lies a frozen lake for four months in the year, and when it is thawed (it had been (piite o]ieu for some time when we were there), this little lake, about 2,000 yards long by 'JJO to GOO wide, communicntes with Harrison Lake by a tortuous, shallow, rajiid stream, bearing only 12 inches water at its siiallowest part (I9tli April). There is some flat land at the mouth, on both sides, but ou the right bank lialile to overflow ; on the left dry; but both are liable to bo frozen ui), by an unimportant bar of ice, however, conii)ared with that which olistructs Port Douglas. It is always referred to by storekeepers and carriers as the very worst and most diflicult jiart of the whole trail to effect a transit over the frozen inner lake. A road might easily be constructed of a mile and a half in length along the left shore of this lake to the flat in (piestion, whi<-ii, however, will never be a good site. Better, however, than the ])resent, which, if even tiie narrow channel and jiill be dis- regarded or improved, has an irremovable objection in its ice, which this plan would avoid. An appli- cation for the ]mrcliasc of all this flat has been made by a man named Duncan liobertsou. There has been no measurement; it may be only 20 acres, but I should think nearer 50. It is densely wooded; so is all the valley behind Port Douglas. 80, On the right bank of the Lilloet a large flat is formed, analogous to the delta at the mouth of many rivers, at present bearing a most magniticent growth of timber, principally cedar and hemlock. The soil is alluvial and decayed vegetable matter, forming a rich red mould. One or two small streams from the mountains north-west of the Harrison Lake fall throuidi it. It is possilile that a town might be raised here. In many respects it would have great acbantan-es. It would have an open port all winter, and a level road up the valley of tiie Lilloet. Whether it could be carried up that \alley for four miles (where we (|uitted the stream), or even higher, by crossiiu'-aud re- crossing the stream, .Mr. Nicol « ill iiroliably report. We per end of Harrison Lake is strewn, and which far surpass anything I liave ever seen. We atte;^r!fed to ascend it in hopes of arriving at some level ground which we had lieen assured exi>ts at a distance of three miles from the lake, and accessible for navigation; but although the river is navigable Dii Coi.fMIUA. il u PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. \ Bbitish f,r oanoes, we satisfied ourselves that steam navigation was impossible. There is a fall of 15 feet in the t CoLiiMiiiA. i^-() yiirds iiiiincdiatc'ly above tlie lake, and a tortuous channel besides. l '~'~ ;^l. IJad a.s any harbour nuist be at this end of tlie lai.) I HAVE duly received your Despatch No. 3'2,* of tlie I5tli March, in reference to the admission of barristers and attorneys to the Court of Britisli ('oiuinbia. 2. The liberal measure of allowing foreign coun.sel to practise in the Court of British Columbia has been attended fortunately by no evil effects, no foreigners having either practised in the Court or otherwise derived any advantage wiiatever from tlic concession, one cause for whicii may be assigned to tlie fact that the country has enjoyed a singular degree of quiet, and almost an exemption from troublesome litigation. 3. The privilege granted by the order of Court in tavom- of attorneys and solicitors of the Supreme Court of the United States expired yesterday, and will not be renewed, a^ numbers of English lawyers have arrived, wiio purpose residing here permanently and practising both in the Courts of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.R (Signed) JA.MES 1)(>»UGLAS, &c. &c. &c. G No. }•'). * Vide papen presented Au|.Mist 1S39, |Kit!e si. Si ovenior, '. 15. Kkgdik. • '..ii, D4. S6 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. L tOLUMn Bmnsn CoLUHnu. 'i [i=! No. 16, ♦ Vide p»per« presenti-d August 1859, page 82. I KncloBure. No. 16. Copy of DESPATCH from (lovcmor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. n. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (No. 182.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, .Inly 2, I8J9. (Received AiiRiist 26, 18.")9.) Sjr (Answered, No. 24, .September 23, lHo9, im{,'o 102.) I HAVE had the honour of receiving your De.spatcii No. 48,* of the 1 1th April last, having reference to the disturbances which occurred in January last at Fort Yale, and forwarding for my i'.ifbrmation the co))y of a letter from Lord Naas, with an inclosurc from the Ciiief Inspector of tlie Conslabiilary in Ireland relative to the request made tor a body of the Irish Constabulary to be sent to British Cohunbia, and representing the necessity for further information upon various points of detail mentioned. 2. I iiave given immediate attention to that matter, and have the honour to forward herewith a statement which will su])i)ly tiic hiformation eqnired. 3. Wjth reference to your remarks respecting the inability of Her Majesty's Covern- ment to undertake the expense, partially or otherwise, which the proposed police force would entail, I have only to observe that in such case it will be advisable not to send out the force, as it is impossible to raise money in the colony at present to meet tiie ex|iciuli- turc th.at would thereby be incurred ; and, moreover, the military force now in Hritisli Columbia and the gradual accession of a British popidation render the step every day less a measure of necessary safety. 4. The population of British Columbia would, as you correctly surmise, zealously come forward if required for their own protection ; but it has always appeared to me a most dangerous policy to put the sword into the hands of aliens who have no love for Hritisli institutions, and who might tinn it against the Government whenever it suited their pur- pose. The geographical ])osition of British Colimibia itiust be remembered, and it also must not be forgotten that until lately British subjects formed but a small portion of the multitudes that poured into the country; and although I firmly believe that among the thousands of j)ersons who have since departed from the colony scarcely one British sub- ject could be found, still even in the population that remain the proportion of British subjects is far from being in the ascendant. The difficulties attendant upon the employ. ment of a volunteer force upon occasions of emergency are consequently great ; but, apart from other considerations, there is one very grave objection wliich particiilarlv presents itself. In a gold-producing country men cannot and will not render their ser- vices to the Government gratuitously, and the amount of recompence they expect is exorbitant. Upon the occasion of the disturbances at Fort Yale certain volunteers were employed by Colonel Moody. These men cheerfully and most zealously afforded their services, so mucii so, indeed, as to call forth a warm letter of commendation from Colonel Moody ; but they demanded 5 dollars a day for their services and as compensation for their loss of time, and under the circumstances I was compelled to meet the demand. I am strongly inclined to believe that, as a measure of wise policy and of sound economy, it is beyond doubt advisable to employ none but British subjects in protecting British territory. 5. I have read with due attention your remarks respecting tliC provision to be made for the repayment by the colony of the advances made from the mother country for the equipment and conveyance to British Coluinbia of Colonel Moody's party of Royal En- gineers. The colony is most anxious to acquit herself of every obligatior conferred upon her, and she is quite capable of meeting all her civil expenditure in a befitting and proper manner, but the cost of the maintenance of the military force, with the heavy charge tor colonial pay, is at present more than her finances can bear. The development of tiie country has been stayed for want of fimds, and the amount of revenue basin consequence fallen fiir short of my expectations. I cannot refrain from remarking, however, that the expense of sending the Koyal Engineers to British Columbia is a charge than can scarcely with perfect justness be assigned to the colony, seeing that after all the object in view was one purely of an Imperial character. But be that as it may, Her Majesty's Govern- ment must be lenient and kind, and must, until tiie colony is in a condition to discharge her liabilities, look for lepayment in the acquisition of a magnificent domain, which will give an expansion to British trade and influence in this part Oi' the world that now can be sufficiently appreciated, and which was imattainable by other means. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. PAPERS RELATING TO DRITISH COLUMBIA. 27 Enclosure in No. Hi. niiTisa ClII.L'MllU. Aniwers to the QuF.sTiovs proposed by the Inspector Oeneriil of the Irish ronstjihulnry, ilated End. In No. 16. .March 1.^, \M'J, aw\ Corwiirded in Lord Niias letter of the iJlst March, relative to semlinffnut part of that force to British Columbia. 1. What number of men of each rank, Head Constables, Constables, and Sul)-Con- stablos, would be recpiired? Kone of the superior ranks would be required, as there arc in the Colony many a))plicants for employment of such capacity, ollicers who have served in the army, &c. The foUowinj,' establish- ment is proposed, of whidi the constal)les and the sub-constables only need be sent out : — '2 Sub- Inspectors. G Head Ctmstablea. 25 Constables Serjeant. 117 Sul)-Constable8 or I'rivates. 2. Would the men be required to engage for a particular jieriod of service, for an unlimited period, or ujjou what other conditions in that respect f For six years. ;i, Upon what conditions would they be en- gaged in regard to retiring allowance or pension, and would i)ast service in the Constabulary at home be recognized and allowed for? No retiring allowance or pension could be ac- corded by the Colony, but a free grant of six acres of land after six years' faithfid .service in the Cidony would be made to them by the Colony. 4. Would married men, or what poiticn of tiicm, be accepted .■' ^Iarrieng as liis scanty stociv of provisions lasted, the adventinous iiiiner was content; but when the winter aj)proaclied, and the rugged mountain passes no loii'or afforded the means for introducing further su|)i)lies, he was exposed to |)rivatioii ami liarilsliips of no ortlinary descri|)li()n. Numerous were the departures from the country in consequence, and those leaving did not lail to exaggerate their ills and to spread abroad reports most unfavourable to the country. This might naturally have been exjjected to some extent, under any circumstances or condition of the country; ibr, the wildest notions being entertained of the facilities which existed for acquiring instant wealth, dis- gust and ill-feeling soon followed the non-veali/ation of extravagant expectations; but had the means been at my counnand, nnicli might have been avoided. I used the most strenuous efforts to facilitate the introduclioii of su|)plies, l)ut my resources were limited, and I could only partially open one route, although 15,0U()/. fiom the revenues of the colony were expended in the object. The diHiculties to be overcome in opening out the countiy of Hritish Columbia are of no ordinary character, and the expense attending al! works of labour is enormous ; but I do not despair of the benefits resulting in time re- paying tiie outlay. In another Despatch of this date I have mentioned that the colony can and will support in a befitting maimer all her civil staff, large as that staff is, in con- sequence of t.'ie extensive nature of the country and the scattereu condition of the inhabitants; but the cost of the military establishment is a charge that she cannot at present find the means to meet, for it alone would more than absorb tiie entire revenue of the colony; and, therefore, for the present, we inust earnestly hope that the mother coimtry will be kind and generous, and will not refuse her aid to this her youngest, but not least valuable colony ; for the day will undoubtedly come, and may not be fiu' distant, when the possessions of Great Britain in this part of the world will exercise no insignifi- cant or uninq)ortant influence on the fast-spreading interests in the Pacific Ocean of other great nations. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. iScc. &c. Governor. No. 18. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. B. LvTTOv, Bart., M.P. Government House, ^'ictoria, Vancouver's Island, (No. 185.) July I, 1S.J9. Sir, ( Hi'ccivcif August L'G, 18J9.) The latest intelligence received from Mr. Sanders, the Assistant Gold Commis- sioner for the district of Fort Yale, is very interesting and of a cheering character. 2. That gentleman in his last report, dated the 2Stli Jinie, states that accounts from Prince Albert's Flat continue to be favourable, and the miners who have taken up claims there assure him that the Pay Streak yields 5 cents to the p.in, which they consider a fair return for their labour; and Mr. Sanders is of opinion that the Flat, which is of great extent, will afford profitable employment to hundreds of miners for years to come. 3. A mining bar, about sever, miles above Yale, commonly known as Sailors Bar, which is occupied by a person named Mead and another, who are the sole grantees of two springs yielding sufficient water to supply three sluice meaos, are making, according to their own statement, .50 dollars to the m< n a day. In consequence of the small supply oi water on this extensive bar it is unavoidably monopolized by these two men, and will afford them employment at the same rate of remuneration f()r many years to coitie. 4. Sonic Chinese miners have settled on an elevated bank on Eraser's River beyond Spuzzem, and as there is no water on the spot, and their own small means are insufficient to bring in an artificial supply from the neighbouring mountains, they convey tiic soil for washing in wheelbarrows to the river's edge, a fact which goes far to prove the extreme richness of the deposit. 5. Tiiesc elevated banks have long been known to be rich, but there being on many of them no natural supply of water, it will require a considerable capital to bring in supplies of that indispensable element. 0. The ditch on Etnory's Bar has been moved back, in order to facilitate the working of the bank, which has, however, not proved so productive as expected. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 9tf o ic Ocean of other jiiver's Island, 7. The mineis 011 Hill's Bur aiv siiikinj? sliufh in tiii' inonntains in rear of the bar; nRiTiMi but when Mr. Senders last visited tlie spot, on the 'Jlst June, they li;id not attained to a C'li mbia. sullicieiit deptli to determine the value of the auriferous soil with any dei,'ree of positive- ~~^ ness; tlie miners were, however, (piite satistied from the indications of tjie bods of eurlb liiat their eniieavours were likely to prove succes.sful. 8. Mr. Sanders laments the jjreat loss of ij;<)ld arisini,' from careless working and the • want ot ])roper means to retain the "rusty gold," and remarks that one-halt' at leii>t t)f the fine {jold escapes on the surface of the water used in washinj^, nor will •* rusty goM" anialjianiate with quicksilver, ami he states, in proof of the superliciid, ineUective manner ill which the digfjings are worked, that an experienced ami well-informed diteh-owner assured him that he woidd have no hesitation in undertakiiig to work over again those parts of Ilill'.s Bar which are suppose to be exhausted, with a certauity of reali/uig trom (j dollars to ms that sweep tlnouj;h the town of Douglas, and 1 have no doubt that the enterprise of Mr. McDonald, the spirited proj)rietor, will meet with ii rich rewaril. yfi. Coloiiel Moody is making great efforts to bring surveying parties rapidly into the field, but the survey of the site of Queensborough, and other necessary work, has led to nnavoidable delays, and no country land has as yet been brought into market. There is much popular clamour on that account, and should the pressure for land be great, I think it will be ailvisable to meet the emergency by establishing some temporary system of occupation, which woidd enable settlers to hold and improve certain specified tracts of land under a pre-emption right until the surveys are completed, when it might cease to be in force. 27. The declared value of imports into British Columbia for the quarter ending the 30th June amounts to 21.7,755 dollars (JG cents, and the revenue derived from customs duties for the same period amounts to 4,133/. lG.v. 28. There is some excitement at present about the gold diggings of Queen Charlotte Island, and application has been made to me for aid and protection on the part of the Government. 29. If a party of sufficient strength for self-protection can be united for the purpose of exploring that island, and developing its mineral and auriferous resources (which I believe to be valuable), and thus form the nucleus of a settlement. I will at once enter into communication with the senior naval officer present, requesting him, if possible, to detach one of Her Majesty's ships now here to accompany and give the party such aid and assistance as may be requisite on their first landing, and to remain near them until they can construct works for their protection against the natives, who are numerous and troublesome. 30. I have only further to report the general tranquillity and welfare of the colony. The numbers of the " Victoria Gazette" mentioned on the margin are herewith enclosed. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. PAPERS RELATING TO IJRITISH COM'MniA. 81 No. 19. Corv of DESPATCH (Vom (Jovi-inor DiurjiAs TR, to the Rijjlit Hon. Sir E. JJ. LuioN, Halt., M.I'. (No. 189.) Victoiiii, V'liiicoiivei's Island, .Inly (i, IH.O;). (HiM'iivnl All;iii-I '.'(!, |H,*,<».) J. (Aiinivcri'il, Nil. l.'i, Sc|iifiiii>cr ."i, iH.vi, pimo inn ) I IIAVK the honour to forwaiil to von lu'iewiih (or } mr appioMil aiul iDiifinnaliop a return ot lliu provisional apiniintimnts I liavo niaiK" to oHIi'cs, wliiiii thiic was an absolute necessity lor CHtalilisliiiig in Mrili.sh Cohnnhi.i, lictwceii the Isl .lannary anil dOtli June 185!». I have, i^c. The Right Hon. Sir E. 1). Lytton, n.nrt., iM.P. (Signed) JAMES DOfCJLAS, &c. &c. i"vc. liovciiior. Hritihii Cm iMiiii. Nil. I 'J. Knrl \>*.V.), and now ;ct above the water. The bank on the o])])ositc side of the Fraser is in three benches, the highest i)eiug about 600 feet, and the river is ■~>7C> feet wide at this season. The ojipositc bank of the Tliom])sou is about the same height as Lytton. The Thompson Bivcr is aboiit loii yards wide at its mouth, atul there is a horse ferry accross it for trains going to the Fountain, ire, \:c. It is always blowing liard from north or south, the latter wind prevailing in summer, and the clou(is of dust winch continually sweep across the flat make it anything bat a desirable spot for a residence. We left Lytton for Kainloops, a post of the Hudson's Bay C'om])any on the Thompson lliver on the afternoon of the 9th of Maj', and followed the south bank of tiiat river for ;• or 10 miles, when we ascended a steep hill for iibout 1^ miles, and came to a valley extending about 10 miles to the eastward, well covered with grass, and hemmed in by nills Too or 800 feet high. From this jioint the aspect of the country became much mo-e ])romising than the valley of the Fraser. After traversing the whole length of this valley, we went down upon the \icola lliver, and fording it, followed its left bank till we came to the Nicola Lake. The Nicola Kiver is far prettier than any others I have seen in the country. It is very rapid and full of small islands ."nd sand banks, and winds along in reaches of about half a mile long. At each bend there is a flat U Ti or acres of clear grass land which would be very valuable were they not constantly flooded in summer; in sonu< places the banks are high enouub to prevent this, but generally the soil does not appear to be so good as where the banks are low, and the rise of the river is so different in different years that it would recpiire a residence of sevoral sunnners to know which arc Hooded and which are not. Another great drawback io agriculture is a deposit of nitrate of --oda, which though we first noticed it here appears, more or less, through a" the country. Mr. McLean, the officer of the Hudson's Bay Comjiany in charg" of Fort Kamioops, told me that where it is in large (|uantities it destroys wheat, but that it has very little effect on vcgetiibles. Bchmd the flats tl mountains rise from 3oO to 1,000 feet, but though some are blull's of trap and sandstone, far the greater number are covered with grass nearly to their summits. The banks of the Nicola are for the most part of clay, nearly iierpendicular, and averaging about 2o feet high, but in some places they are LJo feet, and in others only a few inches above the water, even at this season, and lined with poplars and willows. The bed of the Nicola is mucii higluT than that of tb" Thompson, there being about 1,100 feet difl'erence between the places, where 1 left the latter and joined the fonner. E 4 ItltlTISIl Ciii.iMm.\. Sub-Ijicl. in Nu. 21. 34 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. il BniTisn About 1"< niilcH Ijcforu cnminf,' to the Nirola lake, there is a valley extending to the northwards CoiUMiiiA. or (I miles wide. It is not (luito level, but the soil appears good, though I'ke all this country, too ^— sandy for an Knglishman's notion of rich land. It is well covered with grass, and there are not more than 10 or l."i trees to an acre. The hills bounding it are from 700 to 1,000 feet high. Indians sny there is a lake in it running nearly parallel with Nicola lake. The Nicola or Sinrdiaatlon Lake lies nearly north and south, and is about 14 miles long by 1 to 2 wide. The banks are low and covered with grass on both sides. There is not much good land on the west si0 feet high, on ascending which there is a grass plain ;) or 6 miles long, and from that to the River Dc la Cache is all good grazing ground, and indeed, I might almost sav, all the way to the Pavilion. There is a small stream, 2 yards wide, between the ii\ers Di'faut and iDe la Caclie, which is dignified by tlie name of Couteaux River, and here we left the Thompson, and turned a little northward, the rivti i ■inning away to the southward. All the Thompson River from the Shuswap is very much like the Nicola, but larger and not so pretty. The soil near the River De la Cache is very good, but covered with soda. The river is small and Bhallow, but just above where it joins the Bonaparte, being the best ford in that river, makes it a good PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 3.") cents pi'r 11). ; lo IV]<^ Way is iihcmt tlio lallcr I liiivo place for a revenue sUtion, as the IJoiiaparto river must be crossed in goinj? to either Fountain or nmrm i'avillon, except by goiuR round to Lytton, whore there is a nia>,'istrate. C'lU.i mii Wc crossed the Honapaite Hiver on the nioniiufj of tiie 19th May, tiudinj,' oi-.ly :i feet n house, and several huts of canvas and boughs, whii'li, like their log contcniiiorarics in the Canons, are called rt's- taurants. I'lour was S5 cents per lb., ami bacon 7J, when I was there. In the winter llour was as high as 85 cents, and bacon ,>«'l .jQc. The charges for carriage of goods, \:c. now are, from I'avillon to Kandoops, 2.J Fountain, 6; to Cayoosh, 8; and to Big liar, H ; fnmi Lytton to liig Dar, Uii cents. 18 miles above I'avillon. f^ilver and cojiper have both been finuui at tin- I'avillon; seen. We left I'avillon on the 23r(l of May, and walked by a very good trail to the Foinitain. 'Flic I'oun- tain, so called from a small fountain there, is a very much prettier and better site tor a town than I'avillon; the latter, however, ])osscssing the great advantage of limestone, none of which I saw at the Fountain, though I do luit doubt there is some not far from it. There is a considerable bend in the river at the Fountain, which shelters it to a considerable extent from the north and south winds. There are two or three large stores here, and some half tlozcu log- huts scattered over the ilat. There is a valley i. the west end of the llat, which extends southward as far as Foster's Bar, and through which there is a good trail. About Smiles below Fountain, on the opiiosite side of the F'raser, is Bridge Kiver; tlu're is a larger store there, belonging to Messrs Fraser and Davis, who have thrown a wooden bridge, about 4o vards long, across the Bridge River, .^Oii yards from its nu)utli, for crossing which they make the miner's pay '25 cents a head; they having, I am tohl, pulled down abridge the Indians bad made, and on which it was quite safe to cross. About I3 miles below this is French Bar, where- there is a ferry, !>y which wc crossed, and two miles further on, on the west bank of the river, is situated Cayoosh. Cayoosh is at the junction of the Tnkumeth and Fraser Rivers, where the Harrison Lillooet route commences, and is the prettiest place I saw on the F'raser. Four or live huts, and the same nund)er of stores, compose the town on the west side; on the east side the Hudson's Bay Comi)any are building a fort, to he called I'ort Beren. It is to stand on the lowest of three benches, into which the bank is divided, about 50 feet above the water. There is a ferry at Cayoosh, and a trail on either side of the river to Lytton, the drawback to the one on the west side being that the 'Fukumetb is not always fordable. On the 24th May we again left the Fraser, and struck down the Harrison Lillooet rcut'e, and, following the Tukumeth, c"p ped at the north eiul of Lake Seton, w here there are a few huts for the boatmen who ply on the lake The following morning wc crossed Lake Seton in four hours, and Lake And(u>on the san\e afternoon in five. The two lakes are about the same si/e, and have nuudi the same a])iiearance, but Lake .\uderson tends much more to the southward than the other. Both are bounded by stecii mountains, j,(hi() to 5,000 feet high, and both are very (jeep. There is no perceptible current i'n them, and liardlv any rise and fall. Southerly is the prevailing wind, and it l)lows nearly always du.ing the (la\. the' morning and evening being calm. These lakes are separated by a neck of laud I V miles wide, w hich is nearly level, and through which runs a stream 20 or ;iii yard's wide. Fort And'i-rson is at the south end lif Lake Anderson. There is a large restaurant there for the eutertainment of nudcteers, iVc. iVc. I'rom Port Anderson to Fort I'emherton is the Birkenhead Portage, or, as it is now generally called, the ^losquito Portage, which name it certaiidy well deserves. It is about 25 miles long bv the trail, which is on the whole good. There are regular trains of mules on both this and tin next portasre. When I was there they charged 8 cents per lb. for packing along this one, hut in the winter it was 12 cents. About miles from Port Anderson is Simnnit Lake, which is a mile lon inches, and it is generally frozen o\er. The Great Hairison is the largest of the chain of lakes. It is about 30 miles long, and in some places ;■) or <) miles wide, in ap])earance much similar to the others. There are two large valleys on the east side, one numing E.S.F., and the other \.K. ; the latter is said to extend nearly to Lytton, There is a stream running down it, which I think takes its rise in the Cayoush Lake. At the entrance to the (ireat Harrison Lake there is a flat, which, like the small passage at its head, dries or very nearly dries in winter, thereby Idocking out steamers for at least seven months in the year; so that during the winter all goo(ls lia\e to be landed at the entrance of Harris(m Ili\er and taken up the lake in boats. This dilliculty may be overcome either by making a canal for the river steamers to pass through or hy making a road from the entrance of Harrison River to the south end of the Great Harrison Lake, and keeping a steamer inside the lake to carry the freight to Port Douglas. Or it may be found bettor to cut a roaii Cohuniiia. It is thouglit that the opening ofa road from Fort Hope to Hoston liar will cause the valley of the Fraserlo be used for transporting goods into tiic interior; but I think this is a mistake, except, of course, as far as the mining bars between Yal'. and Lytton are concerned. In the first ])lace Lytton is not in so central a ])ositi(m with regard to the mining regions as Cayouslr. Fountain, or Pavilion, and the trail from Fountain to Lytton is much better than from Hoston Har to that ])laee. Gold has now been found in large (juantities at Alexandria, and from Pavilion there is a trail through a valley parallel to the Praser, along which a waggon might be driven nearly the ■• hole way. There is gold in almost all the tributaries of the Thomjison River also, and the road fiom Kamloops to l'"ountain or Pavilion is nuicli better than between Lytton and Kamloo))s. The country aliout Chilcoaten is, I am told, very good. A Canadian, residing at Pavilion, inforineil me he had travelled from l'"ort C'hilcoj'.teu to tlu> lakes on Rridgc River, thnuigh a valley parallel to the Fraser, and he knows an Indian wiio has been from thence to Port Douglas by a route leading down tiie valley east of the Lillooet. And both of tlu-se routes he describes as being over good laud, and such as a road might be made mi witiioiit great dilliculty. Between Chilcoaten and the sea there is a ciiain of mountains tlirough whicii there are two known jiasses, one by the west road river, up wiiich ."^ir A. M'Kenzie went, and the other at the head of Chilcoaten River, which has never yet been crossed by a white man ; when Mr. M'Leaii was at Fort PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. a; ( north bank of the teers and boatmen, in the winter, and is ii passage wide About 2 feet is the loet about 7.30 p.ni. lar, and it continued L't next niorniiiir for ither a continuation little Lillooet Like, Lake about a mile account of several winter considerable se to the merchants; J mule trains were •It S ji.m. next day. iving Pavilion, oni '60 to !.'!() yartk about I) mile.-- below liles above Douglas. y stecj) places wliioh nining it more fully ake any remarks on it I have seen in the out 10 miles above jng, which is called am unable, however some of the houses not. •row passage neaily imers to go through, there are two known ither at the head of M'Lean was at Fort th( 111 thi' country, and the IV tlicii- hitcs; but we Alexandria he received a letter from the "Beaver,"' lying in North Bentinek Arm, in three days latter route. The change of temperature is very romarkahlo in Uritish Columbia. 1 iiave mmmi the tnennometer at 31° at daylight, in the shade at noon the same day HJ', and to' again in the evening. I append ,i table of meteorological observations taken during my tour, as well as those t.ikeii on hoard II. M.S. "I'liimper" at the month of the river duiing the same jieriod. The aliseiice of animal life is aJMi veiv remarkable. The only birds we saw were about half-a-dozen partridges, a few liumniiiiu birds, Americaii robins, and one or two other species of small bird.*. Tlieie are rattlesnakes in tin chief of the Shuswap Indians told me that his people were fi-e(|uently kille( saw only one. , . ,, „ 1 have sent, according to your order, to his hxcellency the Cioveriior. the geologiial speoil .Midnight •4,7 ,72 43 Midnight ., '1 - Noon .30 •4'.' 59 53 .. 3 - Xooii Midnight ••to nj 40 Miciiiiglit ; . Noon 30 •3(! 51 ., 4 - Noon Midniglit •17 r,:i 41 Midnight .. B - Noon 30-13 59 51 ., 5 - Noon Midnight •03 57 47 Midniglit 7 . Noon 2|l^o7 57 47 ., 6 - rsfion Midnight •78 53 47 Midnight .. s - Noun 29-70 'i5 48 Noon Midnight -74 50 45 Midniglit „ '■> ■ Noon 2!)- 77 56 47 1 „ K . Noon Midnight •(i7 4" 43 Michiight „ 10 - Noon 29- (;3 48 45 „ 9 - Noon Midnight • 7,> •16 42 :\Iidnight ., 11 - Noon :!0-0'J 50 43 ,. 10 - Noon Midnight •04 43 32 Midnight „ 12 - Noon 30^1 7 53 42 „ 11 - Noon Midniglit -2(; 51 43 Midiiigiil „ 13 - Noon 30-48 58 45 ., 1 2 Noon Midnight - .73 53 40 Miihiight „ M - Noon 30-62 59 48 .,13 - Noon Midnight •.77 .77 48 Midnight „ 15 • Noon 30^42 58 51 ,. M - Noon Midnight .oo 58 46 Midnight „ ic - Noon 30-20 02 48 „ 15 . Noon Midnight -17 54 47 ]Mid night ., 17 - Noon 30-28 59 51 ,, 16 - Noon Midnight -13 .7.7 43 Midnight „ 18 - Noon 30- Ki 59 49 .,17 - Noon ^lidnight ■in 5.1 43 Midnight M 19 - Noon 30 -.34 54 49 „ 1.8 - Noon Midnight -34 51 38 Midnight ,. 20 ■■ Noon 30-30 5') 52 „ 19 . N Jon Midnight •19 55 41 Miunight 1. 21 . Noon 30' 13 59 59 „ 20 - Noon Midnight -03 56 44 Midnight » '-ii ■ Noon 30-04 59 56 „ 21 - Noon JVtidnight -02 55 48 Midnight „ 2:i . Noon 29-93 60 55 n.i Noon Midnight ■sr, 57 45 Midnight „ 24 - Noon S9-nii 51 54 „ 23 - oon Midnight ■90 50 57 Midnight ,. 25 - Noon 30-16 5.1 52 ., 24 - Noon IMidtiight -19 56 50 Midnight „ 26 - Noon 30-22 54 50 „ 25 - Noon Midnight •11 54 47 Midnignt >, 27 - Noon 30-03 52 50 „ 26 - Noon Midnight 29-99 51 44 Midnight „ 2S . Noon .30-08 52 47 „ 27 - Noon Midnight -08 57 45 Midnight „29 - Noon 30-06 54 49 ,. 28 - Noon Midnight 29-93 5i 47 Midnight Itiiru- meter. F 2 29-96 •94 29-92 •93 29-85 -88 29 - 95 30-08 :!0-,.il -28 30-13 29-93 29-90 29-94 29-92 29-78 .30-85 30-04 30-15 ■15 '. 30-18 i ,iO-12 : 30-30 -4-J ' 30-54 -15 ,m-o.j •15 30- 14 -U6 j 30-15 -10 29-99 -00 30-10 i -02 I 30-10 I -22 30-31 -26 ,10-33 •29 30-18 -05 30-05 29-92 30-15 -28 30-50 -51 30-52 •39 30 ••25 -03 29-98 •87 89-90 •91 if s-,? i Ucniarks. ,76 53 .79 56 64 58 63 58 i 59 ' 53 ! 54 i 58 j 55 ' 57 ! 60 : 55 ! 57 I 52 I 60 58 [ 5t^ 57 62 59 69 ; 6:i 71 ; 63 '• 63 64 I 60 59 I 63 i 61 58 57 62 60 64 00 05 06 56 55 00 51 61 58 04 59 62 59 64 61 60 5G 51 41 5:i 5:i CO 50 58 51 50 45 58 57 53 46- 49 45 48 44 52 50 5S 51 ' 64 5;i 68 57 67 59 57 54 63 55 59 57 58 50t 59" 52 59 50 554 42 524 47 55 49 50 51 64 54 (i2 •':¥,r ni PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA, r.lClTISH Col.UMIIIA. Abstract of IJaronietcr, &c.— fon/. Date. Time. Ilnro- Tcmpcratnre of Air. lU'niarks, Date. mctcr. I8,W. 18,99, May 'jy - Xooii 29 -yo 49 52 June 10 • Miiliiislit ■98 .*( 51 „ ;l() - Noon 29 -ys 60 57 „ II - Midnight ;!()-10 ,77 50 „ :H - Noon SOMO 61 51 .. 1'-' - Midnight ■40 se. 494 June 1 - Noon M':!5 59 57 „ in - Midnight •1.5 .-ig 55 - - Noon no- 10 50 57 >i 1' - Midiii(?lit i;yu6 (>• 57 .. •■! - Noon 29-97 66 65 „ 15 - Mithiight •8G 61 614 ., 4 - Noon .W2L' «j 63 „ 16 - Michnght •l!S 60 52 It 5 - Noon .W.'8 60 53 „ 17 - Miihtiglit •0.1 r- .54 » c - Noon 30 "-'2 51 54 „ 18 - Alidnight •27 .56 52 »i 7 - Noon 30- 24 57 57 „ 19 - Alidnight •■■Jl .57 56 „ a - Noon y0^38 62 61 „ 20 - Midnight •09 61 57 „ a - Noon 29 '98 62 63 Midnight •87 66 62 Time. Noon Midiiiglit Noo n Midniglit Noon Midnight Noon Midnight Noon Midnight Noon Atidiiight Noon Midniglit Xoon iMidinght Noon Midnight Noon Midnight Noon Midnight Uaro- meter. SO^Ol •03 :10' 1 1 •06 30"12 •02 30- 15 •18 .W18 •02 29^99 •98 30-15 •18 .30 • 28 •15 .30-15 •05 30^25 •35 30 •SB •23 3 a 71 (.5 62 66 59 60 na 58 64 59 57 60 65 61 60 61 58 60 61 58 64 58 67 60 59 59 56 60 54 5S 57 5S 54 60 52 53 5r> 59 52 58 56 Kematks, 27 2 « 28 2 (1 29 it „ 30 - f1 31 2 Enel. .1 ia No. 21. Enclosure 3 in No. 21. MF.TEdRoi.oniCAr. On.T.nvATioNS taken in Uritisii Columbia during tlie Months of April and May 1859. llnte. Barometer and Thermometer attached. 6 .\.M. 1 Noon. 10 r.M. 6 .\.ii. Thermometer. Noon. 5 P.M. 10 r.M, Uemarlis, I'l.nce, &c. 1859. April 20 ,. 21 ,. 22 „ 23 .. 24 „ 25 ,. 26 „ 27 I, 58 „ 29 ,. 30 Jtay 1 ,. 2 ,. :! ,. 4 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 30' 10-67 29-86-51 i?9- 54-61 29 •92-54 - I 29-97-,7G 29-79-,5'i 1 2y75-.76 20 •83-53 I 29^83-,)3 •29 •87-53 - 29-57-54 29^J7-54 29-51-.6I 2y47-40 29^(;0-.54 29-72-47 28-87-41 29 •,52-61 29- 47-81 29-7('-«2 29-: .- i5 29-4,-77 29-02-51 4" - 28-47-51 ' - 29-02-4 1 I 29-07-51 29-11-44 I 26-, 50-64 27-75-48 28-04-65 27-92-13 27-80-41 26-60-40 28-SS-46 28-2S-6') 28' o'.>-65 ■J7-y7-64 27-40-65 '.>8- 62-72 2S- 53-80 28-2(;-73 28-41-58 28' 44-77 28-17-39 ' 27-61-<;9 27-11-4!) 27-71-7 ) 28-21-58 I 28- 17.73 29" 97-57 29- 78-57 29-85-.56 29 •.50-. 50 29-61-63 29 53-62 29-50-58 29-72-61 29-08-73 29-13-74 30-11-65V 29-71-.58 29-97-54 29-98-57 29-86-53 29 - 5.i-53 29-7.3-57 2S-98-59 29-07-58 28-78-57 29-21-61 I 29-06-47 27-72-50 ' 27-70-48 27-8,5-60 27-85-55 27-42-60 27-81-48 26-25-70 26-55-44 514 58 45 45 45 51 40 53 41 45 50 50 40 •13 30 42 30 28-53-66 26-65-44 32 . : 28-44-6,'cr. 88 '09-49 ■J8'70-fi7 28'«0-(;:l 29-25-55 41) (;n 6:1} 59 Clouilv, ^light »Iiowcr.i. I)ili». .. ii' U9'49-5:l 29'84-fi7 2t)-.?5-72 29'5l-.i7 52 70 (;7 55 \'t'ry liui'. Ditlu. 1. 2J 29 -54-53 29'y2-80 29'1.5-CO 29-15-58 .').> 80 72 fiO lliltci. TliiT. ill «mi 9.1". .. 26 29- 17-35 •J9' 02-70 28'24-«7 28 '08-59 55 70 (18 59 Ditto, l^ls.^in); alnii^ the \\, I.illuoi-l trail. iri-.<)» .iml » 27 28 '00-51 29'0(;-7'J 28 • 90-(;:i 28'89-GI .10 72 68 fil A.M. lint'; I'.M.vtTv raiiiv. n 2H 28'8:l-Jfi 28 • 8K-()L' L'»' 21-57 . 5f; ar, (;o 5S Clotuly, slij;Iit sIuiwlts. „ 29 29 -28-5;) 29'42-H() •.'»'77-,5!) 29 '75-57 5;t no 55 5:1 Dittii. ditii). „ .10 - 29'(;7-5(; 2!)'74-,5:l 29 - 82~.W 5;l (iO sr, 52 Hi'uvy M|uitlls of nil). At I'ort Houglai, „ 31 29-92-4'l ;!0'12-.';9 ;!0'21-.';;t ;)0- 17-19 4!l 60 5:1 •19 Fine. At llairifcuu ImV\:, Samuel Cami'iii-.m,, .M.D., H.M.S. "I'liimin'i-." BllITI.«II ('•■1.1 MIIIA. No. L'l'. iril niul May 1859. IS, Pl.ice, &c. e. At Langlcy, Fraser ast. lopp. nd, 4-r!. wi'r>, &t'. ers. le, F. R. ale. House, F. 11. oiig river. nil, Hl°, at Boston liar. un, 80". ■ind, a-.5. 11. isiing along the Nicola No. 2-2. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to the Riglit Hon, Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. Govcrnniciit House, Victoriii, VaiicoLivcr's 1,-ilaiu], (No. 204.) All^'llst 17, \^rj%. Sir (Hccuivi'd OctoLci- 10, IS.JD.) I HAVE the lionoiir to acknowledge the receipt of" your Despatch of tlie .Hh ;\fay last, No. 01,* conveying to me Her .Majesty's comniaiuls as to the designation to he eoii- feired upon the capital of Briti.sh Columhia. 2. I have announced by Proclamation Her Majesty's deci.sion, and lliat the town Iiere- totbrc known as Queen.sboroiigh shall, in pursuance of Her Majesty's pleasure, be hence- forth called the city of New Westminster. S. I forward lierewith a copy of tlie " Victoria Gazette" containing the Proclamation in question. 4. I beg you will offer to Her most Gracious ^Majesty our dutiful acknowledgments for Her kindness and consideration in acceding to our wishes in this matter. I have, &c. The Right, Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P. (Signed) JAAn:S DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. (jovernor. • Vi.k- p:iper« presented .\iig 11*59, J). HG. Enclosure in No. 22. Hmrisii C()i.i;mi)ia. Proclamatiiix. By his Excellency Jamks Doit.i.as, Companion of the Most Ilonoiii-.ible Oi-doi- nftlit- H.-itli, (ioveinor and Cointnanfler-iii-Cliief of liritisli Columbia, Vicc-Adminil (il'tlic siiinc, \c. WiiKRKAs Her Majesty the Queen lias hren erracioiisly pleased to deciile tliat tlie Cipital of IJiiti^l: Coliinibia shall be styled the city of New Westminster. Now, therefore, I, James Dougla.s, do lierel)y tkvlare and proclaim tliat the town heretofore called ;iii(l known as Queeiisboroiigh, and sometimes fis (i)ueciiborouij'li, in the (.'oloiiy of Hi'iti.~li Colmnbia. shall from henceforth be calleil and known as Xew Westtninster, and shall be so descrilied in all lejral pro- cesses and olHcial documents. Issued under the I'ublic Seal of the said Colony, at Victoria, Vancouver's Island, this Tweiitioth ilay of July 18,09, in the Tweuty-thiid year of Her ^lajesty's Keign. Jamt.s DoiCI.AS. (i,.s.) 15y command of his Excellency. Wii.i.i.\.M A. f!. Yorxd, Acting Cohniial Secretary. God .S.vve the Qukex 1 Fncl. in \.i. 22. i *i ind, 4-6. At PaTiIli», r 3 1 1* Mv, ■ M British coldubia. No, 23. Encloiiirp. 40 PAPERS RFXATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. No. Q3. Coi'Y of DESPAT(!H from (iovcrnor Douglas, C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir E. U. Lyiton, liart., M.P. Government Honse, Victoria, Vancouver's Island, (No. •iOG.) Aiirriist 18, 1859. (Utccived October 10, ]Hr,9.) Sljl^ (Answered No. 29, October 20, 18jrs, aiiil llarriM/u Hn(t Douglas LuitOf, friini a poiiil near Fort Langicy to Douf^las. Scale !^,o()(i yar«l> to one inch, ii- Hltt" of the rirBt or Lillonct Portage from Dougliu* to the 'I'enass Lake. Scale l,(K)ii yarii> to 1 inch 3. I'lan of Lakes Lillooet and Tuna»H. Ditto. ■i. I'laii of Lakes Anderson and Scaton, showing the .-hort jxirtnge connecting tliiMii. Seal;- l,()i«) yards to I inch. 5. I'lan of the Fraser district from Seatini to Fonntain. Scale l.DiiO yards to 1 inch, (i. A rough trace of an nnfinisheil geogra])hi(a! map of the whole route, tVom New Westminster to Fountain. Scale 4 miles to 1 inch. I'hotogiaiiiiic. No. 1. View of Douglas from the ILF^. Caini). , y. N'iew of Douglas from Lake Douglas. '3, I'lan t)f the Fraser district from iseaton to Foinitain, reduced to a scale of a miles to an inch, 11. S. I',M..MKI(, Lieut., U.K. lIlllTlrll Col.i MUIA. Uki'oht on the H.mmiisox and Lii.i.ooi: r UorrK frcnn the .Tnnetion of the Fraser and Harrison Ilivers to tiie .lnncti(ni of the Fraser and Kayoosch i{ivers, with Notes on the t'ountry heyond as far ,i» " Fountain," by Lieut. II. Sn;N(i;n Pm.mi.h, U.K. May IS.-)!). As the existing route from Queenborougb to Douglas can be |>erfonned tlnoughout i)y steamers at certain seascmsof the year, I deem it unnecessary to describe it in detail, dwelling (inly on those points wliere engineering works will be necessary to establish it as a permanent route for livci' steamers at all times. The llarrison Itiver runs into the Fraser from the northward, at about H.j miles by water ai)ove Fort The Ilarriion Laiiglev. At the mouth the ri\cr is broad and deep, and the current by no means .-wilt, the water of Kivcrorrapilt. the llanison being backed up by that of the l''rascr at this season of the year. Ai)out three miles, however, from the mouth it is extremely shallow and rai)i(i, anil although a chauMcl does exist which willadmii of bateaux drawing 1 foot or IS inches of water being towed through at the loue,-t stages of the water, it is a great deal too tortuous, narrow, and shallow to admit of tlu- passage of ^teamers of the class at present running on the Fraser, excejjt at high stages of the water. To render this route permanent it will be necessary to form a channel through these shallows of a considerable width (say 40 feet), which shall maintain a depth of at least ;i feet at all times. At the time I niaileniy reconnaissance the water was too high to admit of my forming any decisive opinion as to the works necessary for the above purpose, but from such information as I have been able to collect, m addition to what I observed myscdf, the portion that would have to be deepened is not more than a quarter of a mile in length. 1 am of opinion that the simjjlest and easiest way to effec*- the formation of this channel would be hy damming at the upper end of the shallows, an operation that would be greatly facilitated by the existence of the numerous small islands and bars with which this portion of the river is studded, and which, although covered at high water, are perfectly dry in the fall of the year. The damming might be effected in two ways, either : — Istly. So as to close the heads of the numerous slews and creeks through which the water at present MctlKxl of runs, and thus drive it into one main channel ; or, aanmiing. '.^ndly. The water might be forced through a narrow channel, by the construction of wing dams at such points as might be necessary. The actual method to be employed can only be decided (m by inspection ,it low watei, but as the river at this part is from 5o(l to fidO yards wide, I am of opinion timt t!:e forcing of so larjiC a body of water through a comparatively inurow aperture would have- the etfect of deepening the channel to the necessary extent, without any excavation whatever. From this point to the head of Harrison Lake, a distance by water of 4o miles, no obstruction Harrison L»kc. whatever exists to the navigation. The lake, which is 84 mile,-' in length, is bounded on cither side hy cliH's so rocky and precipitous in most places as almost to preclude the ])os>ibility of construct- ing a road along its nnugin, and the formation of a channel through the '• shallows" of the llarrison River will in consc(iuence be necessary as a preUminary step, to ensure constant connnunication with Douglas. A short narrow creek about half a mile in length connects the north corner of Harrison Lake with KouglnsCntk. a smaller one, called at ))rescnt "Lake Douglas,'' about 1^ nnles in length, and three (pmrters of a mile extreme breadth. At the lower end of Lake Douglas is a flat, shallow, gravelly bar, on which, although in sumnu'r Har in Donglu time there is sutlicient water to allow of the passage of steamers, there is not above "> or fi inches '-''"'' in winter. There is also an extremely sharp bend in the creek, just below the bar, which is with great ditlicidty rounded by steamers even at the highest stage of the water, and which, at low water when the creek is not more than (me-third of its present breadth, windd in my opinion be iut)ias«able. 1 also think that tlie nature of the soil is such that even if a passage were ( ut through the bar. there would he evciv [irohahility of a fresh de|iosil taking jilace, owing to the sharp bend innnediately below, and coupling this o|)inion with that above expressed relative to the diiliculty of turning the bend, 1 conclude that to ensure a constant steam conmiunication witli l)o\iglas it would be necessary to cut a new and straight channel connecting Lakes Harrison and I )ouglas. * ThcBC plaoiS liavc bcca iucorporatcd i.Uo onu map, wliicii will be fouuJ at the end ol'ib^rf |iap(.r>. F 4 m 42 PAPERS RKT.ATINO TO IIRITISTI COLUMBIA. TililTI'-ll < ••riMlii \. Diiii^-laH, ill fiidiuiion. ntijiftioriH 1.1 tile Ut lllMlgllU. rirnt r'irta(.'c, 'J'ruil t'roiii l>i»i^liis )oRu(l I'hiin'.'e iu route. 'I'lio town (if Doiijiliix ix situated at tlic licad i)f the lake, tin ^rroiiiid wliicli di'uriMid.n to tin* water at a (•(iiisiilrrahlc >\i>])i', and 'iscs in rear "f tli.' tiiHii to a lici;,dit (if alioiit iSmi feet. 'I'hi.t j,'n)iiiid is a j;„||(. l)ctw('('ii two nioimtains, iioitioiis of rliaiii^ wliicli extend down eitlier .'^liore of the lalH;irdN. Thlx formntion pnntin\ips for nbniit one-third of a mile, affrr wiiicli tlic road wo,dd rmcrpc upon n HmTi-n broaii iii>d lii-autifully li'vil plateau with litflt! or no llru^ll^v feet si)an might be built ai'ioss the ravines, which are only four in iiiimlici. After the first half mile a cutting in the side of a hill (which is, 1 think, unnecessiiry, there being a Ctdar lluuum. fine flat below) leads to a cedar botttmi magnificently tinibeied. 1 cannot speak positively as to the advisability of carrying the road along the flat mentioned iibove, as although it was dry when I was there, the water of the Lillooet may have risen since suliicieiitly high to swamp it. The "cedar bottom " is a little swampy in two or three places; this, however, is caused, not by the Lillooet river, but by small streams rumiiiig down from the mountains, whii'h fVetpieiitly overtlow and leave their natural beds, owing to obstructions caused by fallen logs, iVc. This evil might lie remedied by clearing proiicr channels for the rivulets, but 1 would suggest that a waggtni road should kecii to tl'ie right, on a liigher line of level than the existing trail. In the "cedar liottoni," which is al)out three (piarters of a mile long and of an average bn-adtb of ."lOO yards, the soil is very rich, but there is so much timber that I question its availability for agricultural pur|)oses. At \\ miles from the Ten Mile House the trail ascends a short steep hilf by a /ig/ag path, and is carried along the side of a small mountain for about half a mile on undulating ground, vising with one more steej) ascent to the top of a level, well timbered and stony jdateau, on a spur from the mountain. The hills I fear cannot be avoided, as the banks run down steep to the very edge of the river. At three miles from the Ten Mile House it runs down the hill on the opposite side of the spur and crosses a broad ravine extending from the river to the mountains, and couscipiently unavuidable. Crossing the ravine, it rises with a long ascent of one mile, varying in steepness, to a plateau on tli.' summit of another si)ur. It is continued for half a mile along this plateau, and then (tesccnds a hill dreadfully st(my, and so stee]) that it has been necessary in portions to zigzag the path to make it practicable for mules.* A waggon road if constructed should be carried down the side of the first spur at a long and gentle grade, and having crossed the ravine should, insteail of mounting the hill on the opposite side, be carried round the foot of the hill, by the river, on a much lower plateau than that on which the present route runs. Circumstances prevented my actually walking over the ground in (piestion, but from what I saw myself and the information I collected, I think there would be no ditliculty in adoji'ing this line for the road. Immechatoly on leaving the Sixteen ilile House the river " .Vccluichlah " is crosseti by a good substantial log bridge of 15 feet s])an. A short rise then leads to the top of a line plateau about :!0 li feet above the level of the Lillooet river. The trail is carried alimg this plateau at distances from the river varying from l.JC to 4oit yards and there would be no difficulty in constructing a good waggon road on a nuich straighter line than the existing trail. The plateau is 2^ miles long and of an average breadth of oOO yards. Timber abounds, chiefiy hemlock pine, and the soil, though stony in some places, is generally good for cultivation. At the end of the plateau the trail descends a short hill to nearly the level of the river, and runs close to the water's edge for a short distance. I here jiassed a beautiful little patch of land about tln-ee acres in extent, abounding with roses and wild fruit, and which, if cleared, ir.iglit cnsily be turned to some use. On the opposite side of the " Lillooet " is a large Indian wigwam and fishing station, with a little clear land and some potato jjatches around it. The trail now for nearly a (juarter of a mile is cut in the side of a stony hill which runs into the water, but as this hill is subject to frctpient slides, which would render it a matter of considerable expense to keep a road thus cut in repair, I would suggest that a sea-wall of stones be built 5 or G feet out in the river (which is here very siiallow) and a road made on the top. There are plenty of large stones at hand for this pmpose, and I think it would be easier, clieaper, and generally more advantageous to construct a road in this manner than to make a regidar cutting in the side of the hill. After passing this hill I came to a long point which juts out to the left into the river, and at the Falls of Ijl- extremity of which 'Jm yards from the trail are the great falls of the " Lillooet." luwt. The trail crosses this point on a good general line and rejoins the river about half a mile further up. l'ri>IH.*.il altc- rutiiiii in mull Sixtoi'n-Milc Kivcr Aci'hurh. hih. Trail towards licit Spring Iloiisc. * Oil arriving at the foot of this hill, a level stony plateau, one mile long, leads to the lU-mile boust, •ituated about 300 yardt back from the riTcr. III. G 44 I'Al'EUS RELATING TO UKITLSH COLUMBIA. \m IIihtI'II C'(il.tMl;lA. !'i Ni 'I'rnil from llnl Hpriri)' lliiii-i' AIoikIj'ii l,(iok- uul. I'ropowd i'h;iri^i> ill ruiitc. Schnlsclii'i'ii riviT. Till' t'iinip. KriMii llif ('.imp til tlio 'rwfhlv- c%'lii-Milc lluUIll'. I'riiptiti'd ctiiini^f in route. I.iiwcr tnil vt' XL'im»» Liikc. Trupoiii'il con- iicclioii ut'lakv Ii iId'Ii f'nIloMH thf Itiiiik at (llntiuiccri vuryiiig from .? to Ini) yanlH from thu rivtvr uiut al)out l.Wm nliiiM' it, III! a tliiii level |)lateiiu tliri>f-i|iiiiiti'r^ iif a iiiili* ImiK unci .'idii yiiriN wide, \^itli Kontl rirli .'.oil, I aiily iliiiliir, ai.il little liuiiiiil. At tlie riiil lit' tlli^ |ilaleau there ii, a very xteep ri.so (ziK-/iiKKi' n le(lf(e uii ii IiIkIi I'lay iilate hill. The triiil i^ ranieil nhiun the HJile iif iIiIh liill for aliiiut 'J4('end.'< |ireei|iitiiiiHly ti; the (not, ulienee a i|uarter of a mile toleraMy level, hut eupahle of jrreat iin|)ro\enieiit, leail.i to tlii' lint S|irin(; lloiiMe. 'I'liin hill inl).'lit he eiitiri'ly iivoided und u K*>*> llat in rather roeky and the Moil li^jht and Handy. ileudock und ( (dai alioniid, and there is very little underHood. At the enci of this mile the trail lirauches to the right, und UNocndM u ftnrgu between the moinifniii oM the ritrlit and ii ImkIi roeky IiIuH' (named in my jilaii "Moody's l.ook-out ") on the left. Allrr rearliiii}.' its highest elevation (about I'lO feet) it runs (in a eomparatively level line along the top of the hill for alioiit a loiarter of a mile, and then descends a long steep hill to the river hank. 'I'liis hill siiould he avoided, if a v^aggon road he made, hy deviating to the left at the foot ami Idllouiiig rcMuid the base. The ground is level and good throughout the greater part of the di^taini', the ditliinities to overcome being about loii yards of rocky ground, succeeded by a jiiece 'JO yards liiii^» u here the blulf rock runs nearly perpendicularly into the river. The tirst of these dillicidties laifiht lie mastered hy blasting, the second hy the eonstruetion of a sea wall of the description proposed at the "(ireat Falls." liinnediately after getting ro\ind the point the road would strike a tine level llat, continued to the point v»here the present trail rejoins the " I.illooet." I or the nest mile the construction of a road is simole enough, and it might be made much straigbtiT lliau the existing trail. A little careful grading would be necessary to descend into and rise frimi iln' \ alley of the Kiver " Schotscheen," which runs too far hay (•onstriicting a dam of the necessary height across the "Lillooet River,'' where it leaves '• Tenass Lake," the water in the two lakes might be brought to the same level, and a permanent water ciiminuiiication thus established. This damming would have the cU'ect of swamiiin^ portions of the llat land in the neighbourhood of the "Tenass Uiver," but that at the terminus of the proposed route is too high to sufl'er in like manner. The dam might easily be constructed of logs, snags, and stones, plenty of which are at band. I'ossihly a peiinanent water communication between the two lakes might be ett'ected by deepening the Tenass Uiver at and near its mouth. As, however, I was not on the ground at the lowest state of the water, I cannot speak as to the extent of the portion that would have to be deepened, but from such iui'ormutiou us 1 could collect, it would only be necessary tu form a channel at and near its mouth. Od lA. *r and nhoiit \.'i frcf ttilli K""' the vitli the jiiU ul' a littlt e hrouil flat iilxnit |i) aviiij^ the rin-r mIiIiIi aiuly. Ilciiildik iinj )etwi'i'ii tli« iiiimntain ) on tlic Icl't. AltiT (• aloiif,' llic t(i|i (if the iiaiik. li't't at tlit> t'ddt anj part c)t' tlic (listiiiiii', a p'u'ci' 'JO yaiiU luiij; CMf liillii'iiltii'i ini;,'lit Mcriptioii |)r()|Mi:<('il at trikf a tine level tliit, made iiiueli Ntrajirbtcr iiti) and rise iVnin the lolu'dad to i>e luiilucil, Another mile and a idtli t'roMi \'A) to :jiii; ( raii^M' of .ftee|i liilU inty. and little or iiu f{rieultuie. 1 rom the nass Lake," knoHii an ort Donffhi.s. I the eonstriii'tion of a xi)ense. There is im 'Oiding, to any extent, s the Lilluoet Miver in idiny thu hest (noi>»iiig n the oj)])ositc side the exeellent Indian trail ly ohstruetions are the a II.,"' both of which , in addition to the the construction of the ! on my retnni) ofoxa- would 1)0 adviNable in road, there is a <;ri'at opened up for culti- ir as the souiherii t'lid nd of Tenass Lake be ; hut a good road being roposed, and us a biiuiU r communications, tliid own at the terminus to rapid, and towards the be 10 feet (ijj iiiclieb on iver,'* where it leaves and a permanent water Mjiing piirtions of the of the ])rop»sed route nags, and stones, plenty effected by deepening li at the lowest state of epened, but from siitli id ueai its mouth. Od PAPERS RELATmO TO RUfTrsH COMIMniA. 4S iIoCm 1).mil'Ih !•< itviiiiUKM, l*rti|toicf1 now riD'l In I'ln.lb* I.aki'. thii" paf' there is, I mn told, hut tl inehex of water in winter time, the remnliidi'r of the river beiii'.' ipiifo llniTimi (liMMi enini«naKe of ^teuiner* i>( the uniHll vhn» hkely to Ih' ei.ilihKlied i,,n vtni' mi the lakes. ... ..... — — 'I'liiis tar I have deseribed siirli deviations Iroiii llie exi'tini; line nf trail as would lie leipiin d, siip- i)ii!-iiii{ ii absiihitely neeesNary to coiistruet a waK)(on road on tlie left bank nf the Lillimel iVum Dou^l.ii asf.iras "the ('ain)i." I am, however, "I opinion that the Kite nf Don^fli- ii extremely badly ehiwen. in ailditiiin to thi> liefectH I have already puinteil mit, 1 am infortned by tbe liiiliaii'< that I.nke |)onul,i> frci'/es in tbe winter, or remains ho for some time, while the Harrison never freeze-. ,ii all. In the imrth-v/est corner of the latter l.ike, there is a bii;h dry site for a town, aeie.silile at all times tiilxMits and steamers, and open to tin \alley of the l.illooel Itiver. .\s a proteition from tbe -ea. wliirb Is Miinelimes rathi'r loiiKh for boats, a breakwater of siiajf^ nii>;ht easily I onstriirleil at llie puim .hinui in the plan, to form a small hurbonr, behind whirb they miKht lay in safety. Ily makini; this the terminns of the ronti-, a constant steam eonunnniiatinii with l,)iirenboiiMi^li roiilil be e>t.ilili-bi'i| (the channel once open in the rapids of the Harrison Itiver), and there would be tlii^ additiomd advantage, viz., that tht> tiat land in the valley of the Lillooet woidd become opened up for cnlti- vatiiin. I'riaii the cursory view I was enabled to take of the ri^dil bank of the river, durinL,' my rapid dcsiinit in a canne, I am of opinion that from the Harrison Lake to the point oiipo^ite the jilaleau liehw the Sixteen Mile House, a road could be far more easily nntde along that bank than on the present route. Nut having actually walked over every portion ol the ground, I eainiot speak very dciidedly on this point, lint adding tu the opinion I was enabled to form the fact (bat the old liidiiin trail runs along the ri;;lit bank tbe whole way from the Harrison Lake to the 'I'enass Lake, and tlie well-kiinwn iMiciiin- ytaine that tbe Indian trails throughout North .\mcriia iuvariablv follow the li. i liiu' of travel tliroiii;b a wild country, I conclude that at least a great portion of tfie road should be carried along that bank. I have acciir there aiiv better starting point in the vicinity. The valley of the Upper Lillooet, which river runs into the lake at its western (>\tremity. takes a westerly direction from the head of the lake. The river .•ibout •"> miles from its mouth divides into two, a large delta being left between the mouths, which in summer time is again divided in twn by a creek. On this delta, and particularly towards its western point, a few farming nu'ii have cultivaied land, and there is also a large Iiulian village, surrounded by jiotato patches, \'c. In the centre of each island is a small lake, and the ground for a considerable distance from their edges is swaTn]iy. leit ilie banks are high and dry all the way round, contain good soil, and are covered with n'ia.:iiiti('eiit grass. 'Hie trail on leavhig Port Pemberton is carried over gronnil very similar to that at tbe b.icl; of Douglas, hut in this case the ravine has beeti adhered to, and the hills are far less jirecipitoiis than thu-e near Douglas. I was unavoidably compelled, both o;i my way n|) and on my return, to travel v^'iv rapidly over this portage, and consequently unable to make detailed field notes, or survey the route as aeeurately as I should have wished. The trail, which for the whole 24 miles runs through a u.itur.d pass in the Cascade range, is on the whole far better than that on the Douglas portage, and, with the exception of blasting round two or three i-ocky hills, no great deviation from the prcseiu route would be necessary, if Fort Frmhirton fie uiaile the fioint of drpartiire. As, however, it might be necessary, in the event of this route being made the main channel of i .iin- munication with the upper countrv, to establish a town of some size at the juii'iinn of the land and water communications, tne site of Port Pembetton should in this case be ab.indoned. There is a good site for a' town near the month of the Mosijuito River, which empties itself into the Upper Lillooet opposite the Indian village, on the westernmost cf the Lillooet Islands. If, therefore, the bar at the mouth of the southern or main branch of the river were deepened sulbciently to admit at all f.iikt's 'I'cimM ■Mv\ l.lllHOl'^ I'linlHTtori. Viillry nf Ih.' I'l.pir I.ill.'.wt. I.ill< 'lit IIK'.I- ilirk('iiht.';i(l jitirl.i^i*. rrnpnstd new •ill- lor IVlii- tilTton. * If impossible to carry it as far as tlif tioiiu propoH'd, tlicrc are several good crouing places along the river (one half a mile belutr tlie four-Mile House), but tbe Port Cougbu liiji should by all meaas be avoided. G 2 Hi T-tl P ! BllITISII Coi.nMiiiA. lu aitvailto<;t's. fiomiuit L:iki', Agricultural Luul iu I'uscadf l'.ss. Onizlnf.' laml ^car AuilurHuu. Amlcrson. Its silc and aitvaulagi'S, Distance across lake. The short portage. Waj^i^on road. Land in vicliiitj of Short Pori- iigc. niircrencc of level between lilkes. Svaton. Trial from Sea- Ion to Walden's briilge. I'orks of the Kayoosch and linktuatch. I'aeker'sjiridge. Trail frnni I'ackeis liiidg lo Ki;vu()5ch. Uenclidantl on Kiaur, times of th« passage of steamers, I would suggest that the town be ebtablished at the mouth of the Mosquito River, and the road run along the valley, striking the old trail at its junction with tliat river. The large valley of the Upi)!:'.' Lillooet would thus be ojiened up, and inducement given to farmers to dear and e\iltivate the laiitl in the vicinity of this town, which might otherwise be neglected, iu conse- (liu'uce of its remoteness from an)- main route of communication About 17 miles from Pemberto-i the trail runs along the shore of a small ake one mile long and half a mile broad. This lake, which is situated on the summit of " the Pass," is called " Summit Lake," and from cither end there is a descent t') the Fraser, that from the north by Anderson lliver, througii Lakes Anderson and Beaton and the River Imkumtch, and that from the south end, by the Mosquito Uiver tluough the Lillooet and Harrison Lakes. After passing the Summit Lake, I crr«scd a tract of \ alley land two or three miles in extent, contain- ing little timber, and good rich loamy sod, irrigable, if n .cessary, from Anderson River. Ill the vicinity of Anderson and for some little distance down the eiistcrn shore of the Lake there is plenty of goiid grazing land for sheep and cattle on the sides of the nioimtains, and 1 am informed that owing to the absence of briars &c., this part of the country is very well adapted for raisinir good wool. The town of Anderson is situatcJ as shown in the ])lan on the south-western end of Lake Anderson, The site, as regards its suitability both for a town, and a point of dejjarturc for steamers, h extremely good. The bank is higl. and dry, (about 15 feet above high water mark), timber plenty and fine, but not too much of it, the soil good, and the land for one mile in rear, flat and easily irrigable. A good jetty has been built by the men who have settled there and own the boats that convey passengers across the lake ; and as the water is deej) close in shore tlie port is accessible at all times to steamers. l'"r()m Anderson to the spot marked in my plan as " Wapping," which consists of one log house for travellers to sleep in is 14 miles by water. The short portage connecting Lakes Anderson and Seaton, (H miles in length) commences here and terminates at the spot mnrked " Flushing." A Mr. Dozier, an American, who has established a waggon for conveying provisions across this portage, constructed a waggon road last year, connecting tlie two lakes, entirely at his own expense, riit road is a very fair t)ne, and as he has likewise constructed a neat and substantial bridge across the " Seaton River" of 60 feet span, I would suggest that, iu the event of this becoming a pernianent route, the by no means trivial service he has done to the colon; be recognised. It will he si .n on looking at the ])lan that it is necessary to cross the river as there is no starting place for boats or room for houses on the right ban!; at the Lake Seaton end.* Tlie land on this portage is stony but rolable. The timber is scanty but the brushwood thick, and there is a line jiatch of rich lant' o the north-west of Flushing. Both that place and "Wappinf" art! admirably adiiptcd for the points of departure of steamers, and as a site for small towns, if necessary. On the 30th of May I found the differerce of level between the two lakes to be 59i feet, a (liU'ciciKC w hicli would combine with the .'.uftness cf the soil to render the construction of a "canal of coininunication a matter of coiisiderabl.i dilHciilty. Several locks would moreover be necessary, awl 1 (piestion whether it would not be better io run the goods across the isthmus on a tramway which niigli*^ easily be made from t)ne .jetty to the other. At the eastern end of Lake Seaton, 14 miles by water from Flushing is situated the small tcwnof Seaton. 'I'lie houses are built on tlie beach, which is not more than ;i() or 40 yards broad in the widest ]ilaccs, and immediately in their rear a stee]) bank about 100 feet high leads to a large diamond shaped pliitcau or b?n''h, on which there is good grazing lanti "or cattle (liunch grass), and very little timber. The site of Seaton ])ossesi ^s the same advantages as a point of arrival and departure for steamers, !\i- file other jdaces on these lakes, but there is no room to establish a town except on the top of the iiench, which would, I think, be too far above the watei . The trail winds round tlie poin' ot the plateau at a steep rise, and on attaining a height of about TiO feet is carried along the side of the hill at an undulating level for about half a mile. Here it emerges on a level and very stony jilateau about one-third of a mile broad, bounded on the north by the " Imkumtch" and on the south by the " Kayoosch" Rivers. These rivers join in one about tliree-(|uarters of a mile further on, and the trail is carried along the plateau to within 100 yards of this point. It then crosses the Imkumtch on a rough log bridge built last May by the Packers between Seaton and Kayoosch. A large rock in the bed of the river forms a natural pier for the support of the center of the bridge. For the next tliiee-quarters of a nile the trail runs along the side of a stony mountain at a considerable elevation, on a small ledge cut for the purpose. Tliis ])ortion of the route is very dangerous, aiul, owing to the fre(|uency of large slides in the mountain side, impassable for a waggon-road. Passing roiuul the point of this mountain, the trail emerges on the level grassy bench land peculiar to this district of the Frascr, and running along this land for about li miles at a very slight variation in level reaches tlie small town of Kayoosch, situateii on the western bank of that river. The benches in the vicinity of tliis portion of tlic Frasei', which are covered with "bunch grass," and ill some places scantily timbered, would form excellent gra/.ing lands for cattle, but the soil is, I think, too dry to be cidtivatcd to any extent. There are two or three small rivulets running tlirmigh the bench on which the town of Kayoosch is situated, which affords a su])ply sullicient for the wants of the present inhabitants, and for irrigating a small [latcli of about 10 acres on a lower bench in front of the towii, now under cultivation, and I daresay more might be obtained by digging well;, The ground here is alio nunh)r« PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 47 e mile long and commences here a height of about rro|Kncil litti for ti)w n ut r mill III' I'roptlvL'll cim- Krijih'iii iil(cra« tuiii ill route. Trail from I\avot».ch tu Kri'iii'li liar. opinion the nature ot the country will permit. a Kayoosch slioulil, I think, be liridgcd from the south, ils near its mouth as practicable, and I'n'pnsi'd tr«il aggjii road carried round near the Fra^er at the lowest possible elevation its far as French Har. f„"'^!^Ji'„'^,tu!" ' issing the Frascr at a jioint on the bar, which will be I'ound practicable w'lcre the rivi'r is Koiiiilaiii. Trail to lliu 1-oik,. but water to any great extent is not to be had on the upper benches, either on the Kayoosch or the Huitish Fort Bercns side of the leaser. Com-mbia. The majority of the (cnches, althnuj^h beautifully clear and level, are, I think, at two great an elevation aiiove the Fnuser Kiver to l)e well adapted as sites for towns, that for instance on whicii Kayoosch stands being about loO to 2011 feet above the river. They vary in length from half a mile to 11 miles, and in breadth from iiOO to l,(iO() yards, the slopes connecting one bench with that above it, being generally at an angle of about 4J^ I was unable to jirocure any means of crossing to the southern bank of the Kayoosch, l)ut I was able to see suHicient from the opposite side to convince me that, on that iiank, at its junction witli the Fraser, is the best site for a towr in the neighbourhood. At this part a considerable llat, ;{o() or 4IHI yiirds wide, and about SiO feet aliove the level of the Fraser, (June 1st), extends i-oaie distance down the shore of the Fraser and up the Kayoosch. Behind this flat and about HiO feet above it, is another extensive jjlateau, to which a town might be extended, while any amount of water powci might be obtained in that portion of the town on the lower flat, by flowing from the " Kayoosch. I suggest, therefore, that instead of crossing the " Imkumtch" at the Forks of that river and tin " Kayoosch," the hitter river l)e bridged at, or near the same point, whence an almost .latural w aggon road extends to the proposed town site on the right bank, a distance of 12.3 miles. The trail from Kayoosch to the bank above French Bar rctjuires no alteration whatfer, extending along the flat benches at occassional slight changes in level for about '.'| miles. It then runs down a frightfully steep bank to the " Bar," and as the remainder of the route both from this ])oiiit to the month of Bridge River, and thence on to Mormon Bar is so bad as to render the construction of a waggon road l)arely possible, I will proceed at once to report on the best route to Fountain, that in my opinion the nature of the country will permit The the waggJii Crossing . . only about 75 yards wide,* it shoidd ascend the steep bank tni the opposite sid;i at a gentle grade whence, with the e: ('cption of one place, sutyect to slides, the road to I'ountain is generally good. Fountain is situated on the left bank of the Fniser, on a large bench upwards of on.- mile in length, about 500 yards wide, and VOO or XOU feet above the level of the Fraser, to which the bank makes a direct steep descent. One-and-a-half miles beyond the Fountain, a trail branclies off to the southward ..nd runs at the back of the range of mountains which skills the left bank of the Fraser as far as tlic Forks of the Thompsoifs River. This trail is, I believe, the best and the shortest route from the Forks to the upper country ; the country between Ka_> dosch and the Thompson attbrds every facility for the construction of a good waggon 'oad on the right bank, though the existing one on the left bank is, I understand, very bad for a large iiortion of the distance. Water to a considerable amount is ])rocural)le at Fountain, from a lake 2j miles back in tin- i",,iiiitiiiii as « mountains, but, although a town on the llat niiglit be of some iiniioitance in connexion with tiie i<'»ii siin'- branch roads to the Forks, Pavilion, and Kayoosch, the site is at too great an elevation above tiie Fraser to admit of the establishment of a town in connexion witii any trallic that may, at a future period, take ])lace on that river. The land around and in the valley leading to the Forks is of the sam> nature as that around Kayoosch, viz.: excellent for grazing, iiut too dry in summer, unless well irrigated to admit of agriculture to any important extent. In the Buona|)arte Valley which extends from Pavilion to Fort Thomjison there are, I understand, from 40 to 50 square miles of rich laud tit for cultivation. In this valley too, there is a great deal of black marble, and limestones abound at Pavilion and in its neighbourhood. With regard to Fountain I should add that a town there might at a future jieriod be of importance in connexion with a road from Canada through the Buonaparte valley to Kayoosch. t At the south end of Harrison Lake, about three-quarters of a mile to the south-east of the point where the river and lake join a hot spring called " St. Alice's Well" is situated. The water, whose temperature on the 2oth of May was 130° Fahrenheit, bubbles out of a small mass of conglomerate roc, 6 inches above the then level of the lake. It is highly sulphuious, but owing to my having been unable to procure a perfectly clean bottle and cork, tlie specimen I sent down to \'ictoria, proves, I regret, to he unfit for further analysis. Another hot spring, somewhat similar to St. Alice's and of about the same temperature, though not St. Agnes' so highly sulphurous, is situated about (id yards north-east of the Hot Spring House, 23 1''„ miles by ^^^■"■ the trail from Douglas. By a subsequent cursory examination this water was found to contain chloride of sodium and suljjhate of soda, but, owing to the impossibility of my procuring a pcrfei't specimen, an accurate analysis could not be made. As I thought a few partii iilars relative to the mines might prove useful, I collected such informa- Tho mine* tion ni rmitr from the miners, as might, I Imiied, be depended on. At French Bar, rockers were averaging from ,*4 to ,f'.H per day to the hand, sluices, ,<(.S to fflCu .Mormon Bar, oiqiosite Fountain, rockers ,^'4 to ,<(12: sluices, .flfi to |is'25. Days' Bar, 2 miles above Fountain, rockers, ,s'H to ,S'12. Haskell's Bar, IS miles above Fountain, rockers, ,*!6 to $1^: sluices, ^16 to f<20. Big Bar, rockers, S5 to ,s'6. Kverv sensible miner to whom I spoke on the subject, clearly admitted the existence of gold all along tlie banks of the Upper Fraser, in considerable quantities; in quantities too, that, were it not for the exorbitantly high prices of provisions and the wani of good fresh meat and vegetai)les, would attract and retain thousands of miners who were then leaving the ccuntry. lluiiiiaparta Vallev. St. Alicc'i Well. made. There la a rock about one-third of the way ncrobs lovereil at high water, but dry ill the fall. On this roek a pier might easily Iw t With reference to other interesting features in the route I would beg to call your attention to the fulluwiiig. G 3 48 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 9i.n BniTisn Coi.rsiiiiA. Prices of pro- Tiaioiu. Geology. The pTPaf '"'■y '8 for a waggon road, and cheap and good provisions, and these once obtained tlicri' will be no further doubt, as to the stay of the miners in the country. Dry difrgings have yet to be found and there is no doubt, will be found, as soon as men have heart and strength to prospect tlie country in every direction ; but as long as bacon and beans are the sole articles of diet, few if any will be found with the heart or strength to do more than support tlii'msi'lves by mining for a few hours each day, m\ich less to travel over such a wild coiuitry and such bud trails as they must do, in order to explore the districts in the vicinity of the Upper I'l-.-ser. At Douglas the prices of provisions were as follows on the 11th June, viz. : — riour and Beans, each ----- 6| cents per lb. Sugar and Bacon „ . . - - . 25 „ Coffee ...... 28 „ Tea - 75 The prices increase all along the route and were as follows at Fountain on the 5th June, vi/, ;— Flour and Beans each - . - . . .SO cents per lb. Sugar and Bacon „ ----- 65 „ Coffee - - - - - - - 75 „ Tea - - 150 Prices up to the end of May had been considerably higher (flour for instance selling at 38 cents,) but owing to the I'apid exodus of the miners, were when I arrived falling fast. From the curs iry view I was enabled to take of the general geological character of the cnmitrv " Tni])peaii rockii" appear to prevail, consisting principally of greenstone, dense clay ^late (licrc anil and there presorting a laminated structure) and compact hornblende. The exposed surfaces (if the rocks are very generally covered with the white deposit due to the decomposition of felspar, and are occjisionally stained red with iron, forming an agreeable contrast in the landscape. Quartz veins permeate the clay slate in many places, of an average thickness of from 1 to 12 inches; the formation in fact would suggest the high probability of metalliferous deposits. The mountains rise bold, rugged, and abrupt, with occasional benches on their sides on whidi ntp found quantities of worn rounded boulders principally of coarse grained granite, occasionally porpliyritic. The granite contains golden coloured and black mica in la-ge quantities. The crystals of felspar in tlu> porphyritic granite are very numerous but small. The soil appears in many places to have been formed by the decomposition of granite, it being hglit and sandy and containing much mica. Below the soil is very generally found a white compact mass, very hard and approaching to a conglomerate, containing pebbles of every description in a matrix of decomposed clay slate. Lime seems wanting, even in the conglomerate, and 1 saw no traces of limestone or sandstoiiu all along the route, though I understand there is plenty of the former at Pavilion. I have, &c. Queenborough, B. Columbia, H. Spkncek Palmer, July 1, 1859. Lieut Royal .'Engineers, Colonel E. C. Moody, R. E. &c. &c. &c. Table showing the Astronomical Positions of important Points on the Route, as computed by Lieut. H. Spewcer Palmer, ll.E. Station at Queenl)orough Mouth of Ilnrrison River South end of Harrison Lake Douglas Ten -mile House South end of Tenass Lake „ Lillooet Lake „ Pcmberton „ Anderson „ Fhisliing - „ Scaton „ Kayoosch Mouth of Uridge River ., Fountain Latitude North. 49 12 58 14 25 19 00 45 35 52 41 50 03 (X) 07 52 17 32 32 13 42 25 40 18 41 51 45 33 44 44 Longitude in Time East of Queenboro'. 3 25-596 4 00088 2 46 '808 2 12-972 1 10' 445 1 09-546 40 240 1 11-872 02-356 10-146 22-753 17-753 27 -SOS Absolute Longitude W est. / tf 122 53 15 01 51 121 53 04 122 11 33 20 03 35 38 35 52 43 11 35 17 26 39 05 43 02 33 03 48 01 22 (Signed) H. Si'encek Palmer, Lieut. Royul Kngineer?. ranite, it beiii" PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Tabli op Distances. 49 From Qucenborough Camp Douglad Southend of Tenas Lake )» » Pfimbcrton 1) Anderson Wnpping Flushing Seuton Kaynoosch To Fort Langley - Mouth of Harrison River South end of Harrison Lake Douglas Four Mile House Ten Mile House Sixteen Mile House Hot Spring House The Camp - South end of Tennss Lake - South end of Lillooet Lake Pombcrton Half-way House (2nd portage) Anderson - - - Wnpping Flushing Seaton Kayoosch Mouth of Bridge River Point opposite Fountain Total from Queenborough to Fountain : — By land (trail) - By water Entire distance, Queenborough to Fountain (Signed) Diaunce by Land (trail) in Mi!-.:. 4- 0+7 ir852 18-911 23'881 27-999 34-000 15-000 29 -(XX) 1-45 3-700 4-200 6' 500 UUlanc« by Water in Milt-s. 17-000 47-7(X) 57 - 700 92-7(X) (i-650 21 -130 14-000 14-000 74-65 miles. 141-83 „ 216-48 BntTTsn Cul.L'MllIA. H. Spencer Palmer, Lieut,, Koyal Engineers, No. 24. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C,B., to the Right Hon, Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M,P. (No. 207.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, August 23, 18^9- (Received Octolwr 10, 1859.) Sin, (Answered No. 33, Ootober 28. 1859, pajro 105.) Having been much occupied of hite with the affairs of Vancouver's Island, I have not in my last Despatches adverted to the state of British Columbia. That Colony is making satisfactory progress. 2, Tiie great enterprise of the season, tiie waggon road from Douglas through the valley of tlie Harrison River to tlie Upper Eraser, beyond the mountains, lias been necessarily retarded by the withdrawal of the Royal Marines for service 011 tiic Island of San Juan ; but the work is still beijig prosecuted by a detachment of Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain Grant. That force is, however, insufficient to make much impre.ssion this sea.son on a work of such magnitude; winter will in all probability find us unprep:ired, and we shall have again to encounter the arduous task of feeding tiie mining population of the interior, by packing provisions on mules over the present road ; a pro- cess so expensive as materially to add to the cost of living, and consequently notwith- standing their large earnings, the miners are, from positive inability to live, com})elleu in great numbers to abandon the country. 3, Money is greatly wanted for carrying on that indispensable work, which might be completed for the sum of 30,000/, 4, That sum I have no doubt could be easily raised by way of loan either in Fngland or in this country, provided its repayment were guaranteed by Parlianiint, and I would beg to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government to that subject in order to procure the necessary aid for accomplishing an enterpri-^e worthy of our country, and removing the great impediment to the development of the mining regions of Briti.sli Coiumlji;i. Its influence in promoting the pro.sperity of the country would be incalculably great, and it would lead to so large anincrr'.se of the public revenue as soon to repay tiie preliminary outlay. G 4 No. 24. ■>• 60 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. * i Iv ,1 ir British 5. On the contrary, without siich facilities of access, the country will have to strugirlj Co limh ia. o„ amidst the discouragements of poverty and distress. , ' f). The mule road from Fort Hope to Boston Bar lias been recendy completed, and will be of great advantage to that district of the country. 7. Much is also required to be done in improving the road from Fort Yale by the passes of Fraser's River; in short, on all sides is the helping hand of Government uijjentlv re(|iiired in opening a free access into ;i country whose resources are probably greater than our most sanguine speculations evfr contemplated. Every step in advance confirms that opinion, and reveals more distinctly the auriferous wealth of the country. 8. My advices from Fort Yale are up to the I7th of August. Mr. Commissioner Sanders reports that the miners are, almost witi)out exception, doing exceedingly well and in the newly discovered diggings at Quesnel's River, are making on the average one ounce of gold to the man per diem. 9. Those accounts are confirmed by numberless letters from persons in the interior to their former partners or friends in the Fort Yale district, exiiausting all tiieir powers of persuasion to induce them to join them at Alexandria. 10. Mr. Cox, a revenue officer employed in the district of Thompson's River, reports that the miners in that part of the country are making very large wages, anti mentions timt one company of five men were procuring by sluices an aggregate return of from 2.50 to 300 dollars a day; and others with the cradle were averaging each from 10 to 12 dollars a day. 11. The newly explored tract of mining country about Alexandria and Quesnel's River is reported to have more of the general features of a gold country than any yet known part of British Columbia. The miners appear fully satisfied on that point, and of the auriferous character of the soil in the valley of Fraser's River ; already are hydraulic mining associations forming, who expect to derive considerable profit by that process, from benches and flats which cannot at present be worked to advantage for want of water. 12. The miners on Fraser's River have been much delayed this season by the high state of the water, which has now subsided, and they have resumed work with great spirit. 13. Ditch owners on the other hand have already felt the want of water, and complain that the streams from which they draw can hardly sujjply one-fourth of the usual and requisite quantity of water. I'k Much anxiety has been expressed by the miners generally on the subject of banks of deposit, which are greatly needed in every district of British Columbia. The miners only alternative at present being to bury his gold dust fi)r seciu'ity, which is known to be the general practice in Fraser's River ; but were banks of deposit established, they would willingly pay a monthly pcr-centage on any sums they might deposit. 1.5. I have long been convinced of the value and importance of such institutions; but without the assistance of men of tried integrity and business habits, no such scheme could be carried out with advantage to indiviiluals or to the public. 16. The country is everywhere in a perfectly trancjuil state. 17. A body of nearly 100 gold miners sailed from this place on the Qytli of July to explore the gold fields of Queen Charlotte's Island, and 1 trust this little hand of pioneers will meet with the success their enterprise deserves. The expedition was equipped entirely at their own expen.se. I promised, however, to exempt the party from all tuxes for six months to come, and to allow them certain privileges in respect to quartz claims, not inconsistent however with the provisions of the general mining regulations which I propose shortly to issue. 18. I also promised to protect them in the prosecution of thc'r enterprise as far as the means at my disposal allow, and in fultihnent of that promise 1 have made a rt'quisition on Rear Admiral Baynes, for the assistance of a ship of war to visit the place where they intend to form their settlement. 19. If that attempt proves successful the result will be highly important for the colony, and Queen Charlotte's Island, which abounds in minerals, and its coasts with fish, will soon become the resort of many flourishing settlements. 20. I am looking forward with great anxiety for the arrival of the two gunboats wliicli 'ro'^ent.^'i'''"' Hcf Majesty's Government announced in your Despatch No. 30,* ot the 10th March, it AueuBt)859, was intended to place at my disposal for the defence and protection of this colony. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 51 21. Those vessels would be of incalculable advantage to the country ; its coasts might then be explored, settlements formed, and protected from Indian violence, in a manner which with my present means is simply impossible. 22. The late numbers of the " Victoria Gazette"* are herewith transmitted for your information. I have, &c. The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, ^c. &c. &c. Governor. nnmsn COLIMRIA. Ntitutions, and ordinances for the peace, order, and good government of the same: And whereas it is expedient to aftbrd to aliens desirous of becoming naturaUzed British subjects, facilities for so doing, and also to afford greater security and facility in the jjossession and transferrin" of land, and for (piieting of titles transmitted in part or ui whole through aliens : ° Now, tliercfore, I do hereby declare, proclaim, and enact as follows, viz : 1. Every alien now residing, or who may hereafter come to rebide in the said Colony with intent to settle therein jid who shall have actually resided therein, or in the adjacent Colony of Vancouver Island, or ])anly in the one Colony and partly in the other, for a continuous period of three years, without haviuf.' been, during any portion of that time, a stated resident in any foreign coiuitry out of Her Majesty's dominions, shall lie entitled to procure himself to be naturalized in manner herein-after descriijcd. 2. l^ery alien desirous of becoming so naturalized, shall procure a declaration of residence and character, to be made anon from or through whom he may derive his title was an alien, n This Act may be referred to in ail lef;al ])ro('ee(lin{;s as the Aliens Act, iHoi). Issued under the Publie Seal of the said Colony, at Victoria, this 1 Ith ila\ of May 1859, in the Twenty-second year of Her Majesty's lieign, by me, Jami:,~> Douglas, (l.s.) By his Excellency's command. William A. G. Youxc, ' Acting Colonial Secretary. God Savk the Queen. RuiTIHH Col.LHlllA. The Schedule before referred to. FonM A. I, M.N. of do solemnly declare that I am a naturalized Hritish subject (or P.ritish-hnni sub- ject, as the case may he) and that I have known A.H. of a Prussian --inject (or as the case may be) ever since and that the said A.H. has resided within the Colony of for a jHT'od cf [three years or upwards], that he is a jjerson of good character, and that there exists to my kno\ ledge no reason why to the said A.H. there should not be granted all the right and capacities of a i atuial bom British subject, and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously l)clicvnig th(< same to uc true, and in compliance with the provisions of the statute made and i)as>ed in the session of Parliament held in the •'ith and fith years of the reign of the late King William IV'., intituled an Act for the abolilii-n of unnecessary oaths. Signed M.N. Declared and subscribed by the said M.X., before me, in pursiunu'c of an Act of the Imjicrial Par- liament of the United Kingdom, r, \- c William IV. c. (i'J, and of the Proclamation of the 14th day of May W>9. And 1 hereby certify that to the best of my knowledgi and belief, the said A.H. lias c()in- plied with the requisite formalities specified in such Proclamation, entitling hini to be naturalized as a British subject, and I know of no reason why he should not be so naturalized. J. P. for British Columbia, residing at this day of (Sigueil) .I.P. 185 FoiiM n. I, A.B. do solemnly declare that I have resided three years in this colony (or in this colony and rue adjacent colony of Vancouver's Island, as the ease may be) with intent to settle in tbi-; colony, and without having been during tiiat time a stated resident in any foreign comitry. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and in compliance with the provisions of the statute made and passed in the session of Parliament, held in the .5th mid fith years of the reign of the late King William IV., intituled an Act for the abolition of unnecessary oaths. (Signed) A.H. Declared and subscribed before me, in pursuance of an Act of the Imperial Parliament of the United Kingdom, 5 & 6 William IV. c. 62, and of the Proclamation of the 14tli day of May \H.VJ. Ami I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the said A.H. has compli(!d with the recpiisite formalities specified in such Proclamation, entitling him to be naturalized as a Hritish subject, and I know of no reason why he should not be so naturali/.ed. Signed J. P. J. P. for British Columbia, residing at this day of 18.1 FouM C. Oath of ylllrf/innrr. 1, A.B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Victoria, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the deiiendencies and colonies thereof in iMirope, Asia, Africa, America, and Australasia, Queen, and that '. will (i"fen(l Her to the utmost of my jxiwit against all conspiracies and attempts whatever, which isliall be made against Her Pcison. Croun, or fiignity, and I will do my utmost to endeavour to disclose and make known to Her Majesty, Her llcir.. and Successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against Her or tiicm. And I do faithfully promise to maintain, support, and defend to the utmost of my power the succession of the Crown, which succession by an Act intituled '• An Act ibr the further Limitation of the Crown and b«tter securing the Rights and Liberties of the .Subject,"' is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and the Heirs of Her Body, being Protestants, hereby renouncing and al)iuriny virtue of an Art of Parliament ^rnade and passed in the sesmon IT of the Hath, Governor Bbitik* C0I.rMBIA. Knil. •!• No. 99. Parliament held in the Slut and 'J'-'nd years of the reign of Her Majexty <,iiieeu Victoriii, intitnled an Act to i)rovide for the "Oovernment * I'ufV. ment held in the iilst and iJ'ind years of the reiprn of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, intitided an Apt to provide for the " (lovernment of British Columbia," and by a Commission under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom ol (Jreat Britain and Ireland, I, James Douglas, liave been ap]iointed Govorno of the said Colony, and have been authorized by proclamation under the Public Seal of the said Colonv to make laws, institutions, and ordinances for tne peace, order, and good government of the same: Now, therefore, I do hereby declare, ))roclaini, and enact as follows ; viz., 1. From and after the ITith day of June now next there shall be levied, collected, and paid at thp Port of Quecnsborough, in the said Colony, for the use of Her Majesty, Her lu'irs and successors as and for toiniagc, pilotage and liarbour dues on all vessels clearing outwards at the said port for partj beyond sea, or entering inwards at the saitl ])ort from parts beyond sea, and on the cargoes and contents of such vessels, the several sums mentioned in the Schedule hereto in respect of the particulars opposite to such several sums. 2. The fees for pilotage mentioned in the said schedule shall be paid in full only where the vpjse' ehall have actually made use of the services of a licensed |)ilot. Where a licensed pilot shall have ottered his services to or bailed a vessel leaving or making for the said port, and his services shall have been declined, half the dues ment i(nied in the Schedule shall be payable by such vessel to such pilot Where no licensed pilot shall have been employed or ottered his services or hailed such vessel where such vessel carries on board as one of her crew a licensed i)ilot belonging to the said por^ no pilotage shall be jiayable. 3. All moneys and dues hereby made jiayable may be paid to the Collector, who is hereby authorized to demand and enforce jiaynicnt of all such moneys from the master of the vessel in respect whereof Buch moneys are payable, and to give lull and complete receipts and discharges for the same. 4. In case of any (lis])iite concerning any nnnieys hereby authorized to be levied and paid or the evasion or attempted evasion of the i)ayment thereof, the amount payable shall be ascertained and recoverable under the provisions of the CustomK Consolidation Act, 1853, so far as such provisions are from local circumstances capable of being ajiplied, in the same manner as if the moneys hereby made payable were duties of Customs lawfully imjiosed. 6. From and after the 15th day of .lune instant the Proclamation of the /ith March last past, and every clause and ])rovision therein, shall cease and be of none effect, save as to moneys and penalties recoverable, ])ayable, and enforceable under the same I'roclamation previo\isly to the date hereof. 6. In the cons' ruction of this Proclamation and the Schedule hereto the ex])ression " parts i)eyond ea" shall include -"ny port ujjou or beyond the Gulf of Georgia or any of the inlets thereof- the ixpression "vessels" shall include canoes and boats; the expression "Collector" shall mean' the or of Her Majesty's duties of Customs at the said port of Queensborougli, or in his absence the for the time being performing the functions of such Collector; an ' the port of Queensborou^h )mprise .ill the waters, mouths, and channels of Fraser River between the deep water of the Gulf sea" expression Collector of Her person fc ehall comprise i of Georgia and a line drawn due north and south through the eastern extremity of 'iVec Island. Issued under the Public Seal of the Colony of British Columbia, this 15th day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, at Langley, '... j.he said Colony. ' JAMiiB Douglas, (i,.s.) By ■Command of his Excellency. William A. G, Yoitng, Acting Colonial Secretarv. God Save the Queen. The Schedule above referred to. For every sailing ship or vessel above 30 tons register either entering or leaving the said port, per ton register ------ For every steam vessel either entering or leaving the said port, per ton register For every vessel of and under 30 tons, including boats and canoes For every passenger on board any vessel coHveyed to or from parts beyond sea Pilotage; viz., For every "Vessel clearing for or entering from parts beyond sea ; viz., If le js than six feet draught of water ----- If more than six feet and less than seven feet draught of water - And for every additional foot of water up to 12 feet . - . And for every additional foot of water above 12 feet ... Inland Navigation ; viz., Every ^tsamer trading on the Fraser River, and not trading to any part beyond sta, per tou register per annum ....... £ s. J. - - - 7 . 4 3 2 6 - 5 - 5 10 - 10 - 15 (1 2 lA. PAPERS IlELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 67 (No. a.) }f the Bath, Governor »h Cohimbia. the 8e«»;,;r. t-! Tarlia. oriH, intituled nn Act (Ilt the Great Seal of 1 appointed (}ovpmor !al of the Haid Colony, cnt of the same : ected, and paid at the ■irs and successors, aj he said port for partj I on the cargoes and pect of the particulais only where the vpsse' nsed pilot shall have (lis services shall have I vessel to such pilot tailed such vessel, or S to the said port, no [) is hereby authorized *el in rcsi)cct whereof )r the same, levied and paid or the 1 be ascertained and is such provisions are moneys hereby made March last past, and moneys and penalties the date hereof, ■ession " parts I)eyond le inlets thereof; the tor" shall mean the or in his absence the )rt of Queensborough eep water of the Gulf ' '1 ree Island. 15th day of June, one a Douglas, (l.s.) s. J. savmg er !a 3 2 7 C 4 - 5 - 5 10 - 10 - 15 Enclosure li in No. 81. I'llOlI.AMATlOV. Bv his E^cellcncy Jamks Dni-ci as, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Hath, CJovernor ^ and Commander-in-Chief of Mritish ''olumbia. |»roclamation having the Korrc of Law in Her Majesty's Colony of British Culumbia. WiiKiiKAs inider and i)y virtue of an .\cr of Parliament made and passed in the session of Parlia- ment held ill the iilst ancl ti'ind years of the reijfii of Her Majesty (^iieeii Victoria, intituleil an Act to provide for the "Government of Hritisb Columbia," and liy « t-'onimission under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great IJritain and Ireland, I, James Douglas, have in'cii appointed Governor of the said Colony, and have been authorized by Proclainaticui uniler the Pui)lic Seal of the said Colony to muko laws, institutions, and ordinances for the peace, order, and good governnu-nt of the same : And whereas by a Proclamation issued on tlie l.Jth day of June IH.'i'J certain changes were made in the miuiner of levying, and the amount of clearance, pilotage, and other dues, and fees for British Cohimbia: And whereas some unavoidable delays have occurred in giving public notice of the intended changes thereby made : ... Now, therefore, I do hereby declare, proclaim, and enact as fodows ; viz., 1. The dues, moneys, and tees payable by the said Proclamation from the date therein m(cs a due for every j)assenger on board any vessel conveved to parts beyond the sea is hereby repealed. Issued under the Piililic Seal of the Colony of British Columbia, at Victoria, Vancouver's Island, this y">th day of June one thousand eight hundred and lifty-iiiiie, in the Twenty-third year of Her Majesty's reign. Jami:s Doi'di.As. (i,.s,) By Command of his Excellency. William A. G. Yoiinu, Acting Colonial Secretary. God Savk riii-; Qi'k.kn. RBiTixn C'ol.lTMBIA. Kncl. 5 in N<>. a (No. (i.) Enclosure 6 in No. 2"i PltOCLA.MATION. End. 6 in No. -25. id sta, By his Excellency Jamks Douglas, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of British Columbia. Proclamation having the Force of Law in Her .Majesty's Colony of British Columbia. To amend the Laws relating to the Licences for .Selling fermented Liquors, and for the Occupation of Crown I.,ands by T'radcrs, and for other purposes. WiiKUKAs under and by virtue of an Act of Parliament made and passed in the Session of Parlia- ment held in the 21st and 22nd years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, intituled an Act to provide for the "Government of British Columbia," and by Commission under the (ireat Seal of the United Kingdom of fireat Britain and Ireland, I, James, Douglas, have been appointed Governor of the said Colony, and have been authori/.ed by Proclamation under the Public Seal of the said Colony to make laws, institutions, and ordinances for the peace, oriler, and good government of the Bamc: Now, therefore, I do hereby declare, proclaim, and enact as follows; viz., I. The Proclamations of the 28th day of December 1857, and of the 8th day of February last, and the Regulations of the 30th day of December 1857, and of the l;ith day of July 18.")8, shall, from and after the iilst day of August 1859, cease and be of none effect, save only as to any wrongs and penalties recoverable and enforceable under the said Proclamations or Ilegulations, or any of them. II. From and after the 31st day of August 1859, there shall bo payable and paid, by every person described in the Schedule hereto, in lieu of all sums heretofore payable in resjiect of all or any such matters, licences, and trades therein specified, the sums therein respectively mentioned, and therein set opposite to the said several matters, licences, and trades respectively, and the said Schedule shall be taken to be part of this Proclamation. III. All moneys payable under this Proclamation shall be payable in advance. IV. This Proclamation may on all occasions be cited as the " Licences Act, 1859." Issued under the Public Seal of the said Colony, at Victoria, this Tenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the Twenty-third year of Her Majesty's reign, by me, James Douglas. (l.s.) By Command of his Excellency. WiLLiA.Ai A. G. Yoi^\(;, Acting Colonial Secretary. God Savk thk Quekn. '*•'<■' i 2 H 4 ! PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. n h' BBiTisn COLUMHIA. Cne). T in Vo, 2J. Interpretation clause, " Governor." " Colli Com- lioner," « Mine." " To mine." The SriiKDiiiF above roferrptl to. Hy .'noli prrnon vcndinjif RpiritiioiiN or fcrmcntPtI li(|iior8 by rrtail, for oarli hoiiH«> or place in the Colony whore bucIi vpiulinf^ in carriud on, if in ii town -.--.--.- Where Hiich vending ix curried on in a rural district not forming pnrt of ii town -.....-.- liy each perHon not having a retail licence n» above, and vending; <*pirituatig and fermented liiiuors for wholesale, for each hoiiHe or place in the Colony -J. ------ Hy every person carrying on any other trade - . . . Such lost-mentioned licence to enable the person paying the same to change business at pleasure, but not to carry on business at two places, at the same ti: And in case of partnerships, every partner carrying on business in the Colony, a ([uarter, must take out a trailing licence for that tpiarter. IJy every person occupying any (Jrown lands, by making any erections thereon, and carrying on any trade upon the same, in addition to the duties above charged, and for the use of the land an occupied by him - lOf. for ovory month. - Claim." " Free Miner." ** Registered Free Miner." Gold Commis- lioners tu 1)6 appointed liy the Governor under th» I'ublic Seal. 2.W. for one year, 10/, for one year. 1 0/. for one year. 1/. for every .Smomhi. his place or ahrahit>. So. Valid for (iiic year. Tills if to I'lTtify tliat A. H. of linx paiil uw thin day tho mitn of Oni> IVmnd Stcriiiij;, jiiil Ih cutitlcd to mII tlic rif{htM and |>rlvil('gej of a Frci- .Miner for oiu' year from tin- dati' licrrof ((,'oimtiM>i),'>i<' (if ('(iiiferrinf; any ri^litH npon any other perMoii liian tiic perHon therein named, and oidy one person siiali 1)1' named as a iVee miner in each certilicate Such ccrtiticate must l)e couiitersiffued l)y tlie fre" miner tliercin named hefore l)eintr jirixhued hy hini for any purjioKe. And wliere such certificate siiail lie issued to tlie frei' miiit>r therein named in ncrsoii, tiie (iold Commissioner or the person issuin<; the same shall eause tile Hame to he coinitersiLTiicd bv till' applicant hetore liimself sijjiiinff or dehverinj{ tiie same. 'V. Kverv free miner shall, dnrinif the continuance of his certili't rcfiulations, or hyelaws for tlie time lieinjj in force in tiie place or district in wliich such claim, lease, ditch, or water privilege shall iie situated, rej;ister tiie same at tiie ollicc of the (iold Commissioner, wiio siiail record in a taimlar form, in a iioolv or liooks to he iicpt liy iiim, tiie uaiiii' of tiie iiolder, the dates of his certilicate, of ins taliin^ possession, and (d' iiis rccoriiiiif,' tlie claim. tlie name of the mine, and the diHtiiiffuisiiiiif,' iiumiier of tiie claim, and all sueii furtiier particulirs as w for the place or district. And such rejris giiail l)c valid for tiic space of one year and no ionjfer. To rnutinui' in f 'fcv I'lr OIK' y.ar. Mil^l JK' ctuin- t' r'it-tu'tl hy !lic Ifii- tninir. Uiu'lil to I'litfr mill liiiiu'. Ui'ui^ti.aiuii lit i-liiiiii aiuiiMll). flinll tViini time to time he ie(|iiired iiy any valid liyelaw for the place or district. And such registration I'liiir sliillinRs sliall lie talien iiy the (iold Commissioner for tiie use of Her Majesty, Iler Ilcirs and Successors, upon every roffistration or re-ref;istratioii of any claim; and no person not hciiijf a free miner shall he entitled to record a claim or iiny interest therein. \ II. Every free miner siiall have during' the c' ciiuso relating to a iniiie, claim, or ditoli l)eins brought in the first instance 1), i'lio tlie .Sii|)ronu' Court of Civil Justice of l{riti>l' Columbia, wherein tlic sum of dauiajies sonirbt tol)e rec'oveied sliall be less than "lO/., it shall lie lawful for the Court, after issue joined, to direct the cau>e to be tried l)efore any Gold Commissioner whom the Court shall name, and upon such terms as the Court sliiill thi'.ik tit. XXII. Tlie Gold Commissioner alone witluuit a jin-y shall be the sole '.udi^e of law and fact. XXIII. The Gold Commissioner shall have the power to cause such parties and witnessi^s as be shall think I'ropf' f" attend on any i)roceedings before him, and to compel tiie j)ruducti(ni ofdoL'r!>liii>, Tlirt'O to rctiru iinniiallv, FJi'i-li'His tt( lake placi.- in Jaiiiiai'v. I'iiwcr tv, in his discretion, think tit to gnm Coi-L'MBiA. for the coinpiction of the ditrh the whole of the water applied for, lie shall, at the end of the time nientioiu'd in hi;* iipplication, lie deemed entitled only to the ([uantity actually tfiken by him, and the Gold Commissioner »\\M make such entry in the rcffister as shall he proper to mark such alteration in the (|uantity, and may j,'rant the surplus to any other person according to the rules herein laid ilo«-n for the jTrantiii},' of water privileges. X. Kvery owner of a ditch or water jirivilege shall be bound to take all reasonable moans for utiliziiif,' the water ;,'raiited to and taken by him. And if any such owner shall wilfully take and waste any unreasonable <(uantity of water, he shall be charcred with the full rent as if he had snld the same at a full ])rice. And it' shall lie lawful for tlie Gold Commissioner, if such offence ho n^j. sisted in, to declare all rif,dits to the water forfeited. XI. It shall be lawful for the owner of any ditch or \vater privilej^e to sell and distribute the water c(mveyed i)y him to such persons, and on such terms as they may deem advisable, within the limits men- tioned in their apjilication : Provided always, that the owner of any ditch or water ])rivilege shall be bound to supply water to idl applicants, being free miners, in a fair proportion, and shall not demand more from one person than from another, exce[)t when the ditHculty of snjiply is enhanced ; i^ovided further, that no ])erson, not being a free miner, shall be entitled to demand to be supjdied with water at all. XII. A claim on any mine shall, until otherwise ordered by some valid byelaw, be deemed to be abandoned, and open to the occupation of any free miner, when the same shall have remained nnworked by some registered holder thereof for the space of seveiity-tv.o hours, unless in case of sic'iuess, or unless before the expiry of such seventy-two hours a further extension of time be granted by the Gold Commissioner, who may grant further time for enabling parties to go prospecting, or for such other reasonable cause as he may think ])roper. Sundays, aiul such holidays as the Gold Commissioner may think fit to jiroclaim, are to bo omitted in reckoning the time of non-working. XIII. Whenever it shall be intended, in forming or ui)holdingany ditch, to enter upon and to occupy any part of a registered claim, or to dig or loosen any earth or rock within [4| feet of any ditch not belonging solely to the registered owner of such claim, three days' notice in writing of such : shall be given, before entering or approaching w ithin four feet of such other ])roperty. XIV. If the owner of the property about to be so entered upon or approached shall consider three days' notice insutlicient for taking propi v measures of precaution, or if ahy dispute shall arise between the ])arties as to the proper iirecautionary measures to be taken, or in any other respect, the whole matter shall be immediately referred to the Gold Commissioner acting in the district, who shall order such interval of time to be observed before entry, or make such other order as he shall deem proper. XV. In ((uartz claims and reefs each successive claimant shall leave three feet unworked to form a boundary wall between his claim and that of the last ])revious claimant, and shall stake off his claim accordingly, not c(unmencing at the boundary ])eg of the last previous claim, but three feet further on; and if any jierson shall stake out his claim disregarding this rule, the (iold Commissioner shall have power to come and remove the first boundary peg of such wrongdoer three feet further on, notwitli- standing that other claims may then be pro])crly staked out beyond him : so that such wrongdoer shaJi then have but ninety-seven feet. And if such wrongdoer shall have commenced work immediately at the boundaiy peg of the last previous claim, the Gohl Commissioner may remove his boundary six feet further on than the o|)en work of such wrongdoer; and all such open work, and also the next three feet of such space of six feet shall belong to and form part of the last preview's claim, and the residue of such space of six feet shall be left as a boundary w all. XVI. Every such Ijoundary wall shall he deemed the joint property of the owners of the two claims between which it stands, and may not be worked or injured, save by the consent of both such owners. XVII. In staking out plots of land for free miners and traders for gardening and residential purposes, under the powers in the said Gold Fields Act, IS")!*, contained, the Gold Commissioner is to keep in view tlio general interests of all the miners in that locality, the general principle being that every garden benefits indirectly the whole locality, and also that the earlier application is to be preferred; but where the eligible spots of land are few, or of scanty dhnensions, and especially where they are themselves auriferous, it may be injudicious that the whole or the greater part siioulil fiill into the hands of one or two persons ; and therefore, in such cases, the Gold Commissioner may, in the exercise of his discretion, allot small plots only to each applicant. XVIII. Anv person desiring to acquire any water privilege shall be bound to respect the rights of parties using the same water, at a point below the place where the person desiring such new privilege intends to use it. XIX. Any jierson desiring to bridge across any stream or claim or other place for any purpose, or to mine under or through .iny ditch or flume, or to carry water through or over any land already occupied by any other jierson, may be enabled to (lo so in jiroper cases, with the sanction of the Gold Commis- sioner. In all such cases the right of the party first in jjossession, whether of the mine or the water privilege, is to prevail, so as to entitle him to full compensation and indemnity. But wherever due compensation by indemnity can be given, and is required, the Gold Commissioner may sanction the execution of such new work on such terms as he shall think reasonable. AS TO i.i;asi;s in laugeii i'uoi'oktions thax claims. XX. A])plications for leases are to be sent in triplicate to the Gold Commissioner having jurisdie- tion for the locality where the land desired to be taken is situated. Every such application shall contain the name and additions of the applicant at full length, and the names and addresses of two persons re- siding in the colony of British Columbia or \'ancouver Island, to whom the ajjplicaut is personally known. Also a description accompanied by a ma]) of the land proposed to be taken. XXI. Leases will not be granted in general lor a longer term than ten years, or for a larger space than ten acres of alluvial soil (dry diggings), or half a mile in length of unworked quartz reef, or a mile PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 65 to grant "I the time and the tf'ratioii in laid lioHTi Ic nipans for "y talvc ami liad .sold tile 'enco lie per. intention, . p„ attempted and abandoned l)y XXII. Leases as above will not in •reneial be granted of any land, alluvimn, or (inaitz, wbicli sliall heVAisidcred to be immediately availaidc for beini; worked l)y iiee iiiiiiei> as iiolders of individual laim-' Nor will such a lease ni any rase be <;ranted wliere individual free nnnem are in previous ttuai'occupation of any part of the premises unless bv theii((.nseiit. x'xill- Every such lease shall eontain alt reasoTiable provisions for seeurini,' to ttie public ri>rlits of •n'and water, save in so far as shall be necessary for the miner-like workinir of the pn-inises thereby demised, and also for preventing damage to the persons or jiroperty of other parties than the lessc e. \m\ the premises thereby l u- i!l !;! ti 1 >i I ,■ ;.. <« ■» !*■ i'S ■ :' J 'n ;■<■' ■ 1 -1^ ''ii r-r ri ^ • 1 66 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. BRmsn Columbia. ! I Tlic revenue is so largely benefited by tliat subdivision, as each mining claim is required to pay an annual charge of 1/. sterling into the Colonial Exchequer, that the principle was without hesitation, and for that reason only, adopted in the " Gold Fields Act." ('). In constructing that Act it was foreseen that no mining law, however coinprehen. sive, could be made applicable to tiie wants and circumstances of an extensive country like British Columbia, and the ex|)edicnt was therefore resorted to of providing for the establishment of elective mining hoards in every district, with power to frame bye laws regulating the size of claims, and otherwise of adapting the provisions of the General Act to the particular circumstances of each nu'ning district. 7. Until the mining boards are constituted the Assistant Gold Commissioners are empowered to grant relief in all cases of real hardship, or whenever the public or the interests of individual miners may be endangered through the rigid enforcement of the Act; and it was also decided that in certain cases where miners liave incurred much preliminary outlay on account of their claims, tiiat the same person may be allowed to hold more than one mining claiu), under a lease from the Crown, and at a rental equal to the revenue accruing to the colony from an equal nundjer of mining claims held by dif- ferent persons ; an arrangement which gave general satisfaction, and will, I have no doubt, remove all cause of complaint in respect to the extent of mining claims. 8. I met, in the course of my journey, witii roving miners from every part of Ihitish Columbia, and ascertained from them many interesting facts connected with the gold dis- tricts. Last year an impression was generally entertained by the miners that tiie gold deposits hail been made by Fraser's River, and tiiat the gold was brought down by the stream from a source existing somewhere in the main range of the Rocky Mountains- they have since discovered that not only the bed, but also the higher hanks of the I'Vaser whicii rise terrace-like, one above tlie otiier, as they recede towards liie iiills on either side, are composed of am-iferous eartli ami beds of water-worn gravel ; .1 circumstance that has led them, not illogically, to the conclusion that the river occupied 't some former period a much higher level than its present biid, and that the water has been drained off by its gradual deepening, through the natural process of attrition or by /Icanic agency. y. Alluvial diggings of extraorilinary value have been discovered on Quesnel River, a tributary which flows into the Eraser about 50 miles beyond Ale\ mdria. Some adven- turous miners have ascended this stream as far as the lake of tiie mie name from which it rises, and ha\e been rewarded with ricii strikes, as much, it is ri ported, as 40/. a day having been made to the hand; but instances of such good fortune are uncommon. One circumstance, liowever, wiiicii deserves to be recorded, and whici is estabiisiied alniost beyond a doubt, through the concurring testimony of the miu' rs wlio Iiave seen the country, is the fact that the channels of Eraser's River, to a distai, ^ of I.jO miles beyond Eort George, t!ie extreme point to which they have been yet pros) t-cted, are found to be auriferous, yielding on every bar from 20.v. to '^j.v. a day to the iiai '. 10. I fell in with three persons who left St. Taul's, Mimiesota, ome time last year; they j)assed the winter in the Rocky ISIountains, continued their j( rney westward in the spring, and struck the sontii brancli of Eraser's River near " 'I'ete .'aunc's Cache." They saw many veins of quartz on the western slopes of the mountains, and beds of rtddish earth, which in California are considered a sure indication of the psesence of gold ; they prospected the banks of the South Eraser as they drop])ed down tlio stream in a rudclv tbrmed canoe, and were nowhere disaj)pointed in finding gold in highly remunerative quantities. 11. The district between Yale and Lytton abounds in rich ! k and bar diggings, Mr. M'Gill, a res|)ectable merchant residing at Eort Yale, assured 10 that he once saw 71 ounces of iiold dust taken out of one mining claim at Boston i iv by three men in iil' hours, and that the same claim yielded regularly from IS to 50 ( nces of gold a day for about four weeks, when the iiolilers were driven out by a suddes: rise in tiie river, the claim being only accessible at extreme low water for about four weeks in the year. 1'2. The miners also report the presence of gold in the various little streams between Pavilion and Alexandria, and, in short, believe that there is gold in almost every part of the country. 13. Two veins of gold-bearing quartz were discovered by a party of Cornish miners near Fort Hope, during the time 1 remained at that place, and the discoverers, who en- tertain sanguine hopes of success, intend to work tiiem as rapidly ;is their scanty means will permit. 14. The district between Hope and Yale is not so populous as la '. year, the present mining population consisting of about 6OO persons. The washing is now principally done I il i' PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMRIA. 67 by sliiiciii!.'. wiiicli requires fewer men mid docs nuicli more work tlian tiie process of baiul-w;isliiiii?' ^ '"'"{^'^ amount of capital is invested in ditches, wliicii carry supplies of water fur sluicin' po.sid, and as meetini; their view, would, I felt assured, have the effect of ppnr:'!',;^;; sl'i' ^rttlemcnt of the country; 1 1^,1 every wish to do so, but there was a diihci^.ty !■ ■ cj.iipiish'ng the object, for the reiison tiiat no country lanti had been surveyed in those districts, , ; :'()uld surveys be completed before next year, when the petitioners would probably all iiavc left tiie colony in disjiust. I therefore had recourse to an eNjiedient which fully met the case, without sacrifice to the Government, and to the iicrfeet satisfaction of the public, by issuing a circular ad. dressed to the Assistant Commissioners of Crown lands at Hope, Yale, Douglas, Lytlon, and Cayoosh, directing them to i)ermit all persons being at the time British subjects and all persons who have recorded their intention of becoming British subjects, to hold tracts of unsurveyed Crown land, not being town sites, nor sites of Indian villages, and not exceeding 160 acres in extent, with a guarantee that the same would be fully con- veyed to the holder when the land is surveyed, at a price not to exceed 10,s'. an acre. Q8. This is in fact the basis of a pre-em|)tion law foiindod on occupation and improve- ment, the Government agreeing on those conditions to cc ivey the land at u fixeil price; it being moreover provided that the rights of actual scttiers, of those jicrsons only who are found in |)osses.sion when the land is surveyed will be recognized and allowed, Persons wishing to acquire larger tracts will be required to pay a dc,/osit of 5,v. per acre on all land over KiO acres pre-empted for their benefit ; a condition intended to serve as a jirotection to hondjide settlers, and to ))revent speculators from j)reying on the imblic, and defeating the proposed object of encouraging the settlement of the country. '^9. If that plan should fail in attracting a population I think it wdl be advisable to resort to the Canadian system of making free grants not exceeding 100 acres of rural land to actual sealer.s, on condition of their making certain .specified improvements. 30. The great object of opening roads from the sea coast into the interior ol' tiie country, and from New Westminster to Biirrard's Inlet and Pitt River, continues to claim a large share of my attention. The labour involved by the.se works is enormous ; hut w essential are they as a means of settling and developing the resources of the country, that their importance can hardly be overrated ; and I therefore feel it incumbent on me to strain every nerve in forwarding the progress of undertakings so manifestly conducive to the prosperity of the colony, and which at the same time cannot fail ere long to produce a large increase in the public revenue. .31. We hope to complete the last section of a pack-road leading by the left bank of the Fraser, fiom Deiby to Lytton, a distance of I70 miles, on or before the Isl day of February next. From Lytton a natural pack-road now exists leading to Red River settlement, by the C3outannais Pass, through the Rocky Mountaiu.s, and from thence following the valley of the Sascatchewan, chieHy over an ojien ))rairie country of greit beautv, and replete with objects of interest to the tourist and the sportsman ; a .setder may then take bis dejjarture from Red River in spring with his cattle and stock, and reach British Columbia by that road in course of the autumn following. This is no mere theory, the experiment having been repeatedly made by parties of Red River people tiavellins to Colvile, from whence there is a good road to Lytton ; so much so, indeed, that one of those persons assured me that the whole distance from Lytton to Red River, with the exception of the Coutannais Pass, which is thickly wooded, may be safely travelled with carts. If the Canadian Government would undertake to open a road from Red River to the borders of Lake Superior, wiiich really presents no very fbriniduble difliculties, the connexion between British Columbia and Canada would be complete, and the whole distance might I think, be travelled on British soil. 3^, The declared value of British Columbia imports for the quarier ending with the SOtli day of September last is a07,81'8 dollars ; and the customs receipts for the same period, amount to 5,20iil. against 4.,'24-2/. for the preceaiug quarter, showing an increase on the latter of 9(iOl. A large sum has also been derived fiom sales of town land, licences PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLnMBlA. m ami otliLT sources of rcvcn Uut those returns roi iuvinii • "en rtceiveil mist bo reserved Hmnsu for ii future conimunicatio 0, I liave, &c. His Grace the Duke o' ewcasfl", (SiLjnecl) JAMKS DOCGLAS, &c. &c. &c. (Jovernor. No. '27. Copy of DE.Sl'A'IXMl froir. (Jovernor Doitolas, C.l}., to his Grace the DuKK of Nkwc.asti-e, Victoria, Vancouver's Island, November 10, 1819. (Kcc.'ivcd .Tfimiarj- I'T, lSf,0.) (Anxwcrod No. 9. Fcliniiiry is. isfk). p. KW.) (No. '.'31.) My Lord Dukk, I iiAVK tlie honom- to acknowledge tiie receijjt of .Sir Edward niilwer Lytton's Despatch No. frj,* of the 7th May, on the subject of tlie dispo.sai of Crown lands in Ikilisii Cohnnbia. 'i. In my Despatch No. 15(),f of tlie 'i.Srd May, replying to Sir Edward Ihdwer Lytton's Despatch No. KiJ, of the 7 th February, I stated my full concurrence in regard to the advantages attending tile system of ))iompt payment' for land, and we shall, if practicable, without retarding the settlement of the country, introduce the practice into British Columbia. 3. With reference to the reservation of lots at New Westminster for sale in the United Kingdom and the Britisii Colonies, which is discussed in the same Despatch ^o. (i'J, I would remark for your Grace's information that it was maile witii tlie view of meeting tlie demand anticipated by the large emigration expected this year from Great Britain and her colonies, and wliich it was feared might otherwise be depiived of tlie chance ol obtaining lots at New Westminster. k It was, however, never intended, nor have we empowered any agents to sell, specific lots either in the United Kingdom or the colonies, otherwise such powers should be re- called, agreeably to the instructions received on this matter. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) .lAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. Nn. 27. ' Viiie|)aiH.'r pri'MMitwi A»f \-y.i. |i sii. t r;i(.'i' !•! ; ViiU^l; , .,s |iri'«-.Mi|i'il AUE. ".'I'J, p. 7o. I No. 28. Coi'Y of DESTATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. (No. 234.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, November l6, 1859. My Lord Duke, (Uectivid .Tumiin-y 27, iseo.) I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatcli No. 13"* of August 1859, upon the subject of the postal communication with the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island. '2. I 1 egret to learn from this Despatch that Her Majesty's Government have decideil that tlie advantages which would be derived by these colonies in the establishment of a direct mail service between .San Francisco and British Columbia would not prove equivalent to the large amount of subsitly required for carrying out the undertaking, and tluU the same reason has precluded tlie Government from entertaining tlie proposal tor a direct route via Canada and Hudson's Bay Com})aiiy's territory. 3. I observe that hereafter the correspo' deuce for these colonies will be transmitted in closed mails to Her Majesty's Consul at San Francisco who is to forward them by the first opportunity to their destination, and further that your Grace instructs me to en- deavour to secure the improvements in the existing mail service which I pointed out as desirable in my Despatcli of 5th November 1858. 4. Those improvements pointed chiefly to the establishment of a direct line between this and San Francisco, and 1 understand your Grace's present instructions as recpiiring me to ascertain whether such improvements can be obtained under existing circumstances by coml)ination with present arrangements. 5. Heretofore the United States mnil steamers were under the obligation of conveying the letters for Vancouver's Island and British C mbia, if properly directed, to Puget K No, 2S. I'liKL- i ■ \m ik I i^ y ii . u> '^ it Bmtiah COMMniA. 70 PAPERS IIFXATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Sound ; nnd, before those steamers touched at Victoria, we received tlie mail from I'u^zet Sound by any chance opportunity that offered. Since however the gold disc(m.rn,j in Briti.ih Coliunl)ia, the United States mail steamers have found it to their U(lvaiiiii"c' to call regularly at Victoria, and, through the civility of the post-olHce authorities ii^San Francisco, a separate mail bag for Victoria has always been made up and ti)ruai(le,| Tiie same will probably continue to be the case under the arrangement of sundinir i||„ closed bags to tlie Consid at San Francisco, except that the conveyance of the mail to these waters will then become a matter of favour ; l)ut I scarcely anticipate any (1,1^. for both the post-ollicc authorities and the ollicers of the mail steamers are iiivariihjv most acconunodaling and attentive. (). But under this system your Grace will at once perceive how entirely dependent we arc upon United States resources, and subject to the courtesy of United States ollicial, t()r the recei])! oi our mails, and that it is in their power at any moment entirely to stun the communication. Another serious inconvenience also attaches to the present svstein and that is the almost utter impracticability of rejtlying to correspondence by the same mail ; i'w the steamer arrives at imcertain perioils, and generally does not remain more than two hours, so that it trequently happens that the mail is actually not delivered until after she has left the ])ort. 7. For some months past, tmtil very recently, a Biitisli screw steam vessel, the " F'oxwood," was put u|)on the line between Victoria and San Francisco, and her ountrs were very desirous of obtaining the mail contract, for with that prestige and certainty there would have been ample inducement for her continuance. Application was made to me on the subjict, but 1 could only mention the arrangement llcr Majesty's (lovcrn- ment purposed making iti Kugland. The " Foxwood " lias I regret to say recently been withdrawn, not being able to compete with the monopoly of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company. I learn, however, she is still at San F'rancisco unemployed, and I am inclined to think that but a trifling inducement would bring her upon the line again, which is much to be desired ibr many reasons. I have, therefore, carrying out wiiat I believe to be the desire of your Grace, requested the agents of the "Foxwood" to make me an otl'er of the rate at which they would undertake to perform the mail service between this i)lace and San Francisco; ami so soon as a reply is received 1 will f(i)rward it for the considera- tion of yoiu' ( I race. I have, &c. HisGrace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. No. 29. No. 29. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas to his Grace the Duke of Ne WCASTLE. (No. ^235.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, November 21, 1859. My Lord DuKI:, (Recfivcd .Taimary 2";, 1860.) I nAVK the iionoiu' to forward for your Grace's information the copy of a report which I lately received from Mr. William Downie, the same enterprising person who last • Vide Papers winter furnished a report, also forwarded with my Despatch No. 12J * of the '..'atli of presented Aug. i\j;„-cl, Inst, on Jarvis Inlet. ' *"■ ■ 2. The report now transmitted relates to the unsuccessful result of the attempt made in the month of Jidy last, by a body of miners from this place, to explore Queen Ciiarlotte's Island. 3. The adventurers, dismayed by the rugged aspect of the country, the humidity of the climate, and the niunbers and formidable appearance of the native tribes, did not prosecute the enterprise with resolution or tenacity, and soon returned to this place, with the exception of a few daring sjjiiits, who accompanied Mr. Downie to F'ort Simpson, and there made arrangements to explore the course of Skeena Iliver, which flows into the sea at I'ort l^ssington, Nortii latitude 51-° 15". 4. The party commenced the ascent of the Skeena in a canoe, which they managed to take on as f.ir as the F'orks, a distance of 110 miles from the sea, Tlie river ceases to be navigable at that point, in consequence it is supposed of falls and dangerous raj)i(!s ; and they had to leave the canoe, and to travel 5.5 miles by land to the Indian village of "Naas Glee,'' a celebrated native Ashing station, from whence the Skeena again becomes navigable to its source in " Babine Lake," 15 miles beyond "Naas Glee." 5. Babine Lake is a broad and extensive sheet of water, nearly 90 miles in length, with PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMHIA. 71 d mi epth siiflficii'iit for vessels of the Iari,'e.st class; and is separated h) a low table-land 13 „,iftes ol navii,'atii)ii. (i. The report elose.s with tlie arrival of Mr. Downie and parlv, after iiukIi siiU'erin^; •111(1 privation, at Eort St. .Fames, Stuart's Lake, where their wants wtro ireiieroiisiy relieved, and themselves hospitably entertained, i)y the ofliecrs of the Hudson's Day Comimiiy- 7. Mr. Downic made several important discoveries in course of his adventurous journey. He tbniid j,'old in small (pianlities on the Skeena River ; and the mountains, which he had not time to explore, appeared to be of the formation eontaiiiinj,' yold ; he also saw very valuable and extensive beds of coal. He moreover foiiiul i^old on Stuart's Lake. He describes the country between the Forks and " Xaas (ilee" as briiii,' well ailaptcd for farmiiifj, and suitable lor the constiiiclion of roads. The wliole distance I'lom Hahinc Lake to the sea does not appear to excecil 180 miles, a j^reat part of which is accessible by water. H. The valley of tlie Skeena is thus shown to be an available avenue into tiie interior of Ihitish Columbia, and will, I have no doubt, soon become a most imp(ntaiit outlet f()r the upper districts of Fraser's River, which, liom the course oi' the river and the direc- tion of tiie coast, are broiijfht in close proximity with the sea. ij. As a means of sup|)lyinf; the distant miir'ijj,' districts of Hritisli Colimibia by a shorter and cheaper route than the valley of Eraser's River, its imiiorlance will soon be iipnreciuted and attract the attention of the mininjj and commercial classes; and I believe that the dav is not far distant when steamers will be busily plyiny on the waters of the two S'ei't inland lakes. IL). It apjiears from the American pajjcrs puUlishcd in Washinjjton territory that rich irold difjgings have been very lately ibuiul by the men of the United States Roundary Comniission on the Shimilcomceu River, and we shall have to turn our attention imme- diately to that quaiter, as the }j;reater part of the Sliimilcomeen \'alley lies nortii of the 49di parallel of latitude, iind within the limits of this colony. 11. The enclosed clippinjj from the "Pioneer and Democrat," of the Ith November instant, contains all the information we have yet received relative to that discovery. I liave, ike. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. nRITIKR CmI.I'MIIIA. filS Enclosure in No. '■J'J. End. in No,29, Fort St. James, Stuart's Lake, New Caledonia, Sin, October in, ls,3<). I ])Ko to make the following report of my trip to Queen Charlotte's Island, and nij- journey thence by Fort Simpson to the interior of liritish Colunil)ia. I left Victoria on die 27tli July widi 2' practical miners, having stores, kc, kv., for three months. We arrived in Gold Harbour, Queen Charlotte's Island safely on the (!tli August, and iminetliately set Pmspcctlnj;. about prospecting, as v e expected to see the gold shining in the water. We examined the spot where a large (|uantity of gold was formerly taken out, and discovered a few specks of gold in the small (luart/, seams that run through the slate; two of the party blasting the rock while others prospected round the harbour. I then proceeded in a cauoe to Douglas Inlet, which runs in south of Gold Harbour, hoping to find traces there of the Gold Harbour lead, but without success. The nature of the rock is trai) or horn- Nature of iht blende, with a few poor seams of ([uart/. straggling over the surface. Granite was found at the head '°'^' of this inlet, but not a speck of gold could we discover. Next day we went u|) an inlet to the north of No pold. Gold Harbour, and here a white rock sbowed itself on the spur of a mountain, and like old Californians up we nnist go to see if this was a place where our fortunes were to lie made. After a dillicult ascent we found it to be nodiing but weather-beaten, sun-dried granite instead of (piart/. Furtbcr up the inlet we saw a little black slate and some talcosc rock, but nothing that looked like gold. On our return we foimd that the men engaged in lihisting the rock had given it up, the few surface specks being all die gold that could be found. The character of the rock is generally trap or hornblende. The large amount of gold that was formerly found widi so little dilliculty existed in wliat is called OiTshoouof an off-shoot or blow. The question then arises how did the gold get here? Some of our party were of ""'''• opinion that a gold lead existed close at hand. IJut it can only be put down to one of the extraordinary freaks of nature so often found in a mineral country. The off-shoots in question are not uncommon, I have often seen them in California. On such a discovery being made bnudreds of miners would take claims in all directions near it, ani, th<» indiiUiH iiiulerHtund \\w Heanhf,,, """■ fccild widl, and deteet it in tlie forks nuicKef than I and i|imrt]!, triiv«>llinff further north granite aitpenrmimi then sandstone and eoiifflonierate, and as we were now in a coal country it wiw no lino to look iiir aolcl. Ciiiil fiirimiiion. We saw coal here, hut I cannot apeak an to itw (piulity, not heinff u judge of it. Thi' foriniitiun !> sirniliir to that of Nanaiino, * I'roin here we lelnrned to Ciold Ilarliour. A party who had remained hehiiid to prospect inhnd haii met witii no lietter siic white ini ii iiml twD liiihiiii-> ami ulariotl i)\cr ii tine truil •""' •'"'""*'*' " '"''•n'i'"' •'•uiitry I'm' Kurl Fra^cr, \ir crK'M'il hmt an Imhaii «ii«|i('n-ii.ii hrid^ji' mid ciit'iril miiiic lii>t-ialc hiiiil, (iiir ( imii«.' Iii'iii« alimil ca-t ; w i|ii|>li'ti'i| ali«iiij{ thriiii>;h as line a fariiiiiij; roniilrv a'< "tir idulil «i-li to src. 'I'd the j<(mthi'a-t a liiry:i' (ipci) •.(laii- apiicariMl and I liavc ?-iiiri' Iciinit that a rliaiii 111' lakfs riiif away hi'ii-. hciiiff thi- jiriipcr way tn i'urt I'lax'i; hut ai I alway-. follow iny Indian ffuidci* implicitly, 1 did mo nn this imm a«i(iii. 'I'hi' third day the wi'athi'r wa« tini' hut the li'flii ""' "" K""''> '' ''"" '■'"■<'- 'In' ^^idc nf a iiniuntain, hut lirliuv, tin trail wai );""nd ^fa'*'* nhiindant- My Indians started altera ijiiat ol' the innniitain hut wa^ ipiiekly iIiim^m hack hy three iK'nrn. "»' •ill""''' flay W(> crossed what is called the rocky pas-, which may he a\ciideeen covered with -now, di-tant ahoul Sa miles, where the Hudson Hay Company have n I'ost called Mear l-'ort : to the -outli i« the Indian villaifi' Kisjjyatti's, aliiiij{ the hottom runs the JSkeena past the vill ip- of Allagasoiiu'da, and further up the viilai/e of Kithathiatts on the ^airn' river. I'iftli day we eiu'DUiitered some danjferous looking; Iiuliaim hut we >{of away from tln-m. We pa-sed thmntfh a line country with cotton trees anri jjnod soil. We now arrived at the villaife of NaasOlee where the Skeena Uiver rises, we were ii(fain on the ri\er WH left five days affo, haviii).' tr.ividled .'i,') indes when we mi^fjit have come hv the river. We hail ^rfat iliflli'ultv with the Indians here, and it was fortiuiate I knew the iianie nf tin' chief, as olhernise thev WDiilil have taken all our iiropcrty ; as it was they sni rounded us iiinl were Tno«t imporlunate, one »,inti'il my eoat, another my ^'iin, a third took my ca|) from my head; and 1 really tliou;,'nl thev would munler us. 'Ihese Indians are the worst I have seen in all my travel-. N.ia- (ilee i- a ^.'leat li-hinn station, and all the worst characters conj;rei^ate here to lead an indolent life, as they live on the proceeds of their salmon fishery. Thonsaiwl of salmon were drying,' at this villa^'e. We hardly kin-w what to do for they told us it was In days to Kort h'raser, and if we rclunied they \»iiiilil have rohhed us of everythinjf ; so I determined to ffii on if the chief Norra would accomp.iny inc. anil on siiviiif,' him sonu' iireseuts he consented tn do so. I was never so irlad to ;,fct aw.iy from an Iiiiliaii villa;,'!', hut I am ready to >io ajjain and prospect this country if your l'!\cellency wi-lic- il. The riverfniin Naas (ilee downwards is very rapid; hut as the hank- aic low and Hat a wavjimi road or lail- niiiil ciinld ciisily he made. The land aioimd N.ias (ilee is lir IumI rui.' Iill1li|l|| »nt|it(rjr, i'tuill iif I.dliv. IW'irii. Sii.iwy Muilil. IllllK. IikIi III *lll.l|(,«. nil lilt" .sl.i.*.im No.li lilir. to,' II ailllL'ulljr vt ilh llii. Iii.luiiu. Siiljii..!) tislii.ry . from starvation, as it a fail wind to Fort Killainoin's, this ])ost is oidy kept up in the winter. Our course from Naas (ilee to this place was .S.K. and the distance ahout .To miles. The land is /{ood the v ! .ile wav, with loiiir i;iass on the liriiches near the Fort. It is a very lonely place, no sound sa\ e your owi, nice. It seems ji ^'reat pity to see this hcauti- fuUaiul, so well adapted for the wants of man, lyin;? waste when so many Iji/ilislnnen and Scotclnuen would he glad tn come here and till the soil. Hahine Lake i> deep and in some places live or six miles wide, there are islands and points of land to afl'ord shelter fruin the storm, hlow whence it may. I'luni Fort Killamours to the head of IJahine is ahout in miles dn.ction .S.S.E., oidy from the head down about 20 miles it runs K. and W. AVe arrived at the head of Hahine the seventh day after leaving- Naas Glee we had seen no Indians and had made a favonruhle journey, neither had we seen snow. The country we had passed was well adapted for fanning; of course some of the laud is i |;v hut on the whole it is a fine eoinitry. At the head of Bahiiie Lake there is a fine site for a town, and a good liarhour could he made; a stream runs down which would supply a town with water. This is what I call the head v, ,.;,'r of the Skeena lliver; the lake is navigable for steamers, and lOn miles in length. From here to Stuart's Lake there is a portage over a good trail, through the finest grove of cotton wood I have ever seen, to .Stuart's Lake: the ground was thickly strewed with yellow leaves, giving the scene quite an autumnal apjiearanee, a\id presenting a picture far different to what we expected in this part of British Ccdumhia. Six miles from Biibine we came to a small lake where were some Indians herring fishing; on our approach thev appeared undecided whether to run or remain ; I asked them for sonu> food and they soon ])rovideu us with some fish, which refreshed us much; having paid for our repast, we started again. From here a small stream runs, a distance of fcmr miles to .Stuart's Lake. Arrived at Stuart's Lake, we found no means of crossing, no Indians to direct us, and no food to sustain us; nor had we any shot to enable us to kill ducks. We camped here three nights witlnmt food, slqf'ping the greater part of the time to stifle our hunger. The only thing that supported us was the grand idea of the enterprise we were engaged in- that of being the first jjarty to explore the route from the Paeitie to Eraser's River, which will one day connect the Atlantic with the i'acific Ocean. K 4 KortKiIIainour*!, (i.M.H I. in,). Di'Mriptinti of Hi.i'i uiitcisof Ski'tMiii riviT. l's|ii'rt of ROlll. Good land. Arrive ill Km St. Jiiiiii'^. Difltnnrc rroiii Stuart'ft l.'ki; to nioitlli of Ski>i>iiit ri^iT. J'\'l!ow tra- vellL-m, Wf hail, iiicaiitiiric, to sec what could he (liiiic to I'lvi' us IVoiii our prcsi'iit (lillicultics. Oi,ofn |iait\ foinid on old canoe split to pieces; til's was rifffjcd on a rait of lofrs as well as circtunstanr., would admit. I rctniiied to the Indians above mentioned, and |)urcliased a few herrings. I walked hack tonii caicp with dilcculty, and Inuud niy liudis (rivinj^ way. Next inoinin}; we started on our IVail raft expcctin;.'' e\ery nionicn' she woidd f,'o down. We were ohliffcd to sit pertectly still, as the Uj moicnici t wiiuld have upset ns, ;\ slif,'ht hree/e s|)riin;r up, and a small sea washed over us: jiiid Ii.kI to run for a Ice shore, where kind l'roviVe., lis [''.xcelle'icy (ioveriKU- Doufjlas, (Sifjned) William Dowmi. \c. \c. \c. lifcn on the sn rock. I do not will net he safe then the coinifr would have hcc Ia rii.\< T irom tnc tir I' Dei at," Ith November IS.Ii). I'rom the '* Dalles .lonrual," October 21. lid lill M (iol.l) Disiiivl the Si- iin.-K \-mi An ''xpressnian, naincit 'Oc(inirc, arrived at the Dalles in the early part of tin I'rom {' iplaiii Archc.'- commaiid, reports the discovery of rich f;old dif,'o;ini^s on the Si-mil-ka-meen river, aiioiit liv iles i roni the camp. Ai con dinii; t o our informant, the discovery is ennlined to a small bar mi the river, wliicli is beiiifj; worked hy soliliers, (piartermaster s men, anil lai'ire numlier o f ludi; ■I'll, half en fidiii camp >;o down after hreakfasi, walkiuf; a dislaiici^ of live miles, and workinj^ not more th average aiioi It, .s''JII to the hand. This is uilhont the ordiuarv con^en^ence^ tor ininiiiir and with iiothinir but iiiiks, iKinu- fiyiuM-paus for aashiiiLf oiil. Willi "rockers," it is estimatcil iha' from ,S'."ii) to •••■'Jon to the b.uiil could readily be taken out. We b.ive not learned that ,niy of tin. nei;.dihonriii;; bars have been prospected, but it can scarcidy be possible that the rich deposits coulii striki led to iiiu- iocjihtv aue. wlieii a tlr examination is had, it is more th.an I kelv that be in.idc all alonir ihe course of the river. Mr. Mc(iuire, who is represenicd to us as itirdv reliable man. out iTi lid at a ra te full '.ays thai he hiiii>cll vjsiteil the di^'^juij tl le millers at wor k, takii V ciiiial lo lli.'it stated, It IS rcpresenleil lb .1 the ollicers in commauil arc Mrv anxious to couci'.al a II kuoulcd;,'!' of the (Hscineiy, llicy apprclieii'iiii;r an iimnediate rush, thai in llii jireseiil condition of the coiinlrv mnsi be allcnded with f;real iirivations. The nearest point at whi.h rv to the miner can be obt.iincd is Colvillc, wliiili is over loo miles distant fidiii tin supplies iie( newh' discovered mines. The Indians, loo, are represenicd to be dci idedly hostile; and inasiimch ib 111,' troops iire about to remove, miners would be exposed to constant .ittacks from savaire nlioii tlies(> fads as a ciiition a^Miiist a wild and lie.'id1oii"'^ <" ^■■'"• This river is >fry iucorri'ctly iU!i|)pi' ', as it is I'i(> mill's loiijr, with miinbiTlcss tributaries. It is u swollen mountain torrent till the luidille of .lulv, so liiat it is late before it ran be worked, it is my opinion that this jfold was washed out of the hills i(iiiti;,Mu>us, this year, as these diL'iriutrs thus far lia\e k-cn on the surfaee only. You know tlial frold will always, if vou ;,'i\e it tune, liuil its way to the bed rock. I do not know that they will be developed .-ioou as we shall leave here in 1(1 or \L' davs, and it will net he safe for a small party to attempt to mine. These Indians wan\ a M\ere tlu i>liinj;, and thiMi the eountry (an be traversed with safety. Our conmii.nd has kept them ruil, ntherttix- there would have been the devil to pay as usual. Cami) ()s()yoo>, W. T.. Oit. lo, ks,",!I. ffold-fevered letters wen^ doidjtlpss disiialclied bv the re;;id:ir mail, it mav be 1...: f _ . :... ... I _'..... :.. i\ 1. . As many • • • As many jfoni-ievered letters wen^ (loiintlpss (lispalclied ny liie re;;ular mail, it mav he iinportimt to the exeitable iiopiilalion of your city, to have correct accoullt^ from the (li^'-f;iuir>. it is trne that a rich phuer, yieldinif from >'lo to >';i(i a day to the baud, b.is been ili>co\ercd, tin iiillis above the forks— but the ^(dd is confined to a sinifle locality, the extent of Hliicli is nut iikivc lliaii '.'.) i,y 1(1 yards. White, whom I sent out to ]ir()s|)ect the stream for four or live miles above and hclou ilic placer, has failed to lind it in reiniiiierative (nialilities at any other puint. It !-cciii> tn lie the opiuinii df cxpcri- I'lici'd Califcrnia miners that, rich as the placer i>- it will he worked out in less than two weeks, and that there is no more ;fold on the river worth miniiiir. I ineiilion all this in order to prevent men who mav have heard exaf^fjeratcd accoinils iVum cou'mii; this fidl. I'ossibly next spriiif,' (n- siiuimer, miners inijiht come and discover .sonicthiiii; lietler, hut to come from the Dalles now would end in nothiiif; but sull'eriiif,' and disappniiitiiieiit. I was always conlident that i'lM existed in the mountains iif llii.- territory, and expected a ili>cii\cry hy some one of the many expeditions \>liicli went out last sp.inj^-. HnirMn C'>U I Mill i. Iters reci'ivi'il No. 30. Copy of DESPATCH from Cioveinor Douglas, C.B., to liis Cnice the DuKK of Nkwcasti •;. (No. 230.) Victoria, Vancouver's Islaiul, Dcccmlicr 'J2, l,S,"i!). Mv Loud Duki;, (K.ccivcil Kriiniiiiy n, isno.i I iiAVK the lioiioiir of tiansmittiiifr lu'iewitli the copy of a Proclamation jncvidiii^ for tlie estabiislmieiit of courts in 15ritisli Coiiinibia, to enaliie suitors to recover liehts not exceciling in value the sum of, OO/. sterling by a ciieap anil speeiiy metiiod. The prac- tice of llic Supreme Court was foini-i to lie too slow ami exiiewsive to meet the cxiLcencies of suitors in the recovery of small dehts, which were not unl'retpientiy aiiaiuioneil in preference to incinring the expense of seeking redress at tiiat trihuual. '2. Many abuses had grown out of that state of things, together wilii .i ger.cial want of confidence, and an almost entire stoppage of credit transactions, to the great iiijiiiy of the mining poj)ulation, who require advances to enable them lO carry on their operations. .'?. The evil was not felt under tiie form of government istablished previously to the Proclamation declaring Mngiisli law in liirce in the colony of liritisli ('i hiiiiljii, which issued on tiie lj)ih day of November IH.'JS, as justices of tiie peace were beliire that event necessarily invested "ith very extensive |)owcrs, which they exercised to the satis- fiiction of the ])ublic, who overlooked occasional deviations fiom tlie strict letter of the law, in the security enjoyed, anil the amoiini of jniblic good achieved. 4, There is a general feeling in the colony in favour of the re-cstablishment of tiiat system, which would, however, be inconsistent with Kiiglish law, and tiie Atloriiey General has framed the Act, now herewith transmitted, to acconiplisii the desired ohject of facilitating the recovery of small debts by a process rapid and yet not exiiensive to suitors. .'). The additional ex])ense lo the colony will be inconsiderable, as tiie whole business of the new courts is to be conducted by the present stipiiuliaiy magislrales, willi the iingle addition of Mr. Elliot, an Knglish barrister, whose salary of 'JtK)/. a year will be laid from fees, (i. The "Joint Stock Companies Act" has also in view the encoiiiagemeiit of iiu rcaii- tile enterprise and liie formation of joint slock comi)anies, by rcstricling the lial sliarelidlders to the amoiiut of tl;i'ir iiiveslnu'nts in tiiose coiicerii>;, and lioin further rcsi)oii.sibi!itv. III. - L No. 30. sin P iiiity of relii'viiiLi- thoin '■■; in British Cohimhia, and shall include a power to empower an attorney as aforesaid to execute deeds in tlic United Kingdom. '). That the re|)orts to be made to, and the powers and duties vested in and imposed upon the Hoard of Trade by the said Acts, shall 1)6 vested in and imj)osed ujion the Attorney-lieneral of |!riti-h Columbia until some other person or authority shall be nominated by the tiovornor for tiie time licin.;, ofBri'ish Columbia. 6, That until some other person or authority shall be nominated as aforesaid, the Attorney-tieneial of British Columbia shall be the Registrar of .loint Stock Companies. That the aforesaid " The Court" in the said A( ts defined shall mean the Justice of British Columbia. That the "official lif|nidator" in the 88th seetiiin of the said Act, particidar every case appointed by the said Supreme Court of Civd Justice of Ikitish ('obuni)ia That the several ])owers by the said Act vested in the Lord Chancellor of (ireat Britain, s'lall iie vested in the Judge of the Supieme Court of Civil Jnstice of Britisli Columliia, who may make all rules which the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain is by the said Acts enii)o«ered to make, such rule-; when made, to be a])proved of by the Governor for th(> time being of British Columbia. That any jjcrson may be appointed by the Judge of the Supreme Court of Civil Justice of I!riti>ii Coliinil)ia to act as a special commissioner to take evidence. Notices by the said Acts required to be pulilished in the London, Edinburgh, and l)id)lin (ia/ette^, fhall lie published in the official Gazette of British Columbia. The fees to lie paid under the said Acts shall be jiaid by the person receiving the same into the Treasury of British Columbia. This Act may be cited for all ptu'poses as the " British Columbia Joint Stock Companies' Act, 1859." Isstied imder the Public Seal of the said Colony, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, this tiMitb Supreme Court ol' Ci\d V mentioned shall be lU day of December, one thousand eight hundred and Her -Majesty's reign, by me, By Command of his Excellency. William A. G. Vouxc, Acting Colonial Secretary. God save the QrEKx. (ifty-nine, in the twenty-third yc; Jamks Doiia.As. (I.. nniTi«n Com MHIA. No. 31. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Doiglas, C.B., to his Grace tlie Duke of Nkwcastle. (No. 210.) Victoria, Vavicouvor's Lsiand, December '^''2, LS.59. My Lord Duke, (Ucceivod February 14. IS(J().j I HAVE tlie Iionoiir of transmitting lierewitli fbryom- Grace's information the cojjv of a Proclamation issued on the '2nd day of December instant, imposing a eharijje of I'J.v. per ton on all yoods transported or taken from New Westminster to any place in IJritish Cohuiibia, to be |)ai(l by the carrier of tlie goods to tlie collector of Her Majesty's customs at New Westminster. 1. This is simply a revenue Act, intended to raise a fund to lie applied to the openirg and improvement of the navigation in the Fraser and Harrison Itiveis, and especiallv to the removal ef an extensive shoal in the latter, which renders it im|)assable bv the river steam vessels for a great part of the year. 3. The tax has not excited the smallest feeling of discontent even among the proprie- tors of steam vessels, who are acquainted witli its object, and exjiect to derive many advantages from the improvement of the navigation. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOICJLAS, &c. &c. &c. (Jovernoi. No. 31. ■'1 f, :it L 'Z PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. BsiTisn COLUMDIA. End. ia No. 31. (No. 16.) Uy liis ExccUencjr^ Enclosure in No. 31. Proclabiation. Ja.mi'.s D()I(;i.as, Companion of the most Honourable Order of the Bath. Governor and "Commnnder-in -Cliief of lier Majesty's Colony of British Columbia, and its Dependencies. Whkiikas, by virtue of an Art of Parliament made and passed in the 21st and 22nd years of thcreim of Ilcr most (JraCious Majesty the Queen, and by a Commission under the Great Seal of the United Kiuffdom of (Jreat Ihitain and Ireland, in conformity therewith I, James Douglas, Governor of the Colony of British Cohlmbii^ have been autliorized by Proclamation issued under the Public Seal of the said Colony, to make laws, institutions, and ordinances, for tlie peace, order, and good government of tiu" same. And whereas it is expedient to raise further -ovenue for the purpose of opening and improving tho communications, navigation, and roads in British Columbia. Now, therefore, 1 do hereby declare, proclaim, and enact as follows ! 'I'hat the following monies and tolls shall be levied on all wares, goods, and merchsndise, carried in British C'o'.uml)ia from the Ist of January 1860: — Twelve shillings for every ton of wares, goods, and merchandise transported or taken from New Westminster to any i)lacc in British Columbiii. The said twelve shillings pi-r ton shall be paid by the person ])roposing to t.i'.ve away or trimsport any wares, goods, or merchandise aforesaid to Her Majesty's Collector of Cusloms at New Westminster, before taking away ir transporting any such wares, goods or merchandise from New Westminster aforesaid. The ton aforesaid shall be calculated where the ware^, goods, and merchandise are()f a character generally estimated by adnicasurenu'nt l)y admeasurement, and in all other cases by weight. W lu'ne\ cr any wares, goods, or merciiandise shall be jjroposed to be carried or transported from New Westminster as aforesaid, by any common can'or, either by land or water, whether on his own account or on account of any other "person, the tolls and monies aforesaid shall be levied on and payable by the common carrier aforesaid. Any |icrs(m wilfully evading or attempting to evade the payment of the same, shall be fined treble the amount of toll, or any siun not exceeding loi)/., at the discretion of tho magistrate. Any penalty under this Act mav be recovered and enforced before any magistrate in British Columbia in a summary way. Issued under the Public Seal of the said {'olony, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, this Tenth day of December 1859, in the Twenty-third year of Her Majesty's lleign, by me, Ja.mks DoUCil.AS. (l.,s.^ By command of his I'>xcellency. AVu.i.iA.M A. (i. YOINC, Acting Colonial Secretary. God Savk thk Quken. il i!t No. 32. No. 32. Copy of DESPATCH fiom Governor Douolas, C.B., to his Grace the J)UKE of NeWCASTLK. (No. Qil.) Victoria, Vancouver's Islaiu), December 23, 1859. (Ucccivod February 14, 1860.) My Loud Duke (Answered No. 12, Kel)ruary 28, 18G0, page 108.) I HAVE the Iionoiir of tiansmittiiig herewitli, at the request of Colonel Moody, the accompanying copy of a communication from liim respecting the portions of land which it may he desirable to reserve in Burrard's Inlet for naval purposes, and to inform your (jiace that I will immediately enter into communication witli Admiral Bayncs on the subject, and will lil 'ect tiie Commissioner of Lands and Works to make such reserves for naval purposes as. ll- ' foriiier officer may deem expedient. 1 have, &c. His Grace the Duke . f 1' ewcast.e. (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. "^c. ■Sec. Governor. Xnol.inKo,S!:, ''Enclosure in No 32. SiUj New Westminster, December 13, 1S59. Pkhsons are ii>.w 'oi iui.ii.'rto n^iply fnr lands n i Burrard's Inlet, and as that port has been deemed by naval a\ithoritu . t.- \v. o' co >. Ulcr ''I'e naval importance, partly in consequence of its close proximity to this city a'u' the ri-ir Eraser, i have the honour to submit that it is of immediate conseciiUMice to communi I'.e 'ith t'..> Admiral Commanding-in-Chief, fortunately now at Es(iuimalt, that he may be jdeased to e^.;« is^- i .s opiiii..ns as to the portions it is desirable should be reserved for naval reciuirements. I should feci obliged by your causing a copy of this letter to be forwarded for the information of the Secretary of State. I have, itc. His Excellency Governor Douglas. (Signed) K. C. Moony, Colonel. V !• of the Bath, umbia, and itj ars of the reign of the United overnor of the Public Seal of od Kovernment improving tho dise, carried in ken from New y or trimsport w Westminster, IV Westminster of a character ight. irted from New s own account ijayablc by tho fined treble the ritish Columhia w\, this Tenth y "H-. GLAS, (|.,S.1 ri] !Jl e tlic : 23, 1859. '■ 108.) 1 Moody, the f land which inform your lyncs on the I reserves for y^ IGLAS, Governor. ber 13, 1859. port has been icn of its dosi' s of immcdiiite I at Esquiinalt, be resor\ed for brraation of the m: OODY, Colonel. '"«"'i H < I w «• / fi_^ 'xfy o u n d /" ^//-t ' L U M II R H i' I l«i-. F •'' ' III I a ni "! '^ 1 O R C I A i BOUNQAKV on v /y r?- 12.1 w J m T i s H N H T H t^ A M E R I |C A S 11 N 'V!' 12 rj;,i V OF A PORTION Of BRfTISH COLUMBIA COMPILE C» FROM THE SURVEYS 4 tXPlOHAi;ON'S OF TH £ HOYAL NAVY ik. ROYAL KS Gl NFiK.l^S, AT THE CimP MEW W g S T nn I N S T t R MOV" 24'" 1859 Seah ■ ffi/is Re r c (■ «• n <; f . KsftLupcUi'tn In limt^ PaJma: R.K. l/w &,lunel^S'J. marhtd (hiw/ . d/> , LuiU' Mayrif . fl .¥ A^tm Idiii), do Limt'. PaJMo: K.E. V •" & OcfUHiii), do . fehn,4vnn\;ulh l.tlhn 1S60- Colonel PAPERS RELATIVE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA 79 No. 33. Copy of DESPATCH from Ciovcrnor Douglas, C.B., to iiU Grace the DuKK of Newcastle. (No. 1.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, January !), lS(i(). My Lou I) Duke, (Uoccivd Mmch .-,, isoo.) I iiAVK tlic honour to transmit herewith, for your Grace's inlorniaiion, a nport, with maps, of a journey made hy Lieutenant I'ahner, U.E., from I-ort Hope to I'ort Colvilc in September lS5y. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOUCJI-AS, &c. tScc. &c. Governor. Knclosuro in No. 3;!. Itarnsn CuLIINBlA. No. 33. End. io No. !<'*. Royal laiffiiiccr ( 'amp, Now Wosfniinstpr, Sir, liritisli ('(ilmiihia, Nciv. '.';!, ls,J!». Ix olii'diciicp to instructions fmnislicd mo by Captain U. M. ['arsons, I!.!!., I liaston to lay bcloro you a slioit ropoit, toiioffrapiru-il and otlu'iwi-o, on tlio coimtry belwccn Tort llo|)o on the I'Vascr and Fort Colvilio on tlio Coluniliia liix-r. 1 deem it tiio bettor ])lan, and one <'al(idatod to ffivo yon as mucli inlbrniation as a Inn-riod ro<'onnais- Banee ean devolopo, to doscribo si>paratoly oacli day's join ncy, dwollinff on sucii |ioints of intercut as iiresentcd tbomsolvos (m tlio route, and ombraeiiiff as nindi minuti.e as a simple and lapid toi)Of{raj)liifal re|iiirr will admit of. With the assistance of an oxeoUont chronometer and a sextant I was enabled to fix tiio astronomical positions of nearly all my camps, the loni^itudes liavin;,' reference to tiie Itoyal lai^'inoor obsei\atory at this place. Tile report is accompanied by a iroojjraphical inai) on tlio scale of five Kiij,dish miles to one inch of tiic route, and the country in its vicinity, and a table is annexed siiowiiiff the latitudes mik! loiii^itiidos of my cam])s, their approximate altitudes in feet above tiie sea level, as deleriniiied by anoroiilal observations, their distances from one anolhor, and their res|)ective availabilities, lor wood, water, iVc. I liej; further to state that I took the liberty of furnishiiiLr Mr. McffJiie, Ciiief .liistice of Ibitish Columbia, (who travelled part of the way with me) with the iipinoximiite latitudes of a few of our caiiips, as a means of finidiufj him ill the eonstrnction of a reconnaissance sketch of the route from Fort Hope to Fort Kamloops. It beinf]f too late by the tunc my work was eom|)letP(l to recross the Cascade mountains I took the Columbia River route to I'ortland, crossiiii; thence to Oiympia, [and reached this jilace on the 4fb instant. Since, however, I am anxious to lay this report before you as (jiiickly as possible, 1 sb:ill have the homnir to afford you further information in a second report with reference to personal instructions. In conclusion, I take this opportunity to acknowledjfo the kindness and courtesy of Mr. .Vnifiis McDonald, of the Hudson Hay Company, who furnished me with horses from Fort llo])i> to l''ort ColviUe. and fjavo me iniicb local andfreiieral information about tiie country, on which, from his j^real experience and long residence in this jiart of the world, I feel assured every reliance is to be placed. I have, \'c. (Signed) II. SricxcKu P.m.mkii, Colonel R. C. Moody, R,E. Lieutenant Hoyai Engineers. &c. kc. I'.S. — November '24th. I have the honour further to annex to my report a map on a scale of '2i) miles to one inch of such portions of Hritisb Columbia as hare been already surveyed and explored hy the Royal Navy and Royal Engineers. This map has been i)reparcd with the view of indicating the relative positions of the inlets on the coast and tlie inhabited portions of liritisli Columbia, also in illustration of the opinions expressed in the military section of my report. I have, kv. (Signed) 11. S. 1'.\i.mi:ii, Lieutenant Royal Engineers. ! : im '■"i m 4' i Coi'V or IxsrnrcTioxs. Sin, New Westminster, Se|)tember 8, 1S59. You will proceed from New AVestminster to Fort Hope, attach voiirself there to a party of gentlemen in the Hudson Ray ("ompany's Service under the command of Mr. Angus McDonald, and travel with them to Fort ColviUe. The object of your mission is to gain information on the country lyiug between Fort Ilojie and the 49tb jiarallel of latitude, where it meets the route to Fort ColviUe. To this end you will freely eoinmunicate with Mr. McDonald, a gentleman of great information, who has travelled much in this country, and is kindly disposed to assist your inquiries. h 3 ii 11 80 I»AI'ERS RELATING TO nRITFSH COLUMBIA. BRTTidn ^■(pll will lake with ymi such iimtrimu'iits iih art' ticcfssHry tn (IcttTiniiii' a few poHitinns mtf^ Coi.i'MiiiA. iiiiinii ally, ami to «'«laMi-li llir ^'ciiiTal I'liiirsc nf your route. — A- it i> not piac'ticalilc lor iiic to t'ivc mii ('"tailiNJ iii-tnutioiis as to wiiat olijcctH most in»rit your atliMilioii in a rcitioii oC wliirli we know so little, 1 conrKle iu your lialiits ot'ohservatioii, iiin,n.>,i||jj i |i(>ii you llie neees^ity of keeping lull note- of your jouruex, ami of the tfeiieral nature and result of Nour inc|uirir-, (l, tlieie any laiul available for agriculture; describe canhilly the route aero-- Manson Mountain; does it appear to lie a contiiuious ranire joining Mount Itakcr; i^ it densely wooded: what is its tfecdogical formation and the fjeneral bearing of its crest; ini diulij be established that woidd conunand the routes to Hritish < '(iluinl)ia from Washington rcrritmy; what access is there to this plain from I'ort 'I'liompson ; is any trail known from l''ort I.angli'y iir W'hatcormby i DcM'ribc the 'riilamcen ami Similkaim-en Kivers and their banks. 'Sdii will di'sciibe. as far as practicable, the geological fonnation of the country through which ynii jiass, noting carefully if ymi meet with it the locality of a change from tra|)]iean to stratified nickv; ont-crop])ing rocks on the plains should be jiaid attention to, river banks inspected, and the character ol' boulders and detritus given. Astronomical observations are retpiested to be made, as frequently as possible, at points on yoiir route that can hereafter be readily rec,)gni/ed ; among them I vvoidd suggest the point where' tlii" route lir.-t ( rosses the 'rulameen liivcr; the junction of that river with the Siinilkanu'cn anil soiae jiiiint on the jilain near the tilth parallel. The bearings on your route will be deteriniui-il with the prismatic <'omj)ass, also the courses of tin; rivers as far as possible. Observations shoidd be taken to conspicuous bids and nj) valleys, especially from the points fixed astrotiomieally. It will he desirable if yim can eini)loy the .Aneroid baroineter for altitudes. N'ou will not stay at Fort Colville longer than is necessary, hut make arrangements to return to head-ipiartcrs in the (luickest and most economical manner; to this end you will ennsult Mr. McDonald, who is certain to remler you valuable assistance. On your return you will frame your report to the offieer eoiinnanding with the least possible delay. I have iic. (Signed) 11. M. I'.vnsoss, Lieutenant Palmer, R, K. ('a])tain 11. E. commanding. Hi.i'our on the Country between Kort Hope on the Fraser and Fort Colville on the Columbia Hivor, by Lieutenant II. .Si'i:\(i:ii 1*.vi.mi-,ii, lloyal iMigineers. I'.MIf \. 'rol'lXllt.VI'lllCAl, JollKNAl,. Se|)teml)er !)th to Ifith. — In compliance with my instructions I left New Westminster on the fltli (d' September last, and .ifter a somewhat tedious trip reached Fort lloj)e on the morning of the lltli. rnl'ortunately the weather during my stay there was anything but favourable for astronomical ohser- valions, hut 1 succeeded in obtaining sulllcient to verify previous results and to afford ine a giinil chronometer rate. The |)iisition (d' I'ort Hope, and the principal natural features of the country in itn vicinity, have probably beiMi already so well made known, that it appears mineeessary to enter into any miutiti.e respecting them. [ may, however, state that the fort stands on the left hank nf the Fraser, in lat. 19" 22' 21" N., loiiff. !'_'! 21' ;!'.!" W'.. about s'p miles by water above New Westminster. The only means of access to it fnun the lower country at present existing are two, viz., the steamer route on the I'Vaser, practicable fur powerful vess(ds at all seas town and fort is in the heart of the mountains, not the Main ( 'ascade IJange, but spurs from six ridges |)arallel to it, which extend down either hank of the river fin- sonu' lij miles ami u|iuards for a nuich greater distance. The river ('ii(|uahalla, which rises in the Cascades, has a general westerly direction from seven niil"s aboM" its mouth downwards, and, taking a bend to the N.W., 1', miles behind the town, empties into the I'Vaser 2! miles above it It is 'lithe cmbinichure cd'tlie valley of this river that the town of Hope is situated, and up this valley runs the route which forks to Manson's Mountain and Hostoii l?ar, the former an old lliid.-un Hay trail, the latter cut this summer by a party of Koyal Fngineers, under the direction of Captain Lenipriere, K.l'".. The most prominent moinitain visible from Fort Hope is Og'lvie's Peak, bearing N. o.' E. (true) and distant four or five miles in an air line. A gliinjise can occasionally be had in clear weather of the huininit (d' ^lansoii ^Motuitain, bearing N. .s.s ]•;,, a hearing 1 afterwards found to eorrcspond pre- * Wliatcom is a town in American territory situated on ttie Gulf of Georgia. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLtTMRIA. ftl ri»oly with *" ohnorvatioii lor liuitmlo ohtnincd near that point, anct wliiih gave mo jfrrnt cntiflflt'tut' in thr aiiiiraiv nl' my rcMiltn. S(.|)ftMnh(''r 17. On Ihc 17tli ot'SfptciiilHr I left I'dit liupciii coinprtiiy with Mr. Anjfiin NI'DonrtM, of thi' Hiiilciiii''* Hay ('((iiipany. mid conimiiiciil my i.^iinify up tlii< ('(>(|im)ialla \a]lt'y. Mr. Hf>.'l)ic, « liif!' .Iii^tirc nt lliiti«li Coliiinliiiu Ml. Itiir-liliy, l^•;.'i^^trllr. unci Mr.' O'llciily, .1.1'.. uh(i «<'"' travcllinsr to I'ort Kainjnop!! ini |ii(li^ nortiou of the valley iit (18 well irrijialed an any land (that i> caiialili' of cidtivationl I have met with in nriti>b ( 'oluinliia. Three niilen ea»t of Fort Hope two I'onicai bills. IVoni (KM) to Hoo f,.,.| Iiij;li, olwiruct llie otlu'rwise irciiiTally straiKbt course ol the river, and have liirced it to find a passaj.'e betv\eeii ibem and tin- monn- tiiii m^''* bkirtinff the Houtliern limits of the valley. To avoid this nmiecessary eireuil, the trad crosses the t'cKinalialla 1.', miles from llope.and. leavincr if to the rijfht, fullnw- tlie Icvcd eoiintry to tbe base of ill,, tiist bill. Near ibis spot lies a prettv little lake, to vvbic-b I cnuicl see no outlet or inlet, and vvbic b wis anpareiitly led by sprinj;s and tbe (lrainai:e from tbe mountains, 'lo'verinj; abcue its opposite siiiiri'S were tlie steep rocky elill's of •' Oj^ilvic's" and acljacciit peaks so c>loj.e as to I learly retlei ticl j,i the dark still v»ater of the lake, and a tiny cascade stealin(f ilown liie i rooked eiamiies of the nic iin- tiiiii with a scareely perceptible motion added to the picturescpie be.inty of tbe spot. I.caviiii; the lake, we crossed the t«o conical bills before us, and rejoined llic CocMht'iidia tluce nlllc^ furtlicr on. While traversinff the soutbern slope of tbe second of these two bills >lr. M'Dnnald drew inv attention to what was apparently a lar^e dclile in the mountain raiif^e, bcarini,' S.i;. aboni '.'d mile-, aiici Iciiciinfr. as far as 1 cduld judf;e at that distance, tbronfrb tbe main Cascade ri.niye eastward. 'I'liat part of tbi- ccnnitry bavin','- lu'ver yet been explored, tbi^' opinion i -iinpl) ,i matter of cunjec'- tiiri'. .\lnch yet remains to be done in order to discover some more feasible pas-- to oiu' possessions oast of the Cascades than that atl'orded by Manson Mountain, and il is the opinion of many old resi- (liMits in thecomnry that passes do exist, which have yet to be c Aplored. ;cmtli of tbe present oiU', but, at the same time, north of the lioiunlary of liiitisb North .Vnu-riea. Alter rejoining the Ci)(|iudmHa we travelled aUmj? its right bank for about one mile, .ind then, leaving,' the IJoston Har trail trendinjf north, up the valley of the river, we crossed to its leli bank a iiilc tM'st of the foot of tbe most prominent spur Irom the Manson Kan'.'e. On arrival at the foot ol' this spur, we commeiiied the ascent on the" sontherii slope in a direction parallel, or nearly so, to its crest. Icavinji the mass of tbe mountain iiitervi'iiing between us ,incl the Coc|naballa. Here the road, which thus tar had been tolerably ,i;ood. deteriorated to an extent anylhin;,' but plea-ant. a rude, niiky track wound its way along the steep sides of tbe niountaiii over hundreds of fallen loirs and aimnigst masses of tVagmentary rock that have from time to time been cletaehed from the pre- liijici's above, and, on attaining a higher elevation, mud. one of tbe few disagreeables of a mountain journey in the Cascades, and cleep eiiongh to debar any but Indian horses from forc'ing their way through it, rendered travelling a matter of considerable dillieulty, and added a sc-arccdy agreeable feature to a landscape already somewhat limited. Six miles of this travelling brought us to the lirst camping place, where a slight opening in the woods cualilcd me to discover the features of tbe country through which tbe latter part of our route had lain. We a]ipeared to have been travelling up a mcjuntain jiass walled in by two'slinbtlv c'onverging spurs ficiiii the Manson llange, whose slopes, although separated at the opening of the jiass by a coiisidc'ralili' -pace, here meet and form a rocky detile, douii tbe heel of which a swit't brook forces its wa\. and, fed cai its passage by numerous small streams and watertalls, swells to the magnitude of .i tnoimtain tcnrent, and rushes into the Coc[ualialla a short distance below the point where we la-t crossed. To the east I saw towering above us tbe stee|) jiorticm of the main Manson Kanne. over which lav our td-iiioiidvv's journey, its crest ruiiii.ng nearly North and South, and ccmne'ting the two spurs al)ove mentioned. This evening, the weather being beautifully clear. 1 was enabled to take stcdlar observations for latitude and departure, a jiieee of goo'l fortune 1 had not antic-ipated, as tbe latter ])art of our r";;le liail been too denscdy wooded to admit of observing anywhere but in the slightly open place scdeetecl for our camping grcuind. Wood and water were of course abundant, but the horses had to he fed cm barley brought tc)r the purpose, there being no grass in the neigblxnirbood or indee Kritiiiii Coll uiiu. ' i ^ = ' .-.•hii' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 11.25 |io ^^" mH Ui lii 12.2 £ U& 12.0 IRIIHI WUb IE |U 11.6 6" *. <% ^ > X^ ^%^} tf Photographic Sciences Corporalion 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSM (716)172-4503 4R> ,,.J, 82 PAPERS BELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. I '■' BRiTisn I endeavoured while on the summit to form aa good an idea of the topography of the region as the .CoLViiBUa time I spent there would admit of. — EaBt of where I Htood, and about five miles distant in an air line runs a mountain mass, hearing more resemblance to a range than the rest, whose summits are somewhat higher than those of the surround- ing ridges, and the general direction of its crest about N.N.E. From the fact of its bei\ig the dividing ridge between the tributaries of the lower Fraser and those of the Columbia 1 entertain no doubt that this is the backbone of the Cascade Range, but so undefined are its general features, and so remarkable is tlie absence of any prominent and distinguishing snow capped peaks, such as are visible from the "Dalles," and by which one may determine the general bearing of a range, that it is a matter of extreme difliculty to follow its direction with the eye for more than a few miles. Apparently it forked with the Manson Range about 10 miles south of where I stood, but beyond that all trnces of its direction were lost. I was not able to see Mount Baker, but from general appearances and its known position I am of opinion that the network of mountains constituting the dividing range maintains a general south-south- westerly direction till it unites with that peak. Between me and the main ridge was a deep glen or forest bottom, not free from mountains, it is true, but nevertheless a valley, down which pours in a considerable stream one of the head tributaries of the Coquahalla, uniting with it in about 49° 35' north latitude, near northern extremity of the Manson Range. Before closing my description of this mountain I may mention that the snow which in winter falls to a depth of from 25 to 30 feet on its summit, renders the route imjjracticable for at least seven months in the year, and dangerous before the 1st of June or after the 1st of October. Mr. McLean of the Hudson Bay Company, who crossed in 1857 or 1858, on the 16th of October had a very disastrous trip, and lost 60 or 70 horses in the snow. Traces of their deaths are still visible, and in riding over the mountain, and more particularly on its eastern slope, my horse frequently shied at the whitened bones of some one of the poor animals, who had broken down in the sharp struggle with fatigue and hunger, and been left to perish where he lay. After riding along the summit in a southerly direction for a couple of hundred yards, we commenced the descent of the eastern slope, an undertaking which was accomplished with considerable difliculty, owing to the rocky and dangerous nature of the trail, and its extreme steepness in places, and I was not sorry to reach a tolerably level forest bottom 1,100 feet below the summit, filled though it was with an impassable mud of black decomposed vegetable matter, and a net-work of thick-growing and ob- structive timber. The trail follows this bottom for about five miles in a general south-south-easterly direction, a distance it took us 3^ hours to travel, and then plunging into a deep glen crosses the previously mentioned tributary of the Coquahalla. The western slope of the dividing ridge falls almost perpendicularly into this stream, and though less muddy than those of Manson Mountain, and tolerably free from rock, except in places where huge masses of debris detached from the summit have found a lodgment on the side of the hill, it is if anything steeper than the latter, though not so trying to animals. The mountain sides are plentifully clothed with a forest of dimensions, and brush appears scarcer than heretofore. The trail winds up the face of a huge spur from the mountain mass, jutting out in a south-westerly direction, and, steep though it was, our horses appeared to ascend with much greater ease than they did on the rocky muddy slopes of Manson's Mountain. In two hours a considerable decrease in the density of the forest, and the appearance of short grass and mountain heather told me were nearing the summit ; the timber shortly almost entirely disappeared, and as both men and horses were by this time tired, we camped towards evening in a pretty sneltered spot 600 feet below the summit known as the " Campment du Chevreiul." At this camp No. 2 (19 miles by trail from No. 1), water and firewood are abundant, and grass, though by no means plentiful, grows on the neighbouring slopes in quantities sufficient to afford Bubsistancc for horses. Its name is likely to disappoint the expectations of the hungry traveller, as deer are very scarce, but white ptarmigan abound, an(l some of these birds which were shot by our Indians and broiled over the camp hre, made an excellent supper after our weary day's march. It is here that Mr. Fraser met his death by a tree falling on him when asleep, and within a few yards of the spot where we had pitched our tent ; a neat pile of rough hewn logs mark his lonely grave. September 19th. — The day broke misty and cold, and afforded no great promise of an extensive view from the summit I started early that I might have as much time there as possible, and reached the highest practicable point about half an hour after leaving camp. The appearance of the mountain scenery at this hour was most singular. The thick morning mist, rolling swiftly along in light, fleecy, but opaque masses, entirely obscured the valley below us, and revealing only a few lofty peaks of the adjacent ranges appeared to isolate us from the rest of the world. Yielding to the rising sun, it ere long began gradually to lift ; the peaks in turn became one by one concealed, and before I left the spot the whole had clear away, revealing to the north, south, and west the same lofty crests and ridges, and the same interminable sea of mountains that I had admired yester- day morning from the westeni summit. To the east, however, the scene was different. True, the country was pretty closely packed with mountains, but unlike the bold and rugged outlines of the Cascade range, their slopes and summits were more soft and rounded in appearance ; indications were to be seen of extensive and probably fertile valleys, and tapering away in the far distance, the mountains seemed gradually to diminish their pro- portions, and to subside into rolling hills with grassy and scantily timbered slopes. • I was a^.-iin disappointed in not seeing Mount Baker, as I had hoped the superior elevation of this raugo would have atiorded me a much more extensive view to the southward. spruce fir trees of inconsiderable • I'ossibI; idea. III. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 83 16th of October )f inconsiderable jlevation of this I obtained, however, a beariiiff of S. 64° E. to a remarkable conical peak, which cannot fail to he rc- cojrnized, and which affords an excellent laiul-niark to any one desirous of forming a general idea of the topography and limits of this portion of ISritish Columbia. In a region like this the grand proportions of the mountains arc calcidated to deceive the eye very much with respect to distance, and the trans])arcncy of the atmosphere nniterially assists the delusion when an object is viewed from the summit of a range. From its bearing, however, anil ])robable distance, I conjecture it would be very close to the 49tli parallel. I afterwards found that it is situated on borders of the southern portion of the Siniilkameen valley, near the junction of that river and the Okanagan, and as it transpired that the parallel cuts its northern slope, I named it " Mount Korty- « nine." At Mr. M'Donald's suggestion I gave the mountain we stood on the Gaelic name " Stuchd-a choirc," from a beautiful " choire " or recess situated aiiout half way down its eastern slope. On the summit, and invisible except from the rocks immediately surrounding it, lies a pretty seques- tered little lake, guarded by one solitary stunted oak, and lower down on the efustcrn slope is a larger one, on whose banks, there being j)lcnty of firewood, travellers from the eastward frequently camp. The " Campment du C'hevreuil " is, however, the usual camping place going westward. About 10 A.M., the horses having arrived, we commenced our journey down tlie eastern slo])e of '■ Stuchd-a •' choird," a matter easily accomplished owing to the gradual nature of the descent. Singularly enough this ridge, while separating the waters of the Fraser tributaries from those of the Columbiii, seems also to draw a dividing lino between the characteristic features of the country. In the tract upon which wc were now entering grass seemed more beautiful than heretofore, the forest less dense, and the trees of diminished jiroportions ; in lieu of soft vegetable mould a firm soil of sand and clay rendered travelling far easier and more i)lensant ; and brush which during the last two days' iounicv had been so dense as almost to ])reclude the possibility of avoiding occasional obstructions on the trail, now so nearly disappeared as to admit of deviation at will. After descending some fSOO feet from the sununit, we struck a small stream fed by still smaller forks oranching off into ravines and clefts in the bills. These are the head waters of the " Tulameen," the main tributary of the Siniilkameen River. A low range of hills varying from oOO to 1,000 feet in height skirt the valley or rather the glen of tills mountain torrent, which for the first 10 miles has a general direction of E. by N., and the trail runs on its left bank, at an undulating level over the low spurs from the range. For the first seven or eight miles the road, though excellent for travel, passed through a forest of small liurnt timber, and the scarred and blackened trunks, devoid of foliage, presented a dreaiy and monotonous landscape. I passed on my journey through several similar tracts of greater or less extent,, but I think the moun- tain spurs and rocks and the bends of the rivers form, as a general rule, impediments to the spread of the fires, which confine them within reasonable limits, and prevent their effects from being so devastating as one might imagine. About V2 miles by trail from the point were we first struck it, the Tulameen takes a Icmg sweep to the northward, and crossing it liei'e at a ford where it was about 15 yards broad and 18 inches deep, we camped on the opposite bank. This camp, designated Xo. 3, is about 15 miles by the trail from the "Campment du Cbevreuil,"' and contains an abundance of firewood and water. The horses were driven across the river again to feed, but as grass was very scarce they had to pick what they could from the wild vetches and other plants, on which Indian animals alone can subsist. September iiOth. — Commenced cloudy hm\ cold with light rain. From the point where we were camped the Tidamcen takes a large horse-shoe bend to the north- ward, resuming its easterly course about 10 miles from us in a straight line near the completion of the shoe. The bend is filled up by an elevated plateau 1,000 feet high, whence numberless low, sharp, broken spurs jut out in every direction towards the stream. Over this plateau lay our to-day's journey, the trail taking this route to avoid the long detour made oy the Tulameen. Four miles travel in a north-easiorly direction up a steep defile, between two of the spurs, brought us to the summit, and we emerged on a large o])en undulating down, where the timbei- nearly disappeared, and was replaced by quantities of yellow furze and mountain heath. On a dear day the view from this plain must be very extensive. Now, bow ever, the atmos|)liere in the west was too thick and cloudy to afford us a glimpse of " Stuchd-a clioin'," through the snowy Cascade I'eaks to tjie south, and " Mount Forty-nine " in the south-eastern horizon were just visible at times. Preserving a general north-easterly direction wc continued our journey across the jilateau. The soil became very peaty and the trail rocky in some places though gcuerallv good for travel. Poiuls and marshes frequently occurred, grass in the latter growing to a considerable height, though on the drier portions of the plain it was scarcely long enough for a liorse to niiiblc at, and five miles from the com- nicncemcnt of the plateau timber (fir) again became plentiful. A short way further on a trail from " Wliatconi," cut last year by miners anxious to reach "Thompson River," forks with that on which we were now travelling. On tlie exact route it takes, or the extent to which it is pracficalile for travel, I could collect no reliable information ; but I believe it crosses the cascades in the vicinity of the parallel, and is gene- rally a better trail than that over Manson Mountain.* At '2 p.m., after a short day "i journey, we camped near the eastern extremity of the plateau, on the borders of a small, nearly einular, lake, half a mile in diameter, where wdod was plentiful, and grass just sulKciont for the horses to subsist on. In the evening a storm of snow and sleet gave us reason to congratulate ourselves on having snug tents and good camp ilres ; but as the sky remained o\crcast during the whole of our stay here, I was unfortunately prevented from taking any astronomical observations. September 'J\. — The morning broke, cold, raw, and nuiggy; and the snow, wliich was some four or British Coll'mbu. * Pussibly it pusses througli ihc di'filc obsurvud from tlio conical hill in tlii! ■' Co<}uahalU " «aUe)r, in. M lu dirccliun would tuggeit that iii ?! :! Hi k 84 PAPEHS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA BniTisii fiv(! inches deep, ami still continuing to fall, Hcaicely contributed to the general comfort of either Colombia, ourselves or our unitnais. AVc (Icciilcd uot to nidvc till the htorin was (.ver, v.hidi ilie Indians told us would be about noon, and tlieir prediction proved correct; as sliortly after that hour the snow ceased, the sky hrightened, and \vc started a- i|uickly as possii)le. anxious to reacli tiie '•t'aiupnieiit (h's Fennnes" before nij^htfall. \\\' travtdied this afternoon in a f^a-neral uortii-casterly direction over a tract of country, lightly tind)ered and frras'-y on tlie uplands, hut licaviiy tind)ercd in the valleys. 'I'lie trail alternately rose and fell over a succession of low and lather precipitous ranv -•'.■■•'. .."!•>■....:! **;?"_. tiuihcvcd vaikj leading i<'thc Nithulas Lake, and thence to Fort Kamloops. Descending the hill we shortly reached the river, and leaving the Kamloops trail to our left tra- versed the right bank for a few hundrt d yards. Tiion, crossing at a ford, readily (listinguishahle, we pitched our tents at the "Cainpnient des Feinines," so named from a custom prevalent among Indians en route for Fort Hope of leaving their women .aid ciiildren here while they peiform the journey across the mountains. The fine evening, and its jiositioii in a mild and pleasant valley, made camp 5 contrast agreeably with our last night's (piartcrs, and some tolerable bunch grass artbrded the liors('s a better meal than tiiey had had since leaving Fort Hope. The stars, too, soon shone out, and with their assistance 1 was enabled to fix a point of considerable importance in connexion with the objects of my journey. Se])teml)er 22. A line clear morning. At this camp we bade good-bye to Mr. Hegbio and party, who took the northern trail to Kamloops. We followed the valley of the " Tulameen " in a general south-easterly direction along a level grassy river bottom rather scantily timbered and devoid of brush. These bottoms vary in w idth from one-eightli to half of a mile, and the meaiidorings of the river cause them to alternate jiretty regularly from side to side. The trail is generally good, but projecting rocky ])oints and occasional slides from the mountains cm our left now and then rendered travelling unpleasant. In one or two places the mountain spurs jutted precipitously into the river, and a rude rocky trail across the first practicable lodge would form the only means of access from bottom to I);iltom. At mid-day we reached a point where the river takes a considerable bend to the south south-castwaid, and to avoid the detour the trail passes to the eastward over a portion of the mountain range some 1,(100 feet above the valley. From the summit of this hill the country assumes a perfectly different character. Bunch grass of excellent fjuality, probably the best known grazing food for cattle and horses, occurs everywhere in great (juantities, forest land disappears from the slopes and gives way to a park-like c;nuitry jirettily ornamented with trees of somewhat inferior gTowtli ; the river instead of roaring through caverns and mountain bluflfs is now bordered by low and easily accessible banks, and the eye of the traveller so hnig accustomed to the dull monotony of the forest dwells with pleasure on considerable tracts of prairie land in the valleys before him. The everlasting mountains, it is true, do not disappear, but their rounded grassy slopes contrast favourably with the thick forest growth or bleak desolation of the western ranues, and though their summits tower up to considerable heights, the gradual nature of the slopes eliminates the rugged, unprepossessing, and inaccessible appearance so peculiar to the cascade region. Immediately below us lay a large scantily timbered j)lain formed by the confluence of four con- siderable valleys. I''rom the south a lo:ig tortuous line of willow and other trees marked the course of the " Similkameen," which rises in the mountains near the 49th parallel, and forks with the " Tulameen" in this plain. Th(! latter river enters fr(mi the N.\V. and the two when united take an easterly course towards a third valley, the narrow entrance to which was plainly visible from our position, while running north a foin-th, two miles wide, extends far away in the direction of Fort Kamloops. Vp this latter valley runs one of the two main routes leading from AVashington Territory to Fort Kainloo|)s and the Upper h'laser, the other and shortest route past the Great Okanagan Lake lying altugcther east of the Similkameen. Descending the hill to the plain we crossed it in an easterly direction, and struck the Similkameen a mile below the forks, and within a tew hunth'cd yards of the point whcie the Kamloops trail unites with that on which we were now travelling. Tiie junction of the two rivers is named the " Vermillion Forks," from the existence in its neigh- 'oourhood of a red clay (U- ochre, from which the Indians manufacture the vermillicm face paint; but though I endeavoured to find its whereabouts, being anxious to j)rocurc a specimen, my searcli was unsuccessful. We camped this evening on the left bank of the Similkanieeii one mile below the forks, and shortly after our arrival were visitbd by some of the natives of the district. These were the first mounted Indians 1 had met with, and I was particularly struck wiili their vast superiority in point of intelligence and energy to the Fish Indians on the Frascr river and in its neighbourhood. Agriculture, however, is but little known amongst them, and a i'ew potato patches ibrm the extent of their progress in this direction. They appear to live chiefly on fish, viz., trout and salmon, on game sucii as \\i!. The weather continued fine and clear, and we resumed our journey at an early hour. Passing over one of the mountain spurs, 1^00 feet high, at the narrow entrance to the vallev, the trail descends into a line prairie, scantily 'ntnbcred, and containing excellent bunch grass. As the valley for the first H7 miles (comprising two days' travel) exhibits the same general feature!-, one description will suffice to afford the necessary iulormation. Like most of the mountain streams, the Similkameen is extremely tortuous, and the prairies, wliicli alternate pretty regularly from side to side, vary in width from one-eighth to three-fourths of a mile, irraclually increasing till tov.ariN Cam]) H they attr.in a breadth in jilaces of ,i mile. The grass is generally of good r|uality. the jirickly near or ground ••actus, the sore enemy to the inoceassined traveller, beinir the surest indication (jf approach to an inferior description. Timber is for the most part scarce on the jUMiries, but co])pices a])pc;ir at the -.liMrp bends of tlic river tolerably well wooded, and a!)ouuding in an underbrush of willow and wild cherry, while near the base of the mountains it exists in ([uantities easily jjiociirablc, and more than sullicieut for tho reipiirc- ments* of anv settlers who might at some future time pojiulate the district. The soil is somewhat sandy and light, but free from st(nies. and generally ])i'onnunced ex<'ellent for orazing and farming ; and though the drougiit in suiniuci is great, and irriiratioii necessary, many lafe portions are already well watered by strcaiiis from the niountaiiis. wIiom' (all is so rapid as greatly to facilitate such further irrigation as might be ie(|uircd. In corroboration of my ex])ressc(l opinion re- lative to the yielding properties of the soil. 1 may mention that in spots, through wliicli, iicrchance, some small rivulet or spring wound its way to the river, wild vegetation was nuw) luxuiiant. and grass, some blades of which I measured out of ciuiosity, as much as nine feet high, well roundi d and firm, and a quarter of an inch in diameter at its lower end. The river throughout its entire course is couiined to a natural bed, the banks being steep enough to nrevent inundation during the freshets (a favourable omen for agriculture), and its margin is generally tVinixcd with a considerable growth of wood of difTerent kinds. The mountains skirting either side of the valley arc steep and frequently rocky, increasing in altitude towards Camp 8, where they attain a height of at least 2,o()() feet, and their slopes are jilentifully clothed with a forest of various descriptions of timber. The trail throughout is generally good, the inomi- tain spurs at the bends imd gorges of the valley, and down which slides fre(|uentlv occur, being the (miy portions bad for travel, and many of these are avoided by fords, practicable at all seasons of the year. Two cniisiderable streams fork with the Similkameen from the south south-west, both of which rise iu the cascades, or rather in the mountainous region east of the main range and near the 4!)th parallel. The first, named the " Zloochman," unites with it about nine miles below " \ ermillion." and an old " Carral," near the mouth, ^ulniits of its position being easily recognized. A trail follows the river lor some distance into the mountains, leading to no particular place, and Indian liiinters, the original makers, are probably the only people who fre(|uent it. The second, or " N'a-is-new-low," river forks about 1" miles further down. Up its valley runs a tolerably good trail leading to the mountains near the parallel, and, as this route is fioth more ])rac- ticable and shorter than that in the '• Zloochman'' valley, it has been used this autumn by the United States Boundary Commission for transporting eastward the whole of their stores, instruments. \-c. Several other mountain streams, some of them of considerable size, fork with the " Similkameen'' from the northward and eastwards, but their directions iind the positions of their sources are ]>ossess( and for the first time since leaving Fort Hope we missed the i,hceri'ul aspect of a blazing log in front of the tent door. September 28. — To-day was colli but fine. We started late, having l)ut a short day's journey before us, and crossing the lake at the ford, tiavelled three miles in a south-easterly direction along its margin. The trail here takes to the eastward, following a long and gentle ascent up a divide in the Okanagan Range. We took this route and camped five miles up the divide on a small stream which runs into the Osoyoos Lake a short distance south of where we left it. September 30 to October 2. — As nearly the whole of the remainder of the route is in American territory, a general outline of the features of the country will be as much as is necessary. The trail, on leaving Camp 11 (which is in latitude 48^ 5iS' .59" N.). runs a little north of east up the divide we had already commenced ascending. Tiie slo])e is gradual, the trail gooil, the land terraced and covered witli excellent round bunch grass, timber plentiful (viz. larcli, pine, and aspen), i the soil of excellent quality. The summit 2,8-')0 feet above the level of the sea commands a f; e view of the Cascade Mountains west of the Similkameen, extending north and south, and ati'ording the usual ocular illusion of ranges perpendicular to the line of yision. Looking cast, the eye takes in an immense tract of country, more or less mountainous and intesected by winflin;^ valleys, embracing the A\'nd d'Oreilles and Co'ur d'Aleur countries, and the unexplored regions north of the British Frontier. It is ditlicult in a country so extremely mountainous to form a good idea of the bearings and extent of the different ranges. It appeared to me, however, from present and subsequent observation, that this divide, after cutting through the Okanagan Range, also separates part of a l)road extensive idiain intersected in a tortuous line by the valley of the N-whoy-al-pit-kwu River, and thence passing eastward along tlie parallel to Fort Siieppard, near which point it is divided by the Columbia ; thence nortli of tiie IVud d'Oreilles country, and nearly at right angles to the well-known Bitter Root Range, till it is lost amid tiie towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Passing the summit of the divide, the traveller soon strikes the head waters of the " Siyakan" a rapid mountain brook which forks with the " Js -wlioy-al-pit-kwu" 25 miles from the "Osoyoos." The trail follows down this stream to its mouth and is generally good and at a gentle slope, except at the immediate descents to the " Siyakan" and " N-whoy-al-pit-kwu." The distance from the Siyakan Forks to Fort Colville by (he valley of the latter river is about fT) miles. After striking tlie " N-whoy-al-jiit-kwu" the trail runs south of east, and soon crosses the frontier. Pretty alternating prairies, extending to a considerable size at the cmbouclmrcs of valleys, light soil, good I)nnih grass, mountains here and there falling blutl and perpendicular into the river, then retreating from it in low, broken, grassy masses, and a country generally park-like and pretty, comi)lete the cliaraetei- istic features of tiiat portion of the N-whoy-al-pit-kwu valley comprised in the next two day's travel. The river is about the same size as the Similkameen, \iz. from 20 to .50 yards broad, swifr, slialK)w, and clear, and its banks are generally low and easily accessible. The trail, bad only in two or three places where it ])ass('s over unavoidable si>urs, crosses the river from time to time ; wild fowl arc abundant, and excellent camping places exist all along the route. October 3d-5tli. — On the evening of the 2d October we again approached British territory by a long bend of the river to the nortnward, and camped on its right bank, in lat 48° 59' 19 " N. From PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 87 the valley of the icli runs into tlic lie bearings and here the river passes north beyond the frontier, and aufpnented by a ('onsid('ral)le branch from tlie northward, (possibly the main stream) soon rosuines its easterly direction. At the confluence of the three valleys occurs a large open plain, three miles by two, desijnmted in the plan "'-'^ Grande Prairie." This plain, which accordini; to my observations lies within the flritish line, had, previous to our arrival, been devastated by tire, and th<' younj,' green grass, just springing up, contrasted refreshingly with the dry yellow hue of the surrounding herbage. Little"8now falls here in winter, and its sheltered position renders it an excellent " guard "' for cattle and horses during that season. Past "La Grande Prairie" the character of the valley changes entirely. British Cul.L'MUIA. the I ous The open timbered country gives way to a tolerably dense forest of young fir and other trees valley sensibly contracts and is walled in by niountains of solid ((uartz; pasturage hitherto so good anc nlentiful is dilHcult to find, and the river again roars along over a rocky bed, and through precipitoui mountain defiles. In this portion fords frequently occur, unavoidable ownig to the steep mountain blutfs, and the river takes several remarkable horse-shoe bends. The same general character of country, relieved here and there with patches of prairie and level bottom, extends to the mouth of the river, (A'S miles) where it empties witli a roar into the Columbia one mile above Fort Colville. We crossed the Columbia, opposite the I'ort, in bark canoes, propelled by long six feet paddles. The river at this point is about 40() yards wide in the fall of the year, very clear, and very swift. The Fort stands in a large open prairie, about l,a(io acres in extent, portions only of which are cultivated by Indians, the remainder being liable to inundation when the ( 'olumbia is at its height. One mile below the Fort are the "Kettle Falls" of the Culumiiia, called by the natives " Schw au- a-tc-koo" or "Sounding water." I visited these falls during my stay at the Fort, and the dear blue water of this noble river dashing with a dull roar over a ledge of roiks 15 feet high, and sending a huge white cloud of foam into the air, is a si;,'ht well worth the short walk from the Fort. Much more might be said on the topography and other general features of this district of the Columbia, but I jiropose to reserve further remarks for another occasion, and to bring my sketch of this interesting trip at once to a close. Part II. — Mii.iTAitv. In connexion with that portion of my instructions directing me to notice such points in the Siniil- kamccn valley, or anywhere ahmg the frontier, as may be suitable for the establisbinent of military posts, I have the honoi;r to submit the following brief report of my observations : . Westward from the Similkameen valley, and nearly to the coast, extends a mountain region, so rugged and bleak, and so inaccessible and devoid of roads of communication, that this valley is the lirst [loiiit east of the Suinas, to which attention need be directed. It and the Okanagan \alley are the main thoroughfares to Hritish Columbia from AVasbington terri- tory, and indeed east of them, as far as Fort Sheppard, the country affords no known practicable means of ingress. To these valleys, therefore, I chiefly directed my attention, and, as far as I can judge, natural features and advantages point to the " Keereemaous" bend of the Similkameen as the best jjositioii for a military post. The'bend opens (see maj)) into a fine broad valley, extending 12 miles southward to the frontier, which, if necessary, can be fortified with ease. The soil is rich, the land in the valley generally level, timber for building and otiier purposes plentiful, and water good ; and further, easy access can be bad to the adjacent Okanagan valley, cither by crossing the low grassy spurs of the intervening range, (n- by a small valley in rear. I should mention here (having omitted to do so in my tojiographical report), that the main route from Washington territory passes u]) the valley of the Okanagan River fr(nn its junction with the Columbia and forks at the mouth of the Similkameen, whence branch the two routes already described. An outpost in the Okanagan wouUl guard the valley of that river, and need not be more than eight or nine miies from the main post in the " Similkameen." As farther inducements to the establishment of the latter, I may state that little snow falls there in the winter, fish and wild fowl are plentiful in the neighbourhood, and grass abundant, and of excellent quality, and that, while a military post would guard the frontier from inviision, protection would at the same time bo aflbrdcd to the lives and property of any settlers who might at some future time populate the adjoining country. A great question now presents itself as to the means of communication between this district and the interior portions of British Columbia. Kven if it be practicable at an enormous expense to construct a tolerable waggon road across Manson Mountain, or even should a better route be found by following round the valley of the Coquahalla, there still remains the dividing ridge of the Cascades, and the route would any way be impracticable for at least seven months in the year. Through Lytton, therefore, or the Kayoosh district, by the valleys of the Thompson and Huonaparte River to Nicolas Lake and Fort Kamloops, and thence to the border, ail supplies must eventually iiass, and hence the necessity of establishing good means of communication with these points from either the Fraser River or the sea. This further points to the probable future importance of towns at Lytton and Kayoosch with regard to the defence of the frontier, and leads me respectfully to suggest the advisability of an early explora- tion of the route from Howe Sound to the Upper Lillooet, regarding which I have received fa\oiirablc information from a reliable source.* Should the result of such exploration prove favourable, and should it be considered advisable to con- struct on this route a good waggon road of communication, advantageous results would accrue to our mining districts. Kayoosch or Fountain would probably ere long become a town of considerable com- mercial importance, and from thence, as a general depot, supplies might easily be forwarded to military and other posts between the Upper Fraser and the border. * The position of the head of " Jtrvis Inlet" would also suggest the advisability of an earlj axploration in that quarter, M3 II i n I '.lit « ktl 88 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Hritikh With rcpriml ti) Fort Hope [ may mention that nature has already fortified it with an almost impan. CoM-MiiiA. ahli' liiinirr of indiiiitiiins. All tlir pradlcahlc inoanit of aceeHg to Hritidh Columbia, except from the sea, strike the Frascrnorth of l''iirt llimc. I'here i«, thrrcfore, no occasiim for I'stalilishinff a military post in the neighhnurluKKi of Miiiwdii'H Mountain, nor indeed can it he considered fea;ipnt- inar pa'.ches of white indurated clay, found (m examiuatiou to contain frafjjments of white (uiiittz. This formation may be said to consi>t of fjranite with its felspar decomposed and reduced to a state nf indurated (day; it extends to the divitling ridj^e of the Cascades, and j)artly into tlie \all((y of the Tulameen. In the latter \,dley may be seen vast masses of white (|iiart/,, in all probability the exposed face of the rock, whicli. with granite constitutes a large jjortion of the district extending into the fSimilkaiiiecn valley. On a|)proacliing the summit of the Tulameen Katufe, the (|uartz partially disappears, and is icplarcd by a species of variegated sandstoiu', in wiiich traces of irou occur. To wiiat extent the sandstoni' pre. vailed I had no opportunity of judHinj^, the weather l)eing snowy while 1 was there and the rocks as h general rule inilicddcd in peaty turf As we leave the Tulameen mountains, and descend into the valley below, iiulunited clay appcar-i to predominate to a considerable CNtciif. This clay varies in character as we approach the Vermillion Forks; a portion I noticed near that point being a white silicate of alumina mixed with sand. On one specimen which I picked up were the Ib^sil remains ol the leaves of the hendock. Further down, in the .Siinilkameen valley, the clay actpiires a slaty texture, and becomes stained with irnn to a greater or less extent. IJlnc clay also exists, only, however, in snuiU (piiuitilies. The mountains bordering the Similkaniecn consist chielly of granite, greenstone, and qiiavtz, capjied with l)lue and brown clay slate. The beds of both the 'I'ulamecn and .Siinilkameen are covered with boulders of granite of (>vpry description iuivl colour, of greenstone and of trap, and vary in i'onn and size. The same cllaraiter of bouhlers prevail on the river bottoms to a greater or less extent. Like that of most of the other explored portions of British Coluinl)ia, the geological character of this to indicate the higli iirobability of auriferous deposits. In the lowi region appears ver portion of the .Similkameen, and near the " 15ig Mcud," gold was discovered shortly after I passed through by some of the men attached to the Ihiited States lioundary Commission. Report pronounced the discovery a valuable one, as much as ,<(4() to the hand being taken out in three hours, without proper mining tools; but I cannot sjieak positively as to the truth of this statement, neither could I discover whether the place spoken of is in Hritish or American possessions. Proba- bility would suggest the former. Heyond Osoyoos Lake I did not deem it necessary to pay much attention to the geological character of the country, the route lying almost entirely in American possessions. Suffice it to say, that but few features of interest presented themselves, and that in no place did I see any sign of stratified rocks. Part IV. — Co.vcmjding Eemakks. Having so far concluded my remarks on the topography and other features of the route, I would beg respectfully to submit a few suggestimis on what appears to me the most feasible plan for settling up these and some other portions of British Columbiii, already explored, and known to be capable of cultivation. It is already an established and well recognized fact that west of the cascade mountains the greater portion of such lands as are capable of cultivatitm are either liable to inundation in the summer, or covered with a forest growth so thick as to afford but few inducements to emigrants. The present undeveloped state of Hritish Columbia, and the absence of any good roads of commu- nication with the interior, would jn-obably render futile any attempts to settle the Similkameen and other valleys in the vicinity of the 49th parallel. Extensive crops, it is true, might probably be raised, but the emigrant would have to depend for the other necessaries of life eitliei' on such few as might from time to time find their way into the country from Washington Territory, or on such as might, during four months in the year, be ob- tained from Fort Hope and other points on the I'^raser River, and either of which could not be obtained but at prices too exorbitant for the pocket of the poor man., It would seem therefore that the Buonaparte and Thompson River valleys are the natural starting points for civilization and setlement, and the remarks I had the honour to make in a i)rcccding section on the im]jortance of towns at Lytton and Kayoosh, with reference to the defence of the border, apply with equal force in the present question of settlement. Starting from these points civilization would gradually creep forward and extend finally to the valleys on the frontier. With its advance we should have good roads and cheap provisions, and while the agricultura resources ot the country would thus by degrees become developed, the additional comfort that would PAPERS RELATINCJ TO BRITISH TOLUMBIA. 89 ?ranitp of pvf he ohced within reach of thi> mint-r on tln' up]H>r Fraxcr would hold out I'ar jfri-ater iiiducTniiMits his^tav in >hi" I'luintry than at pri'.-M'iit (■xi^l. FurthiT cxpi'rinii'ntai rcscarclice will dcxclopi' the natunil rcsimrri's ot' tlu> soil in iho valli'js iindor discii9fi""i "'"' '■'<■"'■ "!' "">' 'l'"i'>t an to its >uital)ility for the (;i'o«th of crop!!. Should thf roHnlt prove tiati>factory. roa(U will lie tiic (ii-t to di'vclopc its cap^Mlitios and, vii'wing the mutter in the li>(ht of jfeneral (■i\ili/;ation, it would >eeni not inifiir to aildiii'e tlie MiieiMw^ful cultivation of unproniisinjf distriets in other densely-pecjpled eoinitries, in support of the pnil)al)ditv of ciilti»ition extendinff to lari;e tracts of ijiass laiilope> and plalraux, and ot llw gjrricaltnral wealth of the country Itcin^ thereliy vastly iinpro\cd. ^ I have, \c. (Sijrned) 11. Spkncku I'ai.mkii, Lieut. U.K. Col R- C. .Mnndy, ll.ii. ' New Westminster, Nov. l^ard, lHo!(. to Kritixii COLL'MBU. Station. Fort Hopt — HuiUon Huy Fi)rt - Cftnip I. — ^tnii^o" iMnuntain - II, — StiK-lHl-a-Ctitiiri' III.— Hin.l of Tul:iim'i.ii - IV. — rulanii'i'il Haii«t' - V. — C'anipi. (1».^ Ft-mnic's VI. — ViTinilliiiii Kiirks - VII — Siinilkaimi'ii Valley VIII. — Oitlo, near No-is- lU'W-ll w. IX. — Dillo, near Big Hind X. — OM)y«(>H Lake (crossing.) XI.— Divide Colvillu Uirijie. J XII. — .Siyakan Forks XIII.— N. Whoyalpit K«u Valley. „ XIV.— Diiio, near " I. a (irande Prairie." ^ XV.— Ditto mar F.ills - „ XVI. — 11 miles from Col- ville. FortColvillc(II. 1!. Fort) C9, LungituduH, Altitudes, Htc, of Camps. — I.ieut. 1 'almek'h Houte. LoNOITirDE. lleiHlit Disiiince in .Milt'4 liBtitudf, in fr'MU E.of W. of I'eet last UeinarkH, Kort IIopu 1 ill Time. (iieen in Arc. uliove Sea I'UVL-1. •Siaiion by Trail. N- ! 'J ' " ni ■ o / " 49 'Jli UI - I'JI ■-'4 il9 140 - No jurats. Timber anil water abunili'il. •19 •.'■-> 41 U It -7 IC!1 11 111 1.890 15 -^ - 49 -M 57 ■ 1 17'« IJI 0,5 Ij '.\,r,W 19 Litili- jirnss. Diliii il lUl. 49 jft! 15 ' 1 59'S I'JO SI 4'.' 3,'i«'1 15 No ^ra-.^. n tut li Ho. No observations. •4,-;;o 1-.' I.iole ^r.iHs. Dim li till. 49 ;i-J L'9 '.' 50-O 1-0 4'.' 09 '.',170 IL' Wi.oii, uaier, and grass pi and gt'iHl, cntil'til 49 'J7 4',' :l 5«-4 \-M 'JS ;i:i 1,7'I0 19 l)illr< ditto. 49 L'4 '.'« 4 41".' '2'i 14 lil l.COO l« Ditto ditto. 49 12 54 5 44-6 119 58 f)0 l.'J75 21 Ditto ditto. 49 ():) 'JO (i •J4'(: 119 4rt SO 77,3 •J'.' Ditto ditto. 49 Ot .5'.' 7 'JfJ 119 :i;i :)fi i;:>0 IK Wood rather sciiree ; bru 1 jirass pleiiliCul. b and 4K .'JH 59 S (X)'0 1 19 '.'4 :i9 ■.',:)90 10 Wiiiid, w.iler, and grass ' .l-x.r abun- 49 Oii 4S 9 •J'J-8 119 03 57 I 1,570 19 iialil. Ditto ditto. 48 54 41 10 U'J-9 118 48 5,3 1,4 JO ■JO Ditto ditto. 48 59 19 It ;i4-;l 118 :il 04 l,:i«0 IS Ditto ditto. 48 5H ;i" I'i ,14 -7 118 lil l;l l,'Ji;o IS Cirass scarce. IH 40 :iG l;) I'.'-a 1 118 OG ;iG 1,051) 18 ; I''.ver)tliiii;r plentiful. 1 48 38 Oii 1:1 ■J'2-i, ! 118 04 IX) t [ 8; 10 U i Ditto. Entile (listaiKH; by trail from Fort lloi)e to iMirt Colville, = 28;! miles. The lonpritiide of R.E. observatory at New Westminster is approximately Iti'^" .')()' W., whence the abovH are determined. H. S. Palsii^ii, Lieut, lioyal Engineers. • \ No. 34. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. (No. 2.) Victoria, Vancouver's Islaiul, JatMiaiy 1'2, lS(iO My Loud Duke, (Received Jhirch 5, i860.) I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your Grace's iiiformation, a retiii-n of tlie va of imports and customs receipts at New \\ estm!iister, British Coiuiiihia, tor the twe months ending with the 31st day of Decemhcr 18.3i>. 2. Your (Jiace will oh.serve, that this return sliows an increase in tlie for the December quarter — Of 103JI, per cent, as compared with tlie Marcii quarter; Of 4'^4 P^'"" cent, as compared with the .June quarter ; Of ml per cent, as compared with tiie September quarter; The tdtal receipts for the twelve montlis heinir KS,4()1/. 3. Tlie duty of l'2.s'. per ton on gooils and wares earrie'! iioni New ^^'c-tmiiisfer to ail other ])laees in British Columbia came iiuo o])erati()ii en tiie 1st d,iy olMa'iiiary isiio. It is estimated that the duty will produce about 8,0Uu/. per annum, providet! li.ere be no M4 No. 34. Iiie Ive customs receipts >•>■» 90 PAPERS RELATING TO RRITISII COLUMBIA. IjRirisii increase of truilc ; niul .sliotilil trade increase at the same ratio as last year the revenue CoixjMiiA, tii^^iivci Com it will l)c in excess ol'tliat sum. 4. 1 tnis* it will soon lu; in my power to present to your Grace a statement of the entire public revenue collected for the past year in Hritisli Colinnbia, which will probably be over riO,m>Ol. ' 1 have, iVc. IlisGracc the Duke of Newcastle. (%ncd) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. Governor. &c. &c. End In No. 34. Eii('lo8uro hi No. 84. , Retiihn of Customs llccoipts, and Viiluc of Imports for Hritish Columbin, for the Year ending 31 at Dei't'iiilwr, IH59. Customs UKCEn-xs. .f I. ,1. Quarter ending 31st March isno .... 2,970 It n „ „ aotiiJuno 185!) - , . . - - 4,'M'J, o „ „ 30th Septpnibcr 18")!) .... ,'i,a(i!i o (I „ „ 3l8t December 185!) - - - - 0,044 Total amount of Customs Receipts for the Year £18,404 (I Valur of Import*!. Quarter ending 31st March 18.19 „ „ 30tii June 18,'i9 „ „ 30th .Septeml)er ]Sr><) „ „ 31st December 1859 . s c. £ ». d. \ir,,\u 40 ■ 3.5,022 1(1 5^47,755 00 ■ • 49,551 2 5 207,848 07 ■ 41,.50!l 12 2.')r),381 (i'2 ■ 51,070 2 Total Value of Imports for tho Year, calculating tlic Pound | „„ „ , ^, sterling at .*5 ^ )*6b^)ju^i - 177,219 7 No. 35. 24lli I'nra- t'rapli, No. 2'.'l. IHih (Ki. 1859, p.i|;e 6S. No. .35. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastm;. (No. !).) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, .January 12, 18C0. Mv Loud Duke, (Kecciveil Maroh "), 1800.) In my report on tho affairs of the colony of British Columbia, of the number and date noted in the margin, I did myself the honour of layint^ betbre your Grace a state- ment ot the expense, inconvenience, uncertainty, and delays to which emigrants were exposed in making piirchasrs of land in that colony. i?. I also stated that the Government surveys could not keep pace with the demand for public land, and Hnight, moreover, have added that the expense of moving surveying parties of the lloyal Enijineers to tiie various points wiiere land is required for settlement and cidtivation would probably exceed the money value of the land sold. 3. I at the same time inf()rmeilyour Grace that in order to remove so pregnant a cause of complaint, and to f'.icilitate settlement and promote the lawful accjuisition of unsurveyed agricultural hi'id, |)eniling the ()|)eration of tiie public surveys, 1 had authorized the occu- pation of land to tiie extent of 1(50 acres, with a pre-emptive right, by any person imme- diately occupying and improving such land and agreeing to jiay the Government price, not exceeding lO.v. an acre, whenever the land is surveyed and title granted. 4. I n iw forward herewith a Proclamation giving to my previous instructions the force of law, and also providing for the purchase, with the same limitation of the ultimate price, of larger tracts of unsurveyed country land, in addition to the land jire-enipted, as maybe desireil by persons of lander means ; it being in that case also provided, in order to guard against the mere speculative holding of land, that 5s. an acre is to be paid down, and the residue at the time of survey. 5. This Act has bet i; reviewed with much anxious consideration, and every precaution has been taken to adapt its machinery to the state of the colony, and to divest it of un- necessary forms, expense, and delav. (). The ilistrict stipendiary magistrates will record the applications for land, and imme- diately report the same to the Commissioner of Lands and Works and to the Colonial Secretary, so that it will not cause any further drain on the funds of the colony. 7- I'he object ot' the measure is solely to encourage and induce the settlement of the co\uitry; occupition is, therefore, made the test of title, and no pre-emption title can be perfected without a conijiliaiice witii tiiat imperative condition. PAPERS RELATING TO RRITISII COLUMniA. 91 1, i'Mr\iuH not otlicrHini' au propriatcd, at «iiili rate a> may lii- fixed l)y the (iovernnu'nt, at tlie time when sneh land -.imll cotna to he Miir\ eyed, not to exceed ten Hlnllinj(« per acre ; five shillinKH to he paid down, and the reHldu^ at the time ol' nurvey. fl. In the event of the Crown, ltd Hsrtiffn» of lieonewH, availing it»«lf, or thenntelvei, of tho ren-rva. tion mentioned in clanHe .1., a reawonahle eoin|penH,iti()n for tiie waHte and danni^e done «hall Ik> puij hy the person entering and workinj,' to the person wiiotse land nliall he wa»ted or (lainaf(e(l as afore. Bai Magistrate resident nearest to the land in (piestion may in a summary way, on heing satistied of such permaiH'nt cessation, caiu'cl the claim of the pers(ni so peimaneiitly ceasing to occupy the same, ami record the claim thereto of any other person hatisfying the retpiisitions aforesaid. lo. 'I'he decision of the magistrate may he appealed hy either party to the decision of tho judge of the Supreme ( 'ourt of ( 'ivil .lustice of Ihitisli ( 'olumhia. U. Any person desirous of apix'aling in manner aforesaid may he re(|uired hofore such apponl he heard, to find siicli security as may he iiercafter pointed out hy the rules or ordeis hereinafter dirut'tcd to he puhlished. 12. The procedure hefore tho magistrate and judge respectively shall he acenrding to such rules and orders lus shall he puhlinhed hy such judge with the approhation of the governor for tiie time of Uritish f 'olumhia. 13. Whenever a jierson in ccciipation at the time of rucord aforesaid shall have recorded as afore- said, and he, his heirs, or assigns, shall have cnntiiuuMi in permanent oceujiation of land pre-empteil, or of land purchased as aforesaid, he or they may, save as hereinafter iiu'iitioned, hring eject ucnt or trespass against any intruder upon ttic land so pre-empted or purchased, to the same extent vs if he or tliey were sei/eil of the legal estate in possession in the land so pre-empted or purchased. 14. Nothing herein contained shall he construed as giving a right to any claimant to exclude free miners from searching for any of the precious minerals or working tho same upon the conditioiiB aforesaid. l.**. 'l"he Ooveimnent shall, notwithstatiding any claim, record, or conveyance aforesaid, he entitled to enter and take such portion of the land pre-empted or purchased as may he recpiired for roads or other puhlic jiurposes. Ifi. Water ])rivilegos and the right of earryiiig water for mining purposes, may notwithstanding any claim recorded, ])urchaHe or conveyance aforesaid, he claimed and taken upon, tinder or over the said land so pre-empted or ]nnchased as aforesaid, hy free miners nnpiiring the same, and ohtaining a grant or license from the G
(li);<;iiigs nl' my ouu ilintrirt, and as muiii iuliirtiiatidii ic>|)i'i tiri); ilii' new disii'ovi'rii''* oC the U|i|it'r country in tim iU'iij;lil)ouilioo(i ul' I'l .t Alcxaiiih'ia. as I cnulil jtalhcr from thiwe who liaNo lately rcturm-il I'roin iIiohc parts TliP dirtcovcrics of ^ohl in thin (lii«trict havi' this scnuon cxtcndi'd I'mm tin- iianks of the I'niMer'n river to the Hats or henchi's situated above liigli wale.' mark, :nany of wliich have produced richer claims than nn the hanks, iiverajfinjf on those flats vUicre water :an lie hronjilit to work with shnces from s to 12 dollars a man per day, and possessiiifr Jin aih.intatfc over river claims, inasmuch as they cjin he workt'd from the eoininencement of sprinj,' until the fall of the year iininllueiued by the rise or fall of the main stream. Thiw (liseoverieH have jjiven more c(niHdence to the njiners, many of wliom were under the impression that the gold existed only on the hars, helow hif^h water mark, and in the lied nf the river and consiMineiitIv seeing their mistake have heen iiidiU'ed to prospei't the dillcrent lienches, 80 that next season I have no donht the M'cinid and even the third lieiidics mi the river will prove to he eiiually rich, and he uiirki'd advantajfcoiisly ; the great drawback to tlicii being thornngldy and properly worked at present being the large amoinit of capital rei|uii'ed to bring the water by flumes and (litehes from the momitaiii creeks on to the ditVereiit benches, the dilliculty anil expense increasing in jiroportion to the height of the llats from the river. The discoveries on 'riiompsmi Hiver are as yet but few, though from the nature an Duke, (Ueciivcd March 13, 18G0.) tPogcios. I have the Iionoiir to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's Despatch of the 21st October, No. 32,J informing me that the Master of the Mint has been authorized to carry into effect arrangemen'.s for tlie establishment of an assay office i i British Columhia, and enclosing copy of a letter from tiie Treasury witli an annexure, stat 'g that Mr. Bacon and Mr. Hitchcock had been engaged as meltevs. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. old Commissioner. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 00 No. 40. Coi'Y of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, C.B., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. Victoria, Vancouver's Island, January QG, I860. My Lord Duke, (ULceivci March 14, jsgo.) I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's Despatcli of the 5th* September last, upon the subject of tlie non-residence in tlie colony of Britisli Columbia of the officers who iiave been appointed by the Crown to conduct its affairs. 2. I need scarcely say that, as a general principle, I fully agree with your Grace as to the advantages attending a residence in the Colony ; but circumstances have, however, compelled me to retain hitherto at Victoria some of the principal officers of the Govern- ment of British Columbia, and I would long ere tliis have reported to your (Jrace my reasons for adopting such a measure, had I not been under the impression tiiat the whole circumstances were well known and understood by Her Majesty's Government. S, The day after the arrival of Mr. Bcgbie, tiie Judge, he accompanied me to Britisli Columbia, and after liis return to Victoria, he was of the greatest assistance to me in discharging the functions of Attorney-General, v;hich office he kindly fulfilled with the concurrence of Her Majesty's Government. Since the arrival at Victoria of th" Attorney- General, Mr. Begbie has passed long periods in, and has been on circuit over the greater portion of British Columbia, and his personal communications to me upon his return iiavc been most valuable, and have assisted me materially in framing laws, and in adapting the general system of government to the actual requirements of the people. Mr. Begbie has but recently returned from an extended circuit, and I do not think tiiat his absence from the Colony under existing circumstances has in any way proved injurious. Mr. I3egbie is however, on the point of proceeding to British Columbia, to take up his permanent residence there. 'J.. Your Grace is well aware that I constantly require the Colonial Secretary to be with me, and the same lemark a])plies to the Attorney-General. 5, With regard to the Treasurer, it is probably more for the convenience of the service and for the benefit of the Colony of British Columbia, that he should at present, and i)ro- bahly for some little time to come, reside at Victoria ; but I begyoiu- Grace will receive my assurance that so soon as I am satisfied that his stay here is detrimental to the public service, I will instantly require him to proceed to British Columbia. G. I do not presume to enter nicr': fully into jiarticulars, for the opinion I have given accords with that already expressed by your Grace in previous desi)atches, referring to the Colonial Secretary and to the Treasurer; and I doubt not your Grace will rcailiiy understand of what little assistance would the Attorney-General be unless he be near to me. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. BuTini Columbia. No. 40. * Ptge 101. No. 41. Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Douglas, CD., to iiis Grace tiie Duke of Newcastle. (No. 15.) Victoria, Vancouver's Island, January 27, ISGo. My Lord Duke, (UecdvcMi >rarcii i.i, im).) I HAVE the honour of transmitting herewith copy of a proclamation, issued on the 20th of January instant, authorizing the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works to sell town and suburban lots, and agricultural lands, which have been offered for sale at public auction and remain unsold, at the upset price. 2. It was intended to convey such powers to the Commissioner of Lands and Works by the Proclamation regulating the sale of public land, which issued on the 1 kli day of February 1859, but it ap|)earing doubtful whether tiie jiowers in (jut'stion have been actually conveyed by that instrument, in consequence of tlie expression •' Except as afore- said "in the 4th clause of that Act, it was deemed advisable to remove tiie doubt, and to issue the present Proclamation. I have, &c. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) JAMES DOUGLAS, &c. &c. &c. Governor. N 3 Nc. 41. Ml 'I II ' M i\ ' i I M PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. V M Bkitish coluhuia. Kntl.inNo.'ll. EndoBure in No. 41. Pkoclamation. Companion of the Most Honourable Oroer Douglas, Companion of the Most Honourable Oroer of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Colony of British Columbia and its depen> (No. 18.) By his Excellency Jamks Go' ~ . dcncies, Vice Admiral of the same, kc, &c. WiiKiiEA* by virtue of an Act of Parliament made and passed in the gist and 22nd years of the rei^ of Her most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and by a Commission under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in conformity therewith, I, James Douglas, Governor of the Colony of British Columbia, have been authorized by Proclamation, issued under the Public Seal of the said Colony, to make laws, institutions and ordinances, for the peace, order, and good government of the same. And whereas it is expedient that town lots, suburban lots, and surveyed agricultural lands in British Columbia, which have been, or which hereafter may be offered for sale at public auction, and remain unsold, should be sold by iirivatc contract. Now, therefore, I, James Douglas, Governor of British Columbia, by virtue of the authority afore- said, do proclaim, order, and enact as follows : — The Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works for the time being for British Columbia, and all magistrates. Gold Commissioners, and Assistant Gold Commissioners, by the said Chief Commis- sioner authorized in writing in that behalf, may sell by private contract any of the lots and lands herein-after mentioned, at the prices and on the terms herein-after respectively stated, viz. : — ia.) Town and suburban lots which have been or hereafter may be offered for sale at public auction, . remain unsold, at the upset price, and on the terms at and on which the same were offered for sale at such auction. (b.) Agricultural lands surveyed by the Government Surveyor which may or shall have been offered for sale at public auction, and remam unsold, at ten shillings per acre, payable one half in cash at tlie time of sale, and the other half at the expiration of two years from such sale. And the purchaser of any agricultural land aforesaid shall purchase, subject to such rights of way and water as may be hereafter declared by some writing under the hand of the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works aforesaid. Issued under the Public Seal of the said Coloiiy, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, tliis twentieth day of January, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty, and in the twenty-third year of Her Majesty's reign, by me, Jamks Dolt.las, By his Excellency's command, William A. G. Yoirxr., Acting Colonial Secretary. Goo SAVIC TllK Ql.'KKN. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 95>' Despatches from the Secretary of State. j No. 1. UaiTikR Page 5. Cor? of DESPATCH from Secretary the Rislu Hon. Sir I'. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P., to ^" '""'^ ^ Governor Douglas, C.B. . No. 1. (No. 75.) Sm ' Downing Street, June .'5, 18.^!). I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatcli No. 1;3(),* of the ll2th April * last, containing further reports on the general state of British Colinnbia, antl forwarding for my inspection a nugget of gold which had been recently found at Bridge River. 1 beg to thank you tor your attention in sending nie this interesting specimen of the metallic produce of the new Colony. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) K. B. LYT TON. &c. kc. w IKS Douglas. No. a. No. 2. Copy of DESPATCH from Secretary the Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P., to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 76.) Sir, Downing Street, June 4, 1.S59. I HAVE to acknowledge your Despatch No. 129,* of the llth of April last, Pagt*. respecting the construction of the route by Harrison's River, and I have to express my satisfaction that you have been able to pay, fro.n the revenues of the Colony, the entire cost of this undertaking. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) E. B. LYTTON. &c. &c. . No. 3. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 3.) Sib, Downing Street, June 30, 1859. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 137,* of the 12th April last, reporting a serious injury to the interests of British Columbia which is caused by the practices of certain American owners of steam-boats running on the Eraser River. I have referred to the opinion of the Law Advisers of the Crown the question raised by you as to your power legally to withhold a British register from vessels becoming British under such circumstances as those describe I in your Despatch, and I transmit for your information and guidance a copy of the report which I have received from them on this subject. 1 have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. No. 3. P»g«7. N4 98 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. It I I 1 Bmrisn COLUHBU. No. 4. * P»go n. No. 4. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 5.) SiB Downing Street, July 4, 1859. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 154,* of the 14tli of May, containing a report of tiie latest intelligence received from British Columbia. 1 have to convey to yon my thanks for the information which is supplied by your Despatch, as well as for your availing yourself of any chance opportunities of coinniiinj. eating to Her Majesty's Government the most recent intelligence respecting a Colony about which so much interest is felt in this country. I have, &c. Governor Douclas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. 5o.5. • Pago 12. Viilr Papers presiMiti'd Aufrust 1859, p.8e. No. 6. • Viile Papers presented August 1859, p. 39. No. 7. • Page 69. No. 5. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 9.) Sill, Downing Street, July 28, 1859. I have to acknowledge the receipt of j'our Despatch No, 150,* of the i23rd of May last, respecting the system of land sales and mining licences. I have little doubt tiiat'the Despatcii from tiiis office, No. (i2,f of the 7th of May last, will have modified your views and practice as to deferred payments. On this subject I can do no more than express my concurrence in the views entertained by my predecessor. 1 have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. No. 6. Copy of DESPATCII from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 10.) Sir, Downing Street, August 5, 1S59. I have had under my consideration your Despatch No. 39,* of theaoth November last, requesting instructions as to the disposal of convicts sentenced to transportation in British Columbia. In reply I have to inform you that no British Colony remains available for the reception of offenders sentenced to penal servitude or transportation in any places out of the United Kingdom, and that the only resource available for their jiunisiiment is imprisonment with hard labour in the country where their offences are committed. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. No. 7. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 13.) SiB, Downing Street, August 29, 1859. With reference to my predecessor's Despatch, No. 56, of the 28th of April, informing you that Her Majesty's Government were about to call for tenders for the conveyance of the mails between JSan Francisco and British Columbia, I have to acquaint you that on subsequent consideration it has been decided that the advantages which would be derived by the Colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island would not [irove equivalent to the large amount of subsidy that would bo demaiuU'd tor the establishment of this service, 'ihc same cause has precluded Her Majesty's Government from entertaining a proposal that had been submitted to them for carrying these mails through (/anada and the Hudson's Bay Company's territory. I have therefore to instruct you to endeavour to secure the improvements in the existing service which you jjointed out as desirable in your Despatch of the l6th November last,* which I trust will suffice PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 9» to meet the requirements of the two Colonies till their progress and increasing importance 8hail ensure more atlvantageoiis proposals. I have to add that the Postmaster (Jencral has obtained the permission of the United States Post Office to forward the cones|)ondence for Vancouver's Island and Uritish Columbia in closed mails, addressed to Her Majesty's Consul at San Francisco, who ffill forward them by the first eligible opportunity to their destination. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c, &c. British Columbia. No. 8. Copy f'f DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B., (No. 14.) Sib, Downing Street, September 5, 1859. I SEND you an Act passed in the recent Session of Parliament " to make further " provision lar the regulation of the trade with the Indians, and for the administration "of justice ii! the North-western territories of America." The Act applies, as you will perceive, to the territories over which the Hudson's Hay Company recently enjoyed a licence of trade, excluding both the charter territories and also British Columbia. It has been considered necessary by Her Majesty's Govern- ment and by Parliament that provisions to this effect should be made in order to enable the Crown to take measures for establishing order in the administration of the executive, and in the conduct of trade in those vast regions, in case any urgent reason for doing so should arise; but Her Majesty's Government have not any immediate intention of advising Her Majesty to exercise the powers given Her by this Act. I should, however, be glad to receive from you at your convenience a report as to the persons whom you may consider eligible for magistrates in these North-western territories, with which your long service under the Hudson's Bay Company has made you to some extent familiar ; and also as to any regulations for the conduct oi:' the Indian trade which your experience may lead you to consider advisable. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. No. 8. Kncl. in No. 8. & 2. G. 4, c. 66. Enclosure in No. 8. Anko Vn'KsiMo Skitxdo & Vicesi.mo Tkutio Victoria Regix.e. Cap. XXVI. A\ A( r to make further Provision for the Hcgulatiou of the Tiade with the Indians, and for the Administration of Justice in the North-western Territories of America. [13th August 1859.| Wni:ni;As an Act was passed in the Forty-tliird year of King George the Third (cha])ter one hundred 43 G.3. c. las. and thirty-eight), "for extending the jurisdiction of the Courts of Justice in the Provinces of Lower and " Upper Canada to tlie trial and punishment of jjersons guilty of crimes and offences within certain " parts of North America adjoining to the said provinces," and an Act was passed in the Session holden in the first and second years of King George the Fourth (cha])ter sixty-six), " for regulating the fur " trade, and for establishing a criminal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts of Xf)rth America;" and by the firstly herein-mentioned Act it was enacted, that all Offences committed witliin any of the Indian territories or parts of America not within the limits of either of the Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada, or of any civil government of the United States of America, should be and be deemed to ije offences of tlie same nature, and should be tried in the same manner, and subject to the same punishment, as if the same had been committed within the Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada ; and by the secondly lierein-iiientioned Act it was enacted, that it should be lawful for His Majesty, if lie should deem it convenient so to do, to issue a commission or commissions to any person or persons to be and act as justices of the peace within such jjarts of America as aforesaid; and it was also enacteii, that it should be lawful fin' His Majesty, by Commission under the Great Seal, to authorize and empower such persons so appointed justices to sit and hold Courts of Record for the trial of criminal otl'ences and misdemeanors, and also of civil causes: And whereas no Courts of Record have been establishe(-' or authorized as aforesaid, and it is ex))edient to make further provision for the administration of justice in criminal cases in the said Indian territories, and such other parts as aforesaid of America, and also to irakc provision for better regulating trade with the Indians in the territories and parts aforesaid : He it therefore enacted by the Queen s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in tliis present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of tlie same, as follows : 1. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by the commission by which any Justices of the Peace are ju,iictj of the appohitcd under the said Act of King George the Fourth, or by any subsequent commission, or by any iVacc in ihu diticr in Council, from time to time to authorize any sucli justice or justices to take cognizance of and British Amcri- try in a summary way all crimes, misdemeanors, and offences whatsoever, except as herein-after men- TMriiotiw 100 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Ij I P Bmrisn Columbia. Huthorized tit try oH'i'nci'?! •iummarily, nnd punish hy tiiiu or impriiiun- mcnr. Tlio power to c'ht;i)>]ihli courtfl of record not to bu afl'ecti'd. HerMajusty,))y Order in Coun- cil, may make regulations for the trade with the Indians. Hudson's Day Company, British Columbia, and Vancouver's Island not affected. No. 9. * Page 31. tioned, within the local limits of the jurisdiction of such justices (or such j)arts thereof as Her Majesty may direct in this helialf), and to ])iinish such crimes, misdemeanors, and otTences by line or imprison- ment, or both; and it shall be lawful for Her .Miviesty, in manner aforesaid, from time to time to restrict or regulate the exercise of such jurisdiction as .She may think fit, and to direct in what cases the same may he exercised by one or by more than one of such justices, and generally to make such provision concerning the exercise of such jurisdiction as to Her Alajesty may seem expedient ; and it shall also be lawful for Her Majesty, in manner aforesaid, to order or authorize the appointment of all prnner officers to act in aid oi" such justices; and the said justices respectively may do or cause to he dime all acts, matters, and things for the execution of their sentences, and in aid of their jurisdiction under this Act, which might be done or caused to be (hme by Courts of Uecord having jurisdicticni in the like cases: Provided always, that where the offence with which any jierson is charged before any such justice or justices is one which is punishable with death, or one which in the opiniim of such justice nr justices ought, either on account of the inade(iuacy of the punishment which such justice m justices can inflict, or for any other reason, to be made the sul)jeot of prosecution in the ordinary way rather than to be disposed of summarily, such justice or justices shall commit the oflbnder to safe custody, and cause bim to be sent in such custody for trial to Upper Canada, as provided bv the said Act of King George the Fourth, or, where such justi( •■ or justices may see fit, to the Colony of Hritish Columbia; and such otfender may be tried and dealt with by any Court constituted In British Columbia having co^izance of the like offences committed there, and such Court shall have the like powers and authorities for this purpose as under the said Acts are given to any Court in Canada in the like (;a8C8. II. Provided, That nothing herein-before contained shall be taken to repeal or affect the provisions of the said Act of King George the Fourth concerning the establishment of Courts of Record in the said territories, and where such Courts are established any offenders within the limits of the jurisdiction thereof may be committed for trial to such Courts instead of the Courts of Canada or British Columbia. III. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, from time to time to make such rules and regulations as She may deem expedient for the conduct of the trade with the Indians, and for diminishing or preventing the sale and distribution of spirits to the Indians, or for promoting their moral and religious improvement, to be in force in all or any portions of the territories mentioned in the said Act of King George the Fourth which may not be included in any grant or licence for the time being in force under that Act. IV. Nothing herein contained shall extend to the territories heretofore granted to the Company of Adventurers trading to Hudson's Bay ; and nothing herein contained shall extend to the Colony of British Columbia, save as herein expressly provided, or to the Colony of Vancouver's Island. No. 9. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to (lovernor Douglas, C.B. (No. 15.) Sir, Downing Street, September 5, 1859. I HAVE received your Despatch No. 189,* of the 6th of July, triuisinitting for my approval and confirmation a return of the provisional ajipointmcnts wliich you iiave made to offices in British Columbia between 1st January and 3()th June 1859. I am unable, in the absence of more (ull information than is supplied by your Despatch, to confirm these appointments. I cannot impress upon you too strongly thf necessity of confining the expenditure of British Columbia witliin the limits of the revenue, and, in the present state of the finances of the Colony, of maintaining its establishments on the most economical .scale, consistent with due reganl to the proper administration of the Government, nnd the preservation of order in the country. At the present moment, wiien tiie efflux of population from the Colony is great and constant, 1 cannot feel satisfied of the necessity for the creation of so large a number of new appointments, involving an additional annual charge of nearly 3,000/. on its resources. I have, therefore, to instruct you to furnish me with u return of the wiiole civil establisiiment of British Columbia, distinguishing the appointments that have been sancti lied by the Secretary of State, and affording me a full explanation of tlic gnunds tor the creation of those vvliicli you have provisionally established, and of the nature and extent of the duties attached to them. Pending the receijit of this report I am compelled to witiihold my confirmation of the appointments in tiie list that accompanies your Despatcli, for the creation of which the sanction of tiie .Secretary of State has not been previously given. 1 have also to instruct you to transmit to tiie Secretary of State, in future, quarterly returns, in tlie form of which I anne.\ a copy, of all changes in offices, or new appoint- ments in the Colony. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, CB. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 101 OUGLAS, C.B. No. 10. Copy of DKSPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 10.) Sir, Downing .Street, September .0, la^D. 1 HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatcli No. I(i7,* of the 8th June, and to thank you for the general information it contains as to the state of British Columbia. I have also to request that you will convey to Mr. Justice Begbie the expression of my thanks for the very full and interesting account of his expedition up the country. BaiTisH COLDHBIA. No. 10. Pww. Governor Douglas, C.B. &c. &c. I have, &c. (Signed) NEWCASTLE No. 11. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. Sib, Downing Street, September 5, 1859. Among the many difficulties with which the organization of Governmcic in British Columbia has to contend I cannot but think that the ])resence and resii ncc in that colony of the several officers who have been appointed by the Crown to conduct i's affairs is indispensable. I have not received any special report from yourself on this subject; but fron, uch information as I collect from other sources (subject to your better Knowledge as to its correctness), it would appear that this essential duty is very much disregarded. Being yourself Governor both of Vancouver's Island and British Columbia, yo!i have necessarily a divided duty to perform ; but the unavoidable absence which this occasions on your part cannot dispense with the closer attention of other British Columbian functionaries to their duties. It is stated that the Judge, the Colonial Secretary, his assistant, the Attorney-general, and the Treasurer, are all at present residing in Vancouver's Island. This state of things must be put an end to at once, and the gentlemen in question must be^tarned that they must repair with the least practicable delay to the scene of their duties, or, if they decline to do so, must at once resign their situations. I am aware that there may be difficulties in finding residences in a colony just commencing its existence; but tiiese difficulties must be overcome, as they would by this time have been overcome, had not the close neighbourhood of the colony of Vancouver's Island artbrded so easy a means of absenting themselves for the time from their posts. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &C. &c. No. u. No. 12. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.Bc (No. 22.) Sir, Downing Street, September 19, 1859. Your Despatches noted in the margin,* relating to the establishment of' an assay office in British Columbia, have been considered by Her Majesty's Government, and a communication will be immediately addressed to the Master of the Mint regarding the arrangements necessary for giving effect to this design. Her Majesty's Government have not overlooked the objections which suggest themselves to the work of a refinery and assay being undertaken by a Government establishment ; but in view of the example derived from the experience of California, and having regard to the advantages to the miners in ascertaining and realizing their treasure, as well as to the facilities which will be afforded in the collection of a revenue from an export duty on gold. Her Majesty's Government have given their sanction to the measure. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE- No. 12. * No. 135, April 1 1, 1859, pagf 4 i No. 158, May 25, 1S58, pagu 13. O 2 IM PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Britibh Columbia. No. 13. P*ge3C. l' No. 18. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 24.) Sir, Downing Street, September 23, 1859. I HAVE to acknowledge your Despatch No. 182,* of 2n(l July last, in wiiich you represent that the cost of the military force now stationed in Britisii Columbia, with the heavy charge of colonial pay, is more than the finances of the Colony can at present bear and urge on Her Majesty's Government the necessity of assuming some part of it. From this Despatch, and from your other correspondence, I am not sure whether you clearly understand, that it was never the intention of Her Majesty's Government to throw the entire cost of this military force on the Colony. Their regimental pay is to be defrayed from Imperial funds. But with regard to the colonial pay and allowances, I cannot depart from the instruc- tions already given you by Sir E. I). Lytton, being confident that the resources of the Colony are such as will in all probability enable it to overcome existing difficulties, and provide for this portion of its expenditure within a reasonable time, I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. ; No. 14. No. 14. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 27.) Sib, Downing Street, September 29, 1859. With reference to my Despatch No. 22,* of the 19th inst., acquainting you that • Page 101. Her Majesty's Government had sanctioned the establishment of an Assay Office in British Columbia, I transmit to you for your information, the copy of a correspondence between the Treasury and this department, showing the arrangements which it is intended to adopt for carrying this measure into operation. 1 have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. End. in No. 14. Enclosure in No. 14. i I Sill, Treasury Chambers, September 19, 1859. With further reference to your letter of the 11th ultimo, I am directed by the Lords Com- missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith copy of a Report from the Master of the Mint on the subject of the establishment of a Government assay ollice and refinery in British Columbia, and I am to request that you will inform the Duke of Newcastle that the arrangements suggested by tlie Master of the Mint ai)pear to my Lords to be judicious, and if his Grace should be of the same opinion, my Lords will authorize Mr. Graham to engage the services of the persons recommended by him, on the conditions proposed, and to provide the necessary stores, &c. Their Lordships consider that the best course to follow in regard to the preliminary expenses will be to advance the sum of 2,000/., suggested by the Master of the Mint, out of the grant for British Columbia, ou the under- standing that the amount will be repaid from the colonial revenue. I have, &c. H. Merivale, Esq., C.B. (Signed) Gko. A. Hamilton. kc. kc. Sub-enclosure. Sin, Royal Mint, September 9, 1859. With reference to your letter of the 80th ultimo, transmitting papers relative to the establish- ment of an assay ollice and refinery in British Columbia, and informing me that their Lordshijjs were prepared to sanction the necessary proceedings for the establishment of a Government assay and refinery in British Columbiti, and requesting ine to report to their Lordships on the arraiigcnicnts which should be adopted for the purpose, I beg to report accordingly as follows : — From the success which has attended the assay and melting department at Sydney established i)y Government, it may reasonably be expected that such an establishment as that contemplated in British C^oluinbia will be self-supporting from the first, and in a short time highly remunerative, for the income of the Sydney Mint last year was 15,000/., and the whole ex])enses 12,600/. ; the large revenue stated being entirely derived from fees on operations of melting and assaying executed for the public, while, as the yield of gold-fields of British Columbia ai)pears to approach to if it does not already exceed that of the province of Victoria, the receipts are likely to be on a large scale. The superior intelligence and energy of the resident Superintendent are a further guarantee of the Success of the undertaking. It is very necessary, however, to occupy the ground as soon as possible, and anticipate the erection of private refinenes. . Hamilton. PAPERS RELATING TO IIRITISH COLUMBIA. 103 Captain Gogaet, in a report diUcd 25th April IS.'JO, which he adflressrd to the Acting Secrotar) of UiiiTi.tn the Colony, suggests the following organization for the establishment, with tiie probable expenses for Collmbu. the first and second years :— First Year. Secoml Year, i; a, it. One assaying officer • One smelting officer - Two assistants One accountant clerk Implements - - - - Transit of party, stores Buildings . - - . X, s. «/. 400 400 500 300 1,(KM) , 1,000 noo £4,100 I) £ », d. 4,50 45tt GOO 350 100 — £1,950 This scheme appears to be the result of careful consideration, and I have no hesitation in recom- mending it to the favourable attention of their Lordships, slightly modified as follows : First Year. Second Yuar. £ s. ,1. One assayer .... One assistant assayer ... One melter (if obtainable) - One operative melter One accountant clerk ... Three months' half-pay to all the staff, calcu- lated from day of appointment Stores sufficient for one year's consumption - Transit of party and stores (including 100/. outfit an(l passage-money to each of four officers, and 70/. to the operative melter) - Buildings - ... - £ s. (1. 450 300 450 250 300 218 15 1,000 HOO (1 500 £ s. //. 500 350 500 300 3ri() 10(( £4,268 15 o £2,10(( The persons appointed to be assured of their salaries for two years and a half, as proposed by Captain Gosset, ttie operative melter to be further allowed 50/. for return passage-money if he chooses to return home after serving the time specified. The great difficulty in carrying out tne present scheme is the lowness of the salaries offered for pro- fessional services. At the Sydney mint the assayer is allowed 580/. the first year, and 030/. tiu; second, and yet, with this larger salary, the ^eatest difficulty was experienced in finding a (jualificd person on the occurrence lately of a vacancy m the office. I am happy, however, to bo able to inform you that no difficulty exists at present in filling up the offices of assayer and assistant assayer at the salaries which I have specified. It will also be possible I believe to obtain the services of a qualified operative melter; but great difficulty is experienced in finding a suitable jjcrson practically qualified to act as the head of this branch (as melter) for the salary offered. Such an officer is (lesiral)Ie to give weight and responsibility to the establishment, but not I believe indispensable. In the absence of a melter from the staff, one or both of the assayers may be instructed before eml)arking, so as to be able to conduct the melting department with the assistance of the o])erative melter. Tlie name of an accountant clerk has been suggested by Captain Gossett, Mr. Ilift', at present a clerk in the London and Westminster Bank, witii whom 1 can communicate, and report ujioii bis qualifications, if it is the pleasure of their Lordships. As the assayers and melters will be fully occupied for at least two months in collecting and preparing (under proper supervision) the numerous implements, apparatus, and material rcfiuired in their respec- tive departments, the first step to be taken will be to nominate persons to these oilices. In the pressing circumstances of the case, I may perhaps be allowed to submit at once the names of such officers as I have already selected, after full inquiry, for recommendation to their Lordships. As assayer, Mr. Francis George Claudit. Mr. F. G. Claudit is 23 years of age. He is younger brother of Mr. Frederick Claudit, of Cannon Street, City, a professional iissayer of eminence, and has been assistant to his brother for several years. As assistant assayer, Mr. Frederick Henry Bousfield, 20 yearo of age, -who has also been a junior assistant in Mr. Claudit's assay laboratory for the last three years. Both the gentlemen named have received a good scientific education, and are qualified to jinalyze ores, and act generally as analytical chemists, and if sent, will prove, 1 have no doubt, a valuable acquisition to the Colony. Of the early completion of the staff, with or without a principal melter, I entertain no doubt. It is desirable that funds should be immediately available to the extent of about 2,0oo/. for the expenditure to be incurred for stores, outfit, and salary in this country. On the institution of tiie Sydney mint, the Master of the Mint was authorized to make the necessary advances for such pur- poses from the mint cash account, to be afterwards refunded by the Colonial Government. But the course to be pursued on the present occasion I must leave to the judgmeiic of their Lordships. It does not appear to me that any necessity exists for the exercise of a continued supervision by the Home Government of the projected assay office and refinery in British Columbia beyond the assistance, in its first establishment, proposed to be granted in this country. The future management of the establishment may be safely left with the Colonial authorities. I have, &c. (Signed) Thos. Ghaiiam. O 3 i I nniTiMii Cui.uuiiu. 104 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. Sir, Downing Street, September 80, igjg I AM HirectpH by the Duke of Newcastle to aoknowleHge the receipt of yi. jr letter of the 19th intitaiit, with its eiicloMiin' from the MaHter of the Mint, Htutiiig the arranffementH which he would rucoiiiinciKJ in tlic cHtaliliHiinKMit of a Oovcnimcnt assay otHco and reKnury in liritiHh Culuinhia. I aiM lichircd to state that tlie Diilte of Newcantle concurs in the BuggcHtionH of the Manter of the Mint, and would re(|uetit their Lord8hi[)H tu authorize their bein;^ at once carried into effect. I am, &c. O. A. Hamilton, Enq. (Signed) H. Mkhivale. No. K'.. No. 15. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 29.) Sin, Downing Street, October 20, 1859. '^■w"*" I HAVi; to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 206,* of the 18th of Angiist last, forwarding a report lately received from Colonel Moody, of a reconnais- sance of the Harrison and Tillooet route to the Upper Eraser, urtder the command of ' Lieutenant Palmer, ll.E. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. \ No. 16. No. 16. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 30.) Sin, Downing Street, October 20, 1859. ^"Ro 32. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 201,* of the l6th August last, enclosing the report of an overland journe}' of survey in the districts of British Columbia, bordered on the Thompson, Eraser, and Harrison Rivers, conducted hy Lieutenant Richard Mayne of Her Majesty's ship " Plumper." I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. Si h i'M No. 17. No. 17. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 31.) Sir, Downing Street, October 21, 1859. ♦ Page 49. I OBSERVE in your Despatch of the 23rd August, No. 207,* that you express your anxious wish for tlie arrival of the gun-boats promised for the service of British Columbia ^Sed"'"" ^y '"y predecessor in his Despatch o'"the lOtiit of last March. August 1839, Having made inquiries of tin' Admiralty on this subject, I learn that the two gim-boats P*'- in question were despatched on the 28tiiof last August, that they sailed from St. Vincent on tile 22nd ultimo, and that they were then bound to the River Plate, with orders to tlie Admiral on the station to send them on as soon as he could spare them. The " Termagant" (screw frigate) was to accompany them ; but I apprehend she was destined for the general service of the station. I take this opportunity of apprizing you that Her Majesty's Government have ordered the "Topaze" and "Clio" to join the squadron on the north-west coast of America. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. PAPERS IIEI.ATINO TO IMUTISH COI.UMIUA tOfr No. 18. llRrTIKH 'ol.I'MIIIA. Copy of DKSPATCH from the Duke of Nkwcasti.k to (Jovenior DoLtii.As, t'.H. ^r~ (No. 3'i.) Vkk* lot. fiovernor Douglns, C.H. &c. &c. reliend she was WCASTLE. i " No. 19. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Nkwcasti.k to Governor Douglas, C.H. (No. 33.) Downing Street, Octol)i'r '2H, 1,S.V». Cju (Answcri'd, No. 27, Fi'bniiiry 'J'l, ISfiO. ) I HAVE to thiink you for yom- Despatch of tlie '.23rd Augii.st, NO. '.207,* reporting upon tlie state of British Columbia down to tiiat date. Tiiere is nuieh in that repoit wiiich affords satisfactory evidence of the vahie of this Colony as a Hiilish posse.ssion ; but it is inipos,sible to peruse your Despatch without beinj; struck willi the Htlle progress which has been made in the comuuniications into the interior. From tlie large expenditure incurred an account of the Harrison Liloett roail, and the zeal which was so early manifested in the Colony for its formation. Her Majesty's CJovern- ment were led to suppose that a route would be opened for the miners, wliich would considerably abridge the distance ui reaching the .scene of their laboius, anil facilitate the transport to them of the means of .subsistence. I now learn that this work is being faintly prosecuted by tiie llo)al Engineers, under the comniaml of Captain Grant ; that funds to the extent of 30,000/. are needed for its completion, besides, as you inform me, " the helping hand of Government on all sides." You throw out a suggestion that this pecuniary assistance could be easily raised by way of loan, either in Englantl oi- in Van- couver's Island, proviiled its payment were guaranteed by Parliament. I think it right to lose no tiine in disabusin"- you of the impression you allow yourself to entertain that the Imperial Parliament could be recommended to take the coin.se y^u wish. Both Parliament ancl the Enulish public clsfim from British Columbia an energetic development of the great natural resources with which it is endowed. The admonitions which have been so ably and so frequently proffered by my prede- cessor, that British Columbia should look to her own exertions for success, nuist not pass unheeded, but a practical exemplification of that advice must be exhibited. Her Majesty's Government have applied to Parliament already for advances in aid of the Colony to an extent which shows that no reasonable demands have been refused when proved to exist ; but this assistance must not be drawn into a precedent to be followed on all occasions, nor lead you, or the inhabitants of the Colony, to expect that this country shall supply you with the means of developing those resources, which it is your duty to make the most of your.selves. I am explicit with you on this point, and wish you to understand that Her Majesty's present Government, sharing completely the sentiments of the late Government in respect to British Columbia, cannot venture to ask I'arliament for any such guarantee as you desire. 2. You have on many occasions adverted to your intention of levying an export duty on gold ; but as no report has reached this office of your having done so, I conclude that impediments have arisen to frustrate this very necessary measure. Now, liowever, that it has been determined to set up a Government assay office in the Colony, you will lose no time in resorting to the expedient for which you have pressed Her Majesty's Government to give you such facilities as are requisite. 3. I am glad to hear that the miners have been so successful in their pursuits on the Thompson and Quennel Rivers. I wish it were in my power to assist them in regard to banks of deposit. But these conveniences of a highly civilized stiite of society will accompany wealth by degrees, and can scarcely be looked for at so early a period of 04 No. 19. I'ngf 49. ii 106 PAPERS RELATING TO BRITISH COLUMUIA. niuTi«n Columbia. lulviincement n» nrilinli Columbia lins ypt arrivpil at. PowiMy «omo nrranfjcmcnts maybe made with the liank of Uritish North Anifrica, which hu.s the powor ami intention nf carrying' on l)ankin^ hiiMiiu'ss in Vaiicoiivci'H l>laiul and Kiitinh Coinmbia. 4. 'I'hi' nL'w.s|)a|K'i,i ciichwd in ytmr I)i's|)aicli contained inti'llij^cncc of a highly inie. ri'itting nature, and I will thank you to send me more from time to time. I liave, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. No. 30. S' End. in No. SO. No. 20. Coi'Y of DESPATCH from tlie Dukk of Nkwcaste to Governor Douolas, CB. (No. 3.) Downing Street, January 7, 18Go. dIR, I TRANSMIT to you herewith the copy of a Letter which ha.s been addressed to this Department by ('aptain Clarke, 11. h., late Surveyor (ieiieral of the Colony of Victoria, accompanied by a pro|)oscd scheme for tiic ilisposal of the Crown lands in liritish Columbia. My attention is at present occupied in tiic consideration of the best means by which the coiuitry lands of the Colony can be made more readily available than is the case at present for occupation l)y agricultural settlers, and I shall be glad if in the mean- time you will give your consideration to the scheme suggested by Captain Clarke, and will furnish me wilii the opinion which your experience and local knowledge may lead you to form of its applicability to the circumstances of British Columbia. Governor Douglas CB. &c. &c. I have, &c. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. Enclosure in No. 10. My dkar Sill, A.aiy and Navy Club, Monday, 1 sK.ND you a report on the British Columbian Papers, and which I now return. 1 have written this report in the form of a proposed Order in Council, under the second section of the Act of 1858, providing for the government of British Columbia, explaining each section as proposed. I am aware that I have gone far beyond the intention with which these jiapers were sent me, but I found in reading them so many points suggesting themselves, as well as the dilliculty of explaining an isolated portion of a system, that I have been rather forced to write more than wius perhaps necessary. Kven as it is, I almost fear that I have failed to explain clearly a system wliicii, if it is adopted in British Columbia, will elfcctually secure its settlement without, on ti'e/one hand, playing too much into the iiands of iiic Americans, or on the other, checking immigration from any quarter. As I believe that Imt little time ought to he lost to give to British Columbia a clearly defined land system — wliatevcr system may be adopted— 1 have sent tiie report as first written. This, and as most of last week I was engaged in Colchestei', will I trust plead for me for the very imperfect shape I send this report. Believe me, &c. The Under Secretary of State. A. Clarke. Sub-enclosure. CHAPTER Sectiox . Alienation of Crown lands to be by sale at public auction as hereafter described. Skctiox . Excepting from above provision country lands once or oftener submitted for sale at auction, and not bought, which may be purchased by contracts witii Governors or ollicers named to receive purchase-money; also laiitls required for the purposes of Government, either general or municipal, or held under public trusts, where trustees are named or approved by executive Government, or incorporated in legislative acts ; also with respect to engagements made by the Crown to naval and military settlers. .Skctiox . Province to be divided into counties, hundreds, and parishes. ■ Skction . Lands to be distinguished into town and country lots. Section . Authority to Governor to convey. Section . No lands to be alienated or conveyed till surveyed and limits marked on public charts and ' boundaries, i:c. described in registers. Section . No grant to cover alienation of more than one square mile, or 640 acres, or no greater area to be offered at auction than said quantity in one lot. Section . Lowest upset price to be five shillings per acre. AI'ERS RKLATING TO HUITISII roI.UMniA. 107 SriTHiN . I'pNrf iirirc of town lotH to lie fixi'd liy (Jovrrnnr in Cnunril. jif, TKiN . 'lowii lotn to 111' ••old only lit iiiictiiMi. tiini'i h, to riiisi' upxrt (irici' to ii|>|iroxiiniiti> Miliif. jjKi rinN' • All liiiMlf (to«ii iiiHJ coiinfry ) jiiit up to aihtion at priftw roKpci lively vliitcd in m lii>iliili< ni'milo, will '•" 'Ifliif'"' f" ''<' |iurrliii»(Ml liy tin- liiiiilrr of tin- np-rl iniri', or tin- IiIkIu'hI liiildrr alinvi> jt^ iiriiviiii'il Ix' >'l>'>ll pay ilowii llirii and then' lln' wlioli' ninoiinl of piirrliaT iiioiiry, or a ili'|iiwit of ij,') iHT t'l'iit' oil till' aniiiiiiit of |>iiri'liaM' nioiii'y, tin' ri'inaindcr to lie paid uiiliin tin dajxYroin datr of oali'. Si.i rioN • I'lirrlia^cr to hi^mi nali' liook. Skition' . Slioiilil pun lia>«'r iii'jflcct to pay lialanri' of iniri'liiiHt' inoiicy witliiii llo days tin' ilcniiKit of -•"' P'T <'■"'• "'" '"■ f'lrfi'itrd, and tin- l;ini'. if rlaciti'il iiit <'i>uiitry land, lio dci'larcd open fur I'utari' purrluisc, i-itlii'r at aiirtion, or jih licrrafti'r liri'M liln'd, SirrioN' • Conntry laniU onri' otli-ri'd for Halo, and for uliirli no ollVr Iwih Im'cii niadi', or on wliirli ihi' il<'|ii>»it liaH Im'i'Ii forfi'iti'il, may, at discretion of (iovenmr inComicil, he aihcrlifcd an open for iwlpilion or imniiaHC hy private eontnict iit price'* allixed. jiK.iTioN . All appliciitions for land to he ininliaxed hy nelpction, or privnto contract) to be inuilo in writing, and piircliasc nioiic): deiioiiited. Ski'Tiov . Ah far an practicahle, all laiuln to he hoIiI in or near 8iti> of micli lanilH. Ski rto>* ■ All lands open for selection or iinreliiiHe hy private contrart hIioiiIiI, for twelve niontliH gflcr (late for first advertise nient, he Hiihject to selection only at the nearest (loM'nmiiMit olliie, or maKistrrial bench to site of siicli lands, and then snhseipieiitly only at the Chief C'ldwii Land Otlice. SKcnoN . All eonteinporancouH or conrtictiiiff applicatiii'm for same land to ho determined al auction. Shition . All laiulH to bo sold hy auction, or otherwise, to bo nilvcrtiiipd nt least 30 dnyn before time or (late of sale, Sk( Tiov . All liiiids Holi5\), res|)ecting oatiis. 'So. 9. Proclamation dated 2nd June IH5<), altering in some respects th'' Act for levying duties of Customs on imports into Mritish Columbia. No. 10. Proclamation dated 15th Jime 18.0!), imposing tonnage, ])iloUige, and harbour dues at the port of New Westminster. No. 11. Proclamation d.ited 25th June 1859, amending the preceding Proclamation. No. 12. Proclamation dated 10th August 1859, amending the law relating to tlie licences for selling spirits, &c., and for other purposes. No. IS. Proclamation dated 31st August 1859, entitled the Gold-fields Act. On the subject of the Proclamation for the naiuralization of alrons I shall address you in a separate Despatch. The remaining Proclamations have been submitted t()r the sanction of the Queen, and they have been laid before Parliament in compliance with the provisions of the Act 21 & 22 Vict. Cap. XCIX. I transmit herewith extract of a report by the Law Advisers of this De])artment, respecting the form of these Proclamations, and I shall be glad if you will cause the suggestions therein contained to be followed in the preparation of future enactments. I have, &c. Governor Douglas, C.B. (Signed) NEWCASTLE. &c. &c. BniTiga CllUMIlU. No. 2.t. I'age SI. No. 24.. Copy of DESPATCH from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Douglas, C.B. (No. 18.) Sir, Downing Street, April Ifi, 1S6(). 1 HAVE had under my consideration the Proclamation issued by you for Hritish Columbia, on the 15th of May last, for the naturalization of aliens, of which a copy was transmitted to me with your Despatch No. 218,* of the 13th of September. This Proclamation (which you appear to have framed alter the model of the law of Canada), provides that every alien who has resided in the Colony foi' three years may demand naturalization, on producing a declaration of his residence and cluuactcr from some British subject, on making himself a declaration of residence, and on taking the oath ol' allegiance. The latter declaration must be made, anil oatli ta'i ft lONDON : Printed by GeonoE E. Eybb and William Spottiswoode, Frintere to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. For H«r M^jetty's Stationery Office.