No. 47

Impressed with the singular ignorance of the resources of the
interior of this Island, which prevailed on my assuming Office, I
felt the great necessity of some organized system of exploration.

In the then existing temper of the Legislative Assembly, and their
opinion recorded in Resolutions transmitted by my Predecessor that the
Crown Lands were "valueless," I was unwilling to apply to the
Legislature for funds to carry out my views.

In this juncture I found some public spirited Gentlemen connected
with the trade and commerce of the Colony willing to aid me in this
matter on my undertaking to contribute two dollars from Crown
Revenue, for every one which was raised by public subscription.

A Committee was formed, subscriptions raised, and a party organized
and despatched on the 8th June last.

It is not my intention in this hastily written Despatch to go into
details. I may, however, state generally that although a portion
only of the south Eastern part of the Island has been examined, the
results have been very satisfactory, and a considerable quantity of
good agricultural land discovered abounding with game and many
fur-bearing animals. I will at a later period furnish you with a
detailed account of the proceedings of the exploring party.

My object in at present addressing you is to give the earliest
information of alleged gold discoveries
in the Sooke River District about 20 miles to the Westward of
Victoria, and with this view I enclose a copy of the Report of the
leader of the exploring party, Mr Robert Brown, a gentleman in whose
intelligence and veracity I have every reliance.

A considerable number of people have already left Victoria for the
Sooke District. I have sent an Acting Gold Commissioner, and issued
such Rules and Regulations as are necessary for the present to insure
order and protect the public interests.

The District where these alleged discoveries have been made is
unsurveyed and unoccupied, and I have therefore marked it on the
Maps, and notified it as a Crown Reserve to be dealt with as may be
hereafter found expedient.

I may observe that a yield of one quarter of that obtained at Cariboo
would be more profitable to the miners at Sooke, owing to its
proximity to this City, the cheapness of provisions as compared with
the prices at other diggings and the easy access by land and by
water.

I will keep you informed of any further discoveries which may be
made.