No. 114

Just as I was congratulating myself on the improvement in the
affairs of British Columbia, I hear of the destruction by fire
of Barkerville, the largest of the three towns on Williams
Creek, Cariboo.

2. The fire broke out in the Middle of the day so no lives were
lost. But property valued at from one to two hundred thousand
pounds has been destroyed. The Banks of British Columbia and
North America have had everything burnt and the Hudson's Bay
Company's Shop has gone. These last were however prudent enough
to have the greater part of their supply of goods kept in a
cellar in the face of the hill behind the town and that has escaped.

3. Barkerville had risen by degrees from a mere mining camp to
a considerable town. But the old plan had been adhered to and houses
grew up on ground

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amply sufficient for tents. Crowded
together as they were in a narrow street it is not surprising
that a few hours of conflagration should have destroyed the
ambitious but frail wooden tenements.

4. I enclose the Magistrate's account of the fire and of the
losses alleged to have been sustained.

5. The good conduct of the people of British Columbia, of which
I have often boasted, failed them on this occasion and a large
amount of property was stolen. The Chinese were the principal
offenders. Miners proved not to be all above temptation, but I
have the authority of Chief Justice Begbie for saying that there
has not been a single charge brought against an Indian. This
seems strange and highly creditable to them.

6. The same energy which Cariboo has always shown has led to
the beginning of the erection of a new Barkerville. Before the
cinders of the late houses were cold new buildings were rising on
the former sites. So totally however has the burnt portion been
destroyed that the greater part of the Magistrate's time is
occupied in tracing with a Surveyor the space on which each
building stood before the conflagration. It is a matter of very
great satisfaction to me the having Mr Brew in charge of the
Cariboo district at this time.

7. The frosts have already set in. Prospecting is at an end
for this season, as all hands will be engaged in rebuilding
Barkerville. But in the midst of devastation, the Miners are
cheerful and the scene of the evening's recreations has been for
the present transferred to Richfield, a town about a mile off.

8. The Government Buildings are there, and in the destruction
of Barkerville, I have only specifically to indicate my regret
at the loss of the Public Library, the Miner's lounge and an
object of my constant solicitude.