No. 136

Since the last report, I had the honor to make on the state
of the country; contained in my Despatch of the 25th of March
No 123, I have received various communications from British Columbia,
the substance of which I will proceed to impart for 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 Fort Yale, 2nd of April. That officer has not been
successful in collecting the Miners License Fee. The following
is an extract from his letter on that subject.

During 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 extracted 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 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 30th 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 ground to admit of sluicing
and except at one place where there was a hand Machine for
lifting water all the Miners were very idle.

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.

6. The migration of Miners to the upper Districts of Fraser's
River, continues unabated.

Three hundred Boats carrying on an average 5 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 mens 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 600 ounces of Gold dust, which they had
washed out during the winter at Boston Bar, 40 miles 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" 16th March. The
country was perfectly quiet and the Commissioner was engaged in
erecting a small building to serve as Government House, at a cost
of 2100 dollars, one thousand 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.

10. The numbers of the Victoria Gazette herewith forwarded

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will give some additional intelligence which may be interesting.