No. 51

Referring to my Despatch No 47 dated 30th July 1864 by this Mail I
have the honor to transmit copies of Reports from Mr Golledge, Acting
Gold Commissioner at Sooke River, (20 miles west of Victoria)
together with specimens which accompanied his last Report.

I have this day seen a very beautiful nugget, value $70, brought down
last night by the man who dug it up and whose truth may be relied
upon.

I yesterday sent up the Surveyor General to take such measures as may
be necessary toward reserving Crown Lands for a Townsite and other
public purposes, and I will immediately adopt such measures as may be
necessary to insure order.

A large influx of people may be expected from the American Continent,
but on this head I have no apprehensions, my experience assuring me
that they respect our Laws and are as manageable as Her Majesty's
subjects.

Victoria is being rapidly emptied of its population and a few days
more will leave those who must remain, without labourers or servants.

Several of the Police have already gone, and the remainder unless
bribed by higher pay will speedily follow.

The importance of these discoveries may be estimated from the fact
that the cost of provisions at Cariboo is from four hundred to six
hundred per cent higher than they will probably be at Sooke.