Separate

In continuation of my last report marked Separate and
dated New Westminster 23rd May, I have to communicate for
Your Grace's information, that the 24th of May was spent
in making a tour, in one of the River Steamers, to Pitt Lake,
distant about 40 miles from New Westminster, accompanied by
the Colonel's

command, the civil and military Colonial Officers,
the local Magistrates, and Lord Bishop of British Columbia,
his chaplain, and many of the citizens of New Westminster,
who were invited to celebrate with me the auspicious natal
day of our most Gracious Queen, amidst the wild romantic
scenery of that mountain Lake, and never I believe has any
part of Her Majesty's dominions resounded to more hearty
acclamations of loyalty and attachment, than were heard

on
that occasion.

2. The other Towns in British Columbia vied in loyal
demonstrations with the inhabitants of New Westminster, a
fact which I record with pleasure as a proof of the growing
attachment of the alien population of the Colony to our
Sovereign, and to the institutions of our Country.

3. On the 25th May, I proceeded from New Westminster,
with my party in one of the revenue boats, towards Derby.
In our progress up the Fraser we passed a number of tributary
streams flowing into it from the North. The "Pitt" is the
most considerable of these tributaries, being navigable for
vessels of three or four

hundred tons to its source in Pitt
Lake, a distance of 35 miles including the Lake, beyond which
it is acceptable for Indian canoes a few miles further, but
not for any larger craft.

4. The banks of Pitt River are exceedingly beautiful;
extensive meadows sweep gracefully from the very edge of the
river towards the distant line of forest and mountain. The
rich alluvial soil produces a thick growth of grass interspersed
with the Michaelmas daisy, the wild rose, and scattered groups
of willows. This fine District contains an area of 20,000 acres
of good arable land, requiring no clearing from

timber, and
ready for the immediate operations of the plough. Many parts
of it are however exposed to over-flow, through the periodical
mundations of the Fraser which commence about the first week
in June, and generally subside before the middle of July.
Owing to this circumstance the Pitt River meadows are not
adapted for raising wheat and other cereals which require the
entire season to mature, but may be turned to good account in
growing hay and every kind of root crop, and may also be used
extensively for pasturing cattle, and for the purposes of the dairy.

5. The Brunette, Coquitlum,

and "Whytus," the latter
opposite the site of Derby, are streams accessible by boat or
canoe for some distance from their debouch into Frasers River,
their importance to the District, as an easy, and inexpensive
means of communication, is very great, seeing that they form
a series of natural canals, intersecting the country, in all
directions, and admirably adapted for the transport of goods
and produce, to and from the navigable waters of the Fraser.

6. The banks of Frasers River are almost everywhere
covered with woods. Varieties of Pine and Firs of prodigious
size, and large poplar trees, predominate.

The vine and soft
maple, the wild apple tree [dogwood], the white and black thorn,
and deciduous bushes in great variety, form the massive undergrowth.
The vegetation is luxurient almost beyond conception, and
at this season of the year, presents a peculiarly beautiful
appearance. The eye never tires of ranging over the varied
shades of the fresh, green foliage, mingling with the clustering
white flowers of the wild apple tree now in full blossom, and
filling the air with delicious fragrance. As our boat gliding
swiftly over the surface of the smooth waters occasionally
swept beneath the overhanging boughs which forms a canopy of
leaves, impervious to the suns scorching rays, the

effect
was enchanting, yet amidst all this wealth and luxuriance
of nature, I could not repress the wish that those gorgeous
forests might soon be swept away by the efforts of human
industry, and give place to cultivated fields and the other
accessories of civilization. This however will be a work
of time though there is no doubt that the facilities and
inducements now held out to settlers in this Colony by the
pre-emptive law and other enactments, might enable thousands
of the destitute poor of Britain, by a few years of steady
industry, to secure for themselves, happy homes and a
comfortable independence for life.

7. Leaving the boat at Derby we travelled 2 miles by the
bridle path which skirts the Fraser to Langley. In my despatch
No 224 of the 18th October last I communicated to your
Grace the intention I then entertained, of opening up leading
roads in the Districts bordering on Frasers River from Derby
to Hope to connect those places, and for the relief of
settlers exploring the country; as they cannot otherwise
make their way through the woods which are blocked up in
every direction, by thick brush and immense quantities of fallen timber.

8. A portion of that road from Langley to Smess [Sumass],
which

completes the line of communication between Derby and Hope,
having been lately finished, I proceeded on horseback from
Langley with the intention of riding the whole way to Hope;
that intention could not however be fully carried into effect
as Frasers River had overflowed its banks, and inundated the
low plains through which the road has been injudiciously led.
After a ride of 13 miles our progress was arrested by a flooded
plain, impassable in its present state for horses, and we were
therefore compelled to seek the River and to proceed by canoe.

9. The tract through which we rode is well adapted for

settlement the soil being a deep rich loam, and the woods
which once evidently covered the whole face of the country,
having been in parts so completely destroyed by fire as to
leave large patches of ground almost clear of timber. The
tract alluded to and that extending to Smess River contains
about 150,000 acres of land, easily cleared and generally
well adapted for tillage, its advantageous position on the
banks of a navigable river, further recommend it as an eligible
place of settlement.

10. Captain Parsons with a party of Royal Engineers is now
engaged in a reconnaissance of

the country on the Sumess and
Chilwayhook Rivers. I will therefore defer the notice of that
district until I receive that Officer's report on its capabilities.

I will now close this communication, as a steamer is in
sight, and I will proceed by her from this point towards
"Douglas" or "Hope" with the intention of continuing this sketch.