No. 69, Miscellaneous

I have the honor to inform you that I have within a few days visited
the Sooke District where gold has been recently discovered.

Between 300 and 400 men have taken out licences and a much larger
number are at work in various ways. The men are at present generally
confining themselves to working on the bed of the river and I saw
them taking out from three to thirty dollars worth of gold per day
each without other appliances than a pick and shovel. I have every
hope from the formation of the country that gold will be found over a
large extent of it. The miners are content with their present gains
and future prospects.

I have had trails cut from Sooke Harbour to the Mines, and connecting
the latter with Victoria, 25 miles. Pack horses are carrying up
provisions and supplies of all kinds at prices but little in advance
of those prevailing at Victoria. The discovery has already given a
great impetus to trade.

I enclose a number of photographic views which convey a very good
idea of the character of the country where the gold is found.