No. 79

I have lately received intelligence from Mr Assistant
Commissioner Travaillot dated "Lytton" 19th December 1858,
by which it appears that the miners in that district had
generally suspended work in consequence of the coldness of the
weather, for the 20 days preceeding the date of his letter.

2. The rapid transitions in the temperature during that
time were remarkable. On the 10th of December the
Thermometer fell to Zero Faht; a change occurred on the
evening of the 13th, when the Mercury rose to 48o and
up to the 19th it was ranging from 46o to 52o—and
not over half an inch of snow had fallen at "Lytton", or in
the neighbouring districts South of Fraser's river previously
to the 19th of December.

3. Fraser's river has set fast with ice at several points,

but not continuously at and near "Lytton," and pack horses had
crossed in safety with their loads, from side to side, upon the
ice. But that appears to have been rather a consequence of drift
ice from the upper part of the river accumulating at those points
than from the degree of cold about "Lytton," the climate of
which is pleasant and temperate, the weather being generally clear
and dry, in so remarkable a degree, that from the 24th of
August last,

*

there had not been, in all, more than twelve hours
rain, or snow up to the date of Mr Travaillot's letter, (19th
December.)

4. The few miners remaining in the upper country were well
supplied with food by the Harrison's River Road; and since my
last report, no difficulties whatever had occurred, Either with
the white or indian population.

5. Reports Continue to arrive respecting the rich deposits
of Gold, on and about Bridge river: a lump of pure Gold weighing
One and a half ounces was lately found in the deposits of that
stream, and the Gold generally is coarse and lumpy, not requiring
Quicksilver for its separation from the soil.

6. It is believed that men are able to make there, from
five to six dollars a day with the cradle, and that they will
clear much larger sums by means of sluices: there will therefore,
no doubt be a great rush of people, to that part of the country
in the Spring.

7. I have lately received a sample of Gold found at "Stonia",
a point on Fraser's River five miles beyond the Hudson's Bay
Establishment of Alexandria, about 400 miles distant
from the Sea Coast. And it is further supposed, on very probable
grounds that the whole course of the River, to its sources in the
Rocky Mountains, contains deposits of Gold. This idea, applied to
the tributaries of Fraser's River, as well as to the main stream,
opens a dazzling prospect to the miner, of the most Extensive
Gold region in the world, and will soon fill the country with
people, when it is made accessible by a system of passable roads.

8. I herewith do myself the honor of forwarding that specimen
of Gold, together with specimens procured from Bridge River,
Thompson's River, Harrison's River, and other parts of the country
which have been partially explored.