No. 76

The intelligence I had the honor to communicate to your
Grace in my Despatch No 70, of the 3rd of Instant,
respecting the discovery

of rich and paying Gold Fields at
Rock Creek and in the Shimilkomeen Country, have been
confirmed by the arrival of different persons with samples
which they themselves have dug in those parts.

The gold is nuggety and of fine quality, being readily
separated from the soil without the use of quicksilver, and
is found away from the water-courses as well as in the river

beds, and the miners are said to be realizing from six to
Fifty dollars a day to the man.

2. One instance of remarkable success is mentioned in
the report of Mr O'Reilly, the Gold Commissioner at
Fort Hope, it being of two miners who realized in six weeks, by
mining, the sum of Thirteen Hundred dollars, and their
confidence in the productiveness of the

country was so great
that they soon after invested the whole sum in the purchase
of another claim.

3. In consequence of those reports there has been a
great rush of people to the new diggings, and all articles
of consumption are scarce and selling there at a high price.

4. The same report mentions the very important

discovery
of a Silver lead at Union Bar near Fort Hope.

5. The specimens of the ore sent here appear rich and
valuable, but it is impossible to predict without a severer
test the actual value of the discovery, and whether the lead
will be rich enough to pay the working expenses or not.

6. The discoverers, and upwards of Seventy other persons
who have

recorded claims on the lead appear however to be much
elated, and fully satisfied of its value, and they are said
to be importing blasting tools, and materials in large
quantities, with the intention of turning the discovery to
immediate account.

7. Several tons of the ore have already been sent to New Westminster for assay, and we will no doubt

receive further
reports of its value in the course of a few days.

8. Specimens of silver ore have also been found at the
mouth of Harrison's River. One of these yielded on assay, at the rate of Twenty pounds worth of silver to the ton of ore.

9. I propose to despatch a party to investigate the
mineral resources of that part of the country, in hopes

of
making some valuable discovery which may attract, and afford
employment to a population, as the whole country about Harrison Lake is otherwise valueless, being mountainous, rocky, and utterly unfit for tillage.

10. The tidings from Yale, Cayoosh, and Lytton are generally
satisfactory.

11. The new roads are progressing apace, and the cost of
transport

is being gradually reduced with the increasing
facilities of communication.

12. The number of miners collected about Alexandria and
Quesnel River rendered it necessary for the maintenance of peace
and order to form a police station at the former place, and I
have to announce to your Grace that I have lately appointed Mr
Philip H. Nind, as Magistrate

and Assistant Gold Commissioner
for that District.

There being nothing further of an unusual nature to communicate.