No. 167

Since my last Report, a number of miners originally from
California, have returned to Victoria, from the Upper Fraser
River. Many of these men have amassed large sums in Gold, the
majority of them have not however been so fortunate.

2. They assign various reasons for leaving the country,
some the high price of provisions, others, a desire to see their
friends and to spend a few months comfortably in California;
others the irregularity and shallowness of the diggings in the
Upper Fraser District, all however admit that any industrious
man can at any time make from Four to Five Dollars a day, but
owing to the high price of provisions, that sum will scarcely
maintain the miner in that part of the Country.

3. The cost of Transport from Victoria to Lytton is the real
cause of the high price of provisions.

4. The river steamers however have lately reduced their fares
and now make a reasonable charge for freight, probably not more
than is remunerative: The great impediment to the development of
the interior resources of the Country now arises from the want of
roads. British Columbia can never become great or prosperous
without them, and we propose devoting all our means and energies
in improving the Harrison River Road into a good waggon Road.

5. A Body of Royal Engineers and Royal Marines numbering
about one hundred men augmented by 30 civilian labourers will be
detached for that service, as soon as Lieutenant Palmer who is
now employed in surveying the road has completed his report.
*

6. The successful completion of this great enterprise will
open a safe, easy, and comparatively inexpensive route into the
interior of British Columbia and give facilities at present unknown
to the miner and merchant, for the development of its mineral
resources.

7. The people at Port Douglas have expressed their willingness
to aid either by their personal labour or by pecuniary contributions
in the important work, as however none of them are wealthy, their
contributions will not be great but their zeal for the progress
and prosperity of the country is encouraging to us and very
honorable to themselves.

8. Another road is now being opened from Ft Hope to Lytton
on the left bank of the River; It follows the Valley of the
Quiquinalla and from thence strikes Anderson River which it keeps
as far as Qua-yome from whence there is a good road to Lytton.
This route was discovered and explored by an inhabitant of Ft
Hope and the people with great spirit immediately raised the sum
of Two Thousand Dollars ($2000)
among themselves for the purpose of opening
a horse-path, which is made nearly half the distance to Qua-yome:
Lieutenant Lempriere and two men of the Royal Engineers who were
lately sent by Colonel Moody to examine that line of road will
report upon it hereafter, and we propose giving further assistance
if requisite, to promote so useful a work.

9. Our latest advices from Ft Yale report that a number of
miners had arrived at that place from the upper country with
unfavorable reports of the Gold districts: on the other hand the
Commissioner at Lytton reports that the persons who have left that
part of the country, are a class that can well be spared, being
principally gamblers and idlers, who will not steadily follow any
avocation. The feeling against the mining License fee is very
general among the Miners and the tax is almost unproductive of revenue.
**

10. We are now engaged in remodelling the Mining Laws of
British Columbia so as to approximate them as nearly as
circumstances will permit to the Mining Laws of Australia.

11. We have issued the New Customs Act and the Alien Act
which I will shortly forward to you. A very interesting Report
from Mr Begbie, Judge in British Columbia is herewith forwarded
for your information.