No. 62
22nd May 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to forward Copy of the latest report which has been received from the Kootenay Gold Mines. The financial Statements alluded to have not reached me.
2. Mr Young's report referstoManuscript image to a winter of unprecedented severity coming upon a Mining community but a few Months established on the Kootenay. While I regret the privations which have been suffered, I allow myself to think that the next winter will find the people better prepared in every way to endure its rigour, should it even, contrary to all suppositions, prove as severe as that from which we are just emerging. It is clear from all reports that Gold is plentiful on the KootenayandManuscript image and Columbia, and that the Country, unlike the Cariboo district, is admirably adapted for farming purposes.
3. You will be gratified to see how well conducted the Mining population continues to be.
4. Mr Young's report mentions anticipated arrivals of pack trains and goods from different places, but I am sorry to say that every one of these places is in the United States. This dependence of our new Gold fieldsuponManuscript image upon foreign markets is an unconvenience to the Government and a loss to British Merchants. I am happy to say, however, that I have now succeeded in opening the trail over the Cascade Mountains at Hope. You may judge of the nature of the Country when I say that, in this latter part of May, the road has, for many miles, still seven feet of snow on either side. By the end of July I expect to have the trailcompletedManuscript image completed through British Territory from the Fraser to the Kootenay.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
See my note about the property of the Dane. We might send a copy of the enclosure to the Land Bd for infn. Some of the infn may be useful to introduce into Land Bd reports or Colonization Circulars.
ABd 10 July
Mr Blackwood
Send the enclosure to the Land Board as suggested.
About the Native of Sonderburg, I think that we had better tell the Governor that if he will remit his property to the Crown Agents,stepsManuscript image steps will be taken by this Department to ascertain the most convenient manner of conveying the money to the family of the deceased at Sonderburg.
When the money comes, we can tell the Foreign Office for what place it is destined, and can ask them to inform us of the most convenient method of providing for it's payment. There may be a British Consul at or near the place.
TFE 11 July
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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W.C. Young to J.C. Haynes, J.P., Sooyoos Lake, 3 April 1865, reporting events in the Kootenay district, including notification of the death of a Danish miner.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Cardwell to Seymour, No. 40, 15 July 1865.