Port Phillip & Colonial Gold Ming Co
35 Bucklersbury, Cheapside E.C.
20 March 1862
I am Chairman of the Port Phillip & Colonial Gold Mining
Company, established under Royal Charter, & now working in the
Colony of
Victoria.
This Company is restricted by its Charter to the Australian
Colonies, but some of its members are desirous of examining the
question of Mining, on a systematic scale in the Colony of
British Columbia.
For this purpose, they contemplate sending out a competent
person to examine into the exact state of affairs, before
incurring the expense of forming an establishment.
But it is essential for us to know the conditions on which
Leases of Mineral Ground will be granted in the Colony.
May I therefore take the liberty to ask the favor of your
Grace, to be informed on this point.
I should hardly have ventured
to take this liberty, but that
I apprehend that it may be considered desirable, on public grounds,
to encourage the formation of establishments which may carry on
the business of mining in the regular manner in which it is conducted
in this country.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Acquaint the writer that the III
d series of Papers relating to
B. Columbia which have been laid before Parl
t* contains
all the inform
n he requires and that it is procurable at the Queen's Printers—Mess
rs Eyre & Spottiswode.
Yes. (It would be rather desirable that the L & E.C.
shd
be kept up with inf
n of this
kind—and act as referees).
*Add—"with one which is about to appear."
Other documents included in the file
Draft,
Fortescue to
Powles,
28 March 1862, advising that a series of papers had been laid before parliament which contained
all the
information requested, and providing the address where the papers might be obtained.