No. 51
               
            
            
            
            
               Referring to my Despatch N
o 47 dated 
30th July 1864 by this Mail I
               have the honor to transmit copies of Reports from 
Mr Golledge, Acting
               Gold Commissioner at 
Sooke River, (20 miles west of 
Victoria)
               together with specimens which accompanied his last Report.
               
               I have this day seen a very
beautiful
 beautiful nugget, value $70, brought down
               last night by the man who dug it up and whose truth may be relied
               upon.
               
               I yesterday sent up the Surveyor General to take such measures as may
               be necessary toward reserving Crown Lands for a Townsite and other
               public purposes, and I will immediately adopt such measures as may be
               necessary to insure order.
               
            
            
               A large influx of people may be expected from the American Continent,
               but on this head I have no
apprehensions
 apprehensions, my experience assuring me
               that they respect our Laws and are as manageable as Her Majesty's
               subjects.
               
               Victoria is being rapidly emptied of its population and a few days
               more will leave those who must remain, without labourers or servants.
               
 
            
            
               Several of the Police have already gone, and the remainder unless
               bribed by higher pay will speedily follow.
               
            
            
               The importance of these discoveries may be estimated from the fact
that
               that the cost of provisions at 
Cariboo is from four hundred to six
               hundred per cent higher than they will probably be at 
Sooke.
               
               I have the honor to be,
               Sir,
               Your very obedient Servant
               
A.E. Kennedy
               Governor
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
                
                  
                  
                  
                  
                     Copy to Land Board for infn.
                     
                  
                  
                     I presume that this 
desph and 8755 
shd be Acknowledged with the
                     expression of 
Mr Cardwell's hope that the intelligence they convey
                     may conduce to the development & prosperity of the Colony.
                     
                     I think that we had better not shackle the 
Govt with our suggestions
                     as to the drawing up of regulations for mining.  He has plenty of
                     materials at home in the shape of Laws & regulations made to suit
                     
British Columbia, & has only to refer to them as guides, if he
                     requires it.  In 
1852, when gold was supposed to exist in 
Queen
                        Charlotte Isld, a 
desph was written to 
Govr Douglas telling him
                     generally how to proceed in gold matters; but since that period
                     legislation in 
B. Columbia has taken place, which will be more modern
                     & more useful to 
Govr Kennedy now.
                     
 
            
            
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
                
                  
                  
                     Copy, 
Richard Golledge, Acting Gold Commissioner, to Acting Colonial
                     Secretary, 
31 July 1864, reporting on his proceedings at 
Sooke.
                     
 
                  
                  
                     Newspaper clippings, "Good News from 
Sooke," "The 
Sooke
                     Diggings," "The 
Sooke Gold Commissioner's Official Report," etc.,
                     
The British Colonist, 
1 and 
4 August 1864, and
                     
The Daily Chronicle, 
4 August 1864.