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.