Gold Hill Daily News

LETTER FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA.
New Westminster, British Columbia, January 4, 1865.
PROGRESSION.
Editor News: After four years absence from this, the Capital of British Columbia, I, a few weeks since revisited it, and found it to be the same as of yore. Little or no improvement has been made, and certainly but few have been added to its population. Unlike Victoria, which has grown surprisingly, there seems to be no energy, no ambition among its people, who are mostly composed of Canadians (or, as they are facetiously styled here, North American Chinamen). When I was here before, the cause of its inaction was laid to the policy pursued by Governor Douglas, who they argued laid out their means and exerted his energies to build up Victoria at the expense of British Columbia. But no, he has been long since removed, and a new one appointed, and yet it is the same. Considering that since that period, they have issued and adopted a paper currency, which entirely has taken the place of gold; it is my impression that things are worse. The government of the Colony exert themselves considerably in grading and making roads, but they don't seem to excite the people to action. This city is located about 16 miles from the mouth of the Fraser, on high, wooded ground, and of course out of danger of overflows of the river. I should judge the white population to be less than 1,000—but I cannot attempt to compute the colored, who of course are of the Indian race. Chinamen are here too—simon-pure Johns—and I must say with regret, the whites must take their ideas of progression from them.
THE WEATHER.
At present the weather is pretty severe, heavy falls of snow having taken place, and the Fraser, about fifteen miles from here, being frozen over. Navigation has been suspended, and even the steamers from Victoria, which is some 70 miles distant, have ceased their semi-weekly trips, and now only make one. We expected the river here to be frozen, but a thaw has just set in, which most likely will disappoint us.
TELEGRAPH.
We are daily in expectation of having the telegraph extended here. Of course, you know, it is the line of the Russo-American Company, which is intended to pass through this Colony on to Behring Straits. But I can't see how this place will support it, and imagine that it must draw its sustenance from elsewhere.
NEW WESTMINSTER TO SAN FRANCISCO.
We are also going to have direct communication between here by steamers to San Francisco, instead of as now going to Victoria to meet the ocean steamers. A scheme for this object is now under consideration by the Governor and Council. I learn that a sum of money will be appropriated to subsidize them.
GAME.
Plenty of the finest deer, grouse, geese, ducks (without the green peas,) now abound in the market; fish also is plenty. In fact we have everything that nature sends, but nothing more, I may say.
HANGING BY LAW.
An Indian execution took place since my arrival, which did not cause any excitement—in fact, the culprit was the least concerned of any. He stated, I understand, that if he lived the small-pox would kill him, and it was far easier to die by the rope—so he preferred it—who wouldn't: He only murdered a white man, because, as he stated through his interpreter, the same disease was to kill him, too. Five were hung for the murder of white men one day last month at the mouth of Quesnel river, but they acted far different from the above, as they craved for mercy to the last.
PROSPECTING,
In the Government Gazette a notice is published offering £500 to any one who will discover any new leads of gold, coal, silver or quartz, in this Colony. No matter who he be, if he discovers any one of the minerals, he will get his £500. Where are your prospectors
NEWSPAPERS.
There are two papers published here—the British Columbian and the North Pacific Times, and at the camp, about a mile from here, where the Governor resides, is issued from the Government Printing Office, a weekly Government Gazette—the latter the best paying concern of the lot. The others are semi-weekly, and like every thing else in this now-progressive place, drag their existence along. Four dailies are now published in Victoria.
KOOTENAY.
The new mines in Kootenay are going to be the attraction this coming spring. Three exploring expeditions are now out in the government employ surveying for the best routes, and as soon as the best one is discovered, large numbers of men will be put on to make good and convenient modes of reaching the mines. It is expected that the town of Hope, situated on the Fraser, about fifty miles from here, will be starting point. On account of Cariboo having disappointed a great many the past year, there will be a very small number who will go there. Kootenay is the halcyon cry with all. It is considered to be about 400 miles from here,—of course, "distance lends enchantment to the view."
EXPRESS COMMUNICATION
Is poor here—aye, miserable poor—nothing like the admirable one of Wells, Fargo & Co. They charge for a single letter to Victoria, distance 70 miles or so, the sum of twenty-five cents,—carried by the mail steamer, I suppose, but I only suppose so, for two weeks ago I sent a letter there requesting an immediate answer, and by its date when I received it, it was only six days on the trip! To San Francisco they only charge fifty cents! In place of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s celebrated Pony Express, they have, I surmise, substituted snails. More progression! To your readers it may be of importance to know that Wells, Fargo & Co. have an extensive establishment in Victoria, where every thing is as neat and as well attended to as at Gold Hill, or any other place where they have a branch. Only for them, these British Colonies would suffer for news. Here, I presume, it would not pay for them to have an office.
BANKRUPT BANKER.
A Mr. McDonald, a Banker in Victoria, and also in Cariboo, who pretty well supplied this and the neighboring Colony with Bank notes, has turned bankrupt. He left Victoria by the Sierra Nevada, and is now in San Francisco. His assets will not bring thirty cents on the dollar. I learn that previous to his coming here, which was during the excitement in '58, he was well known in Sacramento as a liquor dealer. He was well known in Victoria, and lived proudly—but whether it is on that account his absence is so much regretted, I cannot say; but ill-natured people "insinuate that if he had taken his bank notes with him, they would not regret his departure so much.
THEATRICALS.
Mr. and Mrs. Kean created a great furore in this quarter of the world during their stay in Victoria. All of the "upper ten" rushed there to see them. They made money by their trip, and were much appreciated. Julia Dean Hayne is expected soon, and no doubt will draw well in Victoria.
As there is nothing more worthy of notice stirring at present, I will say
ADIEU.