110 The Fraser River Mines.

to Mr. Hicks dated the 5th of September, 1858, of which the following
is a copy :—

“Lastly, let the land opposite Fort Yale be divided immediately
into 20-acre lots for garden purposes, to be immediately afterwards
sold off on condition of immediate improvements.”

A paragraph in another letter from His Excellency to Mr. Hicks
dated the 4th of Nov., 1858, of which the following is a copy :—

“Contrary to our first intention, we have decided on reserving the
tableland on the opposite side of Fort Yale on account of its being
auriferous and therefore valuable as mineral land for the purpose of
raising a public revenue.”

And a sentence in a letter from His Excellency to Mr. Hicks dated
the 19th of October, 1858, of which the following is a copy :—

“T have seen Mr. Champlain, but have referred him to the settle-
ment made by Mr. Pemberton and yourself.”

Under all the circumstances it did not appear to me that Mr.
npraverorihGe Eee e Champlain’s title to the land was valid, and I
decision of this case—J.D. therefore wrote to him cautioning him against
holding or trespassing on the land or he would be prosecuted for the
offence.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) C. Brew,
Chief Inspector of Police,
Ass. Chief Gold Commissioner.

W. A. G. Young, Esq., Colonial Secretary.

Fort Yate, B.C.,
23rd April, 1859.

Si1r,—I have the honor to request to be informed whether or not
it is the determination of the Government to compel the removal of
the houses built in the streets of Fort Yale by the Ist of May next.

Persons occupying those houses are naturally anxious to know if
they will have to remove, as they wish to make the necessary prepara-
tions for shifting their stores and concerns.

People who hold town lots are most desirous to have those houses
removed and are unwilling to pay up on their lots until they learn
whether the houses are to be removed immediately or not, as the lots