Chartres Brew. 95

they can visit as they go along, and at Lytton they are to hire a canoe -

manner in which they could travel I decided on sending them by the
and return by the river to Fort Yale, visiting every bar and claim on
either bank. I furnished these gentlemen with letters to Captain
Travaillot, Assist. Crown Commissioner, who will of course afford
them his best advice and assistance.

As I stated I should do in my communication of the 19th Inst.,
I sent a warrant to Mr. Smith, J.P., authorizing him to collect mining
licence duties in the neighbourhood of Fort Hope. I beg leave to
submit for His Excellency’s information Mr. Smith’s reply.

This day is a very fine one; heavy rains during the last few days
have washed off a good deal of the snow, and I hope that now mining
operations will commence in full vigour. I have been informed on
reliable authority that there are at least thirty Indians washing out
gold with “cradles” between Fort Yale and Lytton and that they are
becoming most expert miners.

Since the up-river movement commenced about 300 boats have
passed Fort Yale; on an average each boat carried 5 white men beside
Indians, and I dare say a greater number have passed up-country by
trail than by boats.*°

The “ Way ” over the falls about 5 miles above Fort Yale, alluded
to in my letter of the 26th Ult. to the Lieut. Governor, is completed.
It is found a great convenience and already about 60 boats have passed
over by it. Travellers by boats are glad to take advantage of it, as a
portage which heretofore occupied a whole day is now done in an hour
or two. I believe I had no right to permit the “ Way” to be con-
structed and I am sorry I did so without authority. I was tempted
to do so, as I know that I should receive no reply to a communication
on the subject for at least a fortnight, and as the “ Way” can only be
used in low water I knew that every hour lost was of value.

I have recorded a water privilege for mining operations of 15
inches for one sluice about 20 miles above Fort Yale to Henry Dryfoot
and Henry C. Miller. I annex a copy of the record. I received a
fee at the time of registration of $5, which I placed in the public
chest.*”

I beg leave to request to be instructed if I am at liberty to receive
the rents on Ferries granted by Mr. Hicks, late Assist. Crown Com-

(66) See note (78) to Judge Begbie’s correspondence, ante, p. 51.

(67) This record was granted on March 19, 1859, giving the privilege of conveying water
about one mile to Chapman’s Bar (near the Suspension Bridge of later years) for mining purposes.
The tax was $5 per quarter.

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