ASS ic AR UC
Chartres Brew. 87

satellites, have taken their departure with him; it is said that none of
the party will return.™*

There is a deep snow still lying here; consequently regular mining
operations have not recommenced. Two or three times symptoms of
a thaw made me determine on an expedition down the river to collect
gold licence duties, but frost and snow set in again and prevented me
from carrying my intentions into execution.

There would be no use in attempting to collect mining licence duty
till the miners begin to work. It would be almost impracticable to
discover by whom cash “ diggings ” was claimed unless the owner was
found upon it, and unless the miners happen to be found at work they
will find some excuse to evade payment of the tax.

Clusters of boats crowded with people are passing up the river
every day. It is surmised that there will be an immense population in
the upper country this season.*®

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

Lieut. Governor Moody, Victoria, VI.

Fort YALE, B.C.,
8th March, 1859.

Sir,—I have the honor to submit to your Excellency a communi-
cation which I received late last evening from Captain Travaillot,
Assist. Crown Commissioner at Lytton. I wrote Captain Travaillot
requesting that he would transmit through me all his communications
relating to goldfields and mining operations, but he has introduced into
his letter matter unconnected with the Gold Department. I shall there-
fore write to him again desiring that in his official letters to me in
future he shall confine himself to matters relating to the Departments
with which I am concerned, and suggesting that on all other subjects
he should address himself to your Excellency direct.

(54) MeGowan passed through Victoria about the middle of March, showing with pride some
$4,700 in gold-dust, which he declared was ‘‘ pretty good for an old man of fifty.’’

(55) See note (78) to the correspondence of Judge Begbie, ante, p. 51. The surmise did
not come true. The miners of the ‘‘ upper country ’’ were obtained by the depletion of other
mining districts of the colony and not by immigration.