Richard Hicks. 5

claims do not pay over two dollars per day to the man. The taxation
of claims in Australia was compelled to be given up in consequence of
the miners not being able to pay it; and should Your Excellency adopt
this course I now propose, I assure you you will stand higher still in the
estimation of all classes. I most earnestly entreat Your Excellency to
take this course and that you will be pleased to issue your immediate
Proclamation to that effect; all classes will be then satisfied, the Coun-
try will be benefitted, and the revenue increased very materially.

I beg to assure Your Excellency that my motives for introducing
these suggestions emanate from a desire to see this new Colony prosper
and its people happy, and, Sir, you will be honoured, adored, and
almost worshipped by the people.

I attended a deputation of respectable miners on Thursday and
heard their remarks with regard to the mines generally, and they con-
sider the tax oppressive. I did not, however, give them any encourage-
ment that you would alter the tax; I only promised them to write Your
Excellency on the subject. Waiting your reply.

Believe me, Your Excellency’s
Obt hble servt,
Ricuarp Hicks.
Fort Yale District. walls 2

To His Excellency Governor Douglas.
May IT PLEASE Your EXCELLENCY:

I take leave to present you with a report of the prospect of the
mines in my district, and in doing so have much pleasure in observing
that everything is quiet, and very extensive preparations are being made
for mining in the Spring.

I forward Your Excellency a list of water privileges that are
granted to parties for mining purposes. There are several large water
Companies who are making watercourses upon different plots or flats
on Fraser River, their object being to erect Flumes in some places that
will supply more than one thousand claims; it is by such means and
enterprise that the Country will be prospected.

I also forward you a diagram of “ Prince Albert” flats.1° The
most extensive preparations are being made for opening these mines,
and upwards of four thousand men can work on this flat when the
water comes in the claims. I have measured off myself, allowing to
each miner twenty-five feet frontage and five hundred feet in depth,"

(10) Prince Albert Flat, about a mile above Emory’s Bar and three miles below Yale.

(11) Presumably Mr. Hicks placed this limit of depth of the claims*on dry diggings under
the discretionary powers given in his instructions. See these in Papers relating to British Colum-
bia, Part L., p. 32.