112 The Fraser River Mines.

The news from the upper country is not very favourable. Miners
are wandering, prospecting in every direction, but as yet they have
found no goldfields richer than those on the lower Frazer River, and
no gold-bearing quartz has been found.

Mr. Elwyn and Mr. Haynes, accompanied by Mr. Hicks, went on
the 21st Inst. to search for a silver mine said to exist some distance
up a creek near Emery’s Bar. They returned on the evening of the
22nd unsuccessful. They found it impossible to proceed on account
of the depth of the snow in the ravine, but they are determined to
try again.*

Out of one claim on Hill’s Bar they took one day 39 ounces of Gold
and I saw 16 ounces taken out of another claim after one day’s work.

I am satisfied that many who went to the upper Frazer will return
again and take up their old claims below, and I think that every allu-
vial flat on the river will be mined as soon as they can lead water upon
them.

The river has risen at Fort Yale five feet by a river metre which
I had erected.

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.

(Enclosure.)

Fort Yate,
April 23rd, 1859.

Sir,—Pursuant to your instructions, I on the 17th inst. left this
for the purpose of collecting sums due upon expired mining and
other licences. As I had been informed that Mr. Smith, J.P. at Fort
Hope, had orders to collect up to American Bar,’ I went no farther
than Puget Sound Bar,® situated on the right or western bank of the

(4) This alleged silver mine had been recorded by Hicks on October 3, 1858. See notes (13)
and (31) to his correspondence, ante, pp. 6 and 11.

(5) American Bar was situate about four miles above Hope on the right or western bank of
the Fraser.

(6) Puget Sound Bar was the next bar above American on the same side.