98 Museum AND Art NoTES

Mr. Reid’s reputation as an historian has been greatly enhanced in recent years
by his scholarly contributions to publications of the Provincial Archives Department
and by his historical articles in various newspapers and journals. He is a fluent and
impressive speaker, and was listened to with the greatest respect by the crowd. J. P.
Hampton Bole, Grand Factor, Native Sons of British Columbia, spoke in his capacity
as head of the Order, mentioning that it was his aim to establish a branch somewhere
in Cariboo.

Greeted with tremendous applause as he arose to speak, Mr. Harry Jones, unques-
tionably the grand old man of Cariboo, broke in with a new note into the proceedings.
He had grave doubts as to the correctness of the inscription on the monument, and
also doubted whether the monument itself marked the exact terminating point of the
old waggon road. However, he very good naturedly admitted that a very fine thing
had been accomplished in erecting the Cairn commemorating not only the meritorious
services of the builders of the road, but also the trials and tribulations of the miners,
many of whom slept their last sleep in the little cemetery on the hill around the corner.
He paid a glowing tribute to the memory of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, the stern
judge, who unflinchingly administered justice in the stirring gold rush days. Mr.
Jones warmly defended Begbie against the attacks that are now and again made on
his memory. So far from Begbie being harsh, imperious and unfair, he was abso-
lutely impartial and just. Mr. Jones proceeded in reminiscent vein to tell yarns of
Begbie and his court, after which he performed the unveiling ceremony amidst
tremendous enthusiasm, and Chairman Avison read the inscription, which is as
follows:

HISTORIC SITES MONUMENTS
BOARD, CANADA

Caripoo GoLp FIELDS

BARKERVILLE

THE CENTRE OF THE OLD CARIBOO,
WHOSE GOLDFIELDS, DISCOVERED IN
1861, HAVE ADDED OVER FORTY
MILLIONS TO THE WEALTH OF
THE WORLD.

HERE WAS THE TERMINUS OF
THE GREAT WAGON ROAD FROM
YALE, COMPLETED IN 1865.

THE STORY OF THE CARIBOO
GOLD MINES AND THE CARIBOO
ROAD IS THE EPIC OF BRITISH
COLU MBIA,

The above is the inscription on the Cairn lately unveiled at Barkerville
by His Honor Judge F. W. Howay.