The Express.
London, England, 1858-10-12 00:00:00

THE FRASER RIVER GOLD DIGGINGS.

TO THE EDTTOIL Or TEN HICPILIES.

VICTORIA, VI

is 'Ammo, Ara. 28.

SlR,—Doubtless long ere you receive this you will
have heard of the excitement which has brim caused
by the Fraser River gold mines. These mines were
rumoured to exist two years ago, it having leaked oat
through some of the Hudson's Bay Company's subordi-
nates that they were in the habit of trading gold at Fort
Langley, Freese River, from Indians who oame from the in-
terior, and In January of the present year several parties
from Washington Territory and this Island proceeded up
Fraser River in canoes, wader the guidance of an old
employe of the Hudson's Bay Company. They prospected
as they went, and at Fort Hope, about 96 miles from
the mouth of the river, they found the colour of gold, also
at Fort Yale, about 16 miles above Fort Hope ; and above
this point, on a bar, since named Hill's Bar, gold was found
in large quantities. These men worked as long as provi-
sions lasted, and then came down for fresh provisions, buy-
ing with gold dust. This caused • larger rush of people
week after week, until the limited population of Washington
Territory had all left for Fraser River. The peaceful little
community of Vancouver's Island was distracted with
doubts, not wishing to leave their snug little farms and bows-
steeds on an uncertainty ; but gold dust was very tempt-
ing, However, the mill-owners on the American side of the
Straits of Juan de Face, Washington Territory, were obliged
to send to San Francisco fer hands, and gradually the news
got abroad amongst the Californians, and hundreds came by
the first steamer in March, 1863. They immediately repaired
to the reported gold fields, found the auriferous metal in
good paying quantities, and sent to their friends reports more
strong than their limited experience would warrant them in I
doing. The cm:sequels:a war that in lees than a fortnight
about twenty steam-boats, large and small, were on their
way to Victoria, and about sixty sail of sailing vessels with
merchandise. The floe steam-boat brought about 460, most
of them intending to speculate in land about the vicinity of
Victoria. There probably might have been thirty houses and
the trading post of the Hudson's Bey Company at Victoria',
at this time ; the old residents' town lots from the Colonial-
office selling at 60 dollars 130 ft by 120 ft : these were all
bought up in a week, an area of about 2} miles square. One
of the old settlers, who occupied a small cottage near
the water, was offered 8,000 dollars fur his lot, and could
take his house away if he chose. The man was frightened ;
told his neighbours ; but no one would believe It. Were the
Californian mad ? The abort time be spent in telling his
wife and neighbours enbanoed the value of his property
1.600 dollars ; before nightfall of that day he had 4,600
dollars in his pocket, and the speculator bad the town lot.'
Competition now oommeoced among the Californians to an
extent of perfect madness ; for front lots and water frontages
prices ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 dollars, 60 het by 120
fact : corner shops and good business locations renting at a
frightful rate; lumber (planks) rising from 18 dollars per
thousand to 110 dollars. Steamer cams after steamer, bring- I
ins 600, 700, and up to 2.000 passengers each, One large
ocean steamer brought 2,600 people—men, women, and
&lidera. In the abort space of a month Victoria had •
population of 13,000, and • town on the American side
6,000. Houses were put up as If by =aerie, and for an area
of two miles the ground was white with calico tents. Victoria
is still • city of tante.
The Fraser, owing to the melting of the snow from the
Rocky Mountains, commence,' rising in April, and often in
June °verniers its beaks; in August and September it falls
again ; consequently during the greatest influx of people
I the river could not be worked. Depression of spurts followed
this excitement; they could not realise the fortunes they
anticipated making in a month. Their business would not
support the enormous rents they bad voluntarily stipulated
to give for six months ; consequently a reaction has taken
place, and at least one-third bare returned to California (end
a good job too) ruined and penniless; the market is over-
stocked with merchandise, selling at auction cheaper this it
could be bought for in San Francisco. There are now
about seven thousand men on Freer River, many
of them earning from 6 to 40 dollars per day, but the
balk are not doing much as yet, the river still being
high; but there is not a shadow of • doubt that gold is plen-
tiful above the canons, where the miners cannot reach until
tie water subsides. The government is cutting a tract over-
land, which will facilitate operations ; they have 600 TIM
employed. Our present Governor is very popular, and, con-
sidering the great difficulties he has to contend with, if only
in controlling such a mobocracy as San Francisco poured
forth, has put • laurel on his brow.-1 am, Oro,

W. B. B.

THE EURNDM OF THE AUSTRIA.

(rsom oun owrt

DARTMOUTH, MoXDLY.

The screw steam-skip Ireland, Lieutenant Diindas,
LN., Commander, from Hong Hong, Singapore, Maarititui.
the Cape, and Fatal, arrived here this day, and having
landed passengers, pursued hdr voyage to London with her
cargo of tea.
At Fayal thn Ireland took on board L. F. Hahn, first
&Boer ; 13. H. Hartmann, attoond ditto; J. C. Beinitt, third

ditto, with six seamen and an sasistant-angiseer of the
late unfortunate atcstri-phip Austria, who were landed
at Fayel by the Frenci barque Manrice. Their accounts of
the burning of the ship ogres sabots:dirtily with those which
were communicated to the New Tort press. The sur-
vivors assert, that at tbe time of the disaster, there were
three vessels in eight, bat that not one of them attempted to
render any assistance.