, 1858-08-13

Us by the last mail from the north, we are
indebted to Mr.. w. T. BARRY-for nine
years resident of California, and late Of
Bucks Ranch" Plumas county-an in
telligOnt and practical miner, and apparent
ly reliable gentleman, just from Victoria,
for the following items Of news from that
quarter
Mr.. BARRY left Victoria on Friday Of
last week, latter quito satisfactory sojourn
at that place., at which time there were
about 5000 unemployed adventurers there
1900 at least, Of whom, he would Judge,
we're " fat broke without a dollar
During oil his experience in the mines Of
California, he had never seen such apparent
destitution, or so fair prospect for future
intense suffering and want. Aside from
those that are quartered in houses, in the
town, there was at least square mile Of
tents erected in the vicinity. The H. B.
Co.'s authorities are perfectly deranged at
the present state, and future prospect Of
affairs.
The steamer Pacific arrived at Victoria
on the 9th, with I75 tons of freight, and
about $50 passengers, and returned to
San Francisco with over 1000. The bark
Lire Yankee, which was to have sailed on
the 10th, inst, would take back about 300.
When Mr. B. left, there were some 80 ves-
sells in the harbor, and from one to three
arrivals frOm San Francisco daily. The
per centage in the departures over the ar
rivals Of passengers is about three to one.
But few are now coming TO Victoria, and
all are leaving, who are not engaged in
business or in speculations, who have the
means to do so. Real estate had went
down about 100 per cent. within the past
few weeks. A man, standing in front Of
the gun on board the Pae.fe, was instantly
killed. as that vessel was firing a salute on
entering the horbor A policeman was
supposed to have been killed on the even
ing of the 4th inst. All the vessels arri-
wing have quite heavy cargoes Of provis'
ions, merchandise, &c. Frazer. river is
receding very slowly. 1t is said not to
have fallen to exceed six inches, up to the
4th inst How the crowd at Victoria, who
are without either money or employment
manage to get living, is mystery to our
informant He is apprehensive that unless
things brighten up in that direction-uu
less steps are taken whereby the assem-
blage there can either bo returned to Cali
fornia, or taken from the Island to somC
locality where they can prospect for gold
or earn a livelihood otherwise, confusion
and terror will soon reign supreme on Van
couver's Island In the meantime, the
employment Of prospecting " for clans L
pursued very assiduously there.
We learn from Mr.. BARRY, that the II
B. Co. have hit upon a very ingenious ex
pedient for the opening of pack trail and
wagon road, through their own and Brit
ish possessions, from Lake Harrison tC
New CALEDONIA. We noticed this new
route to the mines last week, it will be re
membered, in connection with the excursion
Of the steamer UaatilLa, upon the rirgsr
waters of Harrison river and Lake, to the
mouth Of the Lilliwoot river, 1t appears
that 500 miners have already accepted the
proposition Of the II. b. Co.'S authorities
and that probably as many more would &C
cept, for the making Of the trail, &c. Those
authorities propose as follows: That eaot
person, going to work upon the trail, musI
deposit $25 with them, before starting, and
must continue to work upon it until it il
completed--bc the time long or short. In
consideration Of which, the Company bind
themselves to convey him, free Of charge
to the point of commencement hin
with provisions until the work is compile
ted-at the end Of which time his $25 is tC
be returned to him in provisions, at the
head of Lake Harrison, at Victoria prices
1t was thought that 500 men would per
form the entire work in six weeks The
work is to commence at Lake Harrison,
from which place to the Lilliwoot river, q
pack trail 60 miles in length is to be made,
and from that river to Lake Anderson, 80
miles, a wagon road is to be cut out-tbus
connecting Forts Langley and Hope with
the Upper Frazer river country, within a
very reduced compass in point Of distance.
This route will likely prove to be very
good one to the mines, and it is thought
that sufficient stock" has been taken in
the enterprise to force it through. Good
grass, it is said, is found all along this
route, and hence the anxiety of the H. B.
] n u II A.