The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-08-12
From vancouver'. Island.

u III 1ILcS Oitiuu Will oiuihCs dnu ~
was estimated that in and about Victoria alone there
was congregated $4,000 people. Every arrival from
California brought crowds of PASSENGERS. From the
mines the reports are as before, somewhat contradic-
tory, but their richness was doubted by few. The
principal drawbacks were the Indians, who were get
ting more and more troublesome and mischievous,
and the scarcity of provisions. Disorder and Hood
shed were getting frequent among the miners them
s~elves-gambling abounded, and the worst scenes of
California in AZ were being re-enacted. The convic-
ton was expressed among all thinking men that dur
ing the approaching fall and winter, much destitu-
ton and misery must result to the large population
now rushing into that inhospitable cline. Great
numbers of Chinese had arrived from California, but
were compelled to remain on the sea coast, the Indians
having conceived an unconquerable aversion to the
Johns and forbid them going inland.
The brigantine Recovery, Mitchell, long a regular
trader between Honolulu and Vancouver's Island,
was chartered or hired by the British government for
a revenue cutter. 1t is doubtful, we hear, whether
the Hudson's Bay Company viii, at present, put
another vessel on in her place.
Provisions were high, and salmon sold readily for
$40 per barrel. Land speculation was all the rage,
fabulous prices were asked for town lots, and land
that a year ago could be readily had for SIS per acre,
was now held at $5o, and more
Business AT VIcToRIA.-In reply to queries adj
dressed to the Gazette respecting the facilities for
trade at Victoria. that Journal says:
/. Victoria is ut present, 80 far as duties on mer-
chandisc imported are concerned, II FREE PORT. None
OF the restrictions incident 10 the traffic in the inte-
rior of the territory prevail here And as the trade
with miners here is rather of IA wholesale than n retail
character, we think the opportunities for even the
more extensive branches of commercial enterprise
good NOW. OF course this OPP Mon refers only to the
acfua1 preSept condition of the market
2. There are yet no taxes here, or license imposts
upon any traders save those retailing malt or spirit
uous liquors A beer license costs $40 per annum,
payable in advance. Wholesale liquor sellers must
paw $3.50 for a license.
3. There is a good opening now for the starting of
manY descriptions of minor trade. Good artizans
and mechanics are in demand. Accommodations in
the way of shelter and entertainment are meagre and
poor in quality. Hence a lively market, with no tax
imposts is open to all in the town, who are in search
of such an opportunity.
The Currency AT VIcroRIA.-Tha decimal system
of currency is almost universally prevalent now in
Victoria. Dollars and cents seem for the present 10
have superseded the sterling terms in this portion of
British Territory. Persons coming here should by all
means provide themselves with a stock of small
change-that article being very scarce at this time.
Il every immigrant who sees this notice before leaving
for Victoria, will take heed in this behalf, the pre-
canton, besides conducting to his individual benefit,
will be of general advantage.
Ops AND ENps.-The Gazette urges people to dig
wells at Victoria, for there is n sad want already of
fresh water.
It thinks merchants in San Francisco should for
ward largerStoeks of -four and other provisions.
II says oethe immigration:
But n short time since, two-thirds of the Fraser
river immigration lan1ei ut Bellingham Bay. Now
four-iths of the new corners stop m Victoria. Peo-
pie are coming Tuch faster thar our preparations to
receive them are progressing. We may add, that
here, where Information touching the gold fields
sbouiI he rpli3hla- there lrp no doubfprS a { RI fheir
richness.
The following extracts from a letter from Victoria,
which we find in one of the late San Francisco papers,
will he found interesting
Arrived at Esquimalt harbor-(about two miles
distant from Victoria) which by the way is a beauti-
ful little harhor, perfectly landlocked, with deep
water and bold shore-we landed in lighters and sent
into town for a team to take our trunks and luggage
over: but 10. and behold! the powers that be hold
things in ~abeyance here, and no unnecessary work of
any kind is allowed TO be done here on Sunday. We
trudged into town, therefore, on foot, and through
out the day heheld a surprising ouietness.
A minister of the Church of England ministers here
in the chapel, every Sunday morning, and a small
Sunday School is conducted by him, ! think. In the
evening he preached to the miners, in front of the
fort, and seems truly n godly man.
Thus far | IKE the place much, and it will I'M
doubtedly be 81 large place ere long. Vessels of six
or eight hundred tons burthen, and even larger,
come up here with ease; but the water is not deep
enough for the largest vessels or steamers, without
improvements in the harbor. Lots are at very high
prices and are IS looking up" Buildings of all kinds
are rapidly going up on every side Carpenters of
the poorest kind are getting So "A day, and contractors
or master workmen are making from $40 TO $50 n
dav. and are in demand. lhave this from a contractor
himself.
A few more government lots are TO be sold as soon
ms SURVEYS are made and plans wrought. They have
had three sales Mt stated prices /: first sale $50 "A lot,
6Oxl20 feet second sale S75 third sale 800. What
the next price will be [ know not but the company
are disposed to be liberal and sell no more, than five
or six TO one man.
The climate here seems very much as in San Fran
cisco. only a trihe cooler. | think you would like il
and would do first rate and if you could buy a lot or
two cheap, and put up buildings for rent, You could
provide yourself II handsome income ut little cost.
Lumber is $40 a thousand and is coming in from the
Sound flst; for a few days it was very high. Nails
retail ut n bit IA pound. What they sell them at the
fort for I do not know, but the company sell all goods
at very fair rates indeed many things Mt less than
San Francisco prices, as they range Mt present. l see
no place rs yet for the sale of doors, sash, sc.
Bricks are $15 a thousand, and wood for the getting
of il, to burn them with.
This is a beautiful level site for a city, all cleared,
well laid out only needs to extend its borders;
snow-capped mountains plainly seen in the distance.
Beautiful farm are in the vicinity and gardens in the
town. Potatoes are in blossom and apples as big as
English walnuts on the trees. The Governor and all
others are very DESTROYS to have we'll disposed citizens
among them to give direction and tone to the rapidly
Increasing population of the place. Most of the pas
,engers stop here. Lodging accommodations are diff
,ult to be had. but things will right themselves
TURKISH RAILWAYS ON LONDON 'CHANeE-The
Increasing plethora in the London discount market
las led at last to the launching of several of the spec
ilative schemes that have been held in allegiance
Turing the past twelve months. Among these are
he Samsoun and Sivas (Turkish) Railway Company,
which requires Sl5, 0O0, 900 and a Company for
,uilding a short Railway, also Turkish, to unite the
and Black Sea at point which will save the
D.. -.-, 800. 80 Dn ..la. % a.. rs-o- A. -
mouth at Sulina. For the latter proiecr but 8 $4,000
100 was required, and although it rests only on its
wn merits, while the Samsoun and Sivas line is sup
orted by a guarantee of seven per cent. from Tur-
it has the best chance of being taken up by Lou
on capitalists.
- Several Americans from Massachusetts whoare
ow in Sebastopol, are thinking seriously, it seems,