, 1858-07-09
Concerning Fret Trade on Frazer Riyer.
We clip the following from the PHgel
Sound Herald of June 25:

colony OF IaHC0nreT'S Island and 1S De
Pendencies, and Vioe-AdmirOL of the same,
| D9e, DC, &c. &c, i-.-
T SIR-At a public meeting held on the
18th inst, the following resolution was unan.
imously adopted, viz:
That a committee be appointed to
draw up an address to his His Excellency
james Douglas, Governor of Vancouver's
Island and Chief Factor of the Hudson's
Bay Company, for the purpose of obtain
ing free trade with the mining population
on Frazer river, and also that free naviga-
tion be allowed TO the head of navigation
on Frazer river aud its tributaries"
We, the undersigned, having been named
to carry out the above resolution, beg re-
spectfully TO call your Excellency's earnest
attention to the following important points;
lst. 1t is notorious that the stock of
provisions in the mining districts is utterly
inadequate for the wants of even the pres
ent population many individuals having
been compelled to abandon their labors and
return to this and ber ports to obtain the
common nccessaries of life. Many new
settlers are most anxious to carry supplies
to their countrymen in the mines, but are
prevented by the restrictions imposed upon
trade by the Hudson Bay Co. We can
not, therefore, consider without serious ap-
Iprehensions the state Of confusion and dis
tress which must ensue when the vast
numbers now swelling the tide of immigra-
tion shall have settled on these shores
should the present restrictions on trade
continue in force.
I'd. We beg to draw your Excellency's
attention TO the great want which exists of
reliable steam communication between
this port and the mining district for the
accommodation of oil classes, and of the
mining population in particular want
whi,h has already cost many valuable
lives. Such a state of things is deplorable
in this age, and the more 10 be regretted
when we remember that the means Of sup
plying this want are at hand and freely
offered, but are rejected by the exclusive
policy of the Hudson Bay Co. 1t was
with infinite satisfaction that the public
learned that your Excellency had granted
permission to the steamers Surprise aud
Sea Bird to run on Frazer river, but it
heard with deep regret that this permission
was given for one trip only.
Sd. We would especially point out to
your Excellency how highly injurious is this
state Of things to the interests of this i'm
portant colony. Many settlers have re-
Gently come here, anxious to make this
their home, and have invested in property
to considerable amount, and crowds Of
their friends are only waiting their advices
to follow, but they find their ardor damped
and their operations checked by the mo
nopoliziug policy of the Hudson Bay Co. +;
whilst thousands of emigrants from Califor-
MIA are passing by this beautiful Island to
settle upon American shores, because they
see no fair field opened to their enterprise
under the British flag
We feel assured that your Excellency
will at once perceive that in bringing the
objects of this memorial so prominently be
fore you, we are actuated solely by an esS-
nest desire to advance the interests of this
colony, by providing for the welfare of the
settlers and holding out inducements to
early immigration. Convinced that this is
to be obtained only by the adoption Of the
liberal measures recommended in the reso-
luton we have submitted. Requesting the
favor of an early reply, we have the honor
to subscribe ourselves your Excellency's
most obedient servants,
YATES, HOMER,
DoANE, BAILEY,
GREEN, NAGLE.
The following is the Governors reply:
On the important question of allowing
free trade with the mining population on
Frazer's River His Excellency states that
it is quite beyond his authority to do so;
that he is simply the executive power of the
Hudson Bay Company, whose privileges he
is bound to protect, and can only act upon
special instructions from home. But he has
already written explaining the anomalous
state Of things existing here, and expects
that in the course Of tTooF three months in-
structions will be received authorizing such
changes as the exigencies Of the case may
demand. 1t is very probable, he states,
that the Government will very shortly take
the territory into their own hands, and COM
pensate the Hudson's Bay Company for any
sacrifices they may make.
As regards the free navigation of Frazer's
River and its tributaries, he replies that it
is not the Hudson's Bay Co. who are ac-
countable for the existing prohibition, but
the revenue laws of Great Britain, accord
ing to which this river must for the present
be closed to foreign vessels; that proposals
have been offered to the Pacific Mail Co.,
and subsequently to the owners of the
American steamers Surprise and Sea Bird,
to run on Frazcr's River under certain CON
ditions, one of which was TO do so under
the British flag, and if declined by these,
arrangements will most certainly be made
as early as possible for other steamers.
The Governor further declared that the
progress of the country occupied his anxious
attention, and, whatsoever might be done,
the growing interests of the colony would