, 1878-04-26
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
V,rromA V. l.. B. C.. April -, ISIS.

Victoria pr&,In little city. No where
more pleasant drives thmu in and around
the city and country. The people here
are something like our own-vaiur people
accord iug to their wealth. going little on
brains or merit. and are composed Of all
nationalitirs anglo-~aXon prrdOminating.
Many we see. however. of both sexes,
wear smoky appearance, contracted no
doubt 10y sitting around camp-llrcS pro-
: miscuollSly in early days. In many TcS-
pc't~ the city looks like an American
ltOWn, but enjoying Improvements and
privileges in advance Of any of ours when
compared with business and population.
1t has an ineXhauStihle supply Of pure
Elk Lake, distance of seven miles; gas
works; free SChOOlS-One of the buildings
for which would be an ornament and cred
it to amy city; an extensive library; two
banks, Steam-iirc engines; theatre; sev-
erll cOmmOdiOuS halls; four hospitals; ten
churches-capable OF sitting all the men.
women and children in the city. Its side.
walks, except now and then Il stretch,
are in a very dilapidatcd condition.
rickety and unsafe, particularly at night
the nails and splnterS rising above the
surface often bring ladies, wearing trailing
skirts, np-all standing. Just the other
day one was caught in this way. and was
rushing mp to offer my services, she turned
round. unlocked herself and retreatcd into
a by-way TO repair damages. This fair
one was an American, from your side of
the water, and it is to be hoped will never
be caught particularly in that way again.
The steamer Wilson G.. Hunt, under the
command of Captain Stathard, came up
from San francesca in 3 days and %
hours running time. She has not forgot
ten her Old speed. and for Il craft OF her
age-20 yearS-holds her own remarkably
well Her new owners gave her a thor
Ough Over-hauling and new boilers. 1t is
announced. rs soon aS changing her ma
tiOnality, that she will run between this
port aud New Westminster.
The Grapler, Captain HAYES, formerly
o the California, steamed for wrangrl on
the morning Of the 10Th inst, taking Il
number Of passengers. including 60 China
men-aIl bound tor the Casair gold mines.
Col. w. X. Ish and party, with machin-
cry and provisions, lett here on the Crap
Ter for Prince OF Wales Island, to open and
work copper mine which prospectcd very
| rich last fall 1t is the intention of the
party to raise five or six hundred tons of
the ore and ship it direct to Swansey
Several tests of the ore were made in San
Francisco during the past winter-none
failing to show less than lj per cent. of
copper, besides some silver. karta Bay
near Clarence Straits-tllC vein traced to
the w;tter edge and accessible to vessels of
the largest class. There can scarcely be a
doubt but that this mine will prove Il great
success. Men of capital have taken hold
Of it, and by the last of the coming month,
it is confidently expected cargo of the ore
will bc ready for shipment, that vessel
has been ordered there from Sln Francisco.
The news from Stka, by the last steam
er, are highly encouraging Il regards the
mines. The Portland Company who were
tunnelling on the Stewart ledge were at
work, character OF rock changing and i'm
proving as they progressed. They have
many tons ready for crushing, in most of
which gold was visible. In fact, says our
informant, the company did not pretend
to save any Of the rock from the ledge
without seeing gold in it.
Below the Stewart ledge. at the base Of
the mountain, IA san Francisco company
under the superintendent OF Mr.. S. Mil
litich. are opening Il quartz ledge which
has prOspectcd very satisfactorily. called
tne Haley IL Milltich, and are meeting
with encouragement.
The " Francis Lode,' rs it is called,
near the summit of the same mountain on
which these lodges are situated, and which
has been prospecting so very rich during
the last two seasons, renlinS dormant--
ate SHOWS having rendered it inaccessible.
1t is understood "A company in Sun Fran
cisco are about taking hold and working
this mlne-that II party with an engineer
will visit it rs soon as practicable and de-
ternine the kind of machinery wanted
aud the location of the mil
These mines are within ten or twelve
miles ct Sitka and from one to two miles
from the foot OF Silver Bay, which affords
an excellent harbor, with water for the