Colonial Despatches

In my Despatch marked Separate of the 28th of February last, allusion was made, in Mr Cox's letter of the 16th of January forming enclosure No 4, to some reported Gold Fields at LakeOkanagon, Okanagon, and the intention of the Gold Commissioner to accompany a body of Miners to inspect that part of the Country. The Miners proceeded on their proposed excursion, and returned to Rock Creek in the beginning of March, when they communicated the very satisfactory intelligence that they had found grain and scale Gold, of fine quality, in remunerative quantities, in all the streams flowing into the western shore of Lake Okanagon, which isover over 70 miles in length. This important discovery had not been made public at Rock Creek, for the reasons stated in Mr Cox's interesting report on the subject, which I herewith transmit, unabridged, for Your Grace's information.

2. I have also just received a very satisfactory report from Mr Commissioner Nind of Alexandria District, mentioning the great discoveries which have been made during the winter at "Antler Creek", a tributary of Bear River,which which flows from the mountains east of Quesnell Lake into the South Branch of Fraser River.

3. On the occasion of Mr Nind's visit to Antler Creek, the whole face of the country was still deeply covered with snow, but a great number of Miners were nevertheless on the ground anxiously awaiting the advent of Spring to commence operations.

4. These discoveries were alluded to in myDespatch Despatch of the 28th of February last, and are now satisfactorily confirmed by the present report from Mr Nind, who, however, refrains from giving currency to the perhaps exaggerated statements received from Miners, that as much as 70 dollars worth of gold has been extracted from a single pan full (containing about one gallon) of earth.

5. The confirmed impression however, is that a Gold-field, of extraordinary richness, has been now discovered, andI I sincerely trust that those impressions may be fully realized.

6. It is matter of sincere congratulation that the tranquillity of the country has been in no wise disturbed by the excitements arising from those discoveries; and that, as a body, the Miners are well conducted and submissive to the Laws.

7. A Copy of Mr Nind's Report, and sketch of thenew new Gold-field, is also transmitted for Your Grace's information.