Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 2 April 1866, CO 60:24, no. 5775, 196.
Abstract
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 2 April 1866, CO 60:24, no. 5775, 196.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
No. 30
2nd April 1866
Sir
I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two plain
Copies of an Ordinance of the present Session of the Legislature
of this Colony, entitled;
No. 10. An Ordinanceconferring
conferring certain privileges on the
Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Company.
I add the Report of the Attorney General.
conferring certain privileges on the
Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Company.
I add the Report of the Attorney General.
2. The Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume is the most important
mining speculation ever commenced in the Colony and the necessity
for granting some extension of privileges to this Company was
very apparent to me when I visited Cariboo last Autumn. The
expenditureincurred
incurred by the Flume Company up to the date of my
arrival on Williams Creek exceeded $130,000—the prosecution of
the work had ceased—the capital estimated as required to complete
the Flume amounted to over $100,000 and the original shareholders
were dispirited and inclined to wind up the Company. Individual
Miners who had remained idle for two years waiting for the Flume
to reach their Claims were disappointedand
and discouraged owing to
the expected failure of the Company, and I consequently found much
depression among the Mercantile community, and a lack of that
energy and enterprise which usually pervades a rich Mining district
such as Williams Creek. During my stay at Cariboo several deputations,
from all classes, waited upon me to represent the necessity for
granting the Company privileges beyond those held under the existing
Mining Laws.
3. Under
incurred by the Flume Company up to the date of my
arrival on Williams Creek exceeded $130,000—the prosecution of
the work had ceased—the capital estimated as required to complete
the Flume amounted to over $100,000 and the original shareholders
were dispirited and inclined to wind up the Company. Individual
Miners who had remained idle for two years waiting for the Flume
to reach their Claims were disappointedand
and discouraged owing to
the expected failure of the Company, and I consequently found much
depression among the Mercantile community, and a lack of that
energy and enterprise which usually pervades a rich Mining district
such as Williams Creek. During my stay at Cariboo several deputations,
from all classes, waited upon me to represent the necessity for
granting the Company privileges beyond those held under the existing
Mining Laws.
3. Under these circumstances I did not hesitate to give my
assent to some alteration in the Law and I intrusted the preparation
of the Bill to Mr Walkem, a barrister who represents the District
of Cariboo in the Legislative Council.
4. The successful completion of this enterprise will act with
two fold advantage, first in the drainage of a considerable portion
of WilliamsCreek
Creek known to be rich but impossible to work until
intersected by the Flume, and secondly as an inducement for the
employment of Capital in similar undertakings through[ou]t the Cariboo
District, where numerous auriferous creeks exist, but, owing to
the depth of the Bed Rock, cannot be worked by individual Miners
and must remain undeveloped if Companies are not formed to prosecuteworks
works similar to those undertaken by the Williams Creek Company.
Creek known to be rich but impossible to work until
intersected by the Flume, and secondly as an inducement for the
employment of Capital in similar undertakings through[ou]t the Cariboo
District, where numerous auriferous creeks exist, but, owing to
the depth of the Bed Rock, cannot be worked by individual Miners
and must remain undeveloped if Companies are not formed to prosecuteworks
works similar to those undertaken by the Williams Creek Company.
Minutes by CO staff
This Ordinance gives to a particular Mining Company
(1) the "exclusive" right of way for the purpose of maintaining
a "Flume"—meaning I suppose watercourse for a certain distance
defined but not stated in yards or miles—and (2) the "exclusive
right" to possess (as I understand) for 10 years a ribbon of
land about the flume 150 feet in breadth (3) various other rights
of mining of wh it is not very easy to estimate the amount.
I think first that Mr Seymour shd be consulted as
to the propriety of this grant.
And next that close enquiry should be made of the Actg
Govr whether he took all necessary steps to secure that
this which is in fact a private bill should receive such full
publicity as would enable any one who was injuriously affected
by its provisions to make his objection. Pending this enquiry
(wh will itself give opportunity for such objections to be
raised) I would suspend the Royal decision on this Ordce.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Printed copy of Ordinance No. 10 conferring certain privileges on
the Williams Creek Bed Rock Flume Company, 29 March 1866.
Copy, H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Officer Administering the
Government, April 1866, reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
