Panning for Gold

Faces of the Gold Rush

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Thompson River First Nations

Since I wrote my first Letter forwarded herewith miner's have sunk two shafts, one in front of the reserve of the Hudson's Bay Company and the other about one hundred yards above. At the back of the front row of stores in the Town of Fort Yale in one shaft as much as twenty-four cents to the pan was washed out at a depth of about ten feet; a rush was immediately made to stake out the whole of the ground which Mr. Wells surveyed off for the Town. I was compelled to put a stop to it, which produced some disappointment. If mining is allowed upon this flat, altho' it may prove ever so rich, the progress of the Town will be stayed, and we shall have to remove to another location; therefore Your Excellency will perceive that I am between two fires--the Miners and the Trader's. Whatever you may suggest for the best will I think be satisfactory; it is impossible to please all parties.

I herewith enclose a proposition from Dr. Fifer, together with an Account for another Post Mortem examination on a man who died very suddenly on Monday last, the Inquest papers will be forwarded to you in due course.

Mr. Brown, a respectable man, has applied for the appointment of Sexton for this district, he is well qualified for the Office.

I am much concerned to hear that Your Excellency has received Letters reflecting on my public and private conduct in my Official capacity. I court enquiry and at any moment can prove that I have performed the duties of my Office independently and fearlessly, without favour and affection. People can more easily assert than prove, and so long as I have the high honour of your confidence I shall continue to perform the duties as I have hitherto done. I am very anxious to see the two Letters you name.(27)

I am under the necessity of informing Your Excellency that the notorious Ned McGowan(28), who is on Hill's Bar, has been trying the last two days to excite the miners to revolt, and I can prove that he asserted that "Your Excellency had better mind your own business in Victoria, for that he was the ruler of Hill's Bar, and that if the miners would only stand by him he would put all Englishmen to.defiance," and with oaths not fit to name, openly declares he will be master of Hill's Bar. Such men as these are the first to ask for protection; the last to obey. A party of boatmen on this bar have, I understand, written Your Excellency on the subject. The fact is, the bar being worked out and these men having only paid one month's licence, and taken out large sums of money, now want the upper flat, which from all accounts will prove rich. I have done all that man can do by fair means, and Your Excellency will not be surprised if I arrest McGowan and send him to Victoria.(29)

Now Mr. Donnellar(30) has returned I will have a place of confinement erected and it will soon pay for itself.

All my accounts shall be forwarded between now and Sunday.

RICHARD HICKS.

Footnotes:
(27) "Captain". P. B. Whannell, the resident magistrate at Yale, later formulated the charges which will be found on . 73-75. post. "Much bad feeling had been created heretofore by, the eccentric actions of an hombre who, from not the most exalted position in California, was suddenly elevated to the post of comissioner." Fort Yale letter in Victoria Gazette, December 23, 1858.
(28) See Introduction hereto and Judge Begbie's letters for some account of this notorious renegade.

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