NEW GOLD DIGGINGS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1673, 15 December 1873, Page 4

NEW GOLD DIGGINGS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

By the Glimpse, which arrived at Port Chalmers laat week, the Guardian received papers from British Columbia to September 3, from which it takes the following : — By the Telfair, from Sitka, for Portlaud, which called off the harbor yesterday morning t > land passengers, we have gratifying intelligence of the discovery of new, and what would seem to be rich and easily- worked, gold diggings, situate near the head waters of the Stickeen river. The mines are shallow, and pay, it is reported, from loz to 3oz a day to the hand. The creek from which the gold is taken is located at the foot of Dease's Lake, and named Thibert Creek, after one of the three discoverers of the same — Canadians. Thibert was the partner of poor M'Cullocb, who perished last winter on the Stickeen from cold and exposure. There were only twenty-three miners in all at the diggings when our informant left, bat men were dropping in by twos aud threes from outlying districts and creeks. The discoverers of this new new Eldorado travelled from Buck's Bar early in the spring, and arrived on the creek in April. The distance is 240 miles from the mouth of the Stickeen to the new mines ; 140 miles of this distance is "by water to what is known as the Big Canyon ; thence by a fair trail to ©ease's Lake, 85 miles, which can be made in six days' packing. The Indians, after Captain Moore had made one or two trips packing, pointed out a better trail, which has been adoped. It is thought the miners will winter in the district. Mr Lear, who has a store at Fort Wrangle, at the mouth of Stickeen, one' of the passengers, left on the 6th of August in a canoe for the Skeena, and at Bella Bella met the steamer and took passage here to purchase supplies. He has with him some of the gold, which he has shown us, and he estimates it to be worth about 18dol an ounce. Pieces worth as high as 18dol and 22d0l have been taken out. The best part of our report has yet to come, and that is, that there are several creeks in the neighborhood possessing the same gold-bearing indications as the one from which the gold was extrlfcted. This h the district of country mentioned by us frequently last winter and spring, and which we urged the Government to assist Captain Moore in opening. We may add that Mr L. Blum, of Johnson Btreet, has received a letter from Charles Brown, of Fort Wrangle, a well-known miner. This document gives most encouraging newß with reference to the rich strike, and states that from 12dol to 200dol are being taken o»it per day. He adds that the Stickeen country i -will shortly prove to be another Cali- 1 fornia.