LATER NEWS FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA DIGGINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 170, 2 June 1862, Page 5

LATER NEWS FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA DIGGINGS.

(From the Age.~) Via California we have intelligence from Vancouver's , Island to the 26th February. The weather at the date referred to continued very severe ; all communication with the Cariboo cut off, and mining operations were at a complete stand-still.. The following letter (dated Victoria V. L., 17th February), from a resident in Victoria to a friend in San Francisco, which Wo extract from the Evening Bulletin, will be read with interest :— The information you require would not be of any use to you at this late day, neither do I think I could have been of any material benefit. You, of course, have all the maps tliat we have, as well as Cariboo miners, who could post you in regard to distances. A few items I will add, however, for the benefit, of those who contemplate coming up to see the elephant. First, the country is one in which the Maker of the Universe had no hand. It—-the Cariboo diggings—was manufactured by the other individual. It is 350 from this place in a direct line ; but the road to get there travels a distance of say, about 999 miles, to which add about 500 miles to tho last mile or two, and you have the distance well illustrated. The time to start from here, ranges from the Ist May to the middle of June, for those not having claims to go to, and the reason is, that, there is from five feet to up as high as you choose to go of snow until. that time, rendering it utterly impossible to prospect before August—or the middle of July at the earliest. It is thirty days' travel from this place from which no sane man should start with less, than 300 dollars. The freight on anything; packed into the mines cost one dollar per pound. U ex t_No man has any right to go into the country with less than two mouths' provisions, wliich" I include in the 300 dollars aforesaid, as there are no provisions of any account there now.The hard winter ' has killed all the stock tbey depended upon to carry in provisions. Further— No pack train can get near the country before August, and any man going to the country before that time must prepare for the emergency. The country is rich, but for the sake of humanity, advise all men of small means to seek other, quarters until- there is some mode invented in Cariboo to live without starving. Did I not know that there is a morbid excitement extant in regard to this country, I might write differently; but philanthropy alone has instigated tins ; ahd, once for all, I say again, let no man come unless he brings money enough to keep him alive for awhile in this country ; in which case his chances are as good as ever they were in California—provided always that he can stand the hardships. I am going up myself as soon as the river opens, having purchased an interest in a claim. - We go early, to have everything ready as soon as the raining season commences. My chance is good; at all events, T am like the Frenchman when he had but chance left, " Itake de shancc;" Without an interest in the country to verify what I have written, I should not think of going before June or July. Severity of the Climate. —We have had a great deal of bad weather this season. The winter (which, by the Almanack, has only two days more to run) has fur surpassed in severity the memory ofthe "oldest inhabitant." Notwithstanding the assertion or prophecy of the wise man of the Colonist, some time since, that " the back of winter was broken," it seems to hold its own very well; and to-day there is a greater depth of snow on the ground than at any previous time this season. There is Bor 12 inches on a level, and it is snowing still. If tliere should be any miners on the steamer (now due), they will meet with a cold reception, that will open their eyes to what is in store for them before they reach Cariboo The latest advices from the upper country represent the winter there as milder than last season ; but that was a month ago, and there is no knowing what the weather has been there since that time. It is perfect folly for men intending to go to the Cariboo to leave California before the middle or close of April, unless they have claims there already, as the high price of provisions and the scarcity of pack animals will make living very expensive, and those who have not paying claims or plenty of pocket-money will be very apt to suffer. The ice blockade is •■still maintained at the mouth of the Frazer. Some of the towns up the river are reported to be out of flour. If such is the case, they may not hnve to wait for the " rush " before suffering begins. —Correspondent of the Bulletin, Victoria,-V. L., 28th February. _

Morality would seem to be at a discount amongst Victorian Officials. Malpractices and tampering with public funds are stated to have been [carried on in the Road and Bridge Department,;