VICTORIA AND BRITISH COLOMBIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 86, 1 September 1863, Page 3

VICTORIA AND BRITISH COLOMBIA.

(From the Alia California, June 11.) A Cariboo gold escort has been organised. A company has been formed to mine for copper on Queen Charlotte's Island. On the 2nd instant the corner stone of the Emanuel Synagogue was laid in Victoria, V. I. The Germania Sing Verein, the Hebrew Benevolent Society, and the St Andrew's Society, and two Masonic lodges, took part in the ceremony — the Masons charging themselves with the laying of the stone. No direct news has been received from the mines at Shakesvillc, on the Hekin (formerly spelled Stickeen) River, since October. They had an abundance of flour, but little bacon or other provisions. Sonic Indians, who pretend to have been at Shakesville, say the miners (there are 80 or 100 of them) are doing well. The steamer Forward had made another trip against the Lumalthus Indians, and succeeded in capturing eight bucks and six squaws, and destroying a number of canoes. Coal, copper, and plumbago havo been discovered on the north-western coast of Vancouver's Island. A nugget worth 250 dollars had been found in Bridget River. The Victoria people are considering whether they shall adopt the American or English standard of weights and measures.