BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 306, 25 September 1860, Page 4

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

'(From the Sydney Morning Herald.) Fhom Victoria, Vancouver Island, we have papers to the Bth of June. We learn that the West India Mail Steam Packet Company are at present making arrangements to carry out a regular steam communioation between Panama and British Columbia, at Sau Francisco. Mr. M'Donald; banker, of Victoria, has forwarded the necessary bonds preparatory, to becoming British Columbian agent for the compaay, and expeots the arrangement completed "in less" than a month.— Westminster Times.' The same journal states that late, extensive explorations prove that British Columbia is not only well adapted for agricultural purposes, but that there are thousauds and thousands of acres of magnificent prairie land, certainly unsurpassed by any country in the world, and all withiu reasonable distances.of the avenues of trade. In no other country has the farmer a tithe of the inducements for carrying on his calling' ask British Columbia. With a rapidly increasing, market, ami almost fabulous prices for his produce, and protected against foreign competition by comparatively heavy duties and increased charges on freight, the agriculturist has certainly magnificent prospects before, him. Concerning the mines, the Times makes the following announcement:—Those who had returned from Alexander through want of means have settled down about Cayoosh and along the Frazer. The water has risen, however, at present, to such a height that numbers are obliged to leave work on the bars of the river. The high benches along the banks are attract-i ing numbers of miners, who, we have no doubt, will ultimately be repaid for their labor. Should these prove as remunerative as some an-; ticipate, they, will afford employment for thousands. A miner just returned from Quesnell states that all those whose means will allow them to remain there for the next few months ' will be amply repaid for the time they have spent. Quite a number of claims are paying extremely well. A party of Canadians are I working a claim that pays twenty-five dollars a day per hand.; A large number of claims higher up the river are also very remunerative. On the sth Mr. Wright brought down by the Colonel Moody forty-eight pounds of gold dust. Jeffray and Co.'s express by the same boat brought about 3000 dollars. The number of private residences in course of construction-in New Westminster amounts ait present to about fifteen. The value of the gold shipped, to California from Victoria, between the s;th of May and the sth of June, amounts to 47,802 dollars. During the first three months of the year, it amounted to 249,629 dollars. The salaries of the Governor and Chief Justice have' been fixed at £800 a year each.