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From Port Townsend, Washington Territory, live stock, provisions,

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$516

1, 693 10, 642

75

7,773 500

7,000

5, 204

382, 117

1,263, 128

$115, 608

43, 845

168, 125

6, 550

2,505

96, 643

Coal, furs, skins, hides, and a small amount of wool, are the only productions exported from Victoria, Vancouver's island, and from the 1st January, 1862, to 30th June, their aggregate value amount to only about $85,000.

No authentic data can be had as to the amount of gold taken from this port to San Francisco since the 1st January, 1862. It is computed that seven and a half millions of dollars were last year raised in British Columbia, and that about half the amount found its way to San Francisco and the States. This season the yield will not be so large, it is thought, by one-third, though the number of adventurers to the British Columbia mines is estimated at ten or twelve thousand more than last year. The reckless rush into the gold region, in advance of provisions, had the effect of putting up their price so high before mining operations could be commenced, that a large majority became destitute. consequence was thousands returned. Those having means and remaining during the mining season have done well. From all that can be gathered as regards the yield of the mines in British Columbia this season, the result can only be figured up to $4,850,000.

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The region this season attracting the most attention has been that of Cariboo, which is nearly 800 miles north of Victoria. The route is represented very difficult for the transportation of provisions, costing from sixty to eighty cents per pound before reaching that point. Until towards the close of the season, provisions, such as pork, beans, flour, &c., sold from $1 25 to $1 50 per pound. During the past season the government of British Columbia have constructed on the route some 150 miles of wagon road, and another season the cost of transportation will be materially lessened.

Discoveries of new gold fields in British Columbia, during this season, are announced, some of which are proving very rich. The Stickeen river country, in the Russian possessions, drew some 1,200 miners thither, and the prospects obtained are said to be encouraging. Another year's exploration there will doubtless develop a rich mining country.

Other valuable minerals besides gold are known to exist in British Columbia and Vancouver's island, but attract as yet little attention. Copper, lead, silver ore, and coal, are found in many localities, and steps are being taken to test their richness and extent.

On the Island of Vancouver quite a business is carried on in coal. At Nai

rimo several extensive coal beds have been opened, and since the 1st of January last over 8,000 tons have been raised. It finds a ready market at from $6 to $8 per ton. During the last six months between four and five thousand tons have been taken to San Francisco, where it commands from $12 to $14 per ton. Not much has been done towards developing the agricultral resources of British Columbia or Vancouver's island. Both provinces have been and are still mainly dependent upon California, Oregon, and Washington Territory for supplies and subsistence."

The surface of Vancouver's island is rocky and mountainous, covered with fir, cedar, and pine, and the only good soil found is in the valleys. An effort is now being made to settle several districts on the island with emigrants lately arrived from England.

As regards the agricultural resources of British Columbia, very little is yet known. Considerable tracts of fine, tillable lands are found in the interior, through which are being constructed wagon roads, in connexion with arms or inlets of the sea, with a view of reaching the gold mines by more practicable routes than the old one by the Fraser river. These routes are known as the "Butte Inlet," and the "Bentwick Arm."

Victoria was incorporated by an act of the colonial parliament last July. The city is improving rapidly. Gas was introduced the present month. Between eighty and ninety buildings have been erected during the summer. The population of the city is reported between five and six thousand; of the whole island, seven to eight thousand, exclusive of natives. The number of Indians on Vancouver's island is estimated at eighteen thousand. The small-pox has prevailed among them this season to an alarming extent, in some instances carrying off nearly whole tribes. They are generally in a very degraded state. Missionaries have been, and still are, making efforts to bring them into something like civilization, but with little success. On the route towards Stickeen river they have committed several murders, which the authorities here are endeavoring to ferret out and punish the perpetrators.

Nearly half of the commercial business of Victoria is in the hands of Americans. The amount of capital employed by them is estimated at $500,000. Their trade is principally with the packers and traders to and in the gold mines of British Columbia.

There is a semi-monthly communication by steam between this port and San Francisco. The mails, however, are very irregular. Two steamers have arrived here lately without bringing any States mail; and it often happens that five or six weeks intervene between the receipt of mails. Express letters and matter, however, are brought by every steamer. Documents from the departments at Washington have been sixty and ninety days on the route. The colonial postage is five cents for half-ounce letters, and three cents for single newspapers. Business as a general thing is conducted on the cash principle. Outside of the official transactions of the colony it is done in decimal currency.

A mint has been established by the colonial government at New Westminster, British Columbia. Twenty and ten dollar gold coin have been issued; their value is a fraction less than the coin of the United States of the same denomination.

OCTOBER 1, 1862.

I have the honor of enclosing returns of arrivals and departures of American vessels, transcript of fee-book, and a statement of the commerce of this port for the quarter ending September 30, 1862.

There is considerable difficulty, on account of Victoria being a free port, of ascertaining the correct value of imports and exports. Vessels often arrive with imperfect manifests, and many enter and clear at the collector's office at the same time.

A large majority of the vessels coming to this port are engaged in the lumber trade between Puget Sound and San Francisco. They carry freight at low rates, $4 to $6 per ton, and make the passage in ten to fifteen days.

The mining season in British Columbia has closed. The yield of gold this season will fall short over three millions of dollars of what it was last. The number of adventurers to the mines is reported to be over fifteen thousand, three-fourths of whom were Americans, from California, Oregon, and Washington Territory. Not more than two thousand have been successful. During the season thousands returned penniless. But for the work some were able to get on wagon roads being constructed on the route, they would have died from starvation. The cause of suffering was attributable to the scarcity and high price of provisions at the mines, beef, pork, beans, and other necessaries selling at $1 25 to $1 50 per pound. Many who returned here destitute have been able, through the charity and humanity of masters of vessels, to cross over into Washington Territory, and go to Oregon and California.

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MALTA. WILLIAM WINTHROP, Consul.

MAY 3, 1862.

I have the honor to call your attention to my twenty-seventh annual report, it being for 1861.

1. During the past year there were thirty arrivals and the same number of departures, including one frigate, the Susquehanna, Captain Hollins; one sloopof-war, the Iroquois, Captain Palmer; four ships, thirteen barks, six brigs, and five schooners, all the merchant vessels bringing a total of 9,944 tons.

2. The arrivals were seven from Gibraltar, five from New York, two from Cardiff, two from Swansea, and one each from Boston, Alicante, Tripoli, Constantinople, Syracuse, Rio Janeiro, Marseilles, Beyrout, Sunderland, Odessa, Vienna, Alexandria, Black sca, and Newport.

3. The departures were nine for Sicily, four for Malaga, four for Marseilles, three for Smyrna, three for Constantinople, two for Boston, and one each for Tunis, Falmouth, Bordeaux, Genoa, and Beyrout. Fourteen vessels brought tobacco, six came with coal, one with wheat, one with staves, one came in ballast, and the remainder with general cargoes. Thirteen vessels left in ballast. 4. Of the arrivals, one was in January, three in February, one in March, three in April, four in May, two in June, five in July, four in August, one in September, five in November, and one in December. Of the departures, three were in February, two in March, two in April, four in May, two in June, six in July, two in August, three in September, three in November, and three in De

cember.

5. The arrivals of American vessels at this island during the last five years were as follows: in 1857, 26; in 1858, 28; in 1859, 35; in 1860, 15; in 1861, 30, from which it will be observed that our trade has not fallen off during past twelve months; and I may add that thus far during the present year there is the same result.

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GIBRALTAR.-HORATIO J. SPRAGUE, Consul.

FEBRUARY 4, 1862.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from the Assistant Secretary of State, dated Washington, December 24 last, calling for any suggestions or information I might have to offer, with a view to reduce the expenditure for the relief and protection of American seamen abroad.

I have carefully and maturely deliberated on this important subject, and from my constant intercourse and experience with regard to everything connected with our sailors abroad who really come within the head of "destitute seamen,” I cannot but consider that they require all the benefits of the laws as they now exist, and that their habits of life make it necessary that they should have a guardian to attend to them in foreign countries, and be provided for when really deserving of protection and relief.

It is rarely the case when a seaman is discharged from an American vessel under conditions to exact the three months' extra wages from the master of the ship, as the latter will naturally put up with much inconvenience before burdening himself with this charge; indeed, it often tends to bring about much trouble between master and seaman, and desertion follows, and the knowledge of the circumstance does not become known to the consul until one of the parties is out of his control. In conclusion, I consider the duties of the consul respecting seamen as the most arduous within his consular jurisdiction, requiring much patience and forbearance; and the magnitude and importance of our commercial navy require that American seamen should be entitled abroad to every protection and favor.

BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND.-G. H. LEAVENWORTH, Consul.

OCTOBER 8, 1861.

I have the honor, in conformity with section 153 of the general instructions, to transmit to the department some information concerning the existing commercial relations between New Zealand and the United States. They are connected principally through one port. New Bedford whalers are almost the only vessels seen bearing the American flag in New Zealand waters; and although a merchantman sometimes makes her appearance, homeward bound from China, it is only for the purpose of procuring wood and water, and she brings neither merchandise nor money to any amount into the country. Still, during the past twelve months indications have not been wanting that American enterprise will eventually penetrate to this comparatively, to Americans generally, unknown part of the world-unknown because there is, in reality, but little to repay the adventurer for the investment of his money or energies.

Imports to some considerable extent are now made from California, generally consisting of axes, buckets, stores, biscuits, tobacco, and other merchandise of that description.

American axes, stores, buckets, and other articles of domestic use command a ready sale. The imports of American goods by whale ships are inconsiderable, and confined to oars and cordage, together with an occasional venture made by the masters in the shape of furniture and other goods which are in some demand here and among the other islands of the Pacific. Whale ships continue to frequent this port (Bay of Islands) in considerable numbers, 42 having arrived and departed since January 1, carrying a total of 26,890 bbls. of sperm oil and 8,560 bbls. of whale oil, representing in the aggregate, at the rate of $1 50 for sperm oil and 50 cents for whale oil, (which are the present home prices,) $1,401,178 10. Kauri gum was formerly exported to the United States by whale ships, to some extent, but latterly the trade has fallen off entirely. The New Zealand forests produce ship, timber of the finest quality, and ships are constantly enployed in loading with spars.

Flax, destined one day to become the great staple of New Zealand, still remains comparatively valueless, owing to the want of proper machinery for dressing it. Although a reward of £4,000 has been offered by government to stimulate the inventive powers of the colonists, no means of preparing the flax has yet

been discovered. Worked by hand by the natives it is said to make the finest and most durable cordage known.

These islands are stated by geologists to be rich in minerals. Gold, silver, copper, and coal are said to abound, but as yet, for the most part, they are all hidden treasures. Gold diggings, recently discovered in the Southern islands, at Otago, are said to be yielding abundantly.

Coal mining is also feebly prosecuted, but for all domestic purposes wood is still in universal use.

Large bodies of troops are now quartered in the colony for the purpose of suppressing the native rebellion, which has had the effect of not only impeding immigration, but of inducing to some. extent emigration to the Feejees and the other neighboring islands.

I send here with a copy of the statistics of New Zealand for 1860. No port duties or charges are levied at this port, and there are no restrictions upon the transhipment of merchandise. The Bay of Islands is situated in latitude 35° 17' S., and longitude 174° 7′2′′ E., and is unequalled by any harbor in New Zealand, and by few in the world. It is completely landlocked, and affords anchorage for entire navies to ride in safety. It is, however, comparatively unknown to the mercantile marine of the United States, and merchantmen are seldon seen. Vessels requiring to refit may obtain almost any stores they may stand in need of in addition to live stock, provision, and refreshments.

The tariff continues the same as that I had the honor of forwarding to the department last year. Unless something takes place to give rise to the existence of strictly "commercial relations" between America and New Zealand, she will remain unknown and unnoticed save by those hardy New England adventurers who now monopolize an occupation formerly prosecuted all over the world, and who frequent New Zealand ports for the purpose of refitting their ships in order to enter with renewed vigor into their dangerous trade of chasing the whale.

ST. HELENA.-George Gerard, Consul.

JULY 30, 1862.

The following extract of a despatch from the United States consulate at St. Helena is inserted in this report with the view to direct attention to prevent the introduction of the insect described into this country:

"The ravages of an insect called the 'white ant' (a species of worm) are truly alarming. The whole town is nearly in ruin by the working of these pests. They spare neither wood nor iron. I found, however, the archives of the consulate exempt from the ravages, having been placed in a good iron safe. In removing the safe in the new consulate I found that the ants had begun to work their way through the iron underneath, but having applied a coat of tar, I believe they will abandon, at least for the present, their evil designs."

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The year 1861 has, I am happy to say, been a more prosperous one for the trade and commerce of Gambia than either of the two previous. The yield of the ground-nut crops was more abundant, and consequently the natives who cultivate them were enabled to purchase more largely of Ameri

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