Ball to the Colonial Secretary of British Columbia

Lytton July 6th 1862

The Colonial Secretary,
British Columbia

Sir,

I have the honor to forward for the information of His Excellency the Governor my Collectorate Account of the Lytton District for the month of June.

In compliance with the wish of His Excellency contained in your letter of the 20th May respecting the vaccination of the Indians, I engaged the Resident Medical Practitioner to travel to all the different Rancheries in the District, extending from Boston Bar to Foster's Bar on the Fraser, and to Nichola River, to vaccinate every Indian. This has been done to the number of 1790.

Yet the disease has not spread into the interior of British Columbia. An expense of Forty Pounds for the services of the Doctor has been incurred which I request may be allowed in my next month's accounts.

The works on the Roads between Boston Bar and Cook's Ferry are being carried on with energy and activity, and good substantial work placed on both Lines. Mr. Spencer anticipates being able to complete his Contract by the end of August, nearly 20 miles in different sections being already made.

About 11 1/2 miles are completed along the Thompson River, and the Line has been commenced on the other side of the Ferry. The distance completed is but small in consequence of the heavy nature of the Grading of the side Hills. There is no scarcity of Labor as many of the immigrants who went into the Upper Country at the commencement of the Spring have been obliged to return for want of means; many of them turning back ere they had proceeded half-way.

I have received information from Quesnelle Forks, that many miners are leaving the Cariboo District and passing over via the South Fork Lake of Quesnelle, to the streams rising in a bald range and flowing into the North Branch of the Thompson River. Good diggings are reported to have been struck on these streams. A few parties are gone into that District from this place but no authentic information has reached me respecting the richness of the claims.

I am happy to inform His Excellency that I do not anticipate any scarcity of Provisions in the Cariboo District. Numbers of Horses have arrived in the Country from the [Oregon?] District, which are chiefly employed in transport purposes.

There are Sixty-Four Trains of Animals employed packing between Yale and the Forks of Quesnelle, averaging each about 30 Animals, but the rates of Freight still continue very high, and also the prices of all provisions. In the latter there is but little diminution since the Spring. Freight from Yale to the Quesnelle is still as high as 40 cents per lb.

It is with satisfaction I can report on the quiet state of the District and the absence of all Crime.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
Henry M. Ball
Police Magistrate