BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 799, 23 June 1865, Page 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Intelligence from Victoria (Vancouver's Island) is to 25th March, by way of San Francisco:—

The Governor of British Columbia proposes that the Legislature give a pension to the widow of Donald M'Lean, who fell in the service of his country. On the 20th, Rev. John Hall preached his farewell sermon in the First Presbyterian Church, in Victoria, of which he is pastor. He goes to New Zealand. His pulpit is to be filled by Rev. Mr. Summerville, of Glasgow. The estimated cost of the maintenance of prisoners at the Victoria gaol is sixty-three cents per diem. The food is fresh, wholesome, and well cooked, and the clothing is warm and comfortable. The prisoners, in fact, have nothing to grumble at except the work.

Governor Seymour has declined to place a tax of 5 dollars per annum on all Chinese who engage in mining, on the ground thafc her Majesty's instructions expressly prohibit him from assenting to " any ordinance whereby persons of African, Asiatic, or Indian birth may be subjected to or made liable to any disabilities or restrictions to which persons of European birth or descent are not also subjected or made liable." If, therefore, the Chinese be compelled to take out licenses, the compulsion must be made universal. The Governor concurs tully in the opinion ofthe petitioners that the Chinese are not the most desirable colonists whom our gold mines attract, and lie has thought it consistent with justice to allow the tariff to press with Borne severity on articles mainly consumed by them. Leech River—A gentleman from this locality reports that everything is still frozen, and no mining is going on. . Several gulches, which prospects well, have been struck, but cannot be worked until April. The weather is muoh colder ia the mines than here.