IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■-IM t 1^ IZ2 1.8 U IIIIIL6 <^ /a ^/. ^ / '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEf (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SU9VRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmds d des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 ' t 2 3 ; 4 5 6 3Mmm*^^'i'*y-¥mm REPORT TO ACCOMI'AMT THE BLUE BOOK OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, A FOR THE VEAK t^WO $ BT LIEUT. GOVERNOR ROBINSON. CHARLOTTETOWX : BREMNEll BROTHERS, I'RINTERS, QUEEN STREET. m -M. LNDEX TO REPORT. ^* Paut I. General 2 II. Soil 5 A(;roa,u;e, Ftirm Stook and Implements -.....') Principal Farm ProductioUfi ------.-.(; III. Climate ,S Mcteo?'ological i-cturu ------....[) IV. Land (Question 10 Return of Estates purchased by Governmeut 13 V. Poi'CLATiOK, Education, Crime, &c. 15 Comparative return of Population ----.. - - 15 Education ---..... . . . n Libraries, Newspapers, and Institutions 18 Gaols and Prisoners - - - - - - - - . -19 Comparative return of Crime for last 4 } ears 21 Paupci-ism ...........21 Limatic Asylum - - - - . - - - - . -22 VI. Manufactures, Fisheries, and Coal ._.... 23 Comparative return of Manufactures 23 Fisiieries 23 Coal 21 VII. Government 27 Ft)rm of fi(jvernineiit -- - . - . - - . .27 Political Franchise ----...... 28 Lejiislation ...........^'J Civil i'.id Judicial Establishments ....... 30 Administration of Justice ---... ...3] VIII. Commerce and AciRicuuTURE 33 Imi)ort;> and Exports ---------. 33 '^^liipp'",^' 35 Aiiriculturc ............39 '"••'••'i-^ 39 ^Vages 4Q IX. Financial 42 Revenue and Expenditure - - - . . . . --42 Local Revenue - - - - - . . . . ..48 Public Debt 4;;^ liioiks 43 Sa\ings Bank -----...-..50 Coin &c. in cirtadation ....... . ,5^ Currency - - . - . . . . . . -.51 X. JMlSCELLANEOUS ...--.- . . .54 Post OlUce 54 iVIilitia --------... -54 Conclusion - "--------.56 w 'f'm ■'■f'l f 4*. REPORT 1 TO ACCOMrANV TUE BLUE BOOK OF I'liiiXCE EDWARD ISLAND, FOR THE YEAR 1«70. No. 87. My IjOVA), GOVEEXMENT IIOUSE, Prince Edward Island, 27tli December, 1871. 1 have tlie honor to forward the Bhie Book of PrUice Edward Island lor J870, the preparation of Avhich hiis l)een delayed by the non-coni[)letion of the pi'inted commercial retnrns. 2. Some years havin^i;' elapsed since the Bine Book was reported upon in detail, or the Colony described for the infoi'mation of those at a distance, I beg leave on this occasion to snbmit the following remarks : The Right Hon. The Earl of Kimberley, &c. &c. &C. IM REPORT ON THE I'AIIT I. GENERAL. 1. Pi-inee Edvvu'-u Island situated in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawi'ence, and separated from Xova Scotia and I^ew Brunswick by the Strait of Northumberland, which vai'ies from nine to thirty miles in width, is al^out loO miles long-, from 10 to .'U broad, and contains an area of 2.1134 square miles. 2. Communication with the neighbouring j)rovinces is kept uj), throuj^hout the period of navig-ation, by means of excellent steam- ers running- tri-weckly from Charh)ttetf>wn (the ca|)ital of the Isl- and) to Pictou in Nova Scotia, and Shediac in New Bi'unswick. Freight and passenger steamers connect weekly W'th Quebec and the Cfulf Ports to the north, and with Halifax and Boston to the south. 3. We arc in direct telegraphic communication with Canada, the United States, and, via Canada, with Europe; and telegraph olHces have been established in the princi[)al towns and settlements of the province. 4. In winter, travelling is attended with considerable discomfort, and the isolation of the island at that season of the year is one of the greatest draw^jacks to the place. 5. The navigation generally closes towards the middle or end of December. By the first W(!ek in January the harbours, with one exception, are covered with a strong coating of ice, and the coloni- al steamers laid up for the winter, not to re-commence running, as a rule, until the end of April or the beginning of May. During the winter months mails and passengers are conveyed across the Strait in ice-boats which ply between Cape Traverse in Pi'ince Ed- ward Island, and Cape Tormentin in New Brunswick. The dis- tance across at this point is about nine miles, and the passage occupies from three to eight hours, according to the state of the weather. All male i)assengers arc expected to assist in hauling the ice-boats, female passengers rarely face the transit except in the most favorable weather, and under circmiistances of urgent neces- sity. 6. An Act was passed during the last session of the Legislature providing for the constnictiou of a Railway from Charlottetown -t RLUE BOOK FOR 1870. eastward to Go()r<>^ut()\vn and Souris. and westward to Albcrton and Tif-nish. In (rcor^etown harbonr, wliloh laces the Avidest part ofXorthunihcrland Strait, the ehaniiel remains open nearly a month later, and the iee breaks ni» in the spring- Cully a month earlier, than hi the harl)onr of Charlottetown. There is no reason why a steamer, constructed on tlie ])rin('ii)le of those used on the river Saint Lawrenc-e, should not be placed on the route from Cfeorjje- town to rictou in Nova Scotia. This, T hope, will be done, so soon as the llailway shall be completed from Chai-Iottetown to (ieorj:;etown; and then our steam commnnication with the neig-h- bouring i)iovinces need not be stopjjcd for more than two months in the yeai-. 7. Charlottetown, the seat of Government, is^ situated npon a |)oint of rising- ground at the coulluence of the York and Hillsbo- rough rivers. I'he town, which contains a1)()ut 10,000 inhabitants, is well laid out in broad streets intersecting each other at right angles, and seve.al good sized squares; but in wet weather the streets are almost imi)assable (cr(jssings and pavements being alike unknown), and tiie sipiares, with one ex;ce]ition, are so ill-kejit and neglected as to be anything l)ut an ornament to the city. The prin- cipal pul)lic buildings\'()ns'ist of the Colonial Building, a fme stone edilice erected ni 1842, and an e((ually handsome brick ])uilding which has just l)ecn c(mi])leted. The former contains accommoda- tion for the diiferent branches of the Legislature and the pul)lic (.mcers of the Colony; the latter is intended to be used as a Court House and I'ost Ollice. Thei-c are numerous Churches in the town — Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, jNIethodist, Baptist, Bible Christian— but I do not think that any of them can claim to be |)ossessed of much architectural beauty. The private houses are mostly built of wood, but a good many brick buildings have recently been erected, which give a more substantial and regular api)earance to the streets, and will contribute to security from fire. The allairs of the city are undcsr the management of a Mayor and Cori)oi-ation, who maintain a small Police force, and sni)ervise gen- I'rally the business of the municipality. Improvements urgently needed in Charlottetown ai'c good sewerage, a cheap and plentiful supply of wholesome water, macadamized streets, and side-walks. 8. The other chief towns are Georgetown in King's County, and Summerside in Prince County. It was originally intended that Princetown should be the capital of the western district, but not being so well situated with respect to its harbour as are Charlotte- ^TO^^^^ T REPORT ON TIIK wn and (ieorsetown, lai-gf vessels hciu^ unable to approach le Khore, Sumnierside has (luite in(.n(.p..li/cHl the business ol the junty, and is rapidly iuiprovin^- iu appcaranee ^^"^^^'"n'ojtance. Che population of Sumnierside amounts now to 1,^17, that ol jreory;etown to 1,0.110. Seen from the water, the api)earanee of Prince Edward Island is cxceeding-ly prei)ossessin-. On approacliin<>^ the coast the coun- try allbrds a charming picture of cultivated and well wooded laml, with villages nnd cleared farms dotted along the shore, and by the sides of the bays and rivers. The country is everywhere intersectecl with navigable harbours and tortuous aims of the sea, no part o the island being much more than eight miles from the el)l)ing and flowing of the tide. 10. The land is generally speaking flat, but rises here; and there to a moderate height, without being anywhere so mountainous as to impede the operations of the agriculturist. On the whoie the confonnation of the island is good; the scenery is home-like and agreeable; while thickly scattered, flon.-ishing homesteads indicate a°degree of comfort and prosperity ra.'jly met with hi a new country. liLUE BOOK FOR 1S70. TAllT TI. SOIL. 1. Pi-incc Edward Tslaiid is roiiKirlcablo for tlio fci-tility ol'its soil, and it nuty bo conlidcntly as.sortrd that, with tlie e\(ci)li()n ol'a lew boo-s aud swamps, composed of a soft si)on,uy turl", or a deep layer oi'^wet bhu'k mouUl, the whole ..m..ii(1 ccmsists of hij>hly vahiablo ci'Hivablo land. The soil, Avhieh is well watered with numerous i -ing-s and rivers, is formed for tlu- most part of a rieh layer of ve<'-et';iblc matter above a brig:ht loam, restin«:>- upon stiff clay and sandstone; the land in its natui-al state bein-- e<.vered with tuuber and shrubs of every variety, amongst whieh the eedar, mountmn-ash,^ wild-cherry, &c., are conspicuous for their beauty and delicacy of appearance. 2. All kinds of grain and vegetables gro. ii in England ripen here in great perfection, and the following particulars, taken from the census of 1871, will shoAV the geiu al iiiiprove))!ciit that has takemilacc in the agricultural condition of the c. lony during the lasi Lcii years; premising, for the purpose of >1iowing of Avhat the island is capal)le,that two-thirds of the w]i>)U are wtill uncultivated: ACREAUE, FARM STOGJi AXD LMPr.EMENTS. 18C1 1871 lu- creasc. De- crease. No. of persons hoUlinji; land Acres held in fee simple Acres held l)y leiuse or ajfrcement for lease Acres held l)y verbal agreement Occupiers neither freeholders nor leaseholders (squat- ters) Acres of aral)lc land held by all families . Horses Neat Cattle Sheep Hoos Threshing Machines Fauuinjf Mills* MowiuK Macliines* Haymalviu";- Machines* Hay Elevators* Stumpinjr Machines* Mud Dij;gers* Other useful Machines* Carts, TruclvS, and Trucli Waggons* . . . . Biding Waggons and Carriages, Wood Sleds and Jaunt- ing Sleiglis* * Not previously enumerated. 10,741 405. oi;.' I07.1(l!> 38,440 04,030 ,'{08.1'.'7 18.70,") 00,012 107,245 38,553 850 11,512 01»7,5!»8 -'TiJ.OOl 20,'J31 30,110 445,103 25,321) 02,984 147,304 52,514 1,007 1.002 1,024 578 115 133 1,402 2.509 14,295 24,884 771 231,050 70,970 0,504 2,970 40,119 13,901 751 127,508 17.509 34,526 ■''•^f., -ca* 6 REPORT ON THE IMUNCIPAL FAILM THODUCTIOXS KAISKD IN 18G0 AND 1870, RK- SPKCTIVELY. 1800 1870 Inin-ensc. Decrease. Bushels \V\w:\t ;MO,iL'r) 209,;!!)2 7G,7:!o ■■ liiK'kwlu'at r.(),iL'7 75.1(il> 24,1)82 — Uailoy i".';!.io."> i7(i.4n — 5G,754 " (tats L'.LM8,.-.78 ;l.ll'0.57t! ',)01,1V,>8 — ■' I'cilatdcs *J.57l.',or>5 3,;!7r.,720 80;!.;!iii — '• 'riiriiiiis . . , . ;MS,78-1 yi)5,;!.-.s 4(!,574 — r.eaiis* — r,xi — — IVas* — 741 — — " Tmliaii Corn* — 2,111 — — TiiiKiihv Soi'il* ..... — S,(I45 — — ('li)vur Soed ;'.L'i ;i,2r.) 2.S98 — Tons I lav 31,(is8 G8,34!» 37,2(!1 — Ll)s. Flax* — 27,2S2 — — " nutter 7ii.fsr. !»8i.;i;!!) 270,454 — '■ ClK't'SO ]oit.L';i;! 155,221! 45.'.t',i() * Not previously eniiinrralcd. o. I have ivceiitly I'eceivcd rroni Dr. Dawson, F. li. S., rriueipal of McCiill Univer.sity, Montreal, a highly interesting- and exhaustive report of g-eologieal explorations made by him in July and August of the present year, under the direction of the local (iovennnent, and of which I ho])e to be able to send Your Ijoi'dshij) very shortly a pi-inted copy. Meanwhile the Ibl lowing extracts under the heads ol' Soil.'i and P<(if, at^fael will be of interest: ' /iSo/7.s. I'lio great wealth of Prince Edward I.slaiul c()iisist.s in its fertile soil, and the preservation of this in :i produetive state is an object of imper- ative importance. The ordintny soil of tlie island is a bright red lotnn. passing into stilf clay on the one iiand tiiul sandy l(>am on the other. Naturally it contains all the mineral requisit(>s for cultivated crops, while its iiI»onnding in peroxide of iron enables it rapidly to digest organic manures, and also to retain well their ammouiacal 2>rodiicts. The chief natural manures atforded by the Island, and which may be used in addition to the farm manures to increase the; fertility of the soil or restore it when exhausted, are — (1 ). The Mussel jMud oi' oyster shell mud of the Bays. Experience has proved this to be of the greatest value. (2). Peat and Marsh Mud tmd swamp soil. These alford organic matters to the run-out soil at a very clieaj) rate. (3). Seaweed, which can be obtained in large (pituititii's on many parts of the shores and is of great maiiurial vtdue whether fresh or composted. (4). Fish Olfal. The heads and bouos of Cod are more especially of much practical importauco and should be more carefully preserved thtui ;it present. BLUE BOOK FOE 1870. (5), Liinostone. The brown earthy limestones of the Island are of much value hi allbrding a supply of this material as well as small quantities of phosjihatcs and alkalies. Where manures require to be piuchased from abroad, those that will be found to produce the greatest etfects arc those capal)le of allbrding phosphates and alkalies, more especially bone earth, superphosphate of lime and guano ; but where Hsh otlal and seaweed can be procured in sidKcient (|uantity, or good dressings of the oyster deposit arc applied, these foreign aids may well be dispensed with at least for many years. Peat as Fuel. The (picstion of fuel is likely, from the rsipid disappear- ance of the forests to be a matter of extreme importance in Prince Edward Island. The cheapness of Coal in Nova Scotia, along wi(h the easy trans- port by water to most parts of the island, and the convenient inland trans- portation Avhich will be atforded by the railway now in progress, must prevent any serious difficulty ; but it is worthy of consideration Avhether measures should not be taken by the Government for the protection of the remainder of the forests ; and whether the time has not come for the utilization of the large deposits of Peat existing in some parts of the province. In European Comitries, and more recently in Canada and the United States, I'eat has connnanded much attention as a cheap and convenient fuel. In its natural state, or merely air-dried, it has been much employed for local consumption, though of very inferior heating power to coal ; but when pulped or conii)ressed and thoroughly dried it has been found capable of competing with coal and wood on equal terms both for steam production and domestic use. ( 'harred Peat has also become an important article of consumption as a substitute for wood, charcoal and coke. The imi)ortance of this subject may be inferred from Ihe following calculations by Dr. Harrington as to the quantity of peat in the three grcMit turl)aries noticed under a previous head- ing — Lennox Island Bog, 20,-200 tons, value ..t $4 $80,800.00 Sipiirrel Creek, ,^)00,000 Black Bank, 1,777,248 2,000,000.00 7,lO8,')!t2.00 2,21)7,448 $t),18!»,7l»2.00 Dr. Harrington has made comparative trials of the peat Avith that in use in Canada Avitli the results stated below, which show that the quality in the case of the largest of the three deposits is excellent, and as the facilities for its extraction find shipment, especially at the Black Bank, are all that could l)e desived, there can be no doubt that the three deposits above, without mentioning others, are capal)lc of supplying a very large (piantity of good fuel. That desei-viug of attention in the first instance is undoubtedly the Black Bank at Cascunipec, both on account of the readiness of access to it and its good quality. It is also to be observed that another deposit exists iu Cascumpec Bay, and is said to be of great extent, though we had not an op- portunity to examine it or to obtain Bpccimcus for analysis. I wmum 8 EEPORT ON THE PAIIT III. CLIMATE. 1. The climate of Prince Edward Island is remarkably healthy- The cold is certainly much more severe, and lasts for a longer period than in England; but, on the other hand, the atmosphere is dry and salul)rious, and the island possesses a summer climate of such brightness and beauty as to compensate, to a great extent, for the long winter and backward spring. An excellent description of the climate was furnished to the Colonial Office by Lieut. Governor Sir Donald Campbell in 1S19, from Avhicli I cannot do better than quote the following extracts: The weather generally becomes unsteady in the early part of November, and sometimes sharp frosts with showers of snow take place before the middle of that month, the frost jrradiially increasing until the ground resists the plough, which is ordinarily about the second week in December. The cold then increases rajiidly and the ground is covered with snow. During the months of fTauuarv and Fcl)ruary the weather is usually steady, with the thermometer occasionally from 10' to 20" below zero of Fahrenheit, but some- times a thaw takes place and by laying the ground hare of its winter c(jvering, occasions great inconvenience. Travelling is suspended and becomes ditKcult, and the hauling of hrewood, which is usually accomplished at that period, is prevented. March, as in I*]ngland, is a windy month, and is throughout very chang(>al)le. About the close of this month the snow rapidly melts, and the ice in the rivers and l)ays l)ecomcs rott(!n and dangerous to pass, and wholly disa[)[)cars except in late seasons, al)out the middle of Ai)ril. Strong south- erly winds now commence, and the last vestiges of frost 8pe<'dily vanish. The spring is short, and in the l)eginning of .June the sununer hursts forth, and from this time until the end of Septeml)er the climate resembles that of the southern coast of Eni>'land. The thermometer, however, during calm weather, indicates a greater degree of heat, but the sea I)ree/,e seldom tads to lower the temperature before the sun i-eaches the zenith, so that little in- convenience thence arises. About the middle of September the evenings get cool, and the autunui properly conmiences. In Lower Canada the winter is nearly two months longer than in thi« island, the frosts more severe, and the snows deeper, while the temperature during summer is equally hot. In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ca]ie Breton the frosts are e(|nally severe, the transitions from one extreme of temperature to another more sudden, with Irerpient fogs along those jjarts that border on the Atlantic and the Bay of Fund}'. Prince Edward Island is almost entirely free from those fogs to which the surrounding countries are subject. This remarkable exemption is accounted for Avhen Ave consider that the waters which Avash tin; shores of the island do not come in immediate contact with those of a diU'erent temperature ; and BLUE BOOK FOK 1870. 9 that Ciipc Breton iind NcwfouiulluiKl, both of which aro high and mountainous, lying l)ot\vcon it and the Athintic, arrost the, fogs wliicii would otherwise be driven from the banks to Prince Edward Island. The air is clear and sahibrious, and the climate at all seasons is much more healthy than that of the greater part of Upper ("anatla or the United States, the intermittent fevers of which countri('s are here of very rare occm-encc. 2. I am indebted to Mr. II. ,\. Ciindall of CharlottctovvD for the following meteorological return : Moiitli. Tiicrniometor • Harometer at 9, a. ni. tn o . s >> Mean temp. Coldest day. No. of (lays on which rain or snow fell. O -3 y if. c g 1g i Mean est. Low- est. V be s Iligli- est. Low- est. 5 Mcanj temp.i H " Januiiry - - If) -24 40 -11 51 1 !30-51 29-58 0-93 1 :35-50 -2 11 3 _ Feln'Uciry - - March - - - 13-74 44 -21 65 ■30-70 29-07 1 -63 36-00 -7-50 5 9 - ;50-«7 !,'J 4 55 '30-53 2!t-34 1-19, ■44-00 17 -.50 8 6 - April - - - ;;ii-70 C,H 9 59 ;30-43 29-60 0-83' ;47-50 16 11 3 - May - - - 4;V48 75 27 48 30-46 29-62 0-84 5(;-.")0 35 5 3 1 .June - - - - 1 .')4-()6 «;{ 33 50 30-40 29-55 0-85 64 •50 44 16 1 2 July - - - Au;.ftist - - - !(;2-()4 8;? 41 42 30-22 29-72 0-50 '69-50 52 7 8 3 !6;i-42 80 41 39 30-37 29-83 0-54 [71-50 51 8 2 1 Sejitciuber - - .'>2-.'i7 74 29 45 30-33 29-67 0-66 62-50 35 11 .3 1 October - - - 40-00 .57 20 37 30-67 29-41 1-26 ;52-50 25 11 2 - November - - ;32-97 CO 14 46 30-70 29-54 1-16 50-00 17*50 14 5 - December - - 21-64 36 - 2 38 30-62 29-30 1-32 i32-00 3-50 13 — ;5«-G4 83 -21 104 30-70 29-07 1-63 71 -.50 -7 -.50 120^ 38 8 -i1 4 2 '■< 5 If i 10 REPORT OjS^ the PART IV. THE LAND QUESTION. 1. The chief diflieulties connected with Prince Edward Island were centred nntil very recently in a condition of land tennres which were at vai-iance with poinilar habit and fcelini? on this side of the Atlantic. 2. Towai-ds the close of the last century, this island, various schemes luivinj- been proposed for its cultivation and settlement was parcelled out into sixty-seven townships and granted by the Imperial authorities to individuals having claims on the Govei-iiment of the day (chiefly officers who had served during the seven years War), on terms and conditions as to settlement which may be thus briefly classified: (1). The payment of certain (juit-rents. varying according to the scvei-al lots from two to six shilhngs sterling per 100 acres, payable annually on one-half the grant at the expiration of five years, on the whole at the expiration of ten years from the date of the grant. (2). A reservation of such part of each lot as might afterwards be found necessary for fortifications or public purposes; and of 100 acres for a church and glebe, and 30 acres for a school-master. (3). A reservation in the grants of certain townships abattin^»- upon the sea shore, of 500 feet from high-water mark, for the pur*^ poses of a free fishery. (4). A reservation of all mines of gold, silver and coal. (5). That the grantee of each township should settle the same within ten years from the date of the grant, in the proportion of one person to every 200 acres. (G). That if one-third of the land was not so settled within four years from the date of the grant the whole should be forfeited. 3. On these terms the original proprietors accepted their "-rants, Prince Edward Island being at that time attached to the province of :N'ova Scotia. In the following year (1768) the proprietors pe- titioned that the island might be erected into a separate government undertaking at the same time to defray the expense of it from the quit-rents, and proposing, in order to provide a fund for the pur- BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 11 pose, to commence paying their quit-rents at the expiration of three years, instead of five, from the issue of the grants. On this under- standing the application of the proprietors f'or the political separa- tion of the island from Nova Scotia Avas assented to b}^ the Imperial Government, and the first local Government and Legislature were forthwith organized accordingly. But it was soon found that a fund dependent upon the payment of the rpiit-i'ents was entirely too precarious to maintain the local Government, and in 1777 the civil exi)enditure of the colony became a charge on the Imperial Exchequer.* 4. During the first ten years the term« of settlement with refer- ence to population were complied Avith in ten townships, nine others were partially settled, and forty-eight entirely neglected; the per- sons emigrating under the auspices of the pi-oprietors (who were mostly resident in the mother country) being allowed leases for 999 years on the followhig conditions: First and second year . . No rent. Third year 3d. per acre. Fourth year 6d. " Fifth year 9d. " Sixth year Is. " to continue for the remaindei' of the term at one shilling sterling per acre. And thus, in a [)art of the woi'ld where the pi-oprietary system has always been unj)opular with the peojjle, and where the easy acquisition of li-eehold propei'ty by those who cultivate the soil is general and expected, was established a state of things as between landlord and tenant, a class warfare and discontent, which practically retarded the progress and development of the colony. 5. One would think that leases for 999 years at one shilling an acre, which were readily granted by the landlords to those who were desirous of settling in the colony, ouizht to have satisfied the reasonable expectations of pei-sons emigrating from a country where leases of even one-tenth the dui'ation were rare. But as the popu- lation of the island increased the desire of the settlers to be pos- sessed of the fee simple of their farms, thwarted as was this desire by the fiict above stated that the whole of the land was rigidly locked up in the hands of a few absentee proprietors, led to an agitation which can only now be said to be finally subsiding. ♦ The Colony contimicd in the rccei|)t of assistance from the Imperial I'urliament until the year 1851, when, on the introduction of liespoiihible Government, the maintenance of the Civil List (with the exception of the Lt. Governor's salary, which was paid from home until ISO'J) was undertaken by the local Legislature, M ;i; 12 EEPOJri^ ox TJIE (). At first tlie landlords were all-powci-ful. Gradually, however tlie lessees, l)em<,- resident on the land, electing and constitutino- in great part the reprcsentati\e legislature, and recognizing their Apo- litical i)ower, hecamc eagei- to make themselves, if possible, the actual proi)rietors of the soil. 7. AV'ith this object in view acts were from time to time passed by the local legislature which, had they been assented to by the Crown, would have had tlie elfect of transferring property in land from the owner to the tenant. These were, "An Act for establishing a Oourt ot Lscheat," by which it was proposed that that the lands ol those ])roprietors who had failed to comply with the conditions ot their grants might be escheated and re-granted in small tracts to actual settlei-s; "An Act for settling doubts as to titles;" "The lenants Compensation Act;" "An Act for imposing a tax on the rent-roll of proprietors;" none of which, however, were confirraed by the Crown. 8 Mattei;s went on in this way for many years, and attempts disallowed ni one form were as oCfcn insinuated in another, the Koyal prerogative benig on each occasion exercised for the protection ot legal rights, and the maintenance of the laws of i)ro])erty. 9 The inutility of such attempts became at len-th ai)parent, and of late years the policy of the local govei-nment has been to devote as much money as could be spared to buving out the i)roprietor8 by private contract, with a view to the propei'ties purchased in block being subdivided aiul resold to the tenants for gradual payments on as easy terms as the country could possil)ly affoi-d,and ccMlainlv on tar easier terms than would have been exacted by the proprietoi-s. 10. This wise policy has done much to allav excitement and discon- tent on the and question. It is hoped that the few remaining i)ro- prietors ^ylll sooner or later be induced to sell, and those of the tenants who have not yet been able to acquire tlieii- freeholds may at all events look forward to the accom{)lishment of what is still the great aim and desire of almost every tenant-fa rinei- in Pi'ince Ed- ward Island. 11. I subjoin a return showing the numljerand area of the estates which have been purchased by the colony, the price paid per acre, the quantity o land resold to the occupiers, and the quantity of disposable land still remaining in the hands of the local Govern- ment : BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 13 SCHEDULE OF TOWNSIILPS AND ESTATES PIUCIIASKD liV THE CO- LONIAL GOVEllXMENT FKOM THE I'lloriHKTOKS IX liLOCK, WITH A VIEW TO TIIEIK UEINCJ KESOLD TO THE TENANTS. r>ATK OF 1'1,'UCHASE. Nauik of riioritlKTOK. Total AllEA. I'ltICK PEu'Aciii;, SlIlllMNG. TOIAI, IMiiciiASi; MoM.V IN ^TKIM.INC. NiMllKIl OF ACliF.S liF.SOI.I). I** Dec. 28tli, 185-1. June 2m], IS')!]. Sopt. ITtli, LSOO, Nov, LMth, l.SOO. Oc-t. Ikli, 1803 Juno 1st, 1804 May lOth, 1805 April 7tli, 1800. July Ist, 18GG Nov. 15tli, 1807 July i;3tli, 1808 Feb. 4lli, 1809 ) Mar. lOtli, 1801) i March 25tli, 1809 March '^U{, 1H70 Chas. AVorrcll, Esq. Sir M. AValsh Earl ol" Selkirk Ass'urt of a bankrupt Sir (1. Montgomery and brothers Sir S. Cuiiard Kev. (J. Towiiscnd J. C. Pope, Es(|. T.II.IIavilaiul.Es(i. Dan. nodjjrson, Esq. K. Palmer, Es(|. 70,539 12,720 02,059 13,000 22,931 212,931 •fs 3 2 2 3 d. 11 n Of A 3'i £ s. d. 13,700 13 4 1,900 0.012 2,000 4,905 10 4 111^153,000 3.715:0 3 Hi] 733 8 7,413!o 7 4|j 2,720 24,107,0 5 1 3,72s'o 5 11 -J 11.92.s!o .S 2 445,1311 0,140 13 4 1,015 9 4 4,970 98,435 13 2 52,405 11,340 02.059 11,029 21,739 157,917 1 ,288 0,822 9,143 3,474 7.05.S 345,474 18, 1, no 1, 134 380 no, 371 1,192 55,014 2.427 591 15,024 254 4,270 99,057 12. From the ahow Kt'iiirii it will be seen that since 1854: we have bou*:>'ht up from the jji-oprietoivs, at a total cost of .£98,435 13 s. 2d., 4:4:5,l^)l acres of laiul, of wliich ;U5,-174 have been resold to the occupiers, and 9!),(i57 are still available for intending purchasers. 13. The unsold lands are forest lands of medium quality (the best huids liaving of course been taken up by the tenants in the lirst instance) the selling" price of whicli varies from four shillings to six shillings and eight pence per acre. For the same lands the proi)rietors would probably have charged from five to fifteen shil- lings per acre. 14. By an Act of the Colonial Legislature |)assed in 1808 (31 Victoria, Caj). 4) lacilities are ofi'ered to individuals who may desire to settle on the public wilderness lands. Amongst other privileges they are allowed ei-hrecn years to pay for their farms— the first eight years fi'ce, the purchase money then to bear interest at five per cent, and to be ])ayable in ten annual instahnents. 15. It is indisputable that new settlers would be a source of in- creased wealth to the counti'y, but on the other hand it is argued, I 14 REPORT ON THE I believe, that the area of unoccupied land is no larger than will hereafter be required to meet the wants of the natural increase of the existmg population, and no steps have been taken by the local (xovernment, or organized system established in connection with an agency at home, for the encouragement of immigration. I may ob- serve that there is a tax on immigrants arriving in the colony of 8s. »d. per head, which was imposed before the enactment of the Im- -nl? W v-'?"f.^'' ^n^ ^^^'V^ ^^"^- ^""i'- 11^' ^« amended by 26 and ^7 Vict. Cap. 57, and still remains unrepealed. BLUB BOOK FOR 1870. 15 PART V. POPULATION, EDUCATION, CRIME, &c. 1. I give below an abstract, compiled from the last two censuses, which shows that the population amounts now to 9-1,021 against- 80,857 in 1861, being an increase of 13,101: in ten years. 1801 1871 Tn- De- crease (;iease Number of Inhabitants : Total population - - . . Males ..-..-. Females .-...- Natives of the island - - Natives of other countries - Keugious Dknominations :* Church of England - - - Presbyterians - - - . - Churcli of Scotland - - - Roman Caiiiolics - - - - Methodists Baptists Bible Christians - - - - Uuivcrsalists - - . . . Other Denominations - - - MiSCKLLANF.OLS PARTICULARS : Birtiis Deatlis MarriajTCs ------ Deaf and Dumb - . - - Blind Insane - - 80,857 40.91 (J 39.941 02,8-16 18,011 0,785 15,591 10,271 35,852 5,809 3,451 2,561 41 490 2,320 938 585 68 43 148 94,021 47,121 40,900 80,271 13,750 7,220 18.003 10,970 40,442 8,301 4.371 2,709 77 1,202 2,344 941 550 70 04 188 13,164 0,205 0,959 17,415 435 3,021 705 4,913 2,552 920 148 36 443 24 3 2 21 40 4,261 35 ♦ There are now 187 Chnrches in the Colony, against 150 in 18GI, but the proportion be- longing to each denomination I iiave not yet been able to ascertain. 2. The decrease under the head of "Natives of other countries," as noted in the above table, accords with the remarks which I have already submitted on the subject of immigration. 3. The density of population for the whole island is rather more than 43 persons to the square mile, or if the unsettled lands be ex- cluded, 135 persons to the square mile. 4. The population is composed of a mixed race, about six-sev- enths of the whole being natives of the island, and one-seventh, of the United Kingdom, the neighbouring British Provinces, and other countries. The former (80,271) are chiefly descended from the French Acadians, who remained after the cession of the colony in iiH ■"^l 10 REPORT ON TIIP] 170;{; of settlers IVorn the llighhiudH of Scotland, who were intro- duced by the |)r()|)i'ietor8 of townships subsequently to 1770; and of American Loyalists, to whom lands were f^rantcd at the close of the i-evolutionary war. The latter (13,750) may be divided as follows: Natives of England - - - " Scotland - - - « Ireland - - - " Hritish Provinces " Other Countries l,9o7. 4,128. 3,712. ,'3,24G. 707. /). This reference to the population Avould not be complete with- out some mention of the Micmac Indians, of wliom a few are still remaining — a remnant of a once nnmei-ous and powerful tribe. The Indians number now about 300. They ai'e chieily located on Lennox Island, a small island of about 1,400 acres which has re- cently been purchased foi- their sole use and benefit by the Abori- gines Protection Society of l^ondon, at a cost of JB400, and Avhich is now about to be surveyed and jiarcelled out into suitable family lots. The Indians a])i)ear to have had a liking for, and to have squatted on, Lennox Island for many years, for I find it mentioned by the Land Commissioners in their report of 1802 that "as it ap- pears by evidence that the Indians have been in uninterrupted oc- cupancy of this property for more than half a century, and have built a chapel and several houses upon the same, the undersigned are of o])inion that their title should be confirmed, and that this very small portion of the wide territoiy their forefiithers formerly owned, should be left in the undisturbed possession of this last remnant of the race." 6. The purchase of this island by the Aborigines Protection Society, in order that the Indians might be secured in their tenure, was therefore an act of great benevolence. 1 am happy to think, having recently visited the island, that the condition of these poor people is improving, and that the allotment of a piece of land to each family will put an end to their boundary difficulties, a fruitful source of dispute, and tend to the further elevation of their general character and position. The Indian Commissioner, Mr. Stewart, whose indefatigable exertions on behalf of the Indians entitle him to the gratitude of the community, reports that "the question as to the capacity and willingness of the resident Indians to take to the cultivation of the soil, as an auxiliary to their manufacturmg pur- suits, equally with that of their children to be educated, is now no BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 17 longer questionable. The problem in both these particulars has been satisfactorily solved on Lennox Island, wheie three or four families have made considerable progress in the cultivation of the land, only answerable, of course, to the means at their disposal for this purpose; and where a Government School is now in successful opeiation." 7. The Legislature pays the salary of the school-master at Lennox Ishind, and allows about JSGO a year for the reliei' of pauper Indian.?, which Slim is administered by the Indian CommLssioiinr, and usually devoted to the purchase of blankets and a few medical comforts. Education. ^ 8. I submit an abstract or summary in a tabular form of thft Educational Statistics of Pi-ince Edward I.sland for 1870, derived from the reports of the School Inspectors, and the public accounts of the Colony: EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS, 1870. Number of enrolled Scholars. Aver, daily attendance. 1 Toachera' Salaries. Annual Expenditure on Education. Annual cost .leach pupi! on enrol- ment. ■r. a. 1 C ~r3 =^ ~= ^ ~. Si ^ ~J ? S =' « « ij 3 <-- Totul popu- lation of the (;olony. .O 2 iD 2-3 •« maxim. minim, .\verajje Total 1 of chil bet'u 5 372 15,000 9,000 X. s. d. 00 13 4 £ s. d. 23 C 8 £ s. d. 40 £ s. d. 13,333 6 8 £ s. d. 17 G £ s. d. 1 i) 7 94,021 25,952 9. The following extracts from a report recently furnished to me by Mr. John McNeill, the careful and efficient secretary to the Board of Education, afford a general view of the state of Education in the colony: The total population by the recent census is 94,021, of whom 25,952 are between the ages of 5 and 16. A sura of £13,000 Sterling of the public funds, or about one-fifth of the yearly revenue is annually expended on Education, maintaining 1 College or Academy, 15 Grammar Schools and 357 Common or District Schools, imparting instruction to a total of 15,000 chil- dren on the roll, of whom 9,000 or 6i'-39 per cent, of the whole are found ia daily average attendance. Of these schools, 103 are tauglit by female teach- ers. "With the sole exception of the College (Prince of Wales) the schools are free to all children, excepting a payment of a small fee to defray the cost of fuel. The parents build and maiutaiu the School-houses and provide requisite School-books and Stationery. 18 REPORT ON THE The siilarics vary acodrdiii;? to sex and qualifications, from a mii)iiniiin of £23 ()s. 8il. storlinj^ to tiio iiiaxiimiin of £l)G 13s. 4d. sterling per annum, the average yearly salary being £10 sterling. Of Granimiir Schools, there are fifteen in operation in the rural districts : tho teachers of which must l)e coini)ctent to i)ass an examination Ix'fore a Board of Kxaminers in the Greek, Latin, and French huiguugcs, and iu Mathe- matics. Cf the common Schools, there arc two classes ; in the lower of which, tho teachers must be found qualified to teach Heading, Arithmetic, English Grammar and Geography ; iu the higher class, iu addition to these branches, Theoretical and Practical Mathematics, with the use of the Globes is pre- Bcribcd. A Normal School is established for the training of Teachers with a staff of 3 Instructors, the principal of which is paid £133 6s. 8d. Sterling a year. The College or Academy above referred to, has a Princi[)al and one Prof- essor whose salaries are in part defrayed by the Student's fees. This Institu- tion costs the country £440 sterling a year, paid from the Colonial Treasury. The present School system came into operation iu tho year 18.53, since which time, tho schools htive more than doubled and tho school attendance has been trebled. A Board of Education of eleven Members appointed by Government whose salaries or fees do not exceed £l.'')0 sterling a year in the aggregate, adminis- ters in monthly sessions, the Public School System of Prince Edward Island. 10. Aclmittinf? that since the introduction of tho present school system in 18.3o ''the schools have more than tlonbled and the school attendance has been trebled," I still think that the foregoing statis- tics ai-e not altogether satisfactory. The return which precedes Mr. McNeill's report shows that the average daily attendance is small as compared Avith the juvenile population, while the cost to the country of each pupil in attendance is certainly in excess of what it ought to be; and I am disposed to concur with my prede- cessor that "thj results fi'om the voluntary system of free education, supported as it chiefly is by general taxation, can hardly be deemed commensurate with the large expenditure of public funds which it absorbs." Libraries, Newspapers, and Institutions. 11. The only Libraries that I know of are the Legislative Library (a large and well-stocked one, to which the members of the Legis- lature, the Bar, and the public officials generally, have access), one circulating Library in Charlottetown, and one in Summerside. BLUE BOOK Foil 1870. 19 12. Six weekly newspapers are piibllshecl in Charlottctown, two in Sunimerslde, and one in (k'oi'jjjetown. They usually devote a colunni, or so, to the hitest telej^raphie newn the remainder of their space being- mostly given up to advertisements, and the energetic discussion of local j)olitics. 13. The principal Institutions and Societies, apart from those supported by Govei-nment, are: Benevolent Iiish Society. Cascunipec Ladies' Benevolent Society. Catholic Young Men's Literary Association. Charlottctown Debating Club. Church of England Ladies' Industrial Clothing Society . Colonial Church and School Society. Diocesan Church Society. Lad* ' V Benevolent Society in connection with the Church of bcotland. Micniac (Indian) Society of Prince Edward Island. Orwell Young Men's Institute. Prince County Agricultural Society. Prince Edward Island Auxiliary Bible Society. Prince Edward Island Auxiliary Keligious Tract Society. Princetown Literary and Scientific Society. Roman Catholic Convent School. St. Dunstan's (Roman Catholic) College. St. Peter's Bay Agricultui'al Society. Wesleyan Dorcas Society. Wesleyan Methodist Academy. Young Men's Christian Association and Literary Institute. 14. The above enumeration, which does not include various Masonic and Temperance Conventions, will at all events suffice to show that Prince Edward Island is not wanting in several of those institutions and societies which serve to indicate the social and educational status of the community. Gaols and Prisoners. 15. I regret that it is not in my power to report any improyement under this heading, the Gaols of Prince Edward Island being in ff^ 20 TIEPORT ON THE much the same state as tluy were when the information respectinj^ them was (iirnished, whieh will he t'ound summarised at pa^es 29 and 1)1) of the Dijj^est on Colonial Prisons presented to Parliament in 18(57, from whieh to save i-eference I extract the followinjj re- marks: Priiico Edward Isltuid has throe Comity Gaols, which arc manasrcd uiulor local Statute 12 Vio. (^ip. 12 by jiisUcos solootod I>y the Lieut. Governor from each county to be Conimissioners lor givinji' ellect to the jirovisioiis of the Act. Gaolers are appointed hy tlie Sheritls, ^ledical OtKcers by the Lieut. (u)venu)r. Tiie (Jueen's County Gaol serves to some extent as a central prison, and to it may be, transferred from the others prisoners sentenced to hard labor, for which in them there is no provision. In fact it does not appear that such a transl'erenee is jjonerally made, and each of the three prisons is used for all classes of criminals, -ind occasionally for lunatics. The actual numbers are generally small, and below the capacity of the prisons. The action of the Comnussioncrs under the Act has not had the elFect of in- troducinir uniformity of systenj, diet, or treatment in these prisons, nor that of making them sanitarily satisfactory. In this latter respect all three are very deficient; while fh(> tiueen's (^ouuty Gaol provides no labor but liiat of stoiio breaking, and the others none. Separation and reformation arc not attempted. IG. In January last 1 addressed a eoiiununication to my Govern- ment on the sidiject of the (.Queen's Comity CJaol, in whieh (alter drawinj;' tlu>ir attention to the want of aceominodatlou for pris- oners, the defective state of the seweraij^e, and the absence oi' any- thing- like hard labour) I remarked as follows: "The Gaol is evidently too small, its staff too limited, for the present requirements of the colony. ^Fhe exi)erlenee of tht' mother country, and the labors of the eminent men who have made that ex])erience their study, prove that for prison discipline to be suc- ecssful you must have complete sejiaration (which of course means silence as well), classilicatiou, hard fare, and hard labor. The de- terrent property of hard labor should not be sacrificed to the remu- nerative — that is to say, it is more important to punish the prisoner than to make him profitable — and the reformation of Juvenile offenders shoidd be strenuously and systematically attempted. For all this you require of course space and a proper stall' of olHcers. But money so spent is well spent, and though the results may not be immediately apparent, they will be none the less certainly felt and appreciated. ■i BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 21 "The Establishment is defective in almost every sanitaiy, disci- plinary, and penal reqnirement; and tails far short, I feel bonnd to add, of what in my judgment the central prison of a pros|)ei'ouB colony with a population of nearly 100,(XX)and a revenue of £00,000 a year ought to be." 17. I am happy to report that my advisers are fully alive to the urgent necessity of removing the numerous defects now existing in the ])iisons, and that they will take an early opporrunity of ap[)lying to the Legislature for the necessary funds for the ])ur])ose. Cer- tainly tlie steady increase of crime exhibited by the following table, far exceeding as it does the proportionate inci-ease of i)opulation, and which can only be attributed, so far as I am aware, to the un- satisfactory condition and management of the local Gaols, shows that no time should be lost in dealing with a question of such par- amount im})ortance to the connniinity. COMPAKATIVK TAULE OF THE NUlMnEK OV OFFENCES, APl'KEIIEN- SIOXS, CONVICTIONS, AND ACQUITTALS FOU THE LAST FOUR VEAKH. 1867 1808 18()f) 1870 Tlic niiinl)or of ()iroi\('o.s ri'ported (;> the police - - • The iiunil)or of pi-rsons ajipri'luMKloil by the police or siiininoiuMi lii'lbro the luauislrates - - - - . Tlic iiiiiubor of f^imuiiiii'v coiiviclions : 1. For oni'iicos ji^'iiiust person - , - - - 2. For pri(>(lial larceny -..-..... 3. For otfpear .'it'tlie surface, and can be opened up without penetrating the overlying beds. In Prince Edward Island the case is dilfcrent, the ))eds being veiy nearly horizontal ; so that only the upper members can be seen, and these arc in many places covered with the Triassic series. The places explored by us in which the coal-measures are nearest the surface, are Governor's Island and Gallas P(jint, and the coast extending from West Cape to North Cape. To these may perhaps be added tiie coast near Wood Islands, where it is prol)able that tiie (.".irboiiiferous rocks may be covered with only a very limited thickness of Trias. If boring were undertaken at either of the above places, it might be hoped that the upper coals would be reached at a depth of not less than 500 or more than 2,000 feet. Siiould these prove too thin if) Ije worked, there would be little hope of reaching the lower coals at a less depth than .3,000 or 5,000 feet ; which would, of course, be a depth altogether too great for profitable working at present. The above estimate proceeds on the supposition that the coal-measures underlying Prince Edward Island are similar to those of Nova Scotia. It is to be obs. 1 /ed, however, that in New Brunswick there is reason to believe that the aggregate thickness of the Carboniferous rocks is much less, but unfortunately the beds of coal partake in tliis diminution of thickness. Should the coal rocks under Prince Edward Island, therefore, prove similar to those of New Brunswick, they Avould be found at a less depth, but on the other hand might be of less value. As the beds exposed at ^Mirainigash are in the line of the Buctouche anticlinal, on the coast of New Brunswick, and those of Gallas Point and Governor's Island are in the line of the Cape Tormentine anticlinal in the same province, and, as the beds have much the aspect of the Upper Carbon- iferous in New Brunswick, it might be inferred that the coals under these places may resemble those of New Brunswick. In that province no beds of coal of greater thickness than two feet are known. At Wood Islands the beds reached might be supposed to resemble more those of the northern part of Pictou District, in which no coals thicker than three feet are yet known in the Upper Coal-formation ; and the great beds of the Middle Coal-forma- tiou would probably at this place bo too deep to be profitably worked. V: !i 26 EEPORT ON THE On the other hand, it is possible, though there is no evidence of this, that the coal of the Upper Coal-formation luider Prince Edward Island miglit be more abundant than in the districts mentioned, and it is to be observed that those districts cannot be considered so fully explored as to render important new discoveries improbable. From these statements the general practical conclusion Avould be, — 1. That Carboniferous rocks, similar to those of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, probably underlie the whole of Prince Edward Island. 2. That, in certain places indicated above, the upper member of the Car- boniferous Series appears at the surflice iu a nearly horizontal and undis- turbed condition. 3. That boring operations prosecuted at these places would, undoubtedly, reach the Upper and possibly the Middle coal-measures, and the beds of coal which they may contain. 4. That the productive value of such coals must be uncertain previous to such actual trial. 5. That the depth of the seams would probably be too great for profitable mining in the present state of the coal trade. The greatest depth at Avhich coal is at present mined in Nova Scotia is about 900 feet, and the greatest depth in England is 2,000 feet. No mines in Nova Scotia ov New Brunswick, have as yet penetrated the Upper coal- measures in search of coal, nor have such careful and minute surveys of these beds been undertaken as would supersede the necessity of borino- operations in Prince Edward Island, should it be desired to tost the point practically. Should any operations of this kind be undertaken and pro- secuted to completion on the main land, the information there obtained could readily be applied to Prince Edward Island. On the other hand, the successful penetration of the newer coal-formation in P. E. Island, in search of coal, would at once develop the corresponding regions of the mainland now untried. In any case, deep boring in the newer coal-formation, either m northern New Brunswick or in Prince Edward Island, could scarcely fail to develop focts of scientific interest. In event of such boring being undertaken to a moderate depth, the methods now m use in Nova Scotia and in the oil districts of Canada and Pennsylvania would be suflicient ; but if it were intended to penetrate to great depths, some of the improved methods which have been applied to deep boring iu Europe would be preferable. On the whole, it may be concluded that the probabilities are decidedly against the discovery of a large bed of coal at such a depth as to enable it to be immediately available. BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 27 PART YII. GOVERNMENT. Form of Government. 1. Responsible Government was conceded to Prince Edward Island in 1851, since which time the Executive has been distinctly recognized as responsible to the Legislature. 2. The Legislature consists of the Lieutenant-Governor, appointed by the Crown, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Militia, Chancellor, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary ; a Legislative Council of thirteen members, and a House of Assembly of thirty members; both of which bodies are elected by the people. 3. An Executive Council of nine members, selected from the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, advises and assists the Lieut. Governor in administering the affairs of the colony. 4. Under the system of Government which formerly existed, it was not considered indispensable that the Executive Council should always be so constituted as to enjoy the confidence and support of a majority of the representatives of thv'^. people, and hence arose the antagonism which more than once prevailed between the different branches of the Legislature. The establishment of responsible Government (a system under which the policy of the Colonial Government, in all questions in which Imperial interests are not directly involved, is conducted in accordance with the well under- stood wishes of the people as expressed through their representa- tives in Parliament) has of course done much to remedy this evil, and, by obliging the Lt. Governor to select his advisers from among persons possessing the confidence of the people, or at all events of a majority of their representatives, to maintain that executive and legislative harmony so essential to the good government of the colony. 5. The sittings of the Executive Council are held under the presidency of the Lieut. Governor in person, but the Counci'lors, as a Committee of Council, deliberate previously upon matters referred for their consideration, and prepare reports and memoranda for the Lieutenant-Governor on all important subjects. 28 REPOKT ON THE 0. The Lieutenant-Governor is authorized to appoint one member of the Executive Council to preside there in his absence the seniority of the remaining members being regulated by the date of their respective appointments. 7. It is the province of the Council to occupy itself with the general business of the Colony, ajiplications and demands of every description being placed under its consideration. In accordance with the advice of his councillors the Lieutenant-Governor nomi- nates to employments, removes public functionaries, receives and accepts resignations; in conjunction with them he directs all public aflairs, and sees that the laws are duly carried out. 8. The right to nominate to employments resides constitutionally m the Lieutenant-Governor, who can exercise it independently if he thmks proper; but the retirement of his advisors, who are held responsible by Parliament, would be the probable consequence of non-consultation with the Council. 9. Ministers once installed hold office until they find, on the one hand, that they are unable to secui-e in the Legislature the requisite support of the policy to which they are pledged; or, on the other hand^ that t.ic Lieutenant-Governor, exorcising the discretion which the Koyal Commission and instructions confer upon him, deems it his duty to act on important questions in opposition to their i)olicy and advice. Disagreements within itself occasionally lead to the disruption and resignation of the ministry, but in nine cases out of ten the changes that occur are directly attributable to a want of rarhamontary support. Political Franchise. 10. The Island is divided into three counties, each of which elects four councillors (the City of Cliarlottetown returning one in addition) and ten representatives. 11. There is no qualification for Members of the Legislative Council. For its electors the qualifications are full ajio, and property to the value of £m 13s. M. 12. The qualification for a Member of the Assembly is the possession of freehold or leasehold estate, of the value of £33 6s. 8d. over and above all incumbrances. As regards Electors for the House of Assembly, every male person of full age, being a British subject, and in possession of fee-simple, leasehold or of occupation k BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 29 ' * land of the yearly value of £1 6s. 8d., (who shall have owned or possessed, or have been in the occupation of said premises for twelve months, or have resided in the town, royalty, or district twelve months previous to the issue of the Writ of Election), or who being liable to perform statute labor on the public roads, shall have actually performed the same, or paid a sum of money in lieu thereof, or whose calling relieves him from statute labor, is an elector for the town and royalty, or the district in which he resides. Joint occupants, tenants, or co-partners in trade have but one vote, except the yearly individual interest or joint occupancy amounts to £1 6s. 8d. 13. A system of voting papers has been in operation since 1866, the following being the section of the Act (29 Vict. Cap. 10) by which the system was established : Every male person of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, being a British subject, and qualified to vote upon any property qualification required by any Acts of the General Assembly of this Island, either for ^Members to serve in the Legislative Council or House of Assembly, shall be entitled to vote for the election of a member or members for the town and royalty, or district, respectively, wherein such property qualification may be situated, by polling all his votes at the polling division in any other town or district wherein such person may be entitled to vote for the election of a member, although such polling division be not situated in the town or royalty, or electoral district, or county in which such first mentioned qualifi- cation lies. 14. 14,148 electors recorded their votes at the last general election. Legislation. 15. The principal Acts passed in 1870 (in addition to the ordinary Revenue and Appropriation Acts) were: An Act to declare the Law and Practice in cases of escheat. An Act relating to Law costs and other proceedings. An act for the Better Government of certain rising Towns and A^illages in this Island. An xVct to amend the Act relating to Patents for useful Inventions. An Act to repeal certain Sections of an Act to regulate the Specie Currency of Prince Edward Island. An Act to explain and amend certain Acts relating to the Sale by License of Spirituous Liquors. -m w 30 EEPORT ON THE An Act to amend the Law regulating the hearing of appeal cases, and to repeal part of a certain Act therein mentioned. An Act to alter the present system of paying School Teachers' Salaries. An Act relating to the mode of summoning Special Jurors, and to entering up judgments in the Supreme Court. An Act for taking the Census of Prince Edward Island. An Act to amend an Act intituled "An Act to provide for the care and maintenance of Idiots, Lunatics, and persons of unsound mind." Civil and Judicial Establishments. 16. The changes that take place in the varions departments of government are so frequent, and depend so entirely on political considerations, that I hardly consider it necessary to otter any detailed remarks with reference to the personnel of the civil establishment. Under Responsible Government the distribution of patronage forms of necessity an important element of political and party strength, but I must confess that the system, as carried out in Prince Edward Island, is by no means conducive to the efficiency of the public service. In Canada, as at home, while the political heads of the principal departments necessarily come and go with their party, an efficient staff of experienced subordinates, who take no part in political life, and are far removed from its vicissitudes, is permanently maintained by the state; and there, as ai-ule, the heads of minor departments, and petty officials generally, are safe from political interference. Xot so here, I regret to say. All office holders, from the highest to the lowest, the judges alone excepted, understand that their tenure is essentially a political one, and that on a change of Government they are liable to be removed in order to make way for the supporters of the incoming administration. There are one or two depai'tments, it is true, in which the chief clerks, being officers of technical experience and ability, have, for the last few years, been retained in office by successive administra- tions; but these are exceptional cases, and, generally speaking, the first act of a new ministry is to give practical and forcible effect to that politically mischievous adage — "To the victors belong the spoils." It is evident that no service can be thoroughly efficient in which merit is made subordinate to the exigencies of party govern- ment, and which does not offer to its employes a fair prospect of advancement and permanent employment. BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 81 17. The chief colonial officers arc the Colonial Secretary, the Comptroller of Customs, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who receive salaries of £200 a year each, and the Postmaster General whose salary is £233 6s. 8d. The total cost of the civil establish- ment is £6,081 lis. 4d. 18. The principal officers of the judicial establishment are — The Chief Justice, whose salary is - - - £-100 The Master of the Rolls and Asst Judge of Supreme Court, ------ 333 6 8 The Vice Chancellor and Asst. Judge of Supreme Court, ------- 333 6 8 The Attorney General, 233 6 8 The Solicitor General, 133 68 and the Judge of the Court of Probate, who is paid by fees. The total cost of the Judicial establishment is £1,.'JI93 6s. 8d. ; of the Civil and Judicial combined £7,674 18s. Administration of Justice. 19. The Courts consist of — (1.) Court of Chancery. The judicial powers of the Court of Chancery, of which the Lieutenant-Governor is ex officio Chancellor, are now exercised by a Master of the Rolls and a Vice-Chancellor. (2.) Court of Divorce. Of the Court of Divorce, which was established by statute in 1836, the Lieutenant-Governor and the Members of the Executive Council are the Judges; but the Lieu- tenant-Governor is authorized by law to depute the Chief Justice to preside there in his absence. (3.) Supreme Court. This, the principal Court of Law in the Colony, is presided over by a Chief Justice and two assistant judges. The powers, practice, and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court resemble, and are nearly co-extensive with, those of the Courts of Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer at Westminster. The Common Law is the foundation of the juris- prudence of the colony, but the amendments introduced from time to time in England, have, as a rule, been adopted by the local legis- lature without delay. In civil suits nine jurors out of twelve can give a verdict, but in all criminal prosecutions there must be a unanimous verdict of twelve jurors to convict or acquit. The Su- m 32 REPORT ON THE premc Court is the Court of Appeal from all Courts of an inferior jurisdiction, and from the decisions of Justices of the Peace in all cases of summary convictions. (4). Court of Prohate. The Court of Probate with one judge has jurisdiction all over the colony in cases of AVills and Intes- tacies. (5) . Court of Banl'ruj)tcy . A Court of Bankruptcy was created by Statute in 18G8, the Conunissioner of which has jurisdiction in all cases where the Debtor applying for relief has contracted debts to the extent of £'200 sterlinir. (6). Small Debt Courts. Courts for the recovery of small debts have been established in various sections of the colony. Each Court is ])resided over by three Commissioners, and has jurisdiction in actions of debt and trover to the extent of £13 Os. 8d. sterling. (7). Police Court. Charlottetown was incorpoi-ated as a city in the year 1855, and has a Police Court and a small debt Court of which the Mayor and Ccmimon Councillors are the judges. Tliese Courts have only jurisdiction where crimes have been committed and debts contracted within the boundaries of the city. 20. Justices of the Peace throughout the island have power to adjudicate in minor cases of trespass to the person and property. TVJI BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 88 PART VIII. COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE. ' Imports and Exports. 1. The commerce of Prince Edward Island consists in the ex- change of its agricultural productions, island built ships and fish, for British and American manufactures, and other articles of neces- sary consumption. 2. I subjoin (1) a table showing the value of the imports and exports from and to the countries with which the mercantile inter- course of the colony was carried on during 1870, and (2) a return which will serve to exhibit the progressive commercial improvement that has taken place here since 1860. (1). VALUE OF THE IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, FROM AND TO EACH COUNTRY, m THE YIAR 1870. COUNTRIES. VALUE OF IMPORTS. United Kingdom, British Colonies, viz : Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Bermuda and West Indies, .... Foreign Countries, viz : United States, Cuba, - - St. Pierre, Total value in Sterling of Vessels Exported from Prince Edward Island, during the year 1870, (Tonnage 12,093), not including any wrecked or lost at sea, Total, 5 £168,688 48,175 71,517 43,672 2,746 5,314 45,588 128 £385,732 VALUE OP EXPORTS. £120,781 5,092 85,303 38,010 15,612 3,648 81,353 836 2,202 78,000 £430,840 *n 34 KEPOET ON THE TOTAL VALl'E OF IMPOliTS AND EXPORTS FKOM 1860 TO 1870, INCLUSIVE. VKAKS. 1800 18()1 18G2 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 IMPORTS. EXPORTS. £ £ 230,054 223,580 209,935 163,114 211,240 150,550 293,431 209,472 337,927 202,668 381,012 302,565 432,487 378,567 294,444 372,316 363,037 362,913 363,027 365,191 385,732 430,840 3. It will be observed that, as compared with 18(30, the imports of 1870 show an increase of ^22,705, the exports of £()5,640: that the imports have risen from £230,051: in 18G0 to £385,732 in 1870; and that the exports have nearly doubled in value within the last ten years. In view of this latter increase, the following detailed statement of the exports for 1860 and 1870, respectively, will be of interest : BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 85 STATEMENT OF EXrORTS AND TIIEIK VALUE FOR THE YEARS 18G0 ANO 1870. ARTICLES EXPORTED. QUANTITY. 18G0 1«70 VALUE. 1800 1870 Oats, Bushels - - - - Barley, " - - . . Potatoes, •• . . . . Turnips, " ... Pork, Barrels - - . Hams and Bacon, lbs. Lard, >' - Horses ----- Cattle Sheep Butter Eggs Codfisl., Quintals - - Herriiig-i, Barrels - - Mackerel, " - - Preserved Fish, P'k'ges Slupping, Tonnage Other Produce - - - 1,290,002 1 103,75G| 519,198 52,009 1,902 43 "m 4,816 130 476 010 32,077 1,780 14,045 10.232 3,882 6.260 ,893.433 .')3,719 502,484 30,011 12,880 89,192 86,746 539 262 5,275 155,865 9,824 9,117 5,082 14,095 18,621 12,093 149,694 6,888 23,.503 1,006 50,626 2,301 2,470 9,386 1,763 2,685 6,151 19,563 4,955 3,617 35,506 7,003 78,000 13,979 9 12 19 19 6 7 8 7 7 6 2 18 10 17 10 8 19 14 16 19 10 8 4 19 18 6 Total value of Exports th(! produce of the Colony- Total value of Exports uot the produce of the Colony Total value of all Exports i 218,321 9 10 5,259 4 223,580 13 10 419,114 3 11 11,726 13 11 430,840 17 10 Shipping. 4. The shipping returns may be considered satisfactory, the ar- rivals and departures havin',': increased as follows since 1869: INWAUDS. Number of Vessels Crews . - - - Tonuage - - - rj'i 36 REPORT ON THE OUTWARDS. 1869 1870 Increase. Decrease. Number of VesseJs - . . . Crews Tonnage 1,698 14,250 249.533 1,856 12,203 278,893 158 29,360 2,047 f.L f^Ti^l ?"!?. ""^^."''"^ showing in detail the tonnage to and from the U^ted K d ^^^ ^^..^.^^ Colonies, and Foretgn Coun- tries during 1869 and 1870, are herewith submitted: BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 37 asc. 147 and )un- 00 tr — -H 10 lo 1- 1^ CI -^ 00 -f F-l -r 'f Cl Cl lO o •SAVO.TO ■<+ c; 1.0 CI T— 1 o •^ Cl ~. -!• X 10 I- 10 — 1 O '-. o »-^ CI .., 10 ' — 1 r-. lo CO C-. o Cl 6 •suoj. co' O lo' rrj cp I- t-_^>0 lO 1- eg cr 00 lO H I— 1 l-H -t ;; Cl o Cl c " O ^ X !■- 1- CI CO CO <— < -»f O CO ,X -5- •sioi^soA 0,-f 1-. CO C-. — C-. X Cl CO 1 - 1 ~ O X 10 f— 1 ^ '^ ;^ •s.uo.io 00 f-l -4-* C3 f-< ^ l,~ X- 1.0 I- lO •+■ 10 10 »■- Cs Cl o J-H r— » 10 *^ w C^ Cl — 1 CO ~. Cl C5 1- OD 1— 1 •snox CI C^l L- LO rH lO Cl o QO" 1— 1 (-^ •* CI C5 ■* Cl ■* Cl f-H o »-< o •siossoA t—t Cl Cl o 1- O CI t~ CO i-< 10 ■* Ci cr CI X ■* CO Cl 1 1-1 r-< 1 Cl •sA\a.i3 -*< lo a) 10 i-H r< 1 1 l^ o ■* C) 'H C5 o lo " r5 1~ O CO c; Cl CO o CJ Cr ■>»< CI 1- •* C-. X CS ^ ^ 10 lO lO O 1 CO rt 1 •siiox »■ 00 CJ CO 05 1-1 1 lO 1 lO •SAVO.IJ « 1 1 o. o § »-• (M i~ o ■-; j5 Cl CO CO w Cl 13 O CO tj lO 0^ C5 Cl CO Cl CO P5 ■SIIOX l~ lO CO » o CO 't' ■* 1 1.0 1 ci ' ' Cl to' CO l^ oc o t- f-l CO Cl 1 CO h- •siossoA Cl Vi I—" ^ 1 ^ o Cl t^ — 1 ■* Cl o CJ •* lO 1 lO 05 C2 ^ O Cl Cl CO 1 Cl 1 o •SAlO.t^ CO ■* O C .H Cl 1 1 1 CO o I' lO Cl r-t oT C5 O -f X t^ ■* t^ O 1 OO o lO 1^ t- 00 1-1 "O -* lO CI CJ X 1... ^ CO ITS CO 01 ■snox o l^ tS l-H -H .oil 1 CO .— t Ol 1— t .a 1— t IN .-H 1-1 .- Cl 1^ o ■>1)< f 1- "N CO 00 Cl lO d 00 1 1 1 i-H •siossoA 00 CO 1 1 1 •♦1 lH +J m N m o N t 1 .i4 1 > 5 !^ > 1 (/} 1 ( 1 1 1 o m t; S tn ,.^^3-3 Indies - ign Countrie ited States rtugal - - ain - - - Pierre - aguay H O 0.2 ■c 3 to© ia Scotia Brunsw oundlaa uda an o g -a .a ss^^§ ^ *i-n ej o o Da) « a QiJ >-i •ar. u»»tziPq hpPMMtCt) 1 um £ :38 liEPORT ON THE o 00 i-H a 00 Q •SAVOJJ ■silox spssoA CO M O CO 1^ •* JO l^ CO U5 CO CO ■* I- "O O CO 00 CO -T O ►- -< CO CO O -I 03 rH 00 CO in cj o o ^ I- (M C^l CO o 00 CO 1-1 o o i~ •-O OD «0 l^ 00 CO in 5^ >.o c^ to >o 00 ■siossoA »; I •s.vva.io 0) o SB , O 1 - :.■ ' CO 1^ oco 5^1 :0 -^ rl 1 1 IM t- 1-- 1 1 1 3,531 33.320 11,622 82 I I ■ to o CO 1-- O 00 00 t- O CO 00 lO c-t o cs to 00 r~ — ■ CO CO o 1-1 05 t-l ^ lO -H oT en -* CO — 1 N Tl CO 1.0 o m t— 1 -<< CO 00 00 - to O) CO 1.0 M CO 1^ •* 00 CO CI O O rH l>. CO to to q r^^, co'-^' I CO CO 1.0 00 51 -"f -< 35 to -M ■* to I tm » to QC -* r, 1 OS to '■' M CO i 1 1 n r- -.< a» Ol lO i^ eo'co^oT o ?5 I I as — c^ 0< to 00 CO f-i I I I I -H rj" 05 l~ l^ to t~ "5 r-l t- CD CO CO CO c^ o 2-1 2,063 106,482 51,923 5,247 2: to 22.850 1,104 IN s , o> o> CO ClJ O) 5^ t> CO M I- to S m 73 a too .2 o •a ja v en •-S (9 pa o 1 tn5 n -a e a « ' ' ' ^ 1 'S * ' I « « H « a BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 39 6. There arrived here m 18G9 and 1870 from the United Kingdom British Colonies Foreiffu Count i-ics 1809 1870 Vessels. T'liinajre. Vessels. Toniiai'c. Total 34 1.403 122 10.951 189,880 29.383 1,019 j 230,220 40 1.027 lOG 1,773 13,110 227,798 24,891 205,805 and we despatched in the same years to the 1809 1870 Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage. United Kiiijrdoni British Colonies Foreign Countries 77 1 .540 75 22.129 84 24.319 203.100 1.092 235,417 24,244 80 , 19,157 Total 1,098 249,533 ' 1,850 ' 278,893 behig-, on the whole, an improvement which speaks well for the commei'cial prosperity of the colony. Agriculture. 7. Having already submitted under the he/^ds of Soil and Imports and Exjjorts a sufficiently detailed explanation of the agricultural position of the colony, I will here confine myself to a few remarks on prices and the rate of wages. I! Prices. 8. I append a return showing the average prices of farm stock and of tlie various articles of produce and consumption for the years 18G9 and 1870 respectively. It will be observed that the return exhibits an upward tendency, especially in respect of articles of daily household use, and that on the whole the cost of living is con- siderably higher than it was ten years ago : 40 HEPOET ON THE Is COMPARATIVE RETCilN OF AVERAGE PRICES. ARTICLP^S. VVheatcn Plour, per barrel of 100 11) Wheat, per imperial bushel Wheaten Bread, per lb. Hofned Cattle - .. . - Horses -^ . . . . Sheep Goats -•'-*-. Swine » i . * i. Milk, per quart ..... Butter, fresh, per lb. " salt, "... Cheese 4 - . . . PRICES. 1860 Beef - Mutton * Pork - Rice Coffee - Tea Sugar •* Salt, per bushel Wine, per gallon Brandy Beer, Tobacco, per lb. £ s. d. 1 10 6 8 2 5 16 13 1 2 2 8 n 6 4 3 3 3 8 2 4 5 1 4 12 6 16 1 1 4 1870 £ 8. d. 1 13 4 7 2 4 15 15 12 14 2J 10 9 35 1 2 4J 1 4 14 16 1 4 1 8 6 5 4 4 9. As connected with the cost of living, I may add that house rents are high and increasing, that gas costs 13s. 4d. per 1,000 feet, and good house coal 15s. 4d. per ton. Wages, 10. The average rate of wages is as under J Description of Labor. Per annum. Per day. — 28. 8d. Praedial - Domestic : Male Female Trades £20 10 5s. ^ BLUE BOOK FOE 1870. 41 11. Domestic servants are scarce and indifferent, heads of families complaining that the moment servants begin to understand their duties they betake themselves to the United States, being attracted thither by the prospect of higher wages than are usually paid in Prince Edward Island. 6 r 42 REPORT O^ THE PART IX. FINANCIAL. Revenue and Expenditure. and specific import duties, land assessments, sales of public and e'Z m r^' f "'"' T^^ !'"" ^'"^'^ ^'"^ "° ^^"'^^^ ^'-^-^ -^'h the e\cei)ti()n ot those on land. 2. The following is a list of the duties collected dunn<»- 1870 on some of the chief articles of import; " AllTICLES. Anchors and C'Imiii Caldos Apotliccaries' Ware Boots and Shoes - Clothin^r Coppor and Composition CordaiTL' - - . . Dry Goods - . . Earthi-nwarc and Cliinaware P'lonr, Corcijr,,, per 1,1.1. Frnit. ih'iud. per lb. - Glass and Glassware - Hardware and Cutlery Iron, bar and Steel " - Ironmong'ery ... Leatlior, solo, per lb. - '' other kinds Molasses, per 2 2 8 3. The import (Ititics arc now consideral^ly hlglicr tliiiii they were last year, an additional rtite of 2.^ per cent, htiving- been im- posed by the Legislature on the 17th April, 1871, I'or railway purposes. 4. On improved and cultivated rural land the tax is 4s. 5 id. |)er 100 iicres; on iniiin[)roved rural land, tJs. 2d. per 100 acres. The selliui;' price of Government riu'al land varies, as stated elsewhere, from 4s. to Gs. 8(1. per acre. o. The licenses established by statute are as under: Ketail Ttivern License _ - _ Distiller's License _ _ _ Store License to sell Spirituous Liquors Hawker's License to travel on foot Hawker's License to travel with a beast 6. The fees received in the several executive departments arc paid into the Treasury to the credit of the general revenue. The Lieut. Governor, the heads of executive departments, and their assistants in office receive specific salaries nnder statute, and do not retain any fees for their own use. I subjoin a table of the fees now exacted at the different public offices : .€2 G 8 10 13 4 5 1 13 4 3 G 8 44 REPORT ON THE A TABLE OF FEEH KXAClTKI) AT THE PUBLIC OFFICES, UNDElt STATUTE. DESCRin'ION. Fees lit Col. Secy's olliee Sterling. The Great Seal of P. E. Island - Do. to frrants of Land - . . . The Lieutenant-Governor's Seal - A License to marry - - - . . A License to distil Sp'tuous Li(]uor.- A License to vend " " A License to hawk Merchandize - Other Licenses Certificate Ship Registry - - - Bill Sale of Ship Miscellaneous Certificates - - - Declaration, Ship Fishing License Searcli Certificate Registry of DceU - - Registry of Deeds, per 100 words Affidavit Search -.-...... € Fees at Cus- tom House, Sterling. £ d. Fees at I Fees at Reg- Land Office, istrars office, Sterling. | Sterling. £ s. d. C 8 8 8 8 k BLUE BOOK FOK 1870. 45 7. Below will be found comparative statements in detail of the revenue and expenditure for 1869 and 1870, and a table showing, in round numbers, the financial condition of the colony for the last ten jears: (1). COMPAllATIVE STATEMENT OF THE KEVENUE FOJl 1869-70. 8 8 8 8 AMOUNT COLLECTED AMOUNT COLLECTED NATunE OF Tax or Duty. IN 18G9. 1 IN 1870. £ s. d. £ s. d. Import Duties 44,088 15 5 46,225 11 H Light and Aucliornge Duos - . - . 704 11 3 753 15 H Land Assossmeuts ..... 2,5(J5 10 3 3,081 17 H Sale of Public Lands 5, .'558 10 10 8,017 16 " Crown Lauds .... 19 8 8i 46 3 11 Post Office 1,541 10 1,566 13 4 Fees at Secretary's Office ... 333 16 9 157 19 7i " Registrar's Office .... 292 8 8i 260 12 4 " Custom House .... 34 H 35 6 " Bonded Warehouse ... 69 7 11 90 10 " Prin ce of Wales College - 9 6 10 33 12 Oi " Land Assessment ... 2 10 4 2 13 6 License duty at Treasury .... 428 487 6 8 Fines and Penalties .... 45 15 4* 77 19 5f Interest on Bonds ..... 876 8 3A 992 Wharfage ...... 1 9 10 56 n Sale of Military Barracks - . - - 1,174 4 3 — Seed Grain Committee .... 164 19 4 67 3? Fees Normal School ..... 10 13 4 ,„ Interest at Savings' Bank 573 13 4A , Rent of Warren Farm .... 37 8 18 10 4 Souris Breakwater . - . - - 23 12 _ Victoria Barracks 960 19 4 Moneys returned Loan Act ... — 82 8 8 " " for Ammunition .^ 34 5 Rent of Wharves _. 110 13 3^ Miscellaneous ...... 12 13 4 31 17 4 Total - - T - - £ 59,326 6 8 62,230 8 7i PJ r''i 46 REPORT ON" THE COMPAIJATIVE STATKMKNT OF THE EXPENDITURE FOR 1800-70. Natiui-. (h- Exi'enihtuki:. Kduciiiiiiii - - . . . IJoads, lii-idiTcs juiil >\ liarvcs I'lililic OlIiriT.s .... IlltlTl'St ----.. Mails iiiid Tost OH'k cs - Lc;;isliitiirf and Liliraiy I'iddic Lands .... I'l'iuling and Slalicaici'v ... Asylum and n(is|)iial Li;rlitli(iust's. IJnoys and Roacons - Jails and Ci-own J'rdsccniions - I'anpi'i'.s ...... VoluntctTs and Mililia Toli'frraidi Company .... Govi'iMimcnt Ildusc ... Kxcisi' l)c|iarti!H'ni .... ('nli)iiial IJiiildinj.' - - . . Sinck Farm and Socictv ... C'liroiKTs' In(|ni'sts .... Market Clerk. (u'ori.ft't(iwn . Board of Health '--... Indians ...... l^oan Act and Treasury Note Comniissione Elections --.... Kxecuiiv{^ (Vnincil .... Fisliinjr i^icenses - . . . . Dredirinir ...... Revised Statutes Deaf and Dumb Institu'lon Debentures tor Land . . . . Bonded Wandiousc .... Board of Woi'ks . . . . . Sleam Stone Crnslier .... Disti'ibnlion at Treasury . . . . Grant to Steam Navijratiou Comi)aiiy - Bumiuet to IVince Arthur Estates purchased .... Poor House ...... Law Courts aud Post Oliioe, Cliarlottetown Miscellaneous - . . . . Total .... rs AMOUNT 01' KXI'l'.N - AMOUNT OF EXrEN- niTiHi; IN iNdl). UITUBE IN 1H70. £ d. £ s. d. i;i,;M7 IT) 11 12.1»24 18 4 - 1(».')|!) 1 2 13.14:) 10 G ■>,i;!(; i;} 3 6,847 11 10 - (;.7.")i 4 1 7,U74 18 44 ;i...7.s 9 7 3,754 17 ll| 2,G6G 4 2 - 2.;];»7 4 G ') 1 -) ;{ 8 351 19 3A - 1,112 10 4 1.091 7A l,(l'-'() 11 094 1 7i - 8;!i» r> 3 900 7 10| 5K2 o 2 1.1 OS T) 8 - 70!) H u G«l K 10 1.4 (is !» 8 1,377 17 10 - 4;i(( 1 8 703 17 2 417 IN 4 223 2 G - *;il7 17 8 450 2 lOJ 4(ii t; 2 519 13 Gi - ■):).", (i ,s 037 11 U 104 11 2 A 101 G 5i - ;? t! 8 i.)4 ir. 5 ISO 19 lOi - 80 113 G 8 la 7 ;) « i;; ■> 4 A 580 13 Gi - 7;i a 4 08 1(! lOi r. / _ - UC) 18 8 38 4 - 33 8 33 () 8 7,333 t; 8 4.0:53 (J JS • r.2 4 5 124 17 313 10 8i 130 17 10 - fil;-) 8 8 r,l'.) 10 G 433 17 - 591 17 dh 783 6 8 584 11 n 83 7 - 93G G lOA 1G2 5 5 2G6 13 4 440 13 4 — 4,907 3 8 884 5 2 1,557 15 1 £ 64,244 16 4 70,662 14 li BLUE BOOK FOli 1870. (3). STATK]\rEXT OF REVKNIJE AND EXPENDITURE FIJOM 18G() TO 1870, INCLUSIVE. 8. The foregoing tables, 1 and 2, give the following results: 47 YKAUS. nKVKNlTE. EXl'KNDlTl'KE. f £ 18C0 28.712 41,1!)C iH(;i 28,U()(J ,32,799 18(12 2').0UO ;U,190 1803 41.120 30,440 I8(;.i 41,210 38,o74 1805 4.'),;]00 48,350 1800 G3.028 102,888 18(;7 52,018 49,309 1808 5-)..''<'J4 01,010 180!) r>'J.:]2G 04,244 1870 02,230 70,002 REVENUE. i8»;!>. 1870. INCKEASE. £51),;52(; (1 8 £(;2,2;:]0 8 7k EXPENDITUHE. £2,1)04 1 Hi 18(i!». 1870. INCREASE. £t)4,244 K; 4 £70,(;(J2 14 1} DEFICIT. £6,417 17 9j tEVENUE, 1870. EXPENDrruRE, 1870. DEFICIT, 31ST DEC, 1870 ;()2,280 8 7i £70,()(J2 14 IJ £8,432 5 55 9. The statement of Revenue and Expenditure (Tal)le 3) shows that the revenue has been increasing since 18G0 at an average rate of JG3,400 a year. As regards the expenditure, which is also con- siderably higher than it was ten years ago, it may be remarked that the purchase of freehold estates, adverted to in a former paragraph, formed a heavy item in the recent disbursements of the colonj-. Indeed the purchase of the Palmer estate* it was which, added to * Sec tabular statement, p. 13. i 48 Ri:i»OUT ON THE an unusually lu-avy outlay on public works and buildings, caused the delicit as set forth in the last preceding ])aragi-ai)h. 10. The revenue of the island amounted in 1870 to L*?s. M. per head on the poi)ulatioi:. as shown by the last census, the taxation proper to 10s. a.-jd. Load Jievetmes. 11. The only local revenue is that collected by the City of Char- lottetown, which amounted last year to €2,770 12s. lid. The expenditure for jthe same period (£3,2(58 8s. Od.) exceeded the revenue by £407 J;js. Id. 12. The financial position of the City on the 31 st December, 1870, was as under: Dk. DebetiUires afloat 31st Dec. 1870 Interest due on ditto - SiiiKiry Accts, iiii|i!U(l Bttliiiu'e oi' property in ex- cess oi' liabilities - £ S. a. 3,01<> IOC 4C.S G 9 10 8 (i 1 ,.')22 2 £0,010 H 2 Cu. By Balance in Treasurer's hands . . . " Assessnieiit unpaid - " Steam Kire ICn^'incsaMd Enjjiiie liouses " Other property £ s. d. 29 - 174 1 (; 1,733 « H 4,080 £0,010 8 2 Pi'hlic Debt. 13. It has been shown that the revenue for 1870 fell short of the expend'ture by £8,432. This deficit, added to the balance agairst the colony on the 31st Decembei, 18()0 (£07,2r)7) made a f »tal public debt on the 31st December, 1870, (inclusive of T.easury Notes, Warrants and Debentures issued up to that date) oi' £105,(389;* against which, however, may be i)lace(l i;(;2,077, due on account of land sales, and 09,057 acres of unsold land. Banhs. 14. There are three Banks in Charlottetowri, one in SummcrRide, and one in the village of Itustico; namely: ♦ Equal to £1 2s 5id. per head on (lie total populuUon. BLUE BOOK FOK 1870. 40 (1. (; '= = i -3 fill E 1^ a "^ c 3 S^./'. o o «*;i o S ii M -M o o =*j o o V &. 0"? l.-i 1^ ;^ QO &. il. I-; , 1^ l- ^ i~> 'TT X vc X x: a -J f-H i* b 1 ^ r" — ^_; 1 c? "^ 1^ ^ »— ( r^ - "^ _■' »-^ O OJ '"■ Ci;q A •^ b , '~Z * ' '"-' ■1. ., —V •" f. 1 r5 --. t- i 1 1 ^ 1- :t Zs ^ -r Ti ^ - . -r 1- '_- 1- ■1. "' C: r ■/. - ,- 1 1 1 ^ — H -f «*< X r; «' o r x^ ,-^ ^ — , ^ CO - .= -^ w ^ 3 C" o 'i t"! VJ O — — o *r ;:3^^' -r -r -^ ■-t *"■ •I!(>I)lM()(l,l(i,) > - -^ 1 - '-■^ CC -Ill,(O0Hf(I r. /. r. X -a 4 r^ ,, J * ^ ?:• ^ -^ P5 W^:3 w o ?! H '"3 "f 2 P5 U^ I^ 1/,' 14 ?! ' /; a H a a o o .a a &> o a a a' u 3 TTT 50 REPORT ON THE 15. I regret the incompleteness of the above return, but the statements of assets and liabilities, for which I have applied to the Managers of the Summerside and Rustico Banks, have not yet been received. Savings Bank. 16. A Savings Bank in coiuiection vf ith the Treasury Department was estalilishcd here in 18(54, and has proved remarkably successful, as will be seen from the followinjjr return: « ^"^ ■ .2 t 2 Total amount Average to Proportion of Year ending -3 X. /. of each De .>r.^ &, Deposits. Depositor. to 1\ latioii. *-4 X- £ s. d. £ s. d. 31st Dec, 186J S.^lL'l H;, 1,013 6 8 11 18 r) 1 in 1001 " " ISC'iJ 8f,,r)3:) 292 3.822 3 7 13 1 9 1 " 296 " '' 186() 87,itH) 421 7,170 9 7 17 14 10 1 '' 208 •' " 1.867 8!),3G3 GOG 9,390 1 11 15 9 10 1 " 112 1st " 18GSt 90,777 831 13,107 8 1 15 15 5 1 " 109 '• " 18GU 92,191 1,1 ri8 17,008 2 2 15 4 11 1 " 79 " •' 1870 93.005 1.G19 27,510 IG 7 17 2 1 " 57 '• '• 1871 91,021 2,18.') 41,G09 9 20 8 1 >• 43 ♦ Estimated us roganls the years ISiU to 1870 inclusive, tlie Census not having been taken betv , en ISGI and 1871. t Termination of otHcial year altered from 31st to 1st December by Statute. 17. Interest at the rate of five per cent, is paid to depositors on all sums not exceeding £6(j 13s. Id., sterling,^ beyond which amount no interest is allowed. 18. Until last session the deposits receivable at the Bank were limited to £83,.S3I] 12s. Od., sterling.'^ By virtue of an Act passed on the 4th March, 1871, the Bank is now authorized to receive up to double the above amount, and should the marked success which has attended the working of this most valuable institution lead to the opening of branch oflices in one or two of the princljial country towns, it may fairly be ex])ected that the benefits of the system will be even more largel}' availed of hei'eafter than they have been up to the present time. 1. £100 currency. 2. £50,000 currency. M BLUE BOOK FOE 1870. 51 Coin, <£'c. in circulation, 19. The amount of coin in circulation in the Colony, inchiding that in the ".offers of the Banks, is estimated at £22,000; the paper currency at .b'89,690 4s. 3d., as under: u Treasury Notes - - - - _ Notes of Bank Prince Edward Ishind " " Union Bank " Summerside Bank - " Farmers' Bank - . _ '" Government Treasury, and of private Banking Companies of tlie British American Colonies (estimated) 6,000 United States (estimated) - 2,000 £> 8. 11,500 31,705 15 21,480 15 12,073 16 4,869 18 d. 3 u Total £89,690 4 3 Currency. 20. I am happy to state tliat the currency of Prince Edward Island* is about to be assimihited to that of Canada and the United States, an Act having been ])assed during the last session of the Legislature to effect tliis important object ])y the introduction of a Decimal system of keeping the public accounts. 21. The following is a (•o[)y of tiie Decimal Currency Act, 34 Vict,, Cap. 5, which is to come into lull operation on the 1st Feb- ruary next, and will, there is no doubt, be of much public conveni- ence and advantage: AN ACT TO ESTAniJSII A DECIMAL SYSTEM OP CURRENCY OS THIS ISLAND. [Piisscd April 17, 1871.] Whereas it is dconicd expedient to assimilate the Ciirrency of this Island to that of the Dominion of Canada and of the United States of America, and to introdnee a decimal system of keeping Accounts in the Public Offices of thia Colony. £100 SterUiiir plus r>() per cent, equal to £150 currency. 100 Nova Scotia currency " L'O '■ " 120 '♦ 100 New Bruns'vick '• •• 20 " " 120 " 100 Nowfouinllmal " '• 25 •• *' 125 " 100 United States " " 80 " w .Vi IIEPOIIT OX THE Bo it thoreforo oiiiicteLl by tlio Lioiitcuaut Grjveriio?", Couucil tiud Assembly, as follows : — I. Tlic iiiiil of account on this Islmul shall bo the cloUai' of one hundred rents; tlio value of which dollar shall bo on the basis of foui" hundred and ''iuhty-fowcred to provide I coinage of Copper Cents for this Island, and to (;ause Postage Stamps of the new denominaticm to be issued as soon as practicable. VL The Act of the twelfth Victoria, chapttn- twenty-fom*, shall be, and die same is herein- repealed. Provided always, that this Act is not intended io interfere v\ith debts already due, or with existing contracts, but the same may be converted into the eijiiivalent value of tlie new currency hereby es- !al)lished, at and after the rate of three dollars and twenty-four and four-ninth eents to the pound of the present currency of this Island. VIL From and after the tirst day of January next, all and singular the liities imposed by the Act passed or to be passed during the present session, ■ iitituled or to be intituled "An Act for raising a llevcuue," shall be payable m the currency as deli.oed by this Act. Schedule A. The British Sovereign of the weight and lincncss now established by law, four dollars and eighty-six and two-thinl cents. The Cr^v.-:; piece of silver, one dollar and twenty eents. The half Crown piece, sixty ce.its. The Florin, torty-eight eents. The Shilling, twenty-four eents. The Sixpence, twelve cents. The American Gold Dollar, one dollar. The Mexican and Spanish silver Dollar, one dollar. The Spanish Doubloon, sixteen dollars. The BLUE BOOK FOR 1870. 53 Mexican Dou))loon, fifteen dollars and forty cents. The Twonty Franc f^old piece, tlirec dollars and eighty cents. Tlu; Five Franc silver piece, niSetv cents. Ihe Canadian Silver Coinage, at its facial value. 22. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have observed that the above act contains no provision fixing the amounts to which silver and copper coins, respectively, may be tendered in any one payment ; and they have suggested that tlie limits prescribed in section 7 of the Canada Act, Cap. 4 of 1871 should be adopted in Princo Edward Island, viz:— ."^lO for silver, and 25 cents for copper conis. 23. It also appears to their Lordsbi])s that tlie "American Gold Dollar " mentioned in Schedule A. of the Act should be defined e g., as "the (lold Dollar of the United States of America, coined after 1st July, 1834, and before 1st of January, 1852, or after the latter date, but of the same weight and standai-d of fineness." And they consider that it would be better to exclude all silver foreiqn coins from circulation in the colony, but that if the Mexican and Spanish silver dollars be admitted, those coins should be strictly dellncd. *^ 24. The amendments suggested by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury will be submitted to the Legislature at an ea> date. •I i T 54 REPORT 01^ THE PAIiT X. MISCELLANEOUS. Post Office. 1. I submit a comparative statement of postal and money order Btatisties for 1869 and 1870, whieli shows that a eonsidSLxten- 8ion ot the mail service has been eflected during the last two years : 18C9 Number of letters carried " PostOtliccs - " " persons employed ill (ieneral Post Oflioc - - - . " " Country postmasters - " " Mail carriers "■ " miles travelled by Mails - " miles of annual Mail travel '' " Money Orders issued '' " Money Orders paid Total amount of orders issued - " amount of orders paid - '• income of Post OHice " expenditure of Post Ofliec! (in- eluding subsidies to Mail Steamers) 503,000 121 4 120 37 511 !»7 ,057 G52 2.SG £ ^ 4.1 St 1« l.l.-);) 11 i,r)ii 10 18V0 Increase, Decrease. 511,000 138 5 137 41 534 98,172 C38 303 4,08G 1 ;j 8,000 17 1 17 4 23 1,115 17 14 ^. d, £ s. d. 3,911 1 1,091 15 4 1,5CG 13 4 25 3 4 1,174 9 6,88 8 3 £ s. d. 243 17 G Gl 19 4 2. Of newspapers, packets and book parcels (no record of such being kept at the Post Oilice) 1 have been unable to i,roc«re a I v^Llll lift V K^^^"^, ^'}^^'^ consists of 10 regiments, 7 for Queen's County, 5 for Kmg's County, and 4 for Prince County, but as the men tire neither armed nor drilled (the law merely requiring that the re "... No. 4 " " . . No. ."i " "... - 52 53 47 50 3 9 21 2 Total 455 109 7. I have lately been engaged in considering certain changoa in the composition of the Volunteer Companies, which will, I hope enable me to draw attention to a less unsatisfactoi-y state of things in my next annual Report. ° m REPORT 0:N^ the blue book for 1870. 8. The total annual expense of the Militia Department is £1,000 sterling, that being the sum allowed by the Legislature for purposes of defence. Conclusion. 9. Prince Edward Island still holds aloof from the union of the North American Provinces, the proposals made by the Government of Canada in 1809, commonly known as the " better terms," having been rejected by a large majority of the local Legislature. I am, however, disposed to think that Confederation is now only a ques- tion of time, and that the pe()j)le (without whose spontaneous acqui- escence it is, I admit, impossible that the union can ever be success- fully effected) will eventually see that their best interests Avould be promoted by the change. " That in time of war or tumult the armed force of the British North American Provinces should be one, under one supreme connnand; that in time of peace their com- merce, their post, their gi'cat lines of communication, and, with due regard to local usage, their civil and criminal jurisdiction should be governed by the same rules; that an extended Dublic oninion should be brought to bear on the settlement of narrow local co'itroversies; and that the affairs of British North America should be adminis- tered by a combination of the ablest men Avhom it can furnish " * — are benefits so indisputable, and so ])ermanent in tlieir character as to render it difficult to believe that Prince Edward Island will long permit any surmountable obstacles to interfere with their full at- tainment. Adverting to the question of Confederation, Sir Charles Adderly, in his Heview of Earl Gray's Colonial Policij, remarks, "A combined revenue will connnand greater credit, '.vhile adding to itself by greater economy;" and this, too, is an argument the weight of which will sooner or later be appreciated. 10. This report embraces many subjects not included in the Blue Book. Its accuracy may, I think, be relied on, and I hope it will be found useful as a record from Avhich to mark the future pro- gress of the Colony. I have the honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, WILLIAM ROBINSON, Lt. Governor. * Earl of Carnarvou to Lt. Governor Duudas, 19th January, 18ti7.