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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN CANADA. 59 
rates in the manner authorised by the legislature ;” overseers of roads and highways, 
“to oversee and perform such things as shall be directed by any act passed touching or 
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concerning the highways and roads in the province,” and to act as fence-viewers “con- 
formable to any resolutions that may be agreed upon by the inhabitants at such 
meetings”; a pound-keeper, to impound all stray cattle. The act also provided for two 
town-wardens. As soon as there should be any church built for the performance of 
divine service according to the use of the Church of England, then the parson or minister 
was to nominate one warden and the inhabitants the other. These wardens were a cor- 
poration to represent the whole inhabitants of the township or parish, with the right to 
let or sell property, to sue and be sued. The high-constable, who called and presided 
over the township meetings, was appointed by the justices in quarter sessions. The pre- 
siding officer had to communicate a list of persons nominated at these meetings to a 
magistrate, who was to administer to them the oath of office. In case the persons 
appointed at the meeting refused to act, they were subject to a penalty, and the magis- 
trates in sessions called for that purpose proceeded to fill the vacancies. In case there 
were not thirty inhabitants in a township, then they were considered to form part of the 
adjacent township which should contain the smallest number of inhabitants.’ 
The following extract from the early records of the township of Sophiasburg, or the 
6th township lying on Picton and Quinté Bays, will be read with interest, because it 
shows that there was an attempt made to establish a parish system on the basis of that so 
long existent in the parent state. No similar record can be found in the annals of the old 
townships of Upper Canada, although the references in the Constitutional Act of 1791, 
and in several provincial statutes, go to show that the erection of parishes was in the 
minds of those who were engaged in developing local institutions in the country :— 
“Passed at Sophiasburg, at a regular town meeting, 3rd March, 1800. And be it 
observed—That all well-regulated townships be divided into parishes. Be it enacted by 
the majority of votes, that this town shall be divided into parishes, and described as fol- 
lows: St. John’s, St. Matthew’s, St. Giles, Mount Pleasant.” * 
It does not appear, however, that parishes were established to any extent on the Eng- 
lish system throughout Upper Canada, although they were general for ecclesiastical 
purposes. The Church of England was the dominant religious body for many years, and 
there was an effort made to establish it by giving it large reserves of public lands. We 
shall see, however, later on, that parishes were established in the maritime provinces for 
civil purposes as in some of the old English colonies in America. 
In accordance with the British system of local government in counties, the magis- 
trates in sessions performed an important part in the administration of local affairs. 

* One of the first recorded town meetings (Canniff, p, 454) held in accordance with the act, was that of 
Adolphustown, which came off on the 6th of March, 1793. The following words are an exact transcript of the 
record:—“ The following persons were chosen to officiate in their respective offices, the ensuing year, and also the 
regulations of the same: Reuben Bedell, township clerk; Paul Huff and Philip Dorland, overseers of the poor; 
Joseph Allison and Garit Benson, constables; Willet Casey, Paul Huff and John Huyck, pound-keepers; Abraham 
Maybee and Peter Rutland, fence-viewers. The height of fence to be 4 feet 8 inches; water fence voted to be no 
fence. Hoggs running at large to have yokes on 18 by 24 inches. No piggs to run until three months old. No 
stallion to run. Any person putting fire to any bush or stable, that does not his endeavour to hinder it from doing 
damage, shall forfeit the sum of forty shillings.” (Signed) Pamir DorLanp, T. Clerk. 
* See before, p. 58. 5 Canniff, p. 472. 
