4 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The western boundary of the Province was still uncertain; 

 claims were made that Upper Canada extended to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and also that it extended not quite to the head of Lake 

 Superior — this boundary was finally settled in its present position 

 in 1889 by the Act 52, 53 Vict., c. 28 (Imp.).» 



Districts 



The judicial and administrative unit was still the District; 

 there were, indeed, Counties, but these were practically but convenient 

 nam>es for certain portions of territory. Townships had an embryo 

 municipal system, but the District was the important matter. Each 

 District had its District Court with jurisdiction in contract from 

 40 shillings to £15 (in liquidated claims to £40), and in tort to personal 

 chattels to £15. It had its Court of Quarter Sessions for criminal 

 cases, its Sheriff, Constables, etc. The Court of Quarter Sessions 

 levied the taxes, laid out roads, etc. — and it was the real municipal 

 authority.^" 



The Lieutenant-Governor was Sir Peregrine Maitland; he had 

 shaken off the influence of Chief Justice William Dummer Powell ; 



9The Quebec Act (1774), 14 George III, c. 83, extended the Province of Quebec 

 to the Ohio River down to "the banks of the Mississippi and northward to the 

 southern boundary of the territory granted to the Hudson's Bay Company." 



The true boundary of Upper Canada depended on the meaning of the word 

 "northward," Sir John A. Macdonald, in the historic controversy with Sir Oliver 

 Mowat, claiming that it meant "due north," Sir Oliver that it meant "northerly 

 along the banks of the Mississippi." In the event, the latter interpretation pre- 

 vailed in the Judicial Committee, 1884, as it had with the arbitrators. Chief Justice 

 Harrison, Sir Francis Hincks and Sir Edward Thornton, 1878, whose unanimous 

 award Sir John refused to accept. The decision of the Judicial Committee, August 

 11, 1884, was carried into legal effect by the Imperial Act of 1889. 



loFor the District Court see the Act (1822), 2 George IV, c. 2 (U.C.); for the 

 assessment, etc. (1819), 59 George III, c. 7 (U.C.). Under 15/ was sued for in the 

 Court of Requests presided over by Justices of the Peace — this became the Division 

 Court in 1841, 4, 5 Vict., c. 3 (U.C.). The Districts were abolished in 1849 by the 

 Act 12 Vict., c. 78 (Can.), and the County became the judicial unit. District Courts 

 becoming County Courts. 



The Districts in existence in 1822 were: 



1. Eastern, created as District of Luneburgh by Lord Dorchester's Proclama- 

 tion of July 24, 1788; name changed by Act (1792), 32 George III, c. 8 (U.C.). 



2. Midland, Mecklenburgh by same Proclamation and name changed by 

 same Act. 



3. Home, Nassau by same Proclamation and changed by same Act. 



4. Western, Hesse by same Proclamation and changed by same Act. 



5. Johnstown, formed 1798, 38 George III, c. 5. 



6. Niagara, formed 1798, 38 George III, c. 5. 



