PREFACE. 



In tlie lollowiuf,' ]>A'j,{:.s I liavc ainicil iit prcseutiiig, in a irioilerate 

 -Miiiliass, a (•oiiii)i-elieusivf ami trust-wortliy account of Xewl'ouiidlaiul as 

 it is at the present time. In <loin>; so it was necessary, of course, to refer 

 to its history and to trace its jirogr.-.-s in tlie past, so as to understaml how 

 it canie to be wliat it is in 1894. 



I have devoted a consiilerible jporlion of tlie volume to a ile-;criptioa 

 of t>ie natural resources ancl capabilities of tlie Island. These have been 

 largely overlooked or mis-represented ; ami, as a <:onsequence, under- 

 valued and neglecteii. 'L'lic ai-count giv^ii in tliese jiages of the agricul- 

 taral and mineral resour.-i-s of th.i country ami of its forest wealth, will 

 b-' a surprise to many, i have endeavoured, however, iu dealing with the 

 subject, to secure strict a -curacy of statement, and to be guided solely Ity 

 ficts and ))y the liighesi and best authorities. Tliese natural resources, 

 as I believe, are siicli as Viarraut us in ])redicting a bright and jirosperous 

 future lor the Calony now that the eonstruction of railway.s has opened 

 its agricultural, mineral and forest lands, and prejpared a way for enter- 

 prise and capital to turn tlicm to |)rotitalile account. 



1 lia\e also dwelt on tlie grand staple industry of the Colony — the 

 tislieries, — and gi\cii a full account of their [iresent comlitioii and pros- 

 jiects in tlie future. Tiie French Treaty Rights on certain jiortions of the 

 ■ihore and their ettects on the Colony, have received iliie attention. (>tlier 

 topics dealt with are education, finances, trade and comnierce, govern- 

 ment, pulilic institutions, population, and tlie general Ijusiiiess of tl'.e 

 ..•(luutry. 



Ill the i'lia]iter for travellers and tourists I have dwelt on the tine 

 scenery of the Island, and given such information and directions as ai'e 

 requireil for enabling them to see the country to the best advantage. 

 There cari be little doubt that, in the near future, Xewfouiidland is de.s- 

 tiiied to holil an important jilace as a health-resort during its summer 

 months, and as a country which presents rare attractions for the tourist 

 and the sportsman. Xuniei-ous lines of steamers now remler access to its 

 shores easy, and the extension of its railway system and local steam com- 

 municatioii ]ilace within reaidi of visitors from other lands all that is 

 attractive and interesting in the beauty of its scenery. 



A residence of over forty years in the Colony has given ine oppor- 

 tunities of becoming ac(|uaiiiteil with the country anil the peojile. It will 

 be a source of gratification to me if this little volume sliould aid in making 

 the country better known ami attracting to it that attention which it 

 richly merits. 



AI. H. 



tiT. John's, .Iulv, 1894. 



