NEW BRUNSWICK. 



381 



by Lieut.-Gov. the Hon. A. R. McClellan on Feb. 

 28. iSomber drapings in the Chamber indicated 

 the mourning of the people's representatives for 

 their late sovereign. The speech from the throne 

 was a long document, of which the most signifi- 

 cant portions were these: 



" The prompt and effective assistance given by 

 Canada in the South African struggle has shown 

 in a very practical way the loyalty of the people 

 to the British Crown and policy; and we can not 

 fail to notice the fact that the conduct of our 

 own provincial volunteers has been so favorably 

 recognized and appreciated. 



" The subject of technical education, involving 

 instruction in agriculture, mining, and the me- 

 chanic arts, in respect to which the Legislative 

 Assembly gave authority to enter into arrange- 

 ments with the governments of Nova Scotia and 

 Prince Edward Island, has during the recess en- 

 gaged the earnest attention of my Government. 

 After very careful consideration, it has been con- 

 cluded that the establishment of a school, prop- 

 erly equipped, for the purpose of giving instruc- 

 tion in mining and the mechanic arts, would in- 

 volve an expense which, with the limited resources 

 of the province, it is not advisable to undertake. 

 My Government has felt it desirable, however, 

 that provision should be made for the establish- 

 ment of a school of agriculture and horticulture, 

 and a definite understanding has been arrived at 

 with the governments of Nova Scotia and Prince 

 Edward Island in reference to this subject, the 

 details of which will be submitted to you. I 

 think you will agree with me that this project 

 is of great importance, because of the fact that 

 the permanent prosperity of our province depends 

 largely upon its agricultural development. With 

 the generous assistance of the Legislature in the 

 past, a great deal has been done for the improve- 

 ment of our farming population, the policy of 

 encouraging the dairying and other agricultural 

 industries of the province having resulted in the 

 greatest possible benefit; and you may rest as- 

 sured that the same vigorous and progressive pol- 

 icy which has been pursued in the past in this 

 direction will be continued. 



" In accordance with the desire which has been 

 shown by the Legislature to encourage the estab- 

 lishment of cold-storage warehouses at central 

 points in the province, my Government has given 

 the subject very careful consideration, and it is 

 intended to submit for your approval a measure 

 which will insure the immediate erection at the 

 port of St. John of a large and thoroughly 

 equipped cold-storage warehouse, and which, it is 

 also hoped, will lead at an early day to the 

 establishment of smaller warehouses in various 

 sections of the province. 



" The recent scarcity of coal, and the great in- 

 crease in price, have directed the attention of my 

 Government to the possibility of developing the 

 valuable coal areas lying in the counties of Queens 

 and Sunbury; and a measure having this end in 

 view will be submitted for your consideration. 



" The law relating to the great roads and by- 

 roads of the province has not been found entirely 

 satisfactory, and you will be asked to consider 

 whether it would not be desirable to adopt a 

 system which will abolish the distinction between 

 the two, and thus enable all the important high- 

 ways of the province, irrespective of whether they 

 may have formerly been on the list of great roads 

 or by-roads, to be maintained in proper condi- 

 tion. 



" During the past year the financial resources 

 of the province have been taxed to an unusual 

 extent by reason of the smallpox epidemic, which 



called for immediate and ofVcHivc im-jisnro* on 

 the part of my Government. ;m<: tin: provincial 

 Board of Health, as well us the lo<-;i.i l,o;mK in 

 various sections of the province. I ; UM \t.\^,\- to 

 say that the energetic measures whirl, \\ ], tYi'kcn 

 prevented the spread of the epidemic, a., 

 reason to believe that it will soon he Hloct ually 

 stamped out. 



"During the year my Govermucril was e ;i !ll 

 upon to assist the sufferers by a disastrous ih\ : 

 which occurred in the village of St. Martins, in 

 the county of St. John; and also a number of 

 families which were deprived of their support by 

 the terrible loss of life which occurred among the 

 fishermen in the county of Gloucester through 

 the Violent storms which prevailed in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence during last autumn. It is hoped 

 that the steps which were taken by my Govern- 

 ment to assist in relieving as far as possible the 

 suffering caused by these disasters will meet with 

 your approval. The Board of Works was called 

 upon during the past year to incur an extraor- 

 dinary outlay, by reason of great damage caused 

 to many roads and bridges throughout the prov- 

 ince by the unusual freshets. A statement of 

 these extraordinary expenditures will ba laid be- 

 fore you. 



" Certain irregularities and wrongdoing which 

 have occurred in connection with the list of non- 

 resident voters of the parish of Rothesay, in the 

 county of Kings, have made it necessary that 

 legislation should be enacted to provide for a 

 proper and legal list and to prevent the occurrence 

 of such evils in the future. A measure having 

 this end in view will be submitted for your con- 

 sideration. 



" In opening the last session of the Legislative 

 Assembly, it afforded me great pleasure to con- 

 vey to you the information that the claim of the 

 province against the Dominion arising out of the 

 Eastern Extension Railway matter, and which 

 had been so long in controversy, had by agree- 

 ment between the two governments been referred 

 to three competent and disinterested persons, mu- 

 tually chosen, for final adjustment and settle- 

 ment. And it is now my pleasing privilege to 

 inform you that the award of the arbitrators has 

 been made, and that it recognizes the justice of 

 the claim which the province has for so many 

 years been pressing upon the attention of the Do- 

 minion authorities." 



Clifford William Robinson was elected Speaker 

 of the House without opposition. He has been 

 member for Westmoreland since 1897, and was 

 formerly mayor of Moncton. The house ad- 

 journed April 3. 



Finances. On March 18 the Hon. Mr. Tweedie 

 presented the annual budget. The receipts of the 

 province for 1900 were $758,988; the estimates had 

 been $745,191. The chief increase was in the suc- 

 cession duties, which realized $39,522. The Do- 

 minion subsidies amounted to $483,491; the ter- 

 ritorial revenue was $175,818; the taxes upon in- 

 corporated companies realized $25,352; the liquor 

 licenses brought in $21,628. The expenditures to- 

 taled $794,476, showing a deficit of $35,488. 

 Against this, however, were the unusual expenses 

 of $24,000 in connection with the suppression of 

 smallpox, the $5,000 spent on the South African 

 contingent, and $10,484 expended on the bridge 

 inquiry. The net debt of the province on Oct. 31, 

 1900, was $2,851,068, as against $2,736,298 in the 

 preceding year. The increase during the year was, 

 therefore, $114,788. For 1901 Mr. Tweedie ex- 

 pected better returns, and estimated the revenue 

 at $1,030,491 and the expenditure at $808.424. 

 Included in the revenue estimates were $483,491 



