XK\V HUUXSWICK, PROVINCE OF. 



XK\\Tnrxi>LAXI>. 



513 



To consolidate and amend the law respecting 

 the sale of intoxicating liquors. 



Relating to surveying of liunlier. 



Temperance Legislation. During the 

 a distinct advance was made liy tlie passage of a 

 bill consolidating the existing laws regarding li- 

 censes and still further restricting the sale of liquor. 

 The measure increases the amount of the license 

 fee, limits the number of hotels and taverns in a 

 given district, declares that in wards or parishes 

 where no licenses had been granted none should be 

 given in future, and makes it necessary for half of 

 the voters of a division or section to be upon the 

 petition for the renewal of a license. Meanwhile, a 

 Prohibition meeting in St. John declared that issue 

 to be the supreme question before the people. Since 

 then a decision of the imperial Privy Council has 

 established the principle that the provinces have 

 the power to regulate, but not to prohibit the traf- 

 fic, so that this part of the agitation is turned into 

 Dominion politics. 



Finances. Mr. Mitchell, as Provincial Treas- 

 urer, made his budget speech on Feb. 20. During 

 the year, he said, the farmers had reaped good har- 

 3, the lumber business had been fairly active, 

 and business men were able to meet their obliga- 

 tions. The bonded indebtedness of the province 

 stood at $2,709,000 an increase of $84,000. caused 

 by special expenditures upon the Woodstock and 

 sundry international bridges and the Xelson Rail- 

 way. The receipts for the year were 687,437, and 

 the expenditure under warrant 684.634. Under 

 this latter head were included $14,385 spent upon 

 the administration of justice. $22.370 upon agricul- 

 ture, $189,795 upon education. $210,469 upon pub- 

 lic works, roads, bridges, etc., $10,475 upon the 

 Legislative and other buildings. 



Agriculture. During the year there were 53 

 cheese factories in operation, with a production of 

 1.263.266 pounds. The average price was 8-i cents, 

 and the total value S104.229. The increase in the 

 output was 369,000 paunds. Xine creameries were 

 in operation, and produced 113,890 pounds of but- 

 ter at an average price of 18i cents. The total 

 value of cheese and butter exported was $125,289, 

 compared with $110,739 in 1894. In his budget 

 speech Mr. Mitchell referred to the " peculiar flavor 

 and richness of Xew Brunswick cheese." the excel- 

 lence of the dairy products shown at the St. John 

 Exhibition, and the very fine horticultural display 

 at the same place. In this latter connection a 

 small bonused school has been established, similar 

 to one in Wolfville, Xova Scotia. Cattle, sheep, 

 and swine have been imported to improve the home 

 stock, and other efforts made to improve the farm- 

 er's opportunities. 



Miscellaneous. The registered tonnage of Xew 

 Brunswick in 1896 was 1.140.172. divided between 

 390,608 coining inward and 749.564 going outward. 

 There was a total decrease of 27.000 tons. On Sept. 

 29 the Boards of Trade of the provinces of Xew 

 Brunswick. Xova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island 

 met at St. John, Xew Brunswick, and passed reso- 

 lutions in favor of encouraging immigration, re- 

 duction of freight from the coal mines to inland 

 towns, criticising certain freight rates of the Inter- 

 colonial Railway, recommending cable communica- 

 tion with the West Indies entirely under British 

 control, favoring a fast Atlantic line to Liverpool, 

 a cold-storage freight system, and telegraphic com- 

 munication with Prince Edward Island. During 

 the year Chief-Justice Sir John Allen resigned, and 

 was succeeded by Judge Tuck. who. in turn, was 

 replaced by Mr.'E. McLeod. ex-M. P. The death 

 of Hon. J. J. Eraser left the governorship vacant, 

 and to this office the Dominion Government ap- 

 pointed Senator McLellan. 

 VOL. xxxvi. 33 A 



NKWFOrM)I,AM>. an island, forming a Brit- 

 ish colony, at the entrance of the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence: area. 42.200 square miles; population in Is'.il 

 202,145. 



Legislative Session. The following were the 

 principal act* passed during the session of 1896: 



To amend the Crown lands act of 1884 as to 

 survey, etc. 



Respecting the payment of royalty on timber. 

 It abolishes royalties on timber cut but provides 

 for a ground rent of $2 per square mile in addition 

 to the bonus. 



Granting $70,000 for constructing and repairing 

 roads, streets, and bridges and other works. 



For the conversion of certain debentures of the 

 colony. 



For granting to her Majesty certain duties on 

 goods, wares, and merchandise imported into tin- 

 colony ; continuing the revenue act previously in 

 force, and amending it by adding to the free list : 

 mining machinery and dynamite when imported by 

 persons engaged in mining; agricultural imple- 

 ments and machinery when imported by persons 

 engaged in agriculture: oil cake, cotton seed, meal, 

 and preparations for cattle feed. Duty is increased 

 on fruit cake to 7 cents per pound ; fancy biscuit to 

 40 per cent. ; brooms and whisks to 50 per cent. 

 Goods made by prison labor are prohibited. 



To amend the education grant of 1895, making 

 an annual appropriation for all educational pur- 

 poses of $153,585. 



Respecting the preservation of deer, providing a 

 ten years' close season for elk or moose, a breach of 

 provisions rendering offenders liable to a fine of $200 

 or imprisonment for three months. Caribou can 

 not be killed from Feb. 1 to July 15. and from Oct. 

 7 to Xov. 10: and no person not domiciled in the 

 colony, except officers of her Majesty's ships sta- 

 tioned there, shall hunt or kill without a license, 

 paying therefor $100. Xot more than one carcass 

 of caribou can be exported by any one person, and 

 it must be accompanied by the owner. X'ot more 

 than 3 stags and 2 does shall be killed by any one 

 hunter; and, in parties of 3 or more, 2 stags and 1 

 doe for each member of the party, exclusive of 

 guides. Snares or traps for caribou are prohibited, 

 also hunting with dogs and the use of hatchets, 

 spears, etc. Violations of the provisions of this act 

 make liable to a penalty of $400 or six months' im- 

 prisonment. 



Constituting a medical board, holding office dur- 

 ing good behavior, but removable by the Govern- 

 or on petition of 5 members of the board. It pro- 

 vides that no person shall enter upon the study 

 of medicine in the colony without first passing a 

 matriculation examination. 



To authorize the raising of a sum of money for 

 the redemption of certain debentures of the colony. 



To amend an act for the maintenance and opera- 

 tion of the line of railway from Whitbourne to Port- 

 au-Basques, providing that grants of land issued 

 under the amended act shall convey all mines, ores, 

 and precious metals of every kind" on or under the 

 land granted. 



Hallways. The whole line from St. John's to 

 Port-au-Basqnes will be 550 miles in length, and 

 only 30 miles of it remain to be built. The con- 

 tractor is building a steamer to ply between Port- 

 au-Basques and Sydney. Cape Breton island. Xew- 

 foundland will soon almost cease to be an island, 

 and will obtain a daily mail service. 



Fisheries. The bank fishery in 1895 employed 

 ::ien and 58 vessels, the catch being 54.544 

 quintals of cod : the average catch per man, 69 

 quintals. The steamers engaged in the seal fishery 

 of 1896 numbered 20: their crews, 4,486 : and the 

 number of seals taken, 187.517. being much below 



