NEW BRUNSWICK. 



609 



tut ion, and the court held that it was. In com- 

 pliance with this finding of the conn, the Secre- 

 tary of Siatc at once transmitted the amend- 

 ment to the Legislature, whereupon 25 out of 

 i In- "< \\ere agreed to by a majority in both 

 llou-es, and provision was made for their sub- 

 mission to the jHiople at the general election in 

 1MM. Thoe amendments contemplate impor- 

 tant changes in the organic law. 



Mining. Nevada has produced in gold and 

 silver the total of $587,381,515. The production 

 of theComstock lode alone for the three quarters 

 ending Sept. 30, 1892, was $1,670,763.34, and tin- 

 total yield of the State for 1892 was $3,492,416.- 

 7*>. On account of the depressed condition of 

 mining industries many mines are closed. Only 

 such as are thoroughly opened and fully equipped 

 are running at a profit. 



Annexation of Utah. During the year this 

 subject was seriously discussed by the people of 

 the State. In a public letter, dated March 23, 

 Senator Stewart says: "Nevada has sufficient 

 agricultural resources, if. they were developed, to 

 maintain a State, but the fact that our popula- 

 tion has declined in the last ten years discour- 

 ages immigration and prevents the development 

 of our resources. Utah and Nevada together 

 would present a more tempting field for invest- 

 ment and for residence." 



NEW BRUNSWICK, an eastern province of 

 the Dominion of Canada ; area, 27,322 square 

 miles; population in 1891, 321,294. Capital, 

 Predericton. 



Government. On Sept. 22, 1893, Lieut.-Gov. 

 Sir S. L. Tilley was succeeded by Hon. John 

 Boyd. In less than three months Mr. Boyd 

 died, Dec. 4, 1893; and on Dec. 22 the Hon. 

 John James Fraser, Judge of the Supreme Court 

 of New Brunswick, received the appointment. 

 The Provincial Cabinet consists of Hon A. G. 

 Blair, Attorney-General and Premier ; Hon. 

 James Mitchell, Provincial Secretary and Re- 

 ceiver-General ; Hon. H. R. Emmerson, jChief 

 Commissioner of Public Works; Hon. Lemuel 

 J. Tweedie, Surveyor-General ; Hon. A. S. 

 White, Solicitor-General ; Hon. Charles H. La 

 Billois. and Hon. H. A. Connell, without office. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature was 

 convened on March 9, 1893, and the session 

 closed on April 15. Two matters of more than 

 ordinary public interest engrossed the attention 

 of the Legislature a considerable portion of the 

 session the Bathurst schools and the leases of 

 the lumber lands of the province. In respect of 

 the first, there had been a growing difficulty be- 

 tween the Roman Catholic majority and the 

 Protestant minority of the residents of the town 

 and village of Bathurst, in the northern section 

 of the province, over the administration of the 

 school law by the board of school trustees. 

 The Protestants declared that the nonsectarian 

 features of the law were disregarded, and that 

 their children were submitted to the influence of 

 the teaching of Roman Catholic doctrines ; and 

 it was also charged that the provincial Board of 

 Education, by certain regulations favoring the 

 Roman Catholic body, and by not using its 

 powers to prevent infractions of the law, was 

 largely responsible. Numerously signed peti- 

 tions from all sections of the province poured 

 into the Legislature, praying that such orders 



n ml regulations should be made as would carry 

 out the piiriioM-s of the school law, and thus re- 

 lieve the Protestants of Bathurst from the 

 grievance complained of. After a long and 

 spirited debate, the Government carried a reso- 

 lution to the effect that one of the judges of the 

 Sinn-erne or county courts should be appointed 

 to hold an investigation at Bathurst. and make 

 a thorough inquiry into all the matters of com- 

 plaint, taking evidence on oath, and renort to 

 the Board of Education, such report to be sub- 

 mitted to the Legislature at its next session. 

 Judge Fraser (since appointed Governor) was 

 commissioned to hold the investigation, which 

 he did during the summer, but nis report has 

 not yet been made public. 



The other matter referred to the leasing of 

 the Crown lumber lands came before the session 

 in anticipation of the lapsing in July of the ten- 

 year leases under which the lands were held, 

 and also, through the report of a lumber com- 

 mission appointed in 1890 to inquire into all 

 branches of the lumber industry, with a view to 

 suggesting the best policy for preserving and 

 utilizing the timber lands. It was determined 

 to sell the leases at public auction to the highest 

 bidder with an upset price of $8 a square mile, 

 subject to a yearly renewal at $4 a square mile 

 for a term of twenty-four years, and the pay- 

 ment of stumpage dues. Under these conditions 

 5,692 square miles were leased at an average 

 price of $15.60 a square mile. 



The Legislature passed 84 laws, the most im- 

 portant being the following: 



The Expropriation act, which enlarges the powers 

 of the Chief Commissioner of Public Works in the 

 maintenance and repairs of the public roads and 

 bridges. 



The Provincial Lunatic Asylum and its manage- 

 ment throwing the cost of maintenance of pauper 

 lunatics thnt are not dangerously insane upon the 

 municipalities. 



Relating to registry of bills of sale. 



Protection of certain birds and animals. 



Establishment of a boys' industrial home. 



Admission of women to school boards. 



Study of the etfects of alcoholic drinks in public 

 schools. 



Proceedings in equity court 



Rights of the Crown, as represented by the Gov- 

 ernment of the province, in certain public lands and 

 property. 



Respecting the use of tobacco by minors. 



Development of minis. 



Incorporation of the Farmers' and Dairymen's As- 

 sociation of New Brunswick. 



Finances. The current revenue account for 

 1893 shows the receipts from all sources to be 

 $7i. 163.68 ; the payments, $754,382.97. The bal- 

 ance against the province in 1892 of $84,218.80 

 was reduced to $46,438.09 at the close of 1893. 

 The receipts obtained from Dominion subsi- 

 dies were $483,569.68; Crown lands, $209,018.- 

 ?"> ; taxes of incorporated companies, $21,827.82; 

 succession duties, $3,500; equity-court deposits, 

 $26,786.19; proceeds of bonds, $34,500; other 

 sources, $12,961.24. The expenditure was dis- 

 tributed as follows: Administration of justice, 

 $17.456.99; encouragement of agriculture. $21,- 

 799.34: expenses of Government and Legisla- 

 ture, $85,172.63; education, $182,072.32; interest 

 on public debt. $113,385.70; care of the insane, 

 $45,000; public health and hospitals, $5,732.10; 



