BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



85 



at Ashland. Much of the attention of the con- 

 ference was given to the interests of those in- 

 stitutions and to the concerns of different or- 

 ganizations for religious work. Eighty-three 

 churches were represented by delegate or by 

 letter. The Rev. J. M. Tombaugh, Chancellor 

 of Ashland University, presided. The Book and 

 Tract Committee reported a balance on hand of 

 $113; the publishing house returned $898 of 

 credits and $759 of debts. A. J. McFadden, as 

 a committee appointed to attend the World's 

 Fair at Chicago, reported that after reading a 

 paper on " Channels of Usefulness in the Breth- 

 ren Church," in their Church congress, and dis- 

 tributing many thousand pages of tracts, he 

 went, "with much tribulation, before the Parlia- 

 ment of Religions, and placed on record the fact 

 that the Brethren Church is ananticreed Church, 

 having the gospel alone as its rule and guide." 

 The National Mission Board represented that it 

 had held itself in readiness to work, but no as- 

 sistance had been offered. The Church was re- 

 quested to pay an average of 10 cents per mem- 

 ber each year to this cause. An organization of 

 young people, the King's Children, had grown 

 from about 250 members in 1893 to 2,000 mem- 

 bers. Thirty societies of the Sisters' Society of 

 Christian Endeavor had been organized. Reso- 

 lutions were passed expressing sympathy with 

 the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance 

 Union, pledging opposition to intemperance, and 

 promising support to every effort " to pro- 

 tect the home, the state, and the Church " ; 

 upholding the State and national mission boards 

 in efforts to spread the gospel; and approving 

 the objects of the King's Children and the Sisters' 

 Society of Christian Endeavor. 



The annual meeting of the Conservative Breth- 

 ren was held in Meyerstown, Pa., in the last 

 week in May. While the meeting gave consider- 

 able attention to the discussion of matters of 

 form and dress and questions of worldly con- 

 formity, it also considered and acted on the sub- 

 jects of education, publication, and missions. 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. Legislative Ses- 

 sion. The fourth session of the Sixth Legisla- 

 tive Assembly of the province was opened on 

 Jan. 18, 1894, at Victoria, by the Hon. Edgar 

 Dewdney, Lieutenant Governor. The following 

 epitome conveys the important passages in the 

 Lieutenant Governor's address : 



The measure of redistribution, which was neces- 

 sarily postponed on account of imperfect census re- 

 turns, will be introduced during the present session. 

 Under the authority conferred by the Railway Aid 

 act of last session a guarantee of interest has been 

 given in favor of the Nakusp and Slocau Railway 

 Company, the work of construction has been vigor- 

 ously pushed, and the line will be in running order 

 during the present year, so that the valuable trade of 

 the Slocan region will be attracted toward the mer- 

 cantile centers of the province. In arranging the 

 details of the agreement with the company I have 

 reserved the alternative right of guaranteeing the 

 bonds of the company, both as to principal and in- 

 terest. 



The question as to the jurisdiction of the Dominion 

 Government to grant licenses for and to regulate fish- 

 ing in provincial waters is about to be submitted to 

 the Supreme Court of Canada, and I shall take care 

 that the interests of the province are properly repre- 

 sented at that tribunal. 



Although the past year has been one of great com- 



mercial depression throughout the world, the revenue 

 of the province has closely approximated the esti- 

 mate. 



The long-standing dispute with the Dominion 

 Government on the subject of the title to railway 

 lands upon the mainland was not brought before the 

 courts during last year. Negotiations looking toward 

 an amicable settlement are pending, the successful 

 result of which would obviate the necessity of a ref- 

 erence to a judicial tribunal. 



The session closed on April 11, after the trans- 

 action of much business, the following being the 

 most important bills passed : 



For the redivision of British Columbia into elec- 

 toral districts, and for amending the law applicable 

 to elections to the Legislative Assembly. 



To incorporate the Delta, New Westminster and 

 Eastern Railway. 



To extend the application of the Marriage act and 

 the registration of births, deaths, and marriages to 

 the Salvation Army. 



To incorporate the Victoria, Vancouver and West- 

 minster Railway. 



To incorporate the Great Western Telegraph Com- 



pany. 

 Toi 



o incorporate the Consolidated Railway and Light 



To authorize the Hall Mines Company to construct 

 tramways and electrical and other works in the vicin- 

 ity of Nelson. 



To amend " An Act respecting the union of certain 

 Methodist churches in Canada." 



Respecting the drainage, diking, and irrigation of 

 lands. 



To provide for the formation from time to time, as 

 disputes may arise, of councils of labor conciliation 

 and arbitration. 



To assess, levy, and collect taxes on the property 

 of railway companies. 



Finances. The surplus funds in hand July 

 1, 1893, were $334,919.38 ; cash in agent's hand 

 and treasury, $40,347.68; subsidy deposit, Na- 

 kusp and Slocan Railway, $118,400; estimated 

 revenue for the year ending June 30, 1894, 

 $1,058,691.45 ; total, $1,552,358.51. 



The expenditures were estimated at $1,277,- 

 157.45 ; additional amount required to provide 

 for special warrants, $81,180.99; total, $1,358,- 

 338.44. 



The estimated surplus at the close of the fiscal 

 year June 30, 1894, was $194,020.07. 



The 3-per-cent. loan of $600,000 authorized 

 by the Government for the construction of 

 the new legislative buildings at Victoria was 

 placed upon the London market in 1893, and 

 brought 92 per cent, of par value, showing an 

 increase in the value of provincial securities. 

 In January, 1894, the Dominion Government 

 paid the province the half-yearly subsidy under 

 the terms of union, amounting to $122,464.73. 



Trade. Notwithstanding the financial and 

 business depression so generally prevailing, the 

 trade of the province for the year ending June 

 30, 1894, showed a considerable increase over 

 that of the preceding year, as evidenced by the 

 subjoined figures : 



The exports from the province for the year 

 ending June 30, 1893, were: From mines, 

 $2,888,947; fisheries, $1,501,831; forest, $454,- 

 994; animals and their products, $310,021; 

 agricultural products, $30,173; miscellaneous, 

 $446,231 ; total, $5.642,797. The exports for the 

 year ending June 30, 1894, were: From mines, 

 $3.521,543; fisheries, $3,541,305; forest, $411,- 



