450 



NOVA SCOTIA. 



ince the Coast Railway has been opened as far as 

 Barrington Passage, and negotiations are in 

 progress for the renewal of the company's con- 

 tract for the completion of the line from Yar- 

 mouth to Lockport. The Nova Scotia Southern 

 Railway Company has performed a large amount 

 of work on its lines. 



" The promotion of interest in agricultural prog- 

 ress in this province has always been among the 

 leading aims of my Government. The results of 

 recent provincial exhibitions have shown the ne- 

 cessity for securing improved breeds of stock and 

 extending this improvement to all parts of the 

 province. You will be asked to make provision 

 to enable the Government to take such steps in 

 the way of importation of the best breeds of 

 horses, cattle, and sheep as will tend to encourage 

 the production of purer and better breeds of stock 

 in all parts of the province. At the last session 

 of the Legislature provision was made for the es- 

 tablishment of an agricultural and horticultural 

 school. Before any active steps had been taken 

 by my Government to carry the act into effect a 

 project was submitted for the establishment of an 

 interprovincial institution which would embrace 

 not only agriculture and horticulture, but also 

 mining and manual training. Such an institution, 

 if it could be successfully established, would be an 

 advantage to all the maritime provinces. 



" My Government, as you are aware, has for 

 some years past taken charge of the construction 

 of the great bridges of the province, and most of 

 these have been built of permanent material. As 

 a complement to this undertaking it would seem 

 desirable that many of the smaller bridges, espe- 

 cially on the chief thoroughfares of the province, 

 should likewise be constructed of more durable 

 material. 



" The commissioners appointed to revise and 

 consolidate the statutes have completed their 

 labors, and the result will be submitted to you. 



" Scientific investigation within the past few 

 years has disclosed the serious consequences of the 

 spread of tubercular diseases and the necessity of 

 special endeavors not only to prevent the spread 

 of the disease, but also to provide for its cure at 

 the earlier stages. Sanitaria have been established 

 in many parts of Europe and America especially 

 devoted to the treatment of this form of disease. 

 You will be asked to consider a measure designed 

 to enable my Government to furnish adequate aid 

 to the establishment of such institutions in this 

 province." 



The events of the session were largely nonpar- 

 tisan, and as a consequence considerable useful 

 legislation was put upon the statute books. Mr. 

 G. H. Murray was still at the head of the Gov- 

 ernment, assisted by Messrs. J. W. Longley and C. 

 E. Church at the head of departments, and by 

 Messrs. Thomas Johnson, A. H. Comeau, A. Mc- 

 Gillivray, T. R. Black, W. T. Pipes, and D. Mc- 

 Pherson as ministers without portfolio. The re- 

 vision of the statutes was matter of much dis- 

 cussion and the subject of a long speech by At- 

 torney-General Longley. The South African War 

 was a popular topic, and on March 1 a resolution 

 of congratulation on the relief of Ladysmith was 

 unanimously passed and sent to the Queen. An 

 employer's liability for injuries act, introduced 

 by the Premier on March 2, and passed, was large- 

 ly a counterpart of the British act of 1880. 



A measure was also passed providing for the 

 borrowing and expenditure of $300,000 for the con- 

 struction of small bridges throughout the prov- 

 ince, as was a bill preventing coal companies from 

 --ing their employees for medical attendance 

 which they can not control. 



Among the numerous other acts passed were 

 the following: 



Respecting the revised statutes. 



To amend chapter i of the acts of 1895, entitled 

 An Act to amend and consolidate the acts relating 

 to public instruction. 



To establish a sanitarium, and to aid in the 

 treatment and care of persons suffering from tu- 

 bercular disease of the lungs. 



To provide for the establishment of an agricul- 

 tural and technical school for the maritime prov- 

 inces. 



For the encouragement of mining. 



For the encouragement of manufacturing and 

 shipbuilding. 



To amend chapter ix of the 'acts of 1899. en- 

 titled An Act to provide for an agricultural col- 

 lege, and for the further encouragement of 

 creameries. 



For the improvement and better maintenance 

 of certain roads. 



To amend the Nova Scotia franchise act, 1889. 



To amend chapter ii of the acts of 1895, entitled 

 An Act respecting the sale of intoxicating liquors 

 and the acts in amendment thereof. 



To amend chapter ii of the acts of 1898, entitled 

 An Act to consolidate and amend the acts relat- 

 ing to the property of married women. 



To amend chapter xxv of the acts of 1898, en- 

 titled An Act of 1896, and to amend the Nova 

 Scotia game act of 1896. 



Respecting the maintenance of illegitimate chil- 

 dren. 



To amend chapter ii of the acts of 1895, en- 

 titled the liquor license act, 1895. 



In September the Hon. A. G. Jones, an old-time 

 Dominion Liberal leader, became Lieutenant Gov- 

 ernor in succession to Sir M. B. Daly. 



Finances. The receipts for the province for 

 the year ending Sept. 30, 1899, included $17,636 

 from Crown lands, $319,150 from mines, $55.7 16 

 from public charities, $432,806 from the Dominion 

 annual subsidy, $31,182 from succession duties. 

 The total receipts were $876,828. The expenditure 

 amounted to $852,379, and included $24,310 upon 

 agriculture, $123,688 upon debenture interest. 

 $248,758 upon education, $50,169 upon legislative 

 expenses, $115,643 upon public charities, $83.!so 

 upon road grants to municipalities, and the re- 

 mainder upon various smaller demands. The spe- 

 cial feature of the year's revenue, according to Mr. 

 Murray's financial statement of Feb. 19, was the 

 large receipt from mining royalties. The liabili- 

 ties of the province were given by him as $3.02S, 

 986 of provincial debentures, $550,666 of special 

 loans, and $275,379 borrowed from banks in Hali- 

 fax ; a total of $3,855.032. Against this were assets 

 estimated at $1,341,272. A loan of 164,000 placed 

 on the London market at 3 per cent, had realized 

 a minimum of 95. and had been regarded as hijrh 

 evidence of advancing public credit. The esti- 

 mated revenue for 1900 included the annual Do- 

 minion subsidies and allowance of $432.000. a 

 royalty from mines of $390,000, a revenue from 

 Crown lands of $28,000, from the Hospital for In- 

 sane of $47,000, and from succession duties of $'.!5,- 

 000. The estimated expenditure included $251. ..00 

 upon education, $126,600 upon public charities, 

 $111,881 upon roads and bridges, and $148.052 

 upon debenture interest. 



Education. The annual report of Dr. A. fi 

 MacKay, Superintendent of Education, for I'-DP. 

 gave the following particulars: The number of 

 schools increased from 2,385 to 2,390. The inac- 

 tions without schools were 146, against 124 last 

 year, which was the best on record. The increase 

 of sections without school was confined mainh to 



