vi EEPOKT OF THE No. 3 



It will be observed that there has been a falling off in the number of sales 

 made as well as in the receipts of money from that source. The net decrease 

 in the number of purchases is 363. The causes of the falling off are not diificult 

 to understand. They are attributable to the disturbance in all channels of trade, 

 labor and finance. People found it very difficult to get money for any purpose 

 and with the fear of what might occur those who had a few hundred dollars 

 ahead preferred to keep them rather than to expend them in moving to a new 

 part of the Province while matters were so unsettled. Then a considerable per- 

 centage of the young men that might have gone into newer parts have gone to 

 fight for their King, In these and other ways it is quite easy to account for the 

 falling off in the number of settlers who have taken up land in the newer parts 

 of the Province. The falling off is mostly in the clay belt in Townships which 

 have been opened for some little time. When a Township is op'ened for the first 

 time there is a considerable rush of people into it which falls off when settlers 

 have to go farther back from the railway and other highways. The Transcon- 

 tinental Eailway is still in the hands of the contractors. 



Free Grants. 



During the year, 1,882 persons were located for Free Grant Lands, or over 

 300 in excess of the previous year while 301 settlers purcKlased land in Free Grant 

 territory, thereby making practically 2,200 persons taking possession of Free 

 Grant land for a total area of 268,238 acres, which is greater by 28,966 acres 

 than the year ending October 31st, 1913. 



The northern portions of the Province benefited mostly by the settlement, 

 the District of Thunder Bay receiving no less than 632 settlers, while Eainy Eiver 

 and Kenora received 761. The District of Sudbury and that portion of Nipissing 

 lying north of Lake Nipissing, showed an increase over the preceding year. 

 Patents were issued to 767 locatees who completed their settlement duties. 



The Townships of Sterling in the District of Thunder Bay and of Britton 

 and'Eowell in Kenora were opened for location under the Free Grant Section 

 of the Public Lands Act. 



Military Grants, 



The total nnmber of military certificates issued to date, under the Veterans 

 Land Grant Act, I Edward VII, Cap. 6, and amendments thereto, is 13,998, 



During the year there have been 47 certificates located, making in all a total 

 of 8,064 located. 



There were 8 certificates surrendered to the Crown for the $50.00 commutation; 

 this makes a total of 3,234 certificates surrendered. 



In 19 eases the certificates have been surrendered and applied in pujrment 

 of lands purchased from the Crown making a total of 721 that have been applied 

 in this manner. 



During the year there have been 335 patents issued for lands located by 

 veterans making a total of 6,740 thus disposed of. 



The total number, therefore, of certificates that have now been redeemed 

 is 11,945, leaving 1,87& still outstanding. 



The locatees of all lands granted under this Act, must apply for their patents 

 for such land before ten years have expired from date of location. If this applica' 



