152 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Appendix No. 40 



NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT BRANCH 

 Section 1 (D) 

 Farms 



Under this sub-section expenditures were made in connection with the 

 purchase of two additional town lots in the town of New Liskeard, as additions 

 to complete the demonstration farm there; and also in the payment of accounts 

 incurred for the erection of additional farm buildings, fences, and other improve- 

 ments upon the farm. The property is now being operated as a demonstration 

 farm by the Department of Agriculture. 



The experimental farm at Hearst has also been maintained by that Depart- 

 ment, and payments were made by the Northern Development Branch in 

 respect of supplies for seeding land, fencing, and labour. 



The total expenditure on these accounts was $11,036.39. 



Fire Relief Committee Accounts 



The Northern Ontario Fire Relief Committee, constituted after the fire 

 in Northern Ontario on October 4, 1922, found that the amount of the contribu- 

 tions they had received from various sources was not sufficient to meet the 

 requirements. Representations were made by the Relief Committee to the 

 Government as a result of which it was decided that money be provided out of 

 the Northern Development fund, under the provisions of Section 1 {d) of the 

 Northern Development Act, to be used for the payment of accounts incurred 

 by the Relief Committee, after being audited and passed by the Department 

 as represented by the Northern Development Branch. The accounts cover 

 materials, supplies, feed and other necessities of the settlers. Further provision 

 was made for the payment of accounts incurred for similar objects in connection 

 with the fire near Norembega, east of Cochrane, in 1923. The amount expended 

 under these heads was $282,060.99, the accounts being rendered to the Fire 

 Relief Committee, approved by them and forwarded to the Northern Develop- 

 ment Branch, where they were audited prior to payment. 



In the emergency after the fire of 1922, a considerable quantity of army 

 equipment was loaned by the Department of Militia and Defence for the imme- 

 diate use of the fire sufferers. As living accommodation, equipment and other 

 supplies became available for the fire sufferers, the articles so loaned by the 

 Militia Department were returned. It was found, however, that a considerable 

 quantity of the equipment had become unfit for military use and was not accept- 

 able for return to stores and was, therefore, charged by the Militia Department 

 against the Fire Relief Committee. The account amounted to $73,742.32; and 

 provision was made to meet this charge out of the Northern Development fund. 



Payment was made of a portion of the account amounting to $15,748.28, 

 the remainder being left over to be taken care of either by the replacement of 

 the articles by repurchasing, or by cash remittance. 



Sawmills 



In order to provide the fire sufferers with sawn lumber from local supplies, 

 two portable sawmills were provided by the Northern Development Branch, 

 operated in the vicinity of New Liskeard. The cost of these mills, together 



