f 



Report of the Minister of Lands and Forests 

 of the Province of Ontario 



For the Year ending 31st October, 1928 



GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 



The close of the fiscal year, 1927-28, recalls with interest the season of 

 1827-28, or one hundred years ago, when the first Commissioner of Crown Lands, 

 Peter Robinson, was appointed "Commissioner for the Sale and Management 

 of Crown Lands in the Province of Upper Canada," — his instructions from the 

 Lords of the Treasury having been dated 18th July, 1827. He was also ap- 

 pointed to the office and trust of His Majesty's Woods and Forests by Commission 

 bearing the same date. 



To the Commissioner of Crown Lands was committed the management 

 and disposal of all public lands reported by the Surveyor-General to be open for 

 sale. The receipts from the sales of lands were credited to the respective funds 

 such as Crown Lands, Clergy Reserves, Military Reserves and various Indian 

 bands. All moneys received from licenses and duties in connection with timber 

 also were received by and recorded in his office. 



As a prospect one hundred years is a long time and yet as a retrospect it 

 appears short when scanning the personnel of the Executive heads of the Depart- 

 ment during this span, so many of the names having down to the present gener- 

 ation become household words. The terminology "Crown Lands Department" 

 remained such practically for seventy-eight years or until 1905 when by special 

 legislation it was changed to the "Department of Lands and Mines." The year 

 following, however, in 1906, the title was again changed to "Department of 

 Lands, Forests and Mines," each of the changes respectively admitting the growing 

 importance of the mining and forestry industry. Because of the continued growth 

 of the mining industry a further change was necessitated in 1920 when a separate 

 and distinct Department of Mines was created, the parent Department thereafter 

 becoming, as it is known at present, "The Department of Lands and Forests." 



Since 1827 there have been in all 34 appointments of Commissioners or 

 Ministers, these representing thirty-one individuals, three of the number having 

 functioned in such a capacity for a second period under changed Governments. 



The following is a complete list of the Department's heads with the dates 

 of office holding: 



Hon. Peter Robinson 17th July, 1827, to 14th July, 1836. 



" R. B. Sullivan 14th July, 1836, to 30th June, 1841. 



" John Davidson 23rd July, 1841, to 12th October, 1842. 



" A. N. Morin 13th October, 1842, to 11th December, 1843. 



" D. P. Papineau 3rd September, 1844, to 7th December, 1847. 



" John A. Macdonald 8th December, 1847, to 10th March, 1848. 



" J. H. Price 11th March, 1848, to 27th October, 1851. 



" John Rolph 28th October, 1851, to 17th August, 1853. 



[7] 



