270 REPORY of the No. 3 



TJie powers referred to in the Gold Mining Act of 27-28 Vict., were 

 those vesting the Inspectors in Mining Districts with magisterial powers 

 charged with the enforcement of the law, and sections 25 and 28 of Cap. 

 93 Consolidated Statutes of Canada refer to the punishment for arson by 

 which any one doing malicious damages to trees or shrubs on private grounds 

 or elsewhere to the extent of twenty cents were liable to fine or imprison- 

 ment. 



This memorandum appeared to meet with the approval of the Com- 

 missioner, Hon. A. Campbell, who added to it the following instructions: — 



(1) Create a gold mining division to embrace the townships. 



(2) Prepare a form to be used as an appendix to such license, making 

 provision as far as possible against danger from fires. 



(3) Instruct Inspector to serve and give him reference to the sections 

 of the 93 chap. Consolidated Stat, quoted by Mr. Partridge. 



(4) In townships where no municipal organization exists, persons may 

 be selected as suggested by Mr, Partridge for the duty he proposes (persons 

 liBft by lumbermen in charge of their farms would probably be found very 

 suitable men.) 



(Sgd.) A. C. 



23rd Feb., '67. 



No action appears to have been taken at this time, perhaps owing to 

 the pressure of business consequent upon the Confederation of the Provinces 

 consummated on July 1st of that year, (1867) when the Government of 

 Upper Canada was permanently moved to Toronto. 



Prevention of Forest Fires. 



During the session of 1878 there was enacted the first legislation look- 

 ing to the suppression, or rather, the prevention of forest fires. This was 

 entitled, "An Act to Preserve the Forests from destruction by fire." 

 ma^procMm 1- T^ie Lieutenaut-Govemor may, by proclamation made by him 

 a fire district, from time to time, issued by and with the advice and consent of 

 the Executive Council, declare any portion or part of the Province 

 of Ontario to be a fire district. 

 Kirtrkr^ 2. Every proclamation under this Act shall be published in the 

 Ontario Gazette, and such portion or part of the Province as is 

 mentioned and declared to be a fire district in and by the said pro- 

 clamation,' shall, from and after the said publication, become a fire 

 district within the meaning and for the purposes of this Act. 

 Revocation. 3. Every such portion or part of the Province mentioned in such 



proclamation shall cease to be a fire district upon the revocation by 

 the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council of the proclamation by which 

 it was created. 

 fterted eLcep^* 4. It shall not be lawful for any person to set out, or cause to be 

 **u ^^s'sand ^^^ ^^^ °^ started, any fire in or near the woods within any fire 

 In certain district between the first day of April and the first day of Novem- 

 penods. -^^^ -^^ ^^^ year, cxccpt for the purposes of clearing land, cooking, 



obtaining warmth, or for some industrial purposes, the obligations 

 and precautions imposed by the following sections shall be 

 observed. 

 betekeninUse ^- ^very persou who shall, between the first day of April and 

 of clearing the first day of November, make or start a fire within such fire dis- 

 trict for the purpose of clearing land shall exercise and observe 



