18 TJie Agricultural lUsourcet of Canada, 



On our train we had several gentlemen farmers from New 

 Westminster, who informed us that an agricultui-al show was being 

 held there. We at once decided to go to that town, and extend our 

 visit in British Columbia. . 



We arrived at New Westminster on the 28th, in the 

 New evening, and it was with some difficulty that we secured 



Westminaler, beds, the town being so full of visitors. We went to 



see the exhibition buildings, and were invited by the 

 Mayor to attend the distribution of prizes, but, unfortunately, we were 

 too late to witness that event. The show, or exhibition, building was 

 lighted up with electricity. This mode of lighting and travelling is 

 nuich more common in Canada than in our country ; they are far ahead 

 of us in this respect. In the centre of the building was a raised plat- 

 form, on which the New Westminster City Band, composed of young 

 men from the town, was playing some very good music. A large 

 number of people were listening attentively to them. This show was 

 called the " Koyal Agricultural and Industrial Society of British 

 Columbia." It combined instruction with pleasure. The exhibits 

 embraced every variety of vegetable, including some very good specimens 

 of cabbage, cauliflowers, potatoes, peas, «fcc., and there were also 

 splendid apples and melons. There were shown some very fine samples 

 of the timber of the district. The corn we did not consider to be so 

 good as what we had seen in the North- West ; the butter was of a 

 very good quality, and tastefully made. The fruit of British Columbia 

 is one of its best productions. One of the first duties of a settler here is 

 to plant an orchard, the soil and the climate being most favourable to 

 the growth of fruit trees of all kinds. The following morning we 

 again visited the show. The fowls penned were of an average 

 quality. The cattle were mostly Holsteins, but there were a few 

 kSliorthorns. In such a new country as this we did not expect 

 to see extra good stock. There were a few good cart horses. 

 In connection with the show, they had Rugby football matches, 

 lacrosse, canoe races, Indian canoe races, rifle match, bicycle races, 

 running, trotting, cowboy riding feats, and a log-chopping contest. 

 They had a riding competition for ladies, and also an Indian brass band. 

 After dinner we were taken in a steamboat up the river. Wo had 

 a good view of the town, v.'hich is situated on an elevated position on 

 the Fraser Eiver. We visited the Brunette Saw-Mills, and saw how 

 easily the great logs are dealt with. They are floated from the forest, 

 and kept in an enclosed part of the river until called for. They are 

 then brought up from the river on an r^ndless chain, supplied with a 

 liberal quantity of hooks. It is surprising with what ease they are 

 hauled up. One saw is in reality 30 saws working upright, cutting 

 the log into boards at one operation. Sailing up the river, we passed 

 several salmon canneries, but they were not working, the season being 

 over. There was any quantity of salmon to be seen in the river. 

 Pitt's Meadows, to which we were taken, has an area of 12,500 acres. 

 It is flat land, and in its original state was quite useless, as the river 

 flooded it in June and July, when the snow melted on the mountains. 

 A company bought it, and at a great cost procured what is called 



