Mr, John Boberiis Report, 23 



Having been over the different provinces of Canada, we were 

 naturally anxious to see how Canadian stock and Canndian products 

 had succeeded in competition with the rest of the world. The " big 

 cheese " of Canada is bj this time well known. It weighed 22,000 lbs. 

 It has not yet " walked away," as some said that it would, but keeps in 

 perfectly good condition. The judges, reporting on it, said that " its 

 excellence of quality was a source of surprise and wonder.*' I 

 understand that it is going to be taken to England. 



Canada, as an old Ontario farmer said, had on this occasion 

 "beaten the wo rid. ^ No doubt it secured more prizes than any other 

 part of the world, for its population. 



In the cheese competition Canada has been remarkably successful. 

 This 1 was not at all sur} ised at, ns t'.e cheese we had tasted on our 

 journey was of specially good qualit; , and contrasted most favourably 

 with what is sold in this country as " American cheese." 



In cattle Canada was very sr.icessful, taking with 180 entries 

 $6,045. Ontario breeders took the bulk, and the best of the prizes for 

 Hackneys. In Thoroughbreds they secured all the prizes open to 

 them They also carried off several prizes for trotters. In all 

 their other exhibits Canada came also off with flying colours. (See 

 Appendix.) 



Our programme having now been concluded, I shall pro- 

 Oeneral ceed to offer a few remarks about the Dominion of Canada 

 Itemarks. generally, and the different territories visited, in the hope 

 that they will be of assistance to some who are desirous of 

 emigrating, informing them of what they may expect in the New World. 

 The Dominion of Canada has an area of 3,470,257 square miles, and a 

 population of 5,000,000, being equal to the population of London. A 

 train starting from Montreal will not reach Vancouver, on the West 

 Coast, until five days, travelling night and day. The Grovernment of 

 Canada is Federal. Each province has its local legislature — a kind of 

 a Home Rule Parliament — and these have each their Prime Minister, 

 Speaker, &c., &c. The present Governor-General, who represents the 

 Queen, is the Earl of Aberdeen. There are two Houses of Parliament, 

 but no hereditary legislators. In the Senate, or Upper House, are 80 

 members, who are elected for life. The House of Commons consists of 215 

 members. The education of the country is in the hands of the Provincial 

 Governments. The schools are managed by trustees, and the expenses 

 paid by local rates, and by grants from the Provincial Treasuries. No 

 religious instruction is allowed in any school before three o'clock in 

 the afternoon. After that time such instruction as will be permitted 

 by the trustees is given ; but parents have the option of withdrawing 

 their children, if they so desire, before the religious instruction is given. 

 There are at present a million persons — quite one-fifth of the whole 

 population — receiving instruction in these schools. All the children 

 receive their education free, rich and poor being educated together. 

 An English journalist who accompanied us for some time, paid a visit 

 to a higher grade school. He said " there was no distinction of class; 

 the daughter of the Chief Justice sat by the side of the daughter of 

 a common labourer; by the side of the Mayor's son sat the son 



