THE REPORT OF MR. JOHN ROBERTS, CO, 



Plas Heaton Farm, Trefnant, R.8.O., North Wales. 



In August last 1 had tho honour of being selected by Sir Charles 

 Tupper u.s a delegate from the tenant farmers of North Wales to visit 

 the Dominion of Canada, with the object of imparting afterwards to my 

 countrymen and others such information as to the places visited, as 

 might prove advantageous to intending emigrants. 



It is ray ii.tention — as I am sure it is the wish of the Canadian 

 Government — to give an unbiassed opinion of the different localitiea, 

 whether fjivourable or otherwise, and not, as is too often the case, to 

 draw a beautiful picture depending more upon the imagination than on 

 facts. Katur!illy, bt'ing the only Welshman in a party of six delegates, 

 my remarks will be more directed to Welshmen, and possibly better 

 understood by them than by their English, Irish, and Scotch 

 agricultural brethren. 



Soon after four o'clock in the afternoon of the 

 The Voyage. 24th of August, we (six of the delegates) started 



from Liverpool in the Dominion Line steamer 

 " Vancouver.*' This noble ship, commanded, as I was very glad to 

 observe, by a countryman of my own — Captain Williams— carried on 

 board over 900 souls (943). Amongst them were representatives of 

 nearly every nation in Europe. The Principality was specially repre- 

 sented, for we had on board two of the most famous amongst the many 

 choirs of Wales. They were the Peurhyn Choir, from the North, and 

 the Rhondda Choir, from the South. To the inspiriting strains of 

 " Codwn Hwyl " (" Up with the Sail") by these united choirs we sailed 

 out of the dock and do\^n the river. These choirs were on their way to 

 the World's Fair at Chicago, and how well they sustained the fair fame 

 of their country at that unique Exposition is now a matter of ancient 

 history. A voyage across the Atlantic has so often been described, that J 

 shall only devote a few lines to it. Personally, I was most fortunate, 

 as I did not su^er even for an hour from that distressing malady 

 mal de mer, either in going or returning. About half of the passengers 

 were more or less sick for a couple of days, but, with that exception, 

 the voyage was an exceedingly pleasant one from beginning to end. 

 My first night at sea having passed off quietly, next morning we 

 had a good look at " Ould Oireland," which we kept in sight all day. 

 AVe called at Moville for mails, and then steamed right out into the 

 Atlantic. The following morning no land was in sight in any direction. 

 A word or two as to life on board an Atlantic liner may be of some benefit 

 to my countrymen, wnose greatest " bogejf " in the way of emigration is 

 the sea voyage. In these vessels a liedroom is called a " stat^ room," and 

 each one has two beds, one above the otner. They are very comfortable, 

 and sleep, when one is " rocked in the cradle of the deep," is just as re- 

 freshing as when upon terra Jirma. The meals for the saloon passengers 



