The Fur Traders. 25 



territorial rights upon the payment of three hundred 

 thousand pounds, the officers of the company felt that they 

 should receive a share of that amount. In 1870 the Council 

 of Officers already referred to was held at Norway House 

 on Lake Winnipeg and it was decided to present the 

 claims of the officers to the Company in England. With 

 this object Mr. Smith, who as Governor at Fort Garry was 

 present at the Council, was unanimously appointed as rep- 

 resentative of the officers, and undertook the task of pre- 

 senting their claims. The result of his mission was that 

 compensation was given to the officers for the relinquish- 

 ment of their claims, the sum of one hundred and seven 

 thousand pounds being divided amongst them, and a new 

 agreement, called the Deed Poll of 1871, was entered into. 



"The officers felt that to the judgment and discretion of 

 Mr. Donald A. Smith was due the just recognition of their 

 claims, and when he returned in the following year they 

 presented him with a valuable testimonial of their esteem. 

 Mr. Smith was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Com- 

 pany under the new Deed Poll and assumed control of 

 affairs at Winnipeg. In 1874, Mr. Smith owing to his par- 

 liamentary and other duties gave up the position of Chief 

 Commissioner, so far as the control of trade matters was 

 concerned. In this position he was succeeded by Mr. James 

 A. Grahame, although he still retained the management and 

 control of the Company 's land affairs and continued to take 

 the deepest interest in its welfare. 



"The affairs of the Company continued with varying 

 success and in accordance with the condition of the times, 

 but with no occurrence of public importance, until in 1879, 

 Mr. Donald A. Smith resigned his official connection with 

 the Company. The committee in accepting his resignation, 

 referred to the many important arrangements in which he 

 had taken a part, and expressed their gratitude for the 

 fidelity which he had displayed to the general interests of 

 all concerned." 



Mr. Smith had served his country as faithfully as the com- 

 pany he represented, and after he retired from business life 

 devoted all his time and energies to the public service, hold- 

 ing high administrative positions in Canada and being con- 

 sulted by the Home Office on all important questions relat- 

 ing to that territory. He well merited the honors and 

 titles later bestowed upon him by his Sovereign. 



