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NOVA SCOTIA.

NOVA SCOTIA.

No. 2.

SIR,

COPY of a DESPATCH from the Earl of MULGRAVE to the Right Hon.
Sir E. B. LYTTON, Bart.

No. 43.

Government House, Halifax, N.S.,

May 2, 1859.
(Received May 16, 1859.)

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith the Blue Book for the year 1857, prepared, as nearly as circumstances rendered possible, in the amended form recommended in the Circular from your department under date 24th April 1857.

The Book is necessarily somewhat imperfect, owing to the fact that the returns which it contains have been supplied for local purposes, and the financial statements are principally made in currency, and also that, as in 1857 a change was made in the commencement of the financial year, some of the returns exhibit only a period of nine months.

Immediately on my arrival I directed that the Book for 1857 should be compiled, at the same time giving instructions that, without more than necessary delay, that for 1858 should also be completed, and it will be transmitted so soon as the Journals of the Legislature shall have been prepared.

The staff, however, which is employed in the different offices in this Province is so inadequate for the work which has to be performed that I fear it is hopeless to expect that punctuality and accuracy in the completion of the Blue Book which I should wish to see. I have also issued an order that for the future the sheets of the Journal and Proceedings of the House of Assembly, which are used in the compilation of this volume, shall be printed in folio, in order more fully to comply with the requirements of the circular before mentioned.

As during the year 1857 the government of Nova Scotia was administered by my predecessor, I shall not enter into a detailed report of the state of the Colony at that period; the Comparative Statement (marked A.), which has been prepared by my directions, and which I append, will, however, show in some measure the financial position of the Province during the different periods to which it refers.

The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart.

I have, &c.

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Tables exhibiting the Quantities and Value of the principal Articles of Import and Export will be found on pages 1 to 114, Part 2. of the accompanying Book. The period extending over nine months.

STATEMENT of the STERLING VALUE of the IMPORTS and EXPORTS respectively, from the Year 1853 to 1857 inclusive.

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The increase in value of the imports of 1857 as compared with 1856 is thus shown to be 66,3047, and the increase in the value of exports for the same period 20,6381.

Revenue and Expenditure.

An Abstract of the Accounts of Revenue and Expenditure is inserted at pages 3, 4, 5, Part V.

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NOVA

SCOTIA.

It is to be observed that this statement is irrespective of the Receipts arising from the disposal of Railroad Debentures, amounting to 153,000l. sterling, and that of the Revenue in 1856 12,000. arises from the issue of Provincial paper money, and 11,2007. from Savings Bank Deposits.

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exclusive of Expenditure in the construction of Provincial Railways, amounting, as shown by the Receiver General's account, to 191,7797. 16s. 6d. in 1857.

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STATEMENT exhibiting the AMOUNT and PARTICULARS of the PUBLIC DEBT, 1853 to 1857, inclusive.

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NEW BRUNSWICK

NEW BRUNSWICK.

No. 3.

Eleven
Enclosures,
forming the
Blue Book.

COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor the Hon. J. H. T. MANNERS SUTTON to the
Right Hon. Sir E. B. LYTTON, Bart.

(No. 27.)

Sir,

Government House, Fredricton, New Brunswick.

May 13, 1859.
(Received May 30, 1859.)

I MUST apologize for the delay which has occurred in the transmission of the Blue Book of this Province for the year 1857. But even now I have not received the second copy of this Book, and I am therefore unable to send it in duplicate, according to the established rule. I shall repair this omission as speedily as possible.

In the last paragraph of my Despatch to Mr. Labouchere (December 23d, 1857, No. 31,) which accompanied the Blue Book for the year 1856, I ventured to express a hope that I might be enabled thenceforward to transmit to the Secretary of State the Blue Book at an earlier period of the year, and thus escape the difficulties attendant on an explanation of events long passed, and prevent the misconception to which such an explanation must necessarily be liable, if it should be regarded as an exposition of the condition of the Province as existing at the date of the Despatch. And although this anticipation has not been realized, I hope that I shall, in the course of a few weeks, be in possession of the financial and other returns and official documents for the year 1858, which will enable me to lay before you without further delay all the explanations and remarks which would form the contents of the Blue Book Despatch for the year 1858. And I shall then avail myself of the opportunity of supplying the deficiences in this Despatch, as regards the condition of the Province during 1857, the preceding year. Meanwhile I have the honour to forward to you the Returns, Reports, and other Documents referring to and explanatory of the state of affairs here in 1857, which are set forth in the Schedule annexed to this Despatch.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. H. T. MANNERS SUTTON. The Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart., M.P.,

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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

SIR,

No. 4.

COPY of DESPATCH from Lieut.-Governor Sir D. DALY to the Right Hon.
Sir E. BULWER LYTTON, Bart.

(No. 4.)

Government House, Prince Edward Island,

January 10, 1859,
(Received 8th February 1859)

I HAVE the honour of transmitting to you herewith the Blue Book of this Colony for the year 1857, in duplicate.

2. The statements contained in this volume afford little ground for special comment. It was not until the latter part of the year (i.e. 1857) to which those returns relate that the effects of the depression in all commercial matters, which has been everywhere so severely felt, were to any serious degree experienced in this Island.

3. From the extent, however, to which the nearly total extinction of credit, consequent on the state of the money market all over the world, has subsequently affected all commercial enterprise, more especially ship-building, I apprehend that a falling off in the revenue for 1858 will will require circumspection and economy in the appropriations for the next financial year.

4. A very abundant harvest has already done much towards the restoration of a more prosperous state of things, as the produce of the soil has found ready sale at remunerative prices, and has been exported to an unprecedented extent, exhibiting a very satisfactory development of the effect of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States.

5. The fisheries on the shores of the Island are undergoing a gradual increase, principally by the employment of enterprise and capital from the United States; but it is universally felt that no benefit is derived from this source at all in proportion to the Colony's capabilities, or such as would accrue if a sum equal to that which is annually abstracted from the means and productive industry of the Colony in the form of rents by absentee proprietors were to be employed in fisheries, or in the improved cultivation of the soil.

6. The breadth of land under cultivation is also on the increase, but it is difficult to determine whether as much can be said of population. A desire to emigrate to New Zealand has been somewhat prevalent in this Island for some time past, and one brig freighted with passengers, among whom were the owners of the vessel, has already sailed for that Colony, and it is said will be followed by a much larger number in a few months. Indeed it is within my own knowledge that many would emigrate if they could realize sufficient means to enable them to do so.

7. Immigrants have arrived here from Scotland within the past year to the extent of about 300, chiefly composed of the friends or relatives of old settlers, and are likely to remain; but from the best information I can procure I apprehend that the immigration from this Island to other Colonies and the United States fully equals, if it does not exceed, any immigration that has taken place.

8. The militia, I regret to say, remains in the same unsatisfactory state that I have hitherto had occasion to report. It exists but in name; and I see no reason at present to expect that a sufficient sum will be appropriated from the local revenue to bring it to such a state of proficiency as the defenceless state of the Colony demands.

9. The free education system, which has been in operation for some years, and which is supported at a cost of nearly one third of the whole of the revenue of the Colony, continues to give such general satisfaction that no disposition has yet been evinced to economise in that direction, notwithstanding the disproportion which so heavy a charge bears to the resources of the Island.

10. Considerable improvement has been effected in the means of postal communication with the neighbouring Colonies, by the employment of a superior steamer, under contract for five or seven years, which gives general and increasing satisfaction by the speed and

PRINCE EDWARD

ISLAND.

PRINCE EDWARD

ISLAND.

regularity with which the service is performed, and the increased facilities it affords to the travelling public.

11. I am happy to be enabled to assure you that the tranquillity of the Colony, which I have had the satisfaction of witnessing during the whole course of my administration of this Government, continues unbroken, and that I am under no apprehension of its interruption.

The Right Hon. Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart., M.P.

I am, &c. (Signed)

D. DALY.

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COPY of DESPATCH from Governor Sir A. BANNERMAN to the Rt. Hon.
Sir E. B. LYTTON, Bart.

(Separate.)

SIR,

Government House, Newfoundland,
October 1, 1858.
(Received November 19, 1858.)

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the "Blue Book," for the past year 1857. 2. On transmitting the same document for 1856, I stated that having been but a short time in the Colony, I abstained from offering any observations on the state of Newfoundland until a further opportunity.

3. The revenue for the year ending 1857 amounted to 116,6001., a larger one than had ever been collected in the Colony. I suggested to the Legislature at the opening of the Session of this year, that "care should be taken to inquire into the causes which occa"sioned financial prosperity; that I understood that large importations of goods were "made in the preceding year, that the fisheries were successful, and the labouring "population well employed and paid, consequently, large consumers of dutiable "articles; but fisheries being precarious, series of successful years were not to be "expected, and that the revenue should be appropriated with due economy and a "regard to the probable future income of the Colony and its existing debt."

4. Should direct steam communication with England (which is so much desired by the community) be carried into effect, a large sum will be required besides any expected aid from Her Majesty's Government to accomplish the object.

5. Great inconvenience is felt from a deficient supply of water for the town of St. John's, and, frequent fires having taken place, an additional supply of water will become indispensable, but must be attended with considerable expense.

6. Up to the present time, the 1st October, the revenue has considerably fallen off, but not to such an extent as to create uneasiness, provided due economy is observed in the appropriation of the sums levied by taxation.

7. The fisheries have not been so productive as in the year 1857, but I hope the produce will be nearly an average.

8. Soon after my arrival in the Colony representations were made to me on the very inefficient administration of justice; the chief Judge of the Supreme Court, a gentleman highly respected here, having no aid from his two colleagues (owing to their age and infirmity), and being obliged to do most of the duty. I brought this subject under the consideration of the Legislature, who readily granted allowances to the two retiring Judges. The vacancies have been provisionally filled up by gentlemen who, I believe, have the confidence of the community, and I hope their appointments will be confirmed by Her Majesty.

9. The Session of 1857 had terminated two months before my arrival in St. John's; it was a short one, and the Legislature principally occupied in discussing the proposed Fishery Convention with France. It required the sanction of the Colonial Legislature, and as they considered new concessions and privileges were given to the French fishermen, which would greatly affect the interests of the Newfoundland fishermen, strong remon

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