opened for traffic. The total capital of the 29 companies was 89,643,000 yen, and that of the government lines (580 miles) 56,554,000 yen.

A sum of 25 million yen has been voted for the construction of a double line from Tokio to Kobé, 376 English miles, and passing through the industrial centres of Japan, viz., Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobé.

No. 4.-NEWFOUNDLAND.

379. The following paragraphs are in continuation of the statements respecting Newfoundland which appeared in the Year-Book for 1893. Newfoundland's geographical position is unique and singularly important, and commanding. Anchored at no great distance off the North American continent, and stretching right across the entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to which it affords access at both its northern and southern extremities, it might be regarded as a place of arms and defence; for the power which possesses it, holds the key of the St. Lawrence. Its south-western extremity is within 60 miles of Cape Breton, while its most eastern projection is but 1,640 miles distant from Ireland. Thus it is adapted by nature to serve the peaceful interests of commerce and to facilitate intercourse between the Old World and the New, being a stepping stone between them. (Newfoundland Hand-book.)

380. AREA.-Newfoundland has an area of 42,000 square miles, its greatest breadth is 316 miles, and its greatest length is also 316 miles. It is about twice the size of Nova Scotia, one third larger than New Brunswick, and one-sixth larger than Ireland.

381. MOUNTAINS.-The most important range of mountains is the Long Range which commences at Cape Ray and runs in a north-easterly direction for 200 miles; some of its summits reach a height of 2,000 feet. The Anguille Range runs from Cape Anguille to the highlands of Bay St. George with summits 1,900 feet high. The Blomidons extend along the south coast of the Humber Arms; some of the summits reach 2,085 feet. There are numerous other mountains and hill ranges.

382. RIVERS.-Large rivers are few but the numerous bays pierce the land in all directions. The three largest rivers are the Gander, the Exploits and the Humber. The Exploits has a length of 200 miles, and drains an area of between 3,000 and 4,000 square miles. At its mouth it is a mile wide. The Gander and its tributaries drains an area of nearly 4,000 miles, and is itself about 100 miles long. The Humber drains an area of 2,000 square miles. Numerous other rivers discharge their waters into the sea, after short and turbulent courses. The largest lake on the Island is Grand Red Indian Lake is 37 miles

Lake, 56 miles in length, and 5 in breadth. in length; Gander Lake 33 miles.

383. The summer temperature ranges from winter the thermometer rarely sinks below zero. ature for eight years was 412 degrees.

70 to 80 degrees. In the The mean annual temper

384. After being a mere fishing station for 250 years the idea of a railway entered the leading minds of the colony, and in 1878 Sir William Whiteway introduced resolutions for the construction of a railway. Newfoundland has a railway 83 miles long between St. Johns and Placentia ; another between Whitbourne and Exploits (200), and a third of 17 miles long. All are on the 3 feet 6 inches gauge.

385. According to the census of 1891 the Island of Newfoundland* had 197,934 of a population, of whom 100,775 were males and 97,159 females; children below 10 years of age numbered 28,984 males and 27,801 females, being 825 fewer males and 140 fewer females of that age period than in 1884. From 10 to 20 years old males numbered 22,776 and females 21,515, being 899 males and 1,337 females of that age period more than in 1884. Between the ages of 20 and 50 years there were in 1891, 37,302 males and 36,647 females, being 44 fewer males and 935 more females than in 1884. Over 50 years old there were 11,313 males and 11,196 females, being 1,018 more males and 1,247 more females than in 1884.

There were 31,983 married men and 33,098 married women, 2,973 widowers and 5,800 widows, being as compared with 1884 an increase of 1,846 married men and 2,927 married women, 670 widowers and 155 widows. In Canada the proportion of widowers to married men is 7-8 per cent, and widows to married women 16.3 per cent. In Newfoundland the widowers are 9.3 per cent of the married men and the widows are 17.5 per cent of the married women.

The native born number 193,353 of the total population of 197,934, or 98 per cent against Canada's 86.6 per cent. The foreign-born, i. e., those born

outside of the British Empire, numbered only 369, or 0.18 per cent. The population is, therefore, almost entirely British-born. There were 136 deaf and dumb and 187 blind, while 280 were of unsound mind-about 30 in every 10,000 of the population against 42 in every 10,000 in Canada.

386. According to religious belief, the population is divided as follows

* Labrador had a population of 4,106, making the total population equal to 202,040 against

a population of 197,335 in 1884, an increase of 2:4 per cent.

Taking both Newfoundland and Labrador the Church of England lost 925 adherents in the interval between 1884 and 1891; the Church of Rome lost 2,912; the Presbyterians lost 52; the Methodists gained 3,903 adherents, and the Salvation Army do not appear to have had any soldiers in 1884, while in 1891 they numbered 2,092.

Of the population 73,150 could read and write, or about 40 per cent. This is considerably below the population in Canada, where over 80 per cent of the population are able to read and write.

Analyzed according to occupations, the population of Newfoundland and Labrador had 183 clergymen to look after their spiritual interests and 606 teachers to teach the young idea how to shoot. 43 lawyers looked after their legal rights and 62 doctors ministered to physical ailments. There were 1,547 farmers and 54,775 fishermen ; of these latter 36,303 also cultivated the land. In lumbering there were 625 engaged; in mining 1,258, and in factories and workshops 1,058.

The industrial establishments enumerated included 53 sawmills, 3 tanneries, 2 breweries and distilleries, 2 iron foundries, 4 bakeries, 4 furniture factories and 24 other establishments. The value of the manufactured articles in the census year amounted to $1,450,456. The number of lobster factories was 340, in which there were 4,807 persons employed. The improved lands amounted to 64,494 acres and lands in pasture 20,524 acres, The farm stock consisted of 6,138 horses, 10,863 milch cows, 12,959 other horned cattle, 60,840 sheep, 32,011 swine and 127,420 fowl.

The number of persons to a family averaged 54, or about the same as Nova Scotia.

The births of the census year were 200 to every 1,000 of the married women as compared with 152 to every 1,000 in Canada.

387. The export, of copper ore and regulus in 1894 amounted to 28,824 tons, having a value of $235,179. In addition, the export of iron pyrites amounted to 40,582 tons, value $285,474, or a total value of mineral exports of $520,653. The export of asbestos was $1,200 and of lumber M 6,357, value $82,742.

The export of dried codfish amounted to 1,107,696 quintals, value $3,703,338. The value of the cod and cod liver oil exported was $266,170. The value of the seal oil exported was $274,924, and the value of the sealskins exported was $227,248. The value of the herring export was $244,789, and of the lobster export $312,364. The total value of the fisheries in 1894 was $5,466,911. Of late years there has been a decline in the Bank fishery. In 1884 the number of vessels employed in it was 58; the number of men, 785; the catch, 54,544 quintals; and the average catch per man, 69 quintals. The seal fishery of 1895 employed 20 large steam vessels, carrying 4,680 men, the seals taken being 270,058.

The total number of Newfoundlanders employed in the Labrador fishery in 1895 was 14,261, of which 2,000 were females. The resident population on Labrador numbers about 4,000, and from Nova Scotia and elsewhere a number of fishermen spend the fishing season there; so that the total number each season on Labrador exceeds 20,000.

The total value of the imports in 1894 was $7,164,738; of the exports $5,811,169. The revenue in 1894 was $1,641,035, and the public funded debt at the close of the year was $9,116,535. At the close

of 1894 the total amount on deposit in the Savings Bank was $2,821,423; the total number of depositors, 6,401; the rate of interest, 3 per cent. The defunct banks, when they closed their doors, had about two millions of dollars on deposit. At the close of the year the total funded debt of the colony, including the late loan of 2 millions, was about $13,900,000. In this is included the municipal indebtedness of St. John's amounting to $1,657,793, upon which the municipality pays the interest.

388. The number of steamers owned in Newfoundland was 35 of 6,178 tons. The number of sailing vessels from 20 to 60 tons, 1,421; and from 60 tons and up, 271. Tonnage 25,740 tons. Number of vessels built in 1890, 52, of a tonnage of 1812.

The registered shipping of Newfoundland amounts to 108,180 tons, in 2,339 vessels.

389. In 1832 representative government was granted to Newfoundland, followed by responsible government in 1855. There are 36 members in the House of Assembly elected by ballot from 18 electoral districts. The Legislative Council consists of 15 members nominated by the Crown with a life tenure.

390. Newfoundland has 3 daily newspapers, one bi-weekly, 4 weekly and 1 bi-monthly

Its grant for education in 1894 was $159,566. There were 33,596 scholars attending school. So that the cost to the government per scholar was 4.29 cents per annum.

St. John's, the capital, has a population of 29,007; Harbour Grace, 6,466; Carbonear, 4,127.

CHAPTER VIII.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR.

Digest of Statutes passed by Federal Parliament.-Orders in Council and Proclamation Arbitration of Public Accounts.

391. INDEX TO STATUTES OF 1895.

Appropriation Act (No. 1), 392. Appropriation Act (No. 2), 393. Bounty on Beet Root Sugar, 397. Civil Service, 405. Civil Service, 406. Commercial Treaties affecting Canada, 394. Commons, readjustment of Representation, 401. Companies Act, 412. Copyright Act, 428. Criminal Code, 431. Customs Act, 413. Customs Tariff Amendment, 414. Development of Sea Fisheries, 420. Dominion Elections, 404. Dominion Lands, 425. Dominion Notes Act, 407. Electoral Franchise, 403. Female Offenders in N.S., 434. Fisheries Act, 418. General Inspection Act, 415. Harbour Commissioner of Three Rivers, 417. Incorporation of Boards of Trade, 408. Indians, 426. Inland Revenue Act, 416. Insurance, 411. Judges of Provincial Courts, 429. Lobster Fisheries, 419. Markland Mortgage, 396. North-west Territories Irrigation, 424. N. W. T. Representation, 402. N. W. T. Revenue Fund, 423. Penitentiaries, 433. Public Works Act, 427. Railway Belt Lands Act, 395. Readjustment of Representation, Commons, 401. Roads and Road Allowance in Manitoba, 421. Seditious Associations, 435. Senate and Commons, 400. Silver Lead Smelting, 398. Superannuation of Provincial Judges, 430. Treasury Board and Insurance Act, 410. Unlawful Associations and Oaths, 435. Winding-up Act, 409. Winnipeg Great North Western Railway, 399.

(THE PUBLIC GENERAL STATUTES 1895. 58 AND 59 VICTORIA.)

392. APPROPRIATION ACT, 1895 (No. 1.)

Chap. 1, 22nd July, 1895,

Provides (Sec. 2.) that from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, there may be paid, towards defraying the expenses of the public service for the year 1894-95, the sum of $1.143,054. (Sec. 3.) That the amounts by the Act for Farran's Point Canal, and for the Galops Canal shall be applicable until 1st September, 1895, and the amount granted for artesian boring in the Northwest Territories till 31st December, 1895. (Sec. 4.) That $20,000 granted in 1894 for printing, &c., in connection with the Royal Commission on the Liquor Traffic, shall be transferred from "Miscellaneous" to "Legislation," and be available until 31st December, 1895.

The schedule to the Act provides for the following payments: Charges of management, $81.67; civil government, $10,287.83; administration of justice, $2,718.01; legislation, $57,884; arts, agriculture and statistics, $3,046.39; militia, $311,000; railways and canals (chargeable to capital), $310,000, (chargeable to income) $66,430.07; public works and public buildings (chargeable to income), $46,489.63; harbours and rivers, $11,907.95; mail subsidies and steamboat subventions, $12,410.42; ocean and river service, $1,335.00; lighthouse and coast service, 532.90; scientific institutions, $120.00; fisheries, $11,112.97; Indians, $7,747.45; Geological Survey