ONTARIO

BY PETER BYRNE

(Agent for Ontario)

ONTARIO is the principal member of that fair sisterhood of provinces which, along with several extensive territories not yet organised as provinces, constitute the Dominion of Canada. It ranks first in population and political power as well as in wealth and general development. It is upwards of 1100 miles in length and 700 in breadth, and embraces an area of 220,000 square miles. By comparison it has been found to be as, large as the whole of the six New England States, together with the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It exceeds the area of the United Kingdom by nearly 100,000 square miles, and that of France by 15,000 square miles. It is also interesting to note that Ontario and France lie in almost the same latitudes, namely, between the parallels of 42° and 52° north.

The principal boundaries of Ontario are the Ottawa River and the Province of Quebec on the east, the river St. Lawrence and the great lakes and the State of Minnesota on the south and south-cast, Manitoba on the west, and the Albany River and James Bay on the north.

Before the conquest of Canada by the British, Ontario was a part of a part of "New France," which name was applied to the whole of the vast territory which came under the Union Jack as a consequence of that important event. But it was not till 1791 that it

was formed into a separate Province, under the name of Upper Canada or Canada West. The territory to the east was at the same time similarly organised under the name of Lower Canada or Canada East. The latter was at that time comparatively well settled by the French, who numbered about 100,000, and who, being guaranteed by treaty the enjoyment of their own laws, language, and religion, were content to remain in the country as British subjects. The population of Upper Canada at the same period was only about 12,000. This disparity in the respective populations of the two Provinces at that time is accounted for by Ontario being an inland country, and being rendered still more difficult of access by several formidable obstructions to the navigation of the St. Lawrence River, between Montreal and the great lakes of which it is the outlet. These obstructions consist of "rapids," which have long since been overcome by the construction of a series of canals along the route of the St. Lawrence and the Niagara. These canals have a total length of 51 miles, and are among the finest public works of the kind of which any country can boast.

Colonel Simcoe was appointed the first LieutenantGovernor of Upper Canada. The first parliament of the Province was summoned to meet at Newark or Niagara, a town at the mouth of the Niagara River, in 1792. It consisted of a Legislative Council of seven members and an Assembly of sixteen members. For military reasons the seat of government was afterwards removed to Little York, now Toronto, where the second parliament met in 1797. Governor Simcoe was an able and hunane administrator, and signalised his term of office by framing and causing to be passed much useful legislation, on English models, including trial by jury, and an Act for the abolition of slavery which anticipated by forty years the famous Act of the

ONTARIO

BY PETER BYRNE

(Agent for Ontario)

ONTARIO is the principal member of that fair sister] of provinces which, along with several extensive t tories not yet organised as provinces, constitute Dominion of Canada. It ranks first in population political power as well as in wealth and general dev ment. It is upwards of 1100 miles in length and in breadth, and embraces an area of 220,000 niles. By comparison it has been found to large as the whole of the six New England together with the States of New York, Penns and Virginia. It exceeds the area of the Kingdom by nearly 100,000 square miles, and France by 15,000 square miles. It is also in to note that Ontario and France lie in al: same latitudes, namely, between the paralle and 52° north.

The principal boundaries of Ontario are t River and the Province of Quebec on the river St. Lawrence and the great lakes an of Minnesota on the south and south-eas on the west, and the Albany River and on the north.

Before the conquest of Canada by Ontario was a part of "New France, was applied to the whole of the vast t came under the Union Jacks a se important enest Fat it was not

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ountry harmf them le good for them ools and

hem still

privations, restraints

Ontario with only a small r's. In fact, t incomplete. 300 miles in .ent surveying The country timber, much said to be well e southern porr settlements are ty and the rich t ultural and hortithe ordinary farm ides others such as bring to maturity as also cultivated with, pears, plums, peaches, The three last named, and come to maturity estimated that Ontario e culture at least equal ineyards in France. In bought at a halfpenny 28. to 3s. per peck, and· 1. Strawberries and raspat variety of other small

British Parliament abolishing slavery throughout all the dependencies of the Empire.

The earliest settlers of Upper Canada were for the most part refugees from the thirteen colonies, during and after the war of American Independence. They are known in history as "United Empire Loyalists." Many of them were persons of wealth and high standing. They made great sacrifices for the sake of their loyalty to the mother country, leaving their homes and lands and going forth to establish themselves in a distant forest wilderness of which they knew little or nothing save that it was under the old flag. The British authorities received them gladly, and gave them liberal grants of land, with rations and other assistance, till they were able to produce their own crops. But they nevertheless suffered terrible hardships and privations in their early struggles with the forces of nature. However, they found before long that Upper Canada was a goodly land, with a fertile soil and salubrious climate, which would in time yield them an ample reward for their labours and perseverThe fame of the Province as a desirable place of settlement, where free grants of land were to be had, quickly spread through the neighbouring states and the British Isles, and great numbers of emigrants soon began to arrive to help to clear the forests, to make roads, cultivate farms, erect villages and towns, and share in the rapidly-growing prosperity of the new colony.

ance.

The population of Ontario at the present time is about two and a quarter millions. It includes about 17,000 aboriginal Indians; a good many people of foreign origin, especially German and French (from Quebec Province); but the great bulk are emigrants, or the descendants of emigrants from the United Kingdom.

The Indians are a remnant of the powerful and