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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '^ Q ¥ TEL De QUEBEC DISCUSSED AT NICOLKT BY THE MINISTERS. Hon. Mr. FLYNN -ON- FINANCES [TELLS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO RESTORE RIGHT CONDITIONS WORK OF AGRICULTURE. Hon. Mr. BEATJBIEN Delivers a Most Interesting Address on an Interesting Subject. ,4«D. ^H?ic QUKBKC ISSUERS DISCUSSED AT NICOLET BY THE MINISTERS HON. MR. FLYNN ON FINANCES I Tells What Has Bejen Done to Restore Right Conditions— Work for Agriculture— Hon. Mr. Beaubien Delivers a Most Inter- e^ing Address on an Interesting Subject. (From The Gazette, Montreal, (1th Oct., 1896.) NicoLET, October 5.— Hon. E. J. Flynn, Prime Minister, Hon. L. Beaubien, Commis- sioner of Agriculture and Colonization; Hon. T. Chapais, President of the Council, arrived hero yesterday from Three Rivers, on Mr. J. A. Gagnon's pleasure yacht, nnd held a auccessful meeting in the afternoon. Before leaving Three Rivers they paid a visit to the venerable Bishop Lafleche. Afterwards, in company with Mayor Cook, Mr, P. E. Panneton, President of Exposi- tion; J. A. FrigoD, Secretary of the Exposi- tion; Hon. Joseph Royal, ot Montreal; N. S. Duplessis, M.L.A., and several prominent citizens of Three Rivers they visited the Ex- position Grounds. His Worship the Mayor welcomed the visitors. Hon. Messrs. Flynn, Beaubien, Chapais and Royal spoke a few words each, appreciative of the wel- come extended to them. On their return, the party proceeded to Mr. Gagnon's yacht, accompanied by Messrs. P. E, Panneton, J. A. Frigon, of Three Rivers, and C. P. Beaubien, of Montreal. On arrival at Nicolet, they were met by Messrs. Ball, McCaffrey and Camirand, and, after visiting the residences of Messrs. Mc- CaflFrey and Mayor Ball, the party repaired to the Rochette Hotel for dinner. They aft "Wards visited the College and its grounds, and paid a short visit to the Bishop's Palace. The meeting took place at the Town Hall, at 3 p.m. The hall can contain from 1,000 to 1,200 persons and was filled to its utmost capacity. An address was presented by Mayor Ball, who presided at the meeting. He con- gratulated Hon. Mr. Flynn on the wisdom displayed by the present Government, and welcomed, for the first time, a Prime Minis- ter to the town and c^mnty of Nicolet. V THE premier's SPEECH. Hon. Mr. Flynn made an eloquent and spirited address. He disclaimed any desire to recall the scandals of the last Liberal Administration, but justice exacted certain references o some of the results of these acts. The Prime Minister referred to his visit to Three Rivers at the time of the Exposition and the cordial reception ac- corded to him there. This was the first time he had the pleasure of addressing an audience in the town of Nicolet, but he had followed the history of the grand institution of education of this town. He thanked Hon, Mr. Beaubien, whom he designated as the "Apostle of Agriculture," for the occasion o£fered of addressing this large audience. He then addressed himself to the political questions of the day. The people, he said, had a right to hear the result of the Con- servative administrations, which had suc- ceeded one another since 1892. It was need- less to go beyond that date, as the electorate had pronounced a verdict, with no uncertain sound, on the former administration, and as the leader of that administration was gone, it was not becoming to them to attack the memory of the dead. He would deal with the acts of the De Boucherville and Taillon Governments, as well as the administration of which he himself was chief. They had come to power, and found a deficit of over a million. This had been converted into a sur- plus of 8280,000 for the last fiscal year. Their opponents accused them of taxing and borrowing, but the people of this Province must know better. Those who had caused the expenses, and contracted the obligations which rendered the taxes and loans necessary were responsible for these taxes and loans. In December, 1891, they had taken charge of the ship of state, and found it stranded on the reefs of exhausted credit, completely dismantled, while today, this ship was full- rigged, and ready to meet all the gales and tempests raised by the enemies of the Pro- vince. He could speak more particularly of the Department of Crown Lands, of which he had the direction during four years. He had recovered $91,000, of which the Department haa been defrauded during that lamentable administration. The taxes which had become necessary were imposed on those who could best bear the burden. Most of these taxes had been abolished, and that on transfers would be abolished next session. There would then remain only the tax on rich successions and corporations. The loans had not exceeded the amount voted by the previous Administration to pay railway subsidies and other obligations amounting, to about $13,000,000. They had to do thin to uphold the honor and credit of the Province, which had been placed in danger by the extravagance of the former Government. He touched on the agricultural and colonization policy, leaving the detaiis to Hon. Mr. Beaubien. In the Crown Land Department revenue had been between six and seven hundred thousand dollars, and had been raised to over a million, while the expenses had been reduced over §100,000. The fish and game reserves produced a revenue of $30,000, where nothing had been collected before. He touched upon the primary declaration in his programme that the present Government wished to preserve order, stability and jus- tice. The former Government by issuing letters of credit and other crooked transac- tions had violated the constitution, and they had been signally punished. The present Government wished to do justice to all, without exacting pay, nor charging toll for settling questions in justice to friend or foe. THE 'QUESTION OF EDUCATION. They wished to helps, their existence law. &^ these 16 parish of the ,er without diffi- h the agricultural hole county, and id an opportunity But in a club, sessions, at least ople in a parish I of the proverb. ;y can combine 'their resources for the purchase of imple- ments, artificial manures, breeding stock, and place all these at the service of the members. Thus, the action of the clubs on agriculture, on the improvement of pastures, on root crops, green fodder, vegetables, on the improved farm buildings required bj' our long winters, the dififusion of good farm practice, the use of chemical manures, has been most efficient. The clubs have greatly aided, too, the progress of dairying. Never has any organization so rapidly revealed it- self by the benefits it has spread abroad' An implement maker told me, last year thct, thanks to the clubs aloue, he had sold 300 more chaff cutters than usual. Mr. Dawes, of Lachine, Mr. Greenshields, of Danville, say, that every week they are visited by delegates from the clubs, anxious to buy breeding stock of different kinds. Allow me, on this important occai'on, to make use of the newspapers that doubtless are represented here, to announce to our clubs that have en ■ abled us to travel so rapidly along the path of improvement, that I will invariably do all that lies in my power to aid them. There are today 550 clubs. They nad no legal ex- istence before 1893. There were then about 23 that were carried on with greater or less reG;ularity. In these associations the best theoretical and the best practical men of the district — aye, even from abroad — meet and exchange ideas. It was stated that the clubs were antagonistic to the i Agricultural Societies. Allow me to cite a law proposed by the zealous member for the St. Louis division of Montreal, Mr. Parizeau^ to allow the clubs to form a Co-operative i Association with the the County Agricul- tural Societies, so that the presidents of all ' the clubs shall compose the Board of Direct- ors of the County Agricultural Society. In this way all the parishes in the county are represented, and the old County Society may be kept going more efficiently than ever. The County of Chambly is organized on this plan. THE " JOUKNAL OF AORICULTUKK." in 1892 this periodical had 7,000 sub- scribers, it now has 52,000. I can state, of my own knowledge, gathered in my numerous travels throughout the Province, ttiat it is read in every farmer's family, it is not allowed to accumulate in heaps at the Post Office. On the contrary, complaints are soon heard if a man's number has not ar- rived in due time, and we know something of these complaints. Many belong to the clubs solely for the sake of receiving the Journal, and there is not, no, not in the whole world, any farm journal that has such a number of readers. What an immense ad- vantage is this for the Province. The use- fulness of it is attested by the numerous letters from subscribers that relate to our De- partment what excellent results they obtain from their crops from following the advice of this publication. TirE DAIRY SCHOOL. For the encouragement of our dairy indus- try, the sole business that in the past, as well as in the present, and for the future, offers itself to us as the chief source of pro- fit and prosperity, to encoura£;e this indus- try we need good makers of but- ter and cheese, as well as well fitted up creameries and cheeseries. Almost all this was in its infancy. I turned to the Dairymen's Association, which re- plied, that there were not enough inspectors, nor enough makers either; that they had to import them from abroad. The Cabinet yielded at once to the Dairymen's Associa- tion, and founded the school at St. Hyacinthe in 1892. Look how success crowned the ex- periment. The first year, 1892-93, the school received 214 pupils; in 189394, 268; in 1894- 95, 312; and this year 300, making a total of L094 pupils in the four years! I am de- 8 lighted to acknowledge the signal aervices of those who assisted us in placing this school on such an excellent footing. The Ministry is determined to neglect no means of main- taining this nursery of our makers in such a style that we shall have no reason to envy our neighbors. AfJRICULTl 'RAI. LKOTURKRS. Every club is obliged, to obtain a right to its grant, to have at least two lectures a year; and the Ministry was therefore anxious to have a sufficient number of lecturers to supply all demands. We are asked to increase the number, and it is with pleasure we find that people are earnestly attentive to the lecturers, and are vastly anxious to gather all the good they can from their lips. CREAMKRIES AND CHEESERIBS. In 1801 we had 114 creameries and 568 oheeseries; in all, 682. In 1895 we had 302 creameries and 1,417 cheeseries; in all, 1,773. According to the census of 1891, the produc- tion of butter and cheese in 1890 did not reach $3,000,000. In 1894, according to the statements of the makers, the value of the two articles exceeded $7,500,000. In comparing the production of this year with the production of 1890, we find that the farmer received for butter and cheea* upwards of four millioua ot dollars in 1894 more than they received in 1890. Allow me to quote to you the commercial review of the Montreal Herald of 2l8t November last : — •'The exports this year, up to date, have been: Cheese, 1,058,172 boxes; last year, 1,052,593 boxes; increase, 5,575 boxes. For butter, up to date, 90.636 tubs or boxes; last year, 30,904 tubs or boxes; increase, 54,692." So, the production of butter seems by this to have nearly tripled. Let me show you how useful the Department has been to the makers of butter and cheese, by quoting the words of a leading banker of Montreal, Mr. Hague, (ieneral Manager of the Merchantn Bank, in 1895. He spoke thus: — •■ The Government of this Province sent, last year, to Denmark a commission to study the subject of butter-making. The report ot this commission, or extracts from it, should be in the hands of every farmer, not only in this Province, but throughout the Do minion." You know that this commission was com- posed of my asaistant, M. Gigault, and M. Leclaire, the head of the Dairy School at St. Hyacinthe. All the agricultural associa tiona in the Province have received copies of the report Mr. Hague so warmly praises. COMPETITIONS OF THE BUTTER AND CHEESE FACTORIES. To stimulate our makers, the Department instituted competitions on this plan: No warning being given, the makers of butter and cheese receive, from the department, a letter asking that a cheese or a tub of butter be sent, the next or following day, to a ck.i tain address in a certain town. The cheese or the tub of butter in question is bought by the Department. These goods are judged by specialists, medals, diplomas, or money prizes are given to those who obtain the highest number of marks, nc prize, of course, being awarded to the inferior articles. To the makers of second-class goods, informa- tion and advice — even blame — are sent for their goods, but this is known only to them- selves. The prize-winners while the un- lucky ones are makine; good resolutions, publishes the award he has won, and relates the event of the competition to all his acquaintances. We, therefore, have a right to say that these competitions can do no harm to any one not even to the inferior maker, but, on the contrary, may help him to improve, and are calculated to raise con- siderably the level of our manu- facture. This is one of the improve- I )f Montreal, Mr. [ the MerchantH ihus: — is Province sent, nmiBsion to study g. The report ot ts from it, should ' farmer, not only 'oughout the Do- imission was com- Gigault, and M. Dairy School at ricultural associa received copies of irmly praises. ITER AND CHEESE ). J, the Department I this plan: No makers of butter he department, a or a tub of butter ing day, to a Cti »wn. The cheese iBtion is bought by cods are judged by >ma8, or money who obtain the at prize, of course, :ior articles. To goods, informa- ime — are sent for 3wn only to them- rs while the un- good resolutions, won, and relates itition to all his ifore, have a right 3tition8 can do no n to the inferior ry, may help him ited to raise con- if our manu- of the improve- ments due to the trip to Europe, on which the Manager of the Merchants Bank compliments us. These competitioua have only been in operation this year, but we see at once what encouragement they now give to a good maker who takes the trouble to study and will take the ordinary means required to produce a good article. The judges of these competitionH are selected from among the principal exporters of dairy goods. DIFFERENT KINDS OF rHEESB. The old saying that " it is not safe to put aU the eggs into one basket" may also be interpreted as an advice lot to make invari- ably one and the same article. Up to the present we have always made *' Canadian Cheddar," and it may be said that no other kind is made in the Province. Still wc have aimed at preparing the road towards the making of new kinds. Why nob make iDruyere Camembert? It is true thr we have long had those capital " fromage •aflBni" from I'lle d'Orleans and Boucher- yille, cheese so well liked by the gourm. l; but their manufacture has never equalled the demand, so we think the making of new Borts should be encouraged. I am happy to lay here in public, before the appearance of ^he prize list ot the Montreal Exhibition, that the Rev. Peres Trappists, of Oka, Iron a gold medal, and M. L. Chagnon, of St. Paul I'Hermite, I'Assomption, a silver medal for a pood and superior Gruyier cheese, |nade in this Province, from the milk of our '|ows. There, then, is a novel trade, one irnich I hope will soon increase. The lads rhom we have in the Farm School at Oka knnot fail to spread over the country the j|rue method of making good cheese. 1 I WINTER nUTTER-MAKING. |i During the last three years the Govern- ment has been giving a premium for butter- 0 making in winter, and in that time the pro- duction of butter at that season has tripled. You remember when the Messrs Houle told us that in spite of having to draw their milk a long distance, winter liutter making had doubled the returns from their herd. In '93, the tirnt year of the premium, was made winter butter worth f31,727; in '94, $60,094; in '95, $115,011. Thus, the trade being established, and able to stand alone, we diverted our efforts to a new industry, the exportation of butter in a fresh state, immediately after it is made, and sent over in refrigerators. Last year Government began the grant, and we find by the reports in our possession that the exportation of butter since the opening of navigation this year has been thrice as great as it was last year during the same iTiovl. Now, this increase occurred more specially in this Province, though the num- ber of our cr»»ameries is rot so great as else- whore, f d in this Province we have no rea- ton lo envy our great neighbor, to say f' thing of our 1,400 cheestries. FARM SCHOOLS. We now have five farm schools for lads and one for girl^ u,L Roberval. Since 1892 the number of puptls has increased from twenty four to 100. At this very time two apecial and distinguished leciurers, one a member .)f the clergy, tho other Dr. Grignon, are engaged in what I might call a crusade, going round the country .»nd teaching farm- ers that it is high time their children should be instructed in their noble profession. Their success is far beyond what we had a right to expect. One parish alone iurnished thirteen pupils. 1 was lately reading the re- port of a meeting held in a parish south of the St. Lawrence. St. Michel, Napierville. There the zealous Cure, after the visit of the Rev. Pere Lacasse and Dr. Grignon, de- clared to the audience that he was about to leave for the farm school with thirteen lads. lO 11 all sons of his parishioiiera. Another thing that encourages me greatly is that St. Martin, Laval, a parish that until now has famished the greatest number of pupils, i.e., nine, learning that St. Michel had beaten it, has rot tamely submitted, but has sent enougti additional pupils to regain its pris- tine majority. I ask myself, and with rea- son, have I not a right to expect that St. Martin, with its energetic vim, will not do its best to retain the palm. Our farm Bohools will be filled as our classical colleges are, and, thank God, after having gloried in the fact of classical education being so widely spread, we shall be able to say that the other course of instruction, as important, as sup- plying a prudent, honest people like the Christian population of the rural districts, is also appreciated. Our farm schools are regularly visited by inspectors, and I may say we are thoroughly satisfied with the suc- cess obtained in them. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROADS. In order to have the fewest possible fac- tories. I.e., to secure that the greatest quan- tity possible of milk should be sent to one maker alone, we need milk routes, good roads. The curse of our dairying is, indubit- ably, too many small factories; that receiv- ing only a small quantity of milk each can- not possibly turn out so good an article as a factory where milk is abundant. If we could persuade our municipalities to start making good roads our farmers would have less dis- inclination to draw their milk longer dis- tances for the sake of delivering it at a large central factory. To assist this, the Depart- ment has thought fit to undertake the im- provement of the roads. We announce, then, at this important meeting that in future, either for the benefit of the municipalities or for the sake of individuals who shall combine to ask for the aid of this Department, we have established as a branch of our Ministry that of the roads. An inspector has been appointed whose duty will be to visit differ- ent localities and give lectures on road man- agement, to decide on roads to be made or alterations to be carried out, and to explain the mode of using the various machines, of which the Department has several, and will get more, if more are required. There is a stone-breaker, a roller, and machines to shape the road-bed, making the ditches at at the same time as the rounding of the bed. Each of these machines is entrusted to a foreman who is under the direction of the Department. The management furnishes the machine as well as the foreman, the munici- palities or individuals having to supply the horses and the laborers that may be re- quired. This plan has only been decided upon during the last month or so. The municipalities that derive the benefit by it have only to make an application and, in their turn, they can take advantage of what we ofi'er to them. Since we inaugurated the system of coming to the assistance of the municipalities, I am happy to say that more than one of them has hastened to buy one of the machines, whose excellent work they are in a position to prove. In Denmark farmers have to furnish broken stone along that part of the road they have to keep U)i. During the long winter months they break the stones, and, in summer, the municipali- ties, after having rounded up the roads with the machines, lay the stones on them. In this Province, the municipalities after having prepared roadbed, have a right to demand from taxpayers that a certain quantity of thetn be placed alongside the road in proper places; then the steam crusher and roller which we possess will come and break the stones, the only thing remaining to be done to them being the spreading on the roadbed. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. I have already, on an occasion like the present, published figures that prove, I think, 11 1 be to visit differ- liares on road m&n- hda to be made or ut, and to explain :ioua machines, of 8 several, and will aired. There is a , and machines to :ing the ditches at junding of the bed. is entrusted to a le direction of the ewent furnishes the ireman, the munici- ving to supply the s that may be re- only been decided month or so. The ve the benefit by it application and, in advantage of what ce we inaugurated bhe assistance of the py to say that more tened to buy one of ccellent work they 'ove. In Denmark broken stone along y have to keep up. months they break ner, the municipali- rounded up the ichines, lay the ibis Province, the ving prepared the demand from the quantity of them oad in proper places; kud roller which we reak the stones, the be done to them le roadbed. IRVATIONS. occasion like the J that prove, I think, that we can again congratulate ourselves on the progress realized in the Provir^ce of Quebec; that the people have really entered upon a new era. Allow me to recite to you some of these figures. The prosperity of a people is '>; determined, and reasonably so, by the de- (^; posits made in the Savings Banks, which re. ;| present the sums that the people have been v;^able to lay by after having supplied their ^1 wants. In Ontario, to compare the two iProvinces, on June 30th, 1S94, the deposits vtin the Savingu Banks were $18,580,884; on *5 June 30th, 1890, 1,803,777, an increase of $1,698,071, or 10.05 per cent.; in Quebec the deposits were, on Jnne 30th, 1894, I $17,262,801: on June 30th, 1890, $14,650,060, ^an increase of $2,606,741, or 17-78 per cent. TESTIMONY OF MEN OF BUSINESS. ^y. Now, it will be a good thing if you would <^|aBk yourselves if the accomplishment of all rthis progress may fairly be attributed, in "iliome degree, to those who are entrusted in the legislature with the interests of agricul- ure. After having quoted the opinion o^ ^ome of our men of business whom we esteem |a8 they deserve, let me give you the opinion ■%f Mr. Wolferstau Thomas, manager of the jpIolBons Bank; and I mention him the more !f eadily, because he is not one of our political friends. On the 2nd December, 1895, h jbpoke as follows : ,^f "In none of the provinces has prosperity !^een more manifest than in Quebec. This is tae to the prudence and economy of the 'rench- Canadians, and to the enlightened >olicy of the Hon. Louis Beaubien." The press has already published this pas- kge, and, I must confess, that I told Mr. !homas that I should make t se of his words 'hen any fair opportunity, f uch as the pro- mt, should present itself To this he re- plied, that he was perfectly willing that I lould do so, and that he was happy in being tie to see that such progress had been made, feel that I was wrong in mentioning my own name in this place, and I was loath to do so. Still I must repeat to such devoted friends as I have in this county the praise bestowed on their member. I did not seek for it, and I cut it out of a newspaper with a pair of scissors. Last winter the represen- tative of the great firm of Gault Bros. , Mont- real, said of our Province at a time when business was not too fiourishing : " Payments are being made pretty regu- larly, and in this point the Province of Que- bec is at the head of the Dominion." A highly hattering testimony in our favor. One of the members of the firm of Jamea Johnson & Co. was asked the following question:— In which Province are the pay- ments met with the greatest ease? The reply was: In the first rank stands the Province of Quebec, and next Nova Scotia. The future of agriculture in Quebec is ful of promise, and the Commissioner has done a great deal of good by developing the dairy industry. LOW PRICES. Do not be discouraged by the low prices of dairy products. Even now we are better oflF than our neighbors. This is what is said by the Boston American CuLivcUor, September 19th. 1896:— •* Everybody is complaining of the hard times, and no wonder. Butter is at 15 cents a pound, pork at 2^ cents, for cows $15 to $20 a head, and labor as dear as ever." Is not our state better than theirs. Our cheese today is worth 9 cents; our butter 19 cents. We, of the Pro' nee of Quebec, do not ccmplain. In spite of our rather rigor- ous climate, we are better off than those be- low the line 45 degrees. Let the land be in- telligently cultivated, either after a study of the Journal of Agriculture, or after an exam- ination of the procedure of the best farmers, and prosperity will be ensured to the culti- vator. I was nearly forgetting to tell you that several bankers, in this year's report to "-" 12 their shareholders, state that the generally satisfactory condition of affairs is in great part due to the impulse agriculture has re- ceived during the last few years. Mr. Hague, whom I mentioned just now, said, in his re- port of June last: '• A silent revolution in the management of agricultural affairs in this Province, leading to the adoption of more intelligent methods of pro- ducing greater and better crops is evident everywhere." The conclusion at which I arrived at all the meetings of farmers at which I have been present, is that all over the country we can succeed in making farm- ing pay, provided we stick to the system im- posed upon us by dairying, that is, having permanent pastures sown thick and well cared for; growing green fodder to fill up the time when pastures fail, and to help the cattle in winter; and lastly, the growing of roots. Make up your minds to remain or to become graziers, forget for the next few years that you are farmers; cultivation will be less costly, and the income will be larger. Since I have had the honor of occupying my present position, I have endeavored to perfect my knowledge of farming, to acquaint myself with every- thing that may improve the lot of the farm- er, and give a fresh impetus to our business; if I have succeeded or not, that I leave to ypur decision, gentlemen. I spoke of what our Ministry had done, not to bring out an eulogiam on us, but to bring before you the efforts that we have made and the degree of success we have obtained for the prosperity oi our rural districts. But, for all that, we must not relax our efforts; on the contrary, I, for my part, shall continue to ask aid from all those competent to give it, only re- serving to us of the Ministry the merit of bringing to act together all the energies, all the good will in the country. Success then will follow, provided we deserve it. COLONIZATION. This year we have devoted to colonization a larger sum than usual. In addition to that which takes place in the neighborhood, round the old established districts near the forests, and which we have encouraged and directed as carefully as possible, with aid and advice of those interested, we have tried to realize the policy adopted of late years, which consists in preparing the dis- tric which a larger inflow of settlers is in- vading Before long we shall have thus fur- nished four or five large districts, compris- ing our choicest farms, with roads and im- provements likely to attract a still greater number of settlers. 1 speak of the region of Lake St. John, of the Northwest of Montreal, of Lake Temiscamingue, of the Valley of the Meta- pedia, and of certain townships in Beauce and the neighboring counties. These regions have been, and will be, the objects of our attention until they shall have been thoroughly organized. Let me tell you, briefly, what we have already done. AT LAKE ST. JOUN. There, the establishment of the Trappist Fathers, dates from '92. More than a hun dred families compose the settlement on the banks of the Mistassini. Bridges have been built on the larger rivers, tributary to the Lake, and on the Saguenay; bridges on the Grande Decharge, the Mistassini, the As- chuapmouchouan, at St. Felicien, on the Tikoucipe at St. Mithode, and on Lake Bouchette. These bridges have cost $43,000. A boat on the rivers Ashuapmouchan, Peri- bonca, and Mistassini would ascend them twice every week, thus putting the settlers en their banks, and even those in the in- terior of the Townships in communication, direct and frequent, with the terminus of the railroad at Roberval. The Government hat; promised to support this boat, which will ' afford all the comfort desirable, with a grant , 13 ed to colonization a addition to that le neighborhood, districts near the /e encouraged and (ossible, with aid ireated, we have J adopted of late )reparing the dia- nr of settlers is in- hall have thu9 fur- districts, compris- ith roads and im- to attract a of settlers. 1 Lake St. John, Montreal, of Lake alley of the Meta- mships in Beauce counties. These .11 be, the objects Bjr shall have been Let me tell you, ready done. JOUN. nt of the Trappist More than a huu settlement on the Bridges have been tributary to the | lay; bridges on the Mistassini, the As- Felicien, on the ode, and on Lake 53 have cost $43,000. mapmouchan, Pari urould ascend them putting the settlers those in the in- in communication, the terminus of the he Government has boat, which will lirable, with a grant ^f $6,000, and to provide for its maintenance an annual sum of $2,000. This is, of course, exclusive of the roads improyed and opened every year as usual. NORTH OF MONTREAL. To the northwest of Montreal we have inade fit for wheeled carriages the Chapleau ,%igh-road which extends from the end of the .Railroad, Lachute and Iroquois, to the 'Riviere du Lievre, about 45 miles; this road, l^he greater part of which was only sketched %ut, is now a principal artery; it is, in eality, the extension of the railroad. We ave also rendered trafficable the roads in the ownships Clyde, Joly, Minerve, Marchand, loranger; and we have opened new ones in e townships Turgeon, Mousseau, Kiamika, ampbell. I may mention the road of the ontagne Tremblante, four miles long, ,j|hrough the bush, and leading from the Railroad to the spot selected for the estab- hment of the "Sanitarium," an establish- en sufficiently noticed by the press to spare e the trouble of any further mention of it re. I hope the enterprise will be success- 1, and that many settlers will find habit- le abodes in its neighborhood. The road the Montague Tremblante was finished at ce. ON THE TEMISCAMINGUE. ;, At Lake Temiscamingue we opened a road, feet wide, for sleighs, in summer there ia tmmunication by water. This road is 52 kiles long, and joins la Baie de Pius to the Irtile townships Guigues, Duhamel, ibre and Gordon Creek, the terminus the railroad. For this road, a bridge over le Kippewa had to be made at a cost of !,000. We have, besides, pushed on igorously the opening of the roads in the )ove townships. IN THE VALLEY OF THE METAPEDIA we began operations by erecting two large bridges over the river Metapedia; one at Causupscal, the other at St. Alexis, and opened roads to give access to them. A large bridge was also built, last year, at St. Ludger, Beauce, this was the only one not carried away by the spring thatv on the Chaudiere. We shall continue our opera- tions in this region, as well as in others, as far as our resources will permit. MOVEMENT OF THE POPULATION. As to the movement of the population in these great regions, I will only quote to you a few figures I have at hand. As I said, the settlement at Mistassini has already 100 families, with a chapel and a school. This will give some idea of the rapid increase of population in the townships round the Lake. Monsieur Christin, agent for the Crown lands, north of Montreal, in a report dated last 5th of December, tells us that in the preceding year 300 families settled in the nine parishes forming part of the territory under his jurisdiction. The census on which M. Christin relies was a "house to house" census. Monsieur Carufel, colonization agent at Montreal, in his monthly report of last September, states that 285 settlers were passed by his offices, of whom 211 went to the north of Montcalm, 54 to Lac Temis- camingue and 20 to Lac St. Jean. He adds that the wealthier settlers are those from the States. L'Abbe Tnerien, Cure of la Baie des Peres, declares in a report made to the Department that sixty families have settled at Temiscamingue. Mr. Michaud, agent for the Crown lands of the Valley of Metapedia, sold 167 lots in the months of April, June, July and August. As to the latter region, I may add that Mr. Pinault, M.L.A. for Matane, and our politi- cal opponent, declared, last session, that 300 families had recently settled in that Valley. 14 In many other districts colonization is making marvellous progress, and promises well for the future of the Province of Que- bec. MR. CHAPAIS SPEAKS. Hon. Mr. Ohapais spoke briefly, owing to the advanced hour. He referred to his amily's relations in the past, with Nicolet, and besides of the pleasure he felt in ad- dressing the people of this Conservative stronghold. He contrasted in a striking manner the reign of pillage and boodle under the last Liberal Government with the present prudent administration of affairs. He spoke of the accusations of beint; taxers and bor- rowers, and branded as taxers and borrowers those who had kept up for years a per- manent conspiracy against the purses of the people of the Province; those who had ob- tained $100,000 of Bay Chaleur Railroad Company's subsidy, to support Liberal papers, and to help secure elections of Liberal candidates; those who had dealt in the scan dais of Ottawa & Montreal Railway affair of $14,800, the Langlais affair ot $60,000, and the $28,000 taken from Bay des Chaleurs Railway also. Those peo- ple had feasted and drunk champagne and enjoyed all the luxuries of life at the ex- pense of the ratepayers for a short time, but when the occasion came the ratepayers swept them away. He referred to the large de- ficit, now replaced by a surplus, and gave particular credit to Hon. Mr. Flynn whose administration of Crown Land Department had gone far towards helping the Govern- ment in their arduous task. The expenses of Legislative Assembly controlled by Hon. Mr. Marchand had increased enormously, and were now diminished. This gentleman is responsible for the increased expenditure, but still he asks the people to put him at the head of the Province. Hon. Mr. Marchand is personally a very honest and estimable man, but the people must remember that he has behind him Messrs. Deohene, Turgeon, etc., and, in the baokgronnd, as keeper of the toUgate, Mr. Ernest Pacaud. If the people wish to see the reign of waste and squandering recommence, they may entrust these men with th** reins of power, and the bacchanalian orgies of their palmy days of power will recommence. The election of June 23rd, which he regards as a national crime, is no criterion of the result of the present struggle. They have not the same interests in the Federal Govern- ment, and are altogether distinct from it. Just as in 1873 the Province gave only 1~) Conservative members to the House of Com- mons, while in 1875 they returned Hon. Mr. De Boucherville's Provincial Govern- ment with a majority of 35, despite tlie efforts of all the leading members of the House of Commons, they will this year re- turn the Flynn Government to power with an increased majority. Nicolet, he hoped, would return Hon. Mr. Beaubien by ac- clamation, as a reward of his devotion to the great cause of agriculture and coloniza- tion. Mr. Chapais was very successful, and received round upon round of applause. OTHER ADDRESSES. Mr. Milton McDonald, M.L.A. forBagot, ; a practical farmer, spoke briefly in support ^ of the Flynn Administration and that of his \ two predecessors, Hon. Messrs. Deboucherville i and Taillon, reminding his hearers that they were the first to appoint a practical farmer as Minister of Agriculture. Hon. Joseph Royal, of Montreal; Mr. A. A. Mondon, of Yamaska, and Mr. C. V. Beaubien, of Montreal, briefly addressediihe meeting. Mr. Camirand closed by propos- ing a vote of thanks to the Hon. Prime Minister and his colleagues for the interest 18 ) remember that he Dechene, Turgeon, and, as keeper of 9t Paoaud. If the eign of waste and , they may entrust of power, and the tieir palmy days of . The election of ;ards as a national of the result of They have not e Federal Govern- )r distinct from it. tvince gave only M the House of Com- ey returned Hon. Provincial Govern- of 35, despite the ; members of the will this year re- jnt to power with Nicolet, he hoped, , Beaubien by ae- )f his devotion to ilture and coloniza- very succeasful, and id of applause. ^y have manifested in the County of Bolet. vote of thanks proposed by Hon. Mr 'nn, and seconded by his hon. colleafi;ues unanimously tendered to Mayor Ball, lident of the meeting. The party, after iper at Dorval Hotel, returned, through courtesy of Mr. J. A. Gagnon to Three ^ers, where they took the boats for their rfllpective destinations. The meeting can be considered an impor- tant success for the Flynn administration, as it united a large audience, and the effect will be widespread. Meetings will be held at St. Hyacinthe on October 10th, and at St. Hughes, Bagot, on the 11th. A reception will be tendered to Hon. Mr. Flynn on Thursday by the Conser- vative Clubs of Montreal. , M.L.A. for Bagot, briefly in support bion and that of his issrs. Deboucherville is hearers that they it a practical farmer e. : Montreal; Mr. A, ka, and Mr. C. P. >riefly addressed/ the i closed by propoa- to the Hon. Prime [es for the interest ;