6 PAST AND PRESENT OF

functions formerly vested in the Legislative Council and House of Assembly. It is com- posed Of thirty members, who meet in ses- sion at least once in every year. The pro- vision requiring a member to have property qualification was not re-enacted. Thus the Island reverted to its original system of hav— ing one House instead of two.

The legislative authority of the British Parliament extends over all of the colonies and the whole empire. The introduction of responsible government has necessarily lim— ited the occasion for direct legislation for the colonies. Those having legislatures of their own propose laws for their internal government subject to the disallowance of the King in Council.

The dominion and the provinces have very extensive powers Of legislation granted by the Imperial Parliament under the Brit— ish North America Act and its amendments. The power of making treaties with other nations is still exercised by the British gov- ernment, as well as transacting matters of international concern. but the colony is con- sulted when its interests are affected.

Prince Edward Island is one Of the smallest self-govemoring provinces, yet there are some smaller Islands, e. g., Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man, each having about one-half the population and each of these Islands has a lieutenant-governor, ap- pointed by the British crown and a Legis- lature.

The small colony of 1763, with about 1,500 inhabitants, has now over 103,000 and is becoming a prosperous province Of the great dominion whose territory com- prises almost half of North America—the largest dependency of the greatest empire in the world, enjoying the protection and liberty essential to progress and honor to

be found under the British flag and consti-

tution.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE GEOLOGICAL FORM-

ATION OF THE ISLAND, BASED CHIEFLY ON THE REPORTS OF ACTUAL SURVEYS BY ' DOCTORS DAWSON AND ELLS.

BY D. A. MAr'KINxON. LL. 8., K. (‘.

The past and present condition of Prince Edward Island with special reference to . the physical changes which it has undergone : or which still may be taking place, deserves . some popular attention directed to it which may yet prove of great service.

The structure of the Island is distin— ‘ guished by the remarkable development Of ‘ the New Red Sandstone system, which is . now divided into Permian and Triassic. The greater portion of the Island, if not all, . would appear to come under the former' head. Scientists have differed about this. . The epithet Permian was originally applied l to a group of strata overlying the carbonif— - erous in Perm, Eastern Russia, where the t rocks are largely red sandstone. The Per- - mian is of great economical importance in l Europe, as the repository of extensive de— - posits of rock salt, gypsum and Other saline 2 combinations. The establishing of the age : of these rocks is of consequence. If of the . Triassic formation the probable depth at: which coal measures might be reached if i such rocks underlie the Island anywhere 3 would be much greater than if of the Per- - mian formation. The most recent scientific : view is favorable to the latter. The solution 1 of this question is to be attained not by ' superficial exploration but by boring into the : earth whereby much valuable data as to the 2 actual sequence of the formations could be : secured. By the disturbance Of the earth’s ;