I46 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 
     
    
   
   
    
     during summer season is greatly frequented by fishing vessels. 
     
     The railway was therefore a great boon to those who wished 
     
     to tranship their fish and secure supplies, as this was the only 
     
     harbor available for this purpose for a long stretch of coast. 
     
     Shipbuilding had been carried on here early in this century, 
     
     giving the village a good start on its way to prosperity. And 
     
     by the construction of the railway it grew to be of great com- 
     
     mercial importance, and is now known as Alberton. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Souris, the eastern terminus of the railway, 60 miles east of 
     
     Charlottetown, is the outlet for the exports ofa large portion 
     
     of King’s County. It also possesses a fine harbor, which has 
     
     of late been considerably improved, and the volume of ship- 
     
     ping trade is large and increasing. It is beautifully situated 
     
     and is an inviting summer resort. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Other villages there are, such as Kensingtonr Montague, 
     
     Saint Peter’s, Cardigan, Crapaud, Tignish, Mount Stewart, 
     
     Hunter River, Breadalbane, &c., all of them having either the 
     
     advantage of a good harbor or railway station. 
     
    
   
   
    
     An Act was also passed during this session assimilating the 
     
     currency of the Island to that of the Dominion of Canada, by 
     
     the introduction of a decimal system of exchange in specie and 
     
     keeping of accounts. The census returns for this year, show 
     
     the population to be ninety-four thousand and twenty-one souls. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The assembling of the Legislature on the 5th of March,t872, 
     
     was attended with the usual ceremony. Two troop of cavalry 
     
     under Captain Holman escorted His Honor the Governor to 
     
     the Colonial Building, where he was received by a guard of 
     
     honor commanded by Major Morris, the band playing the 
     
     National Anthem, while the salutes were fired by No. 2 
     
     artillery, under Captain Lord. 
     
    
   
   
    
     May 24th, this being the anniversary of Her Majesty’s birth- 
     
     day, there was a large display of bunting throughout the city in 
     
     honor of the occasion. At 12 o’clock, there was a review of 
     
     the city volunteers and a royal salute of 21 guns fired from 
     
     Fort Edward. At two, the Commander-in-chief held a levee, 
     
     while in the evening Mrs. Robinson entertained a number of 
     
     persons to a ball at Government House, each of which was 
     
     largely attended. _ 
     
    
   
   
    
     The union of the British North American Provinces being 
     
     desired by the Imperial Government, the question was