The best timber is gone.

A general permit.

The landlords ’ defence.

Timber permits.

Large black spruce swamps.

Lot 5: a timber contract.

logs, but I was unsuccessful. In fact we have almost to steal what timber is necessary to erect our buildings. [pp. 79—80]

Mr Hockin [Lot 3] The best of the timber is culled off; and taking all into consideration, I think the lands are not worth more than 25 6d an acre. Mr. Yeo, ever since I have been in Kildare, has had a permit of the Lot.

Com. Howe. —— Mr. Yeo gets a general permit, and if you want timber you must get liberty from him to obtain it. He owns the forest and you rent the land. That is the way.

Com. Gray. — Can Mr. Yeo authorize any man to cut timber on the land for which you are paying rent?

Mr H. — He can, anywhere outside our fences.

Hon. D. Montgomery.— Your Excellencies, such is the case. We have frequently had these leases before the Legislature.

Mr De Blois [agent for the Cunard and Su/ivan estates]. — In giving permits, it is only for vacant lands. If a man goes on land for which another pays rent he should not do so, for it is expressly mentioned in the permits, ”on vacant lands". I believe there is a clause of that kind in the leases of Mr Edward Cunard; but in other cases if a person cuts timber off rented land, he is a trespasser.

Mr De 3. — Persons were in the habit of taking farms, and during the first few years, in which they paid little or no rent, used to cut the timber off and then leave them. At that time too, the principal value of the lands was on account of the timber which grew on them. That clause was then inserted in the leases to prevent the destruction of timber upon the land. When we give these leases, however, every man is bound to carry out his lines.

Com. Gray. — The permits give liberty to cut timber off vacant lands. Mr De B. — Yes. [pp. 81—82] Coun. Thomson. — Do you, Mr. De Blois, not charge the same rent for land which

has been stripped of its timber, as for land the timber of which has not been removed? Mr De B. — Yes....

Coun. Thomson. — Do your licenses define the boundaries?

Mr De B. — Sometimes. Occasionally we give a person a permit for a Township. Coun. Haliberton.— Have you known instances where persons have cut me timber and then left the land?

Mr De B. — Several.

Coun. Thomson. — Did you ever compel a trespasser to refund the value of timber which he had taken from a tenant to the injured man?

Mr De B. — We would, had we known of such instances.

Coun. Thomson. — If they cut timber off their own farms and sell it, you do not wish to interfere; but from the time they do so, they are liable for an action to be brought against them?

Mr De B. -— Yes. [p.821

Mr. Martin Fo/y [Lot 3]:

Coun. Hensley. — What do you think the average value of wilderness land would be? ‘

Mr. Martin Fo/y — About £25 a hundred acres. There are large black spruce swamps in the rear of my farm.

Mr. Hunt. — Upon what section of Lot 3 do you live?

Mr. Martin Fo/y — Upon the 4th, I think.

Mr. Hunt. — Do you say there are large swamps extending to the western road? Mr. Martin Fo/y — I said they were in the rear of my farm. [p. 83]

Mr Robert Gordon. [Lot 3]: Lot 5 formerly belonged to Lord Lewis, and he sent out to this Island, about 80 years ago, Mr Hill, to see what kind of a country it was. On his return, he gave such an

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