Fires in Lot 64.

A liberal land/0rd?

Selling fire wood.

A restrictive lan d/o rd .7

contend with. On account of the destruction of the forest years ago, fence poles and firewood could not be easily obtained. [p. 149 of the 1862 text]

Thursday, September 20, 1860, Georgetown.

The Hon. Edward Thornton M. P. P. :

Hon. E Thornton — I believe land at Murray Harbour is not worth one half what was many years ago. I think Mr Cambridge set a high value upon the land there on account of its shipbuilding capabilities. Since that time, shipbuilding has gone down and land has depreciated in value. I think the land on Lot 64 is not now worth 9/1 Oths of what it formerly was. Fires have run over the land, and thereby the quality of the soil has been reduced [p. 137]

Monday, September 24, 1860. Charlottetown.

Coun. Haliburton — Which way do you act, when the tenants have no fire wood on their land .7

Mr De B. [i. e. G. W. DeB/ois, agent for the Cunard and Su/ivan estates] — We allow them to take it off our unoccupied lands, and also to cut fence—poles and scantling for their one use.

Coun. Ha/iberton — Have you ever kept a wood-ranger on the property ?

Mr De B. — Yes.

Coun. Haliburton — Have Cunard’s tenants ever been restricted in regard to the right to sell wood off their farms ?

Mr De B. — Not in any instance.

Coun. Haliburton — Have you ever heard of a tenant complaining of the practical working of the restrictive clauses in his lease in regard to wood?

Mr De B. — No.

Coun. Haliburton — Do you know if the tenants ever make anything off the wood on their land .7

— Yes, fishing vessels sometimes come in for firewood, and they sell to them.

— How much do they get for it .7

— About 10s a cord.

— Is there any opportunity to sell wood in Charlottetown ?

— Yes, and it bring from 123 to 18s a cord.

_ Do tenants ever lease land for the mere purpose of making use of the wood?

— They have done so on several instances on Cunard’s property. [pp. 144-5] Coun. Hensley — You stated that as a general thing you give liberty to cut firewood and fence-poles off vacant land to those tenants who have none on their own property; why is it that one Mr. McLean, on Lot 49, has not obtained this privilege? Mr De B. — The privilege is not given to everyone; it is a matter of favor, and when there is a good reason for so doing, it is withheld.

[A question then arose as to whether there is a reservation of wood in Sir Samuel Cunard’s leases] [p. 146]

John A. McDonald Esq., one of the heirs of the Tracadie Estate was called upon by Councillor Palmer.

Coun. Palmer — Was there not some grievance by a tenant on your father’s estate in reference to his being prevented to cut timber off the land which he occupied .7 — I am not acquainted with the circumstances of the case but if it was so, it was owing to an engagement in the lease, and my father had a right to do it, if he thought proper.

Coun. Haliburton — Are the tenants on your estate allowed to sell timber off their property .7

167