Reservation of timber.

Bad land.

Timber permits.

Barren land.

Mr Mc D. — They are. [pp. 148419] Mr Ryan [a tenant from Mr McDonald’s estate]:

Coun. Thompson — Have you restriction about wood in your lease?

Mr R. — Yes, and so have my neighbors. lp. 1491

Coun. Ha/iburton —— Have you ever heard of any difficulties in regard to the timber reservation clause in the leases ?

Mr McD. — l have never heard of any; besides I think it is never acted upon — tenants always sell the wood off their farms.

Coun. Thompson - How was this clause introduced — by mistake or what .7

Mr McD.— It was introduced to prevent wood being cut off land on which no improvements were made.

Coun. Thompson — Do you think that these clauses are against the tenantry ?

Mr McD. — They are not against the honest tenant.

Coun. Thompson — Then as an honest proprietor, do you think it improper for a dishonest proprietor to have the power to enter in upon a tenant’s farm and cut down his ornamental trees?

Mr McD. — It would not be right for him to do it. That is a clear case. [pp. 151-2]

Tuesday, September 25, 1860, Charlottetown.

Hon. Mr Heath Haw/and M. P. P.

Mr H. — On Lot 51, some 30 or 40 years ago, they sold a large tract of wilderness land, as l have been informed, for 103 an acre. This tract your Excellencies passed through on your way to Georgetown. When sold it was called The Big Woods, but is now called New Perth; it is one of the finest settlements on the Island.

Mr H. — A few have been unfortunate in getting bad land.

Com. Howe — What do you mean by bad land?

Mr H. — Land that is nearly all sand.

Com. Howe — Some of the land is said to be nearly all covered with moss, — is that bad?

Mr H. — It is inferior

Com. Howe — And is there much of that?

Mr H — There is considerable. [pp. 154-5]

Hon. Mr James Yeo M.P.P.

Com. Howe — You have been accustomed to take from proprietors permits to cut wood off their estates, — did you in such cases ever cut off of tenant's land .7

Mr Y — I had liberty to do so, but would never allow my men to cut from any except unoccupied land

Coun. Hal/burton — Were you always instructed not to enter upon tenants' land?

Mr Yeo — I do not remember particularly Coun Ha/iburton — But it has been your practice not to do so? Mr Y — Yes.

Com. Howe — What would you take for it [i.e. your land] .7

Mr Y — Perhaps I may say 6s or 7s an acre; but I would only sell it at this rate, because some of it is no good. I have however sold some very inferior land for 23 an acre — land comparatively worthless.

Com. Howe — Will you tell us why it is worthless?

Mr Y — It is barren — being chiefly composed of white sand.

Com. Howe — Has it been thoroughly tested?

Mr Y — Yes; it is worth nothing.

Com. Howe — Is there any quantity of that kind of land on the Island .7

Mr Y — Many thousands of acres. The Cunards hold hundreds and thousands of acres that are not worth a farthing an acre. [pp. 159-160]

168