6 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
friends in Essex asked me to report to them on the resources and
prospects of the country, and, being desirous myself of seeing as
much of it as possible and examining it thoroughly, I applied to
the Government for assistance. Through Mr. J. G. Colmer I was
fumished by Sir Charles Tupper, Bart., G.C.M.G., the Canadian
High Commissioner in London, with credentials to the Hon. John
Zarling, Minister of Agriculture for the Dominion Government
at Ottawa, and I sailed from Liverpool on the 24th March by the
SS. " Parisian," desirous of making no hurried trip but to visit every
part of the North-west and thoroughly investigate the state of
agricultural affairs in the principal districts and to watch the whole
progress of the farmer's year. Amongst the passengers on board the
" Parisian " were Mr. E. H. Taylor, of the Dominion Lands Office
at Winnipeg, Mr. J. W. Sandison, the most extensive wheat-grower
in the North-west, and several young men who were successful
farmers in the western provinces, had been home and were returning
with newly married wives; from these men I gathered a deal of
valuable information concerning the country. Mr. Sandison makes
a trip every winter to Great Britain and hires some fresh hands
for his work of the ensuing season, besides largely assisting
in active emigration work. On this occasion he had seven men
with him, and others had preceded him by previous steamers;
afterwards, when at Brandon, I met several of these men, and with-
ouit exception they all seemed happy and well contented with their
lot; they were receiving wages of 20 to 25 dollars (4 to 5 pounds
sterling) a month and board. We landed at Halifax on the 2nd of
April after a pleasant voyage of nine days. It struck me that a
better system of landing immigrants and their chattels might be
adopted with advantage. It is only after great difficulty that one
can discover one's baggage, as everything is discharged from the
ship in a most promiscuous fashion. From Halifax I proceeded
to Montreal, where I staved a couple of days, and then went to
Ottawa. Here I presented my letters of introduction and was
received with great courtesy by the Hon. John Carling, Minister
of Agriculture, and the Hon. Edgar Dewdney, Minister of the
Interior. I also met Mr. H. H. Smith, the land commissioner
resident at Winnipeg, who furnished me with letters of introduction
to land agents and homestead inspectors throdghout the North-
western country.