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NEWFOUNDLAND.
PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 882
1
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
THIS ancient British Possession has been the last in the group of North American Colonies to which responsible government has been conceded. It was granted simultaneously with the appointment of the present Governor, Mr. Darling, who arrived in the island on the 2nd of May, 1855. As far as the experiment has been tried, the respective parties seem perfectly to appreciate their position towards each other, and the Governor, well disposed to give the system a fair trial, is apparently on good terms with the inhabitants. The chief cause of disturbance in this island has hitherto had its foundation in the disagreement between the Roman Catholics and Protestants. The latter is the most numerous body · of the two, but not the most energetic, and has habitually leant or the Imperial Government for that support which it had not spirit enough to dis- pense with when in difficulty. But these religious feuds seem disappearing. We certainly gradually hear less of them, and they may possibly diminish altogether, now that the liberal and Roman Catholic party has obtained possession of power. Ia justice to that party it should be observed, that no comi. plaints of partiality have been preferred against them by the Protestants. Advantages are expected to flow from the construction of an electric telegraph across the island for upwards of 300 miles, and thenee, by a submarine cable, to the continent of America. By the means of this enterprise the state of the markets in the United States, the West Indies, and South America, will be rapidly made know to Newfoundland, whose insular position and the consequent want of prompt information have hsen detrimental to its interests.
The Imperial Government having determined on erecting a lighthouse on Cape Race, it is hoped that
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the work will be completed this year. The necessity for a light in this situation has been long felt.
A Treaty has been concluded between Great Britain and France on the long-disputed question of their respective rights of fishery off Newfoundland.
The revenue and expenditure, its population, &c., Table A. are subjoined. The debt of the Colony is 150,0001.
It is full early to deduce conclusions with respect to the effects on Newfoundland of the Reciprocity Treaty, but promising inferences may be drawn from the fact that the value of the total exports from St. John's to the United States, for the half- year ending the 30th June, 1856, is estimated at 37,9541. as against 12,2531. for the corresponding half-year of 1855, and for the year ending at that date, it is 91,2097. as against 27,810% for the year ending 30th June, 1855. The Governor has very recently (20th January, 1857) reported that "the revenue from imports is larger than any on record, and the value of our staple export unusually high in the United States' market, notwithstanding that the supply has been plentiful."
TABLE A.
Extracted from Blue Book for 1855.
Population.
Revenue.
Expenditure.
Imports.
Exports.
J.
96,506
£
d. £
d. 4.
L £ 126,448 12 4120,926 8 0 1,152,804 | 1,142,212
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