Halifax, 25th February, 1865
Sir,--
I have the honor to present the following report of the business
transactions in the Immigration office last year, for the information
of his Excellency the Lieut. Governor and the members of the Legislature.
The arrivals of immigrants have been limited, and only in numbers
by the KEDAR and EUROPA, in April, the EUROCLYDON
in May, and the INDIAN QUEEN in June. All from Liverpool, England.
By the Kedar there were twenty-one passengers; but consisting
entirely of persons returning to Nova Scotia, and others who had been
invited by their friends, requiring no assistance from this office.
By the Europa, there were ten-respectable people sent out
by Miss Coutts, all of whom soon obtained employment, and are now
comfortably situated.
By the Euroclydon there were forty-three. Of these, twenty-nine
were labourers---mostly young men---one farmer, two married and five unmarried
women, and six children. They all proceeded immediately to country districts,
where the arrival was anticipated, and have been provided for.
By the Indian Queen there were thirty-three; consisting of
twelve labourers---the eldest of whom was thirty-seven years of age---five
married and five unmarried women, nine children, a farmer and a surgeon.
The arrival of nearly all of these was anticipated by friends and employers.
Few called at the office for information, and none required any aid.
I am not aware that any by these vessels proceeded to the United
States, or even left the province.
Besides these, a few came at different times, singly or in parties
of two by sailing vessels and chance steamers from England, and also a
few from the States. Those from England were chiefly people of some means,
inquiring for small properties to purchase, to whom I have rendered every
assistance in my power. Some I presume have got settled, as they have
not returned to the office; others, who arrived lately, are still undetermined
upon a residence. To those of the labouring classes I have also rendered
every assistance in my power---for some I procured situations, and I am
not aware of any but one, at present, who is out of employment. Two, who
came from the county of Durham, England, I forwarded to the coal mines
in Cape Breton. In all, I have forwarded seven to situations in the country.
I have given temporary relief to sixteen; and advanced eight dollars to
one, to fit up a loom for weaving.
No mechanics have come this year from Europe; the immigrants being
chiefly labourers and domestic servants. No immigrants are reported as
having arrived at any out-ports except from the States. Several families
are mentioned as having come to Colchester county---one family returned
to Shelburne; and a number of natives to Annapolis county, with many American
stragglers, to avoid the draft. A number, also, have returned to Yarmouth.
There may be many besides that I can get no trace of, as masters of vessels
are not required to report their passengers at the Custom-house on arrival.
Were they obliged to do so, a correct account could be kept of the number
of immigrants, their nationalities, occupations, &c.
I have still to regret that so little use is made of this office
by persons requiring service. Comparatively few apply who want labourers,
mechanics, or servants of any description. Were all the objects of the
office more generally understood or remembered, its usefulness would be
greatly increased.
In December I wrote to the sheriff and custos [sic] of each county,
and to the collectors at the out-ports, requesting information of the
existing prospects for the employment of mechanics, agricultural labourers,
domestic servants, &c. The following is the result of the answers
received:-
HANTS County:- The prospects for mechanics are not so good as formerly,
as there are fewer ships building; but still sober, industrious men will
find employment to a considerable extent. The prospects for agricultural
labourers and domestic servants continue good as formerly.
SHELBURNE County:- Labourers qualified for diversified work will find
employment at good wages; domestic female servants are more in request,
and a few mechanics would find employment.
DIGBY County:- Agricultural labourers will find employment at good wages
during the summer months; female domestic servants are always wanted;
and mechanics generally will find work readily, especially ship carpenters
and blacksmiths. A number of small farms are for sale in this county that
would suit immigrants with little means.
PICTOU County:- The demand for labour is supplied for the present by
people who have found their way to the county; but the thirty miles of
railway to be built will create a demand in Spring. A few mechanics would
find good employment.
ANTIGONISH County:- There is still no encouragement for labourers, as
there are many poor persons who supply the demand. There is no encouragement
for mechanics or domestic servants.
CUMBERLAND County:- The demand for labour is more limited than last year,
as there is little doing in ship building, which creates a demand for
labour of every description. Still agricultural labourers have been in
request at good wages, and a limited number of mechanics and domestic
servants would succeed, if well recommended.
QUEENS County:- There would be no difficulty in distributing a limited
number of agricultural labourers (say about one hundred) in the northern
district. Labourers are scarce, and good men get readily £35 per annum,
with board and lodging. Steady, industrious men settling, might safely
calculate on securing, in a few years, comfortable homes for themselves
and families. There are a number of Englishmen, Scotchmen and Irishmen,
who came to the Kempt district twenty or thirty years ago, without any
means, who are now owners of large farms, and some of them wealthy. There
is abundance of good land laying vacant in that district and in the southern
part of the county, suitable for settlement by any who might be disposed
to clear new farms.
ANNAPOLIS County:- There are good prospects for agricultural labourers
and domestic servants. The best time for them to come is in Spring. There
are also inducements for carpenters and blacksmiths. Suitable settlers
are much wanted.
CAPE BRETON County:- The increased demand for labour at the coal mines
tends to advance wages and agricultural produce. There are many new mines
now opening, and several companies will require many hundreds of mechanics
and labourers in the Spring. The demand for agricultural produce holds
out great inducement for small farmers, with £100 to £150, to settle in
this county.
RICHMOND County:- There is an increased demand for labourers created
by the government expenditure at the St. Peter's Canal, the coal mining
operations, and repairing of vessels at the maritime slip. There is also
a scarcity of fishermen and seamen.
VICTORIA County:- In consequence of so many of the young men being now
employed at the coal mines opening, there is good demand for farm servants.
Mechanics and miners will find profitable employment. There is no opening
for families, except for such as could purchase land and settle on it.
KINGS County:- Mechanics, agricultural labourers, and domestic servants,
are constantly wanted; and female domestic servants are very difficult
to obtain. A large number would be immediately engaged.
COLCHESTER County:- Agricultural labourers are scarce, and get ready
employment at good wages. There will be more demand for mechanics in the
Spring than at present.
YARMOUTH County:- There is not much encouragement for mechanics or agricultural
labourers, but great demand for female domestic servants.
From the counties of LUNENBURGH [sic], HALIFAX, GUYSBOROUGH and INVERNESS,
I have no replies.
I continue to receive applications for Crown Lands under the Immigration
act, all of which I hand to the Commissioner of Crown Lands.
By the immigration act of 10th May 1864, provision was
made by the third and subsequent clauses for laying our crown lands in
lots of 100 acres each, which were to be placed at the disposal of the
immigration agent for the benefit of new settlers. As yet this part of
the act has not been carried into effect, so that the agent has no means
to provide land for settlers in the way intended by the act, which materially
abridges his powers of action. A tract of land was set apart for settlement
more than a year ago, laying between Musquodoboit and Tangier Harbour,
but the crown land commissioner informs me that he has never been able
to get a plan of it from the county surveyor.
In consequence of my inability to meet applications, many appear
to despair of ever being accommodated, and one family has left the province
(that otherwise would not have done so) in consequence, and gone to New
Brunswick, where they immediately got a lot of a hundred acres. There
are many vacant lands suitable for settlement, noticed in my report of
last year; and as I have every reason to expect a more extensive emigration
to the province this year, it is highly desirable that some of them should
be surveyed and the plans placed in my hands for the occupation of settlers.
By authority of the government I have notified the public that lists
will be kept in this office of properties for sale, free of charge to
the proprietors, stating in separate columns the county and district or
township in which each property lies, distance from Halifax, extent of
land, portion cleared, portion in meadow or pasture, portion under wood,
buildings, &c., with the price, and address of the proprietor. Thirty
properties have been enrolled, and I trust that the public will generally
avail themselves of this privilege. Some immigrants with means have occasionally
enquired and looked over the list, and also several natives and settlers
in the country, who may possibly purchase some of them. Fifteen of these,
the proprietors of which bearing the expenses of advertisement, I have
advertised in the British Colonist and Morning Chronicle
and have sent copies of each paper to her Majesty's emigration agents
in England, Scotland and Ireland; also to emigration societies, to several
editors of newspapers, and to persons who I am aware take an interest
in emigration to British North America. One of these newspapers has published
the list in the issue of the 28th January---the Glasgow
Sentinel.
The Hand-book for Emigrants, published by authority of the Government,
I am happy to say has been well received and approved of at home. The
constant complaint formerly has been that no information was to be had
of Nova Scotia, and I received several letters stating that many respectable,
industrious people would willingly emigrate to Nova Scotia if they only
knew something reliable of the country, its soil, climate, and resources.
Already since publication of the book I have received letters from persons
professing to be possessed of means, making particular enquiries, with
the intention of emigrating from England. These I have fully replied to,
and sent the applicants copies of the papers in which the properties for
sale are advertised.
I cannot conclude without noticing the zealous attention given to
this Province by Alex. Campbell, Esq., of Glasgow, who omits no
opportunity of bringing its advantages before the public through the press
and otherwise; and also of J. Bate, Esq., Secretary to the National
Colonial Emigration Society in London who has given much attention to
Nova Scotia.
I regretted much that I had no lands to offer to several agricultural
labourers whom he highly recommended, and proposed sending out last spring.
I know of none who is better qualified or more deserving than Mr. Campbell
to be appointed a special emigration agent for Nova Scotia, if such an
appointment is to be made.
In my report of last year, I suggested that the Legislature should
cause a small clearing of an acre to be made on each of the lots laid
out for the immigrants, and houses of cheap construction erected thereon,
in order that the immigrants might have a shelter for himself and his
family on arriving in the province, and that not only would a great boon
be thereby conferred on the poor man, but a great advantage would accrue
to farmers in his neighbourhood, by furnishing them with labour which
they could not otherwise obtain. I stated also that a small charge might
be made upon the soil to meet the necessary expenses incurred, giving
the settler the advantage of credit for a series of years. By this means,
valuable agricultural labourers might be brought to the country, who,
in a few years, would become respectable small farmers.
And again, I would urge the propriety of despatching a competent
agent annually from Halifax, in the Spring, whose attention should be
entirely restricted to giving information of the Province and its resources
to immigrants, and all interested in immigration; to facilitate arrangements
for the sale and purchase of lands---to traverse the Mother country, and
by personal representations and suggestions to individuals, to societies,
and to bodies of men desirous to immigrate--induce desirable settlers
to turn their attention to Nova Scotia. Such people as we want, and want
much, for whom there is abundant scope and provision with us.
Appended are lists of the passengers who came by the vessels mentioned
in the report.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
H.G. PINEO
Hon. Chas. Tupper, M.D., Provincial Secretary
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