STATEMENT showing the Number and Destination of Immigrants forwarded from this Agency, by Free Passes, &c.—Concluded.

No. 6.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HAMILTON (ONT.) IMMIGRATION AGENT. (MR. JOHN SMITH.)

GOVERNMENT IMMIGRATION OFFICE,

HAMILTON, 31st December, 1883.

Sia,-I have the honour to submit the following Annual Report on Immigration, with tabular statements, for the year ending 31st December, 1883 :

The past year shows an increase of immigrants arriving and settling in the Dominion, as compared with the previous year, as will be noticed by a reference to the different statements accompanying the report.

The total increase of immigrants arriving and settling in the Dominion, reported rid the St. Lawrence and Halifax and the United States, including those entered at the Customs ports of entry at Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, and Hamilton, particulars of which are given in statements I J K L and N.

By reference to statement N, the total increase is shown to be 3,160; 9,225 settling in the Province of Ontario, and 3,753 in the North-West Territories of the Dominion.

The immigrants arriving at this Agency and remaining in the Dominion during the past season were a good healthy class with the exception of a few families sent. out from the congested districts of Ireland by the Irish Poor Law Guardians, under the auspices of the Tuke Committee.

The arrivals were composed principally of agricultural and common labourers, the proportion of mechanics and mill operatives being very small as compared with previous years, whilst there has been an increase in numbers possessed of means coming out with the view of purchasing and settling upon the lands of the Dominion, of the settled districts of Ontario, and the Dominion lands of the NorthWest Territories.

During the past year there has been a good demand for all kinds of skilled and common labour, which it was impossible to supply, although every effort was made by both the Dominion and Ontario Government Agencies. During the season I made urgent and repeated applications to be supplied with a fair share of the arrivals, but owing to the extraordinary demands mado upon the whole of the Agencies, it was found to be impossible to meet the numerous applications, as you will notice by the subjoined correspondence :

HAMILTON, 16th April, 1883.

SIR,-We are overwhelmed with applications for farm hands. Will you please to give instructions that a fair share of the arrivals should be sent to this district.

TORONTO, 17th, April, 1883.

DEAR SIR,-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th inst., asking that a fair share of the arrivals should be sent to your district. If you were here for a short time, on the arrival of the train, you would see the impossibility of sending them anywhere. There were farmers in this morning from all parts, for hands, and the most of them had to go back without them; some of them came in yesterday from the County of Oxford. Unless we have a better supply, the country is going to suffer seriously for want of labourers.

SIR.-I have written to Mr. Stafford, our Quebec Agent, to forward me all the farm labourers and female domestic servants that he can possibly spare. The farmers bere are suffering very much for want of hands. Some of them write me that their horses are standing idle for want of ploughmen.

I am also in want of bricklayers, brickmakers, machinists, riveters, cotton fac tory operatives, carpenters, painters, loom fixers and common labourers.

I hope that you will be able to devise some plan so as to supply the labour so much required in this district. I have the honour to be, Sir,

JOHN LOWE, Esq',

Secretary Departmentt Agriculture,

Ottawa.

Your obedient servant,

JOHN SMITH.

HAMILTON, 29th May, 1883.

SIR,-The following class of immigrants are badly wanted here, and I should be glad if you can send me all that you can spare :

HAMILTON, 29th May, 1883.

SIR,-I beg again to draw your attention to the promises made by you that we should get a fair share of the immigrants as they arrive. The farmers are complaining, and not unjustly, that they are not treated fairly, as compared with the district of Toronto and other places. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

DAVID SPENCE, Esq.,

Secretary of Immigration,

Toronto.

JOHN SMITII.

HAMILTON, 30th May, 1883.

DEAR SIR,-Will you please to send me all the farm labourers and domestic female servants that you possibly can, as they are badly wanted here.

I am also in want of bricklayers, brick makers, carpenters, painters, labourers, machinists and cotton factory operatives.

Yours truly,

JOHN SMITH.

Agricultural Labour has been much sought after by the farmers in the immediate neighbourhood, and those from a distance waited the arrival of the trains for the purpose of securing the hands so much required, the greatest portion of them having to return unsuccessful to their homes, not being able to secure the desired help, although offering $15 per month, or $175 by the year, with board and lodging.

Female Servants of all kinds were eagerly sought after, and it was perfectly useless to commence the attempt to supply the demand made upon the Agency, although repeated applications were made to the Department at Toronto and the Agency at Quebec.

Mechanics. During the early part of the season, and through the summer, there was great difficulty in supplying the applications, the arrivals here being of a very limited number. Since the close of navigation the demand has ceased, and so have the arrivals.

Mill Operatives.-At the opening of the year there was a fair demand for all kinds of mill hands, but, as the season advanced, some of the mills were placed upon short time, and some of the looms on grey and white goods were stopped, some of them being again put into operation, and two of the leading mills have made applications for weavers.

Manufacturers.-Operatives have been in fair request by the ready-ma le clothing manufacturers, boot and shoe factories, and other established industries.

Common and Skilled Labourers.-The demand has been good in the industrial establishments, including pipe and general foundries, rolling mills, rail factory, forge, bridge and tool works; railway and public works contractors have had to engage labourers in Buffalo and other points in the United States.

Agriculture. The past year has been marked by the partial failure of the wheat and corn crops; barley, rye and pease being up to the general average; oats being fully up to 20 to 25 per cent. above the general average; pastures and grass lands have been very productive, yielding fully 25 per cent. over average years; roots of all descriptions were a fair crop.

In the early part of the year, wheat prices were well sustained, showing a gradual decline as the season advanced, owing to the accumulation of stocks at the principal grain centres of the United Kingdom and foreign shipping ports, combined with the low rates of freight from India, leading to liberal shipments. Other cercals have been in fair demand at average rates.

Live Stock. The past year has been one of unusual prosperity to feeders and graziers, owing to the brisk demand for all kinds of stock for home consumption and export at highly remunerative rates, with liberal offerings and a strong inquiry for store cattle.

The export trade is still growing, the demand in Britain being unlimited for all choice offerings of all descriptions arriving from Canada, owing to the favourable advantages possessed by the Dominion as compared with the United States at the British ports of arrival, Canadian stock not being scheduled, being free from contagious diseases.

Owing to the admirable system of quarantine adopted by the Minister of Agriculture, Canada has been placed in the most favourable position to compete for the trade in the European markets, at the same time establishing safe-guards for the prevention of contagion with the established herds and the grazing stock of the Dominion, through the importation of new blood, which is necessary for the purpose of replenishing and improving the existing stock of the country.

Owing to the growing and extending interest attending this important branch of the national resources, railway managers and steamship proprietors are competing with each other in providing improved methods and rapid transit, so as to command a share of this important traffic.

Herds and Flocks.-The results of the past year have been of a marked and satisfactory character to the importers, breeders and graziers, valuable additions having been added to the leading herds and flocks by the importation of new blood from the best tribes and families of England and Scotland. The Canadian breeders have again. succeeded in distancing all competitors wherever they have been brought into competition, notably so at the United States Fat Stock Show held in Chicago-the Bow Park lot and those from the Hood Bros., of Guelph, defeating all animals brought against them, securing to Canada the first-class hoLours and the leading prizes for cattle and sheep.

At the Toronto Exhibition, Provincial fair at Guelph, Central fair, Hamilton, the Western fair at London, the fat stock shows and the local monthly fairs, the different classes were well represented by the well known herds from Belvoir, Ilderton, Bow Park; J. H. and J. Graff, Elmira; J. and R. McQueen, J. and J. Watt, Salem; L. Armstrong, Speedside; J. Fothergill, Burlington; J. Miller, Pickering; G. Miller, Markham; J. G. Snell and Brothers, Edmunton; the Guelph Experimental Farm and the Hood Brothers, of Guelph.

At the different exhibitions, a marked improvement was visible in the extension and quality of the thoroughbreds, and particularly so amongst the grades resulting from the selections by the farmers of thoroughbred bulls; by judicious crossing, most satisfactory results have been obtained in producing a class of animals of splendid form, combined with great substance, with early maturing propensities, suitable for the shambles and well adapted for the export trade.

Foremost amongst the graziers and feeders stands the pioneer County of Wellington, having had the local advantages imparted by the proximity of the Model Farm herd, and that of F. W. Stone, to whom the county is indebted, and also the Province of Ontario, for the public spirit and enterprise that he has exhibited in the establishment of his magnificent and useful herd.

At the Dexter Park short horned sales, held in Chicago last April, selections from the Belvoir herd, owned by Richard Gibson, of Delaware, formely of Ilderton, brought the highest average not only at this noted sale, but also the highest average of all the public sales held during the year, having attained the high figure of $1,016.50 per head, the general average of the aggregate sales being $205.56 per

head.