THE DOMINION OF CANADA.

The Provinces of Ontario and Quebec (formerly constituting the Colony of Canada), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, were by “The British North American Act, 1867,” formed into one Dominion. This Act was brought into force by Royal Proclamation, bearing date the 27th of May, 1867. On the 15th of July, 1870, the newly-formed province of Manitoba; on the 20th of July, 1871, the colony of British Columbia; and on the 1st of July, 1873, that of Prince Edward Island, were successively admitted to the Dominion, Newfoundland now alone, of all the North American Colonies, retaining its independence.

As far as I have been able to discover, Post-office notices relating to the issue of stamps were not published in The Canada Gazette with other official matter. The number of The Gazette for March 8th, 1851, contains a long notice, stating that on April 5th following the management of the Inland Posts would be transferred to the control of the Provincial Government, and that the new rates of postage would then come into force. We learn from the report of the Postmaster-General of Great Britain for 1857 what those rates were; for we read:

“In 1851 a reduced rate of postage was established. Payment in advance is optional.

On ordinary Lettersper ½ oz., 3d.
On Letters posted and delivered in the same towneach, ½d.

“Newspapers are conveyed free.

“Books are charged ½d. per oz., the weight of a single Packet being limited to 4 lbs.”

I should add, the local rate of ½d. did not come into use until 1857. In giving these extracts from the Postmaster-General’s Report, I have invariably altered the rates to their proper currency value, as they are given in the list at “about” the sterling equivalent.

The rates to England in operation on May 1st, 1856, probably earlier, were:

Closed mail, viâ U.S., by British Packet,not exceeding½ oz.10d.
Viâ Halifax”½ oz.7½d.
By U.S. Packet”½ oz.1s. 5½d.
And on October 1st, 1856, by Canadian Packet”½ oz.7½d.

We know from the extract from the Report of the Postmaster-General of Canada for 1851, given further on in the Society’s list, that the first stamps consisted of a Three Penny, Six Penny, and One Shilling, and that these three values were issued shortly after April 1st. Taking into consideration the notice I have mentioned, it seems probable the issue took place on April 5th, 1851. I can give no new information about any of the later issues, and I shall conclude my remarks on this province by giving some postal statistics taken from The Colonial Office List, 1889, which prove to what a huge system the Post-office establishment of the Dominion has grown. We find, however, the present expenditure greatly exceeds the revenue, owing, I am told, to the desire of the Government to extend postal facilities as widely as possible. I understand some changes have been made by an Act passed this year, one of which abolishes the privilege hitherto granted to Canadian newspapers of free transmission by post to subscribers from the publishing office.

The number of letters sent in the year ending 30th June, 1887, was 74,300,000; of post cards, 16,356,000; and of newspapers (other than those sent from the office of publication, which are all carried free), periodicals, parcels, &c., 31,160,000. The number of newspapers sent from the office of publication was about 60,000,000; the number of letters per head of population was 15.24; the number of offices was 7,534; the revenue for 1887 was $2,603,255, and the expenditure $3,458,100. There is weekly mail communication with Great Britain viâ Quebec or Halifax, and twice a week viâ New York. There is a through daily service by the Canadian-Pacific Railway to the Pacific Coast.

The present rates of postage are as follows:

Letters.
Per ½ oz.
Cents.		Newspapers.
Cents.
Canada and United States3½ each.
Newfoundland5½ each.
Europe, Egypt, the West Indies, and British Guiana51 per oz.
South and West Africa, China, East Indies, Mauritius, Straits Settlements, South America102 per oz.
Australasia152 per oz.
Ditto, viâ Brindisi193 per oz.

There is a Parcels Post to Newfoundland, the United States, and Europe. The present Postmaster-General is the Hon. J. G. Haggart.