LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1844, Henry Fowlds, Next 7 years County Superintendents.

1855, Rev. John Hilton, 1861, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1856, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1862, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1857, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1863, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1852, Rev. T. Searight, 1858, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1864, Rev M. A. Farrar, 1853, Thos. Robertson, 1859, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1865, Rev M. A. Farrar, 1854, Thos. Robertson, 1860, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1866, Rev M. A. Farrar.

Post Offices.-There are three Post Offices in Asphodel; namely, at Norwood, Hastings and Westwood, -the two former having a daily mail, supplied by stage from Colborne, since the year 1863; and the latter a triweekly mail from Peterborough by way of Keene, and connecting with Norwood.

A reference has already been made to the carly Post-masters. The following are the present officers:

Norwood, J. A. Butterfield; Hastings,-James S. Fowlds;

Westwood, Rev. M. A. Farrar.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUMMER.

The township of Dummer was surveyed in the year 1823, but no attempt was made towards its settlement until 1831. In the summer of that year, a number of emigrants arrived at Quebec, "150 of whom were persons sent out by the Marquis of Bath, 100 were commuted pensioners, and their families, and 1700 were immigrants who had come to the Province at their own charge."* They consisted of no distinct nationality, but were made up of persons from nearly every part of the United Kingdom. On landing, they were taken in charge by Immigration Agents appointed by Sir John Colborne, and forwarded from one halting place to another till they reached Peterborough, where Capt. Rubidge, R. N., who then acted as Immigration Agent, took prompt and energetic steps to locate

* Statement of Captain Rubidge, R. N., to Sir R. W. Horton, Bart., and published by him in his pamphlet, entitled "Ireland and Canada,"-page 43,

them on lands not yet occupied. A goodly number were located in Dummer; forming the first settlements in that township, while the remainder were distributed over the unoccupied lands in the older townships, east and west of Peterborough.

The mode of location was as follows. Guides were sent out with them in groups to examine the lands, and on the selection being made, a location ticket was issued by the Agent, entitling the possessor to 100 acres of land on the fulfillment of certain conditions in after years. A small sum of money, varying from one dollar and a half to three or four dollars, was then given to the immigrant, and by means of this, sometimes aided by the older settlers in adjoining townships, a shanty was erected on the land chosen, to which he was removed as speedily as possible with his family and effects. Grants of 100 acres were thus made to heads of families and grown-up sons, on condition that after the expiration of four years, an annual payment of one shilling per acre, would be made during each of the second four years, thus at the end of eight years actual settlement, and the payment in all of $80, they would receive a full title to their land. The Government, however, were very lenient, and the full payment, at least within the specified time, was not usually exacted.

During their passage through the country and the period of their location, rations, consisting of half a pound of pork and a pound and a half of flour, to each man, and a pound of flour, but no pork, to the women and children over five years of age, were supplied by the Agent, which, together with the other expenses incurred, were paid by the Provincial Government. The supplies thus granted were considerably less than to the immigrants of 1825, but even this moderate and necessary aid to families locating in the interior of a new country, where provisions could not be found, was somewhat suddenly and prematurely withdrawn, causing in some instances temporary distress; which, however, the energy and industry of the settlers enabled them ere long to surmount. Between the 17th day of May and the 29th day of September, 1831, 87,390 pounds of flour, 24,608 pounds of pork, and 366 axes, were thus distributed, partly to the men employed as guides, builders of shanties, &c., but in chief part to such of the immigrant families as choose to accept this kind of aid. None of the other supplies, consisting of a cow, domestic utensils, &c., granted to the previous immigrants were allotted to these, and yet their progress was equally rapid, and their ultimate success perhaps greater than that of their predecessors.

There, were, however, many of these first settlers whose ill-fortune it was to locate on land of inferior quality, and these, after struggling against the difficulties of their situation for a few years, 'in many instances, threw up their claims or sold out to speculators for trifling sums, and removed to other townships or more favored scenes. Some struggled on, amid a stoney soil, and by persevering industry have made themselves comfortable homes, and they or their children now reap to some extent the advantages of their toilsome labors.

The office of Immigrant Agent, at that time, was no idle sinecure. No previous preparation for the reception of immigrants had been made, either in 1825 or in 1831. Temporary shelter had to be provided in Peterborough; the sick cared for, roads cut, shanties erected, provisions supplied, &c., on the spur of the moment. The consequence was, that greater expense was incurred than would otherwise have been necessary, and the immigrants themselves, enfeebled from their long voyage, suffered from sickness and fatigue that might to some extent have been avoided.

Captain Rubidge speaks in the highest terms of these settlers. He says, "The conduct of the immigrants located by me in 1831, was in general most exemplary; and I never observed a stronger desire to take advantage by their industry of the kind encouragement afforded them by the Government. They invariably vied with each other in their exertions, and this will always be the case where provisions are not lavishly or improperly supplied, and the population well mixed, as it was of that year; for then the sluggard who would not be shamed by greater energy on the part of a countryman is roused from his indolence by a national feeling of pride to keep pace with his English, Irish or Scotch neighbor."*

The settlers of 1831, in Dummer, were not long without accessions to their numbers. From one of the earliest of those to join them,-a mau highly respected for his honesty and intelligence, we have obtained the following particulars of the experiences of himself and two others in their first attempt at actual settlement. Their names were Thomas R—, William A, and John P. By means of a private Emigration Society in Glasgow, they obtained a grant of 50 acres of wild land, "with privilege to purchase the remaining 50 acres of the 100 at a fixed sum.

* For the facts of the preceding paragraphs see Capt. Rubidge's evidence before a select cominittee of the Imperial Parliament on colonization from Ireland, 1847. Page 274 to 237.

Arrived in Peterborough, they determined to proceed at once to the land allotted them in Dummer. Having made a partial exploration of the township, in connection with others, and learned how to read the intelligence conveyed by surveyors' lines and posts, they hoped, from this data, on a second attempt, laden with provisions, to reach their new estates, as yet enshrouded in all the wildness of nature, and at a distance, as the crow flies, of nearly twenty miles from Peterborough.

Their route lay for

Early in the spring of 1832, they set out with this object; each man being pretty heavily loaded. One carried 40 pounds of pork, the second 60 pounds of flour, and the third, a blanket for each, and a tin can filled with whiskey, as a medicinal cordial in the bush. Each had besides his axe, a tinder box, and a few minor personal effects. the most part through the wild woods, frequently entangled with fallen timber, over hills and through swamps, still adhering to the surveyor's line, but faintly marked, and every year becoming more obliterated from the rapid growth of vegetation. Sometimes they crept over the fallen trunks or branches of trees, at others they crawled under these obstructions. Their clothing not unfrequently caught upon the projecting knots, and in this way the fustian trowsers of one of them became torn into shreds. The most notable accident of this kind occurred while scaling a horny trunk, some distance from the ground, when, their owner, as if congratulating himself on escaping the greater of two evils, exclaimed, "We'el, its a gude thing that breeks will tear, or I wad be strung up be times."

Unused to traversing the uneven surface of the bush, their toes coming in contact with the matted roots, caused them not unfrequently to stumble or to fall, and on one of these occasions the contents of the tin can, the object, of course, of especial care, became spilled, and to their grief and vexation was poured out a copious libation on the ground. Thirteen miles further on the lid of the can was lost, and seven years later, at a logging bee, was picked up "as good as new," and instantly recognised by one of the trio who related the circumstances attending its loss, to the no small surprise of those present.

Towards the evening of the first day one of their number fell sick. They kindled a fire at the base of a large cedar tree, and within the influence of its genial warmth, prepared a rude shelter for themselves with boughs and small trees, grouped together over head. Unarmed, and with

out a weapon of any kind, they committed themselves to the care of Prov idence, and, rolled up each in his blanket, with feet towards the fire, they lay down and slept. During the night the fire penetrated to the hollow centre of the cedar, and when their slumber was most profound, it fell with a crash against the neighboring trees, bearing some of these with it to the ground. The sudden noise, in the solitude of the forest, and in the dead of night, was appaling; and they fled terrified from the spot, till the cause of the danger from which they had fortunately escaped became apparent. It was afterwards remembered that the sick man had proved as fleet of foot as his companions; and next morning he was able to resume the journey, and made no further complaints of illness.

The next day the sky was overcast, and unaided by the direction of the sun, they missed their way, and wandered on at random, more than once returning upon their previous steps. At night they camped out in doubt and uncertainty; but the fatigue of both body and mind caused them to sleep soundly. Next morning they partook of breakfast from their slender stores, fully realizing the danger of their position. John said prayers, invoking the Divine protection and guidance. A consultation was held, and it was decided that Thomas R— and William would beat about, endeavoring to find their true bearing, while John would remain at the camping place, and endeavor to repair his torn garment, which now threatened speedily to become a total wreck. Accordingly, they sallied forth, breaking twigs and marking trees, so as to ensure the possibility of their return. Ere long, they struck upon the surveyor's post, and found they were nearer their location than they had expected; and returning, all three pushed forward, and ere long they stood upon the soil which they could call their own. A thrill of joy shot through each. Their fatigues were forgotten; their spirits became buoyant; and feeling rich in the possession of so much land, they were happy in the present and indulged in joyous anticipations for the future.

The first thing done was to select a nice and suitable site on which to erect a shanty for their joint use, until separate dwellings could be erected for each. The underbrush was chopped down, and the nearest trees of moderate growth were selected for the walls of a shanty 12 by 16 feet in size. They determined to do their work artistically. The corners of the shanty, formed by the ends of the logs, must be made to fit accurately, and with mathematical precision. This was a work of art for which the