EARLY CANADA

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 9

EARLY CANADA

A GREAT FRENCHMAN PROPOSED CELEBRATION On April 20, 1534, Jacques Cartior and his little band of gallant Trench adventurers set sail from the port of St. Malo, France, in search of the new world, tlie existence of which had been indicated by the earlier discoveries of Columbus and others. He landed at Gaspe, in what now is the province of Quebec, explored parts of tho coast of Prince Edward Island, saw something of New Brunswick, traded with the Indians, and sailed for France after erecting a thirty-foot cross at the entrance to the Gaspe Harbour. j The ae'xt year Cartier returned, found J the St. Lawrence Biver, ascended it to i Stadacona, which now is Quebec, and on j to Hochelaga, which now is Montreal, j where from the top of Mount Royal he surveyed a magnificent sweep of land and water which was to lure adven-j turers of the Old World into the conquest of a new. Cartier's name stands high in the roll of those who opened up what now is Canada, and the proposal has been made that the four hundredth anniversary of his first ivoyago should be marked by a national celebration in Canada of an appropriate, nature. Recently a deputation of those interested waited upon the Primo Minister in the matter. Ho expressed his cordial sympathy, and promised to bring it, before delegates to the inter^provincial conference fihortly to assemble in Ottawa/ Mr.' Bennett pointed out that the' celebration, :if undertaken at all, must be done worthily, and the expense would be considerable.