THE DOMINION OF CANADA.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1485, 10 January 1882, Page 3

THE DOMINION OF CANADA.

* The Canadian census of last April lias now been published. It exhibits an increase of population in every direction, greatest absolutely in Ontario, greatest by comparison with former figures in the larger and less settled districts of the West. The rate of increase over the whole country since the census of 1871 is IS'O3 per cent, and this, curiously, is the exact late at which the single Province of Ontario and Quebec aie very fair in advance of all the rest. Ontario has taken the lead, and has kept it and improved upon it, from the date of the first census onwards. Her population, which was 1,396,091 in IS6I, has risen to 1,620,851 in IS7I, and is now set down at 1,913,460. The growth of Quebec, the next largest Province to Ontario, has been a good deal less rapid. Quebec started behind Ontario with a population of 1,111, "566 in 1562, The interval was increased still further by 1871, Quebec during those ten yeais lming added only 76,930 to her foimer numbers. The ten years following lnne produced better lesults. The addition dining their course to die population of Qucbsc lias been 166.953, against the 292,(50') of Ontario. The rate of progress has been 1401 per cent, against the 18 - 05 of her neighbour. For the largest percentages and for the best promises of future development we must look further to the West. The actual population of that region is not as yet great, but if it continues to grow as it has been growing in the Province of Manitoba, at the late of 259 per cent, another census or two will bring it np to a level with that of Ontario, or beyond it. Ontario is already beginning to feel itself threatened by the growing popularity Qf the West. Settlers, and old inhabitants, too, are drawn off to the vast unoccupied prairies, where land is to be had most cheaply, and where the unexhausted soil gives the most ample returns to the fortunate fii&t cultivator, When we go further west still, we pass iroin exact figures to a region of conjecture. The one established tact, however, is that the whole West is growing, and that very fivst. Tlio fivst few stops have been the hardest. A country which had long been declared hopelessly sterile by the only authorities who could be suppo&eil to know anything about it, has now been better explored, and has been found to bo just the reverse of what it was presistently asserted to be. Emigrants are beginning to press into it, and we may expect that each fresh year will bring them in continually larger luuiihors. Canada is thus moving in parallel steps with the United States. The com so of emigration is westward with both of them, and above and below the boundary line the same process of settlement is going on. The example has come from the United States, where the population in need of elbow-room is larger, whqra the capital available for their support is greater, and where the spirit of enterprise has over been more marked. But in Canada, too, there has been growth and extension, and there is an almost infinite potentiality of growth yet to come. The entire population of Canada is now 4,352,080. These figures are 665,484 in advance of the figures of 1871. But they may be multiplied a good many times over and there will be room yet remaining for emigrants from the Old World. The best lands of Canada have been left to the last. They are to be had as yet literally for the asking, by any body who will engage to settle down on them and to do his part in bringing them under the plough. By-and-bye, when the Pacific Railway has been completed, and when the country has begun to fill, the Canadian Qovevnment will become less liberal in its offers. The demand at present is for men, and it is bidding very highly for them. — European Mini.

A max's curiosity never reaches the female standard until some one tells him that his name was in last week's paper. Justice for stealing a ham from the front door of a grocery store, raised up his hand and called- on all the saints to witness his innocence. "Go on with the trial," said the Justice, "we can't send all the way to Palestine for witnesses." The girl that Sir Charles Gavan Duffy — formerly Chief Seoretary of Victoria— married recently, in Paris, was his niece, formerly Miss Hall, of Rock Eerry, Ireland. Sir Charles -is 65 years of age, and his young wife barely 21. The union in marriage of such relations is not tolerated or legitimate in the English Church, but among CaiKplics, there being no connection of •-'consanguinity," affinity, or spiritual relationship," as -the rubric has it, between, the contracting parties, no obstacle is ' placed id their way. „ > • • - >,