Newfoundland: At a meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute held on Tuesday evening at the Westminster Palace Hotel — the Marquis of Lorne in the chair — a paper entitled “Newfoundland, our Oldest Colony,” was read by the Hon. Mr. Justice Pinsent. The paper, which was of considerable length, gave elaborate historical details of the discovery and colonisation of Newfoundland, which rejoiced in the appellation of being the “most ancient and loyal colony” of the British Crown. The lecturer said that he was at a loss to account for the fact that it was so little known or appreciated by the mother country. Its fisheries were very ancient and were still most productive. In 1881 the seal fishery resulted in the capture of 447,903 seals of the estimated value of $957,760 and the total annual value of the various fisheries now amounted to upwards of £1,600,000. For many years in the history of the colony immigration had been discouraged and it was therefore not surprising that the agricultural produce of the country was not great, while the native minerals were utterly neglected. Without advising any great scheme for immigration, he contended that there were excellent opportunities for settlers with small capital; and in conclusion he maintained that while England held her possessions in North America, she could not dispense with Newfoundland, the outpost of America, the key to the St. Lawrence, and the headquarters of ocean telegraphy. In proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, the Marquis of Lorne said he had visited the colony and had taken great interest in it. Knowing the value of its fisheries, especially the seal fishery, he could well understand why some enterprising countrymen of his had left the neighbourhood of the Dee for the shores of Newfoundland, and if the present agricultural depression continued, he (the noble marquis) would feel inclined to follow their example. There could be no doubt that the shortening of the route between Europe and America by means of a railway across the island would be esteemed a great boon by many travellers and would be of advantage to the colony. The resources of Newfoundland were capable of great development, and the colony possessed considerable attractions for tourists, especially the western shore, still unfortunately known as the French shore. It was intolerable that any foreign nation should be allowed to claim any rights over the land of an English colony, excepting the privilege of using the shore for mending their nets, and sooner or later the claims that had been set up through misinterpretation must be put an end to. — A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.
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Referenced
GRO0747 Hennock: Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893