78 OUR ISLAND STORY

Proceedings were forthwith entered upon towards the pure chase by the Provincial Government of all the proprietory estates in the Province. On the 15th of July, 1875, the Dominion Gov- ernment appointed the Right Honorable Hugh Culling Eardley Childers to be a Commissioner to arbitrate between the Province and the Proprietors. For the Province, Dr. John T. Jenkins had previously been appointed by the Provincial Government. ‘ Mr. I. S. Carvell, Mr. R. G. Haliburton, and others, were sub- sequently nominated as Commissioners on behalf of the propriet—

ors respectively. The Commissioners met and sat, for the first time, on the

16th of August 1875. Each of the proprietors had previously received notice that the Government of the Province intended to purchase the estates under the provisions of the Land Purchase Act, 1875; and each notice set forth the date on which the Com- missioners would hear evidence respecting the value of each es- tate and obtain a correct description of it. The Commissioners sat from day to day and inquired into the points. at issue respect-

ing twenty-five estates. They were assisted in their enquiry by-

the Attorney General, Hon. Frederick De St. Croix Brecken, the Solicitor General, Hon. William W. Sullivan, and by Mr. (afterwards Sir Louis H.) Davies, on behalf of the, tenantry, and by various other barristers on behalf of the proprietors. On the

5rd of September the Commissioners adjourned their court. The

Right Hon. Mr. Childers resigned the chairmanship of the Com- mission and returned to England. The Hon. L. C. ‘Wilmot, of New Brunswick was then appointed by the Dominion Govern- ment to the position so left vacant; and the enquiry of the Com— mission proceeded from day to day until the conditions affecting all the unsold estates had been investigated and considered.

In estimating the amount of the compensation to be paid .to each proprietor, the Commissioners were required to take. into consideration: (a) the prices at which other proprietors in this Island had sold their lands to the Government; (b) the number of acres under lease in the estate valued, the length of the leases, the rents reserved, and the years over which they extended; (c) the number of acres Of unleased lands, their quality and their