OUR ISLAND STORY - 79

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value to the proprietor; (d) the gross rental actually paid by the

' tenants in the previous six years—together with other particulars

relating to each estate.

The Commissioners met for the first time on the 16th of August, 1875, and held sittings of their court from time to time until the 20th of November in the same year. They held an additional session on the 26th of July, 1876—then concluding their investigations and awards. ‘

The'amounts of the respective awards were forthwith duly

paid to the proprietors, and the respective estates were transferred

to the Public Lands Department of-the Provincial Government.

By the Commissioner of Public Lands the various farms comprising the estates were, in the course of subsequent. years, sold to the tenants. Each'of the tenants eventually became a freeholder. ,

Thus was ended an intolerable situation caused by the folly of those Imperial officials who were persuaded to give by lottery the lands of Prince EdWard Island to men who lived away from it, and whoifailed to fulfil the conditions upon which they received it, who drew away from the Island every year considerable sums of money, so retarding its prosperity, while the arrears of rent remained a menace to the unfortunate tenants liable to forfeiture

of the fruits of their labOrs in forest and field.

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