OUR ISLAND STORY * 127

26th of August in that yearhe began the publication of The Royal Gazette. The Royal Gazette was at that time a newspaper as

well as the record of official events. It superseded The Register and was published continuously by Mr. Haszard until the 22nd of July, 1851. After that date Mr. Haszard’s paper’was entitled “The Gazette,” first issued on the 25th of July, 1851, and “Haszard’s Gazette” on the 2nd of September 1851.

For twenty-five years Mr. Haszard published in succession “The P. E. Island Almanac,” and in every public and private en- terprise that was for the information and benefit. of the community he was, invariably, a prominent participant, ready and willing to promote practically and generously the establishment of schools and churches, the erection of a steam-mill or the construction of -a “steam-boat.” It was he who established the first cloth dress- ing mill in this Island, and he introduced many improvements in farming implements. In conjunction 'with his son, Mr. George T. Haszard he imported and set up the first power printing press op- erated in the Island. .His book and stationery store was for many years the best in the Island. In the course of the famine of 1857, he ministered to the necessities of many destitute families,———giving them food to eat and seed to plant. For years he acted in Char- lottetown as police magistrate, and he rarely exacted a fee. .

' Naturallyhe gained many friends in the course of his long career. When, after the change of Administration consequent

upon the concession of Responsible Government, he was deprived

of the office of Queen’s Printer, a large number of the people pro- tested against the actand petitioned the Governement requesting that hebe given a pension. One man wrote “I wish that I could sign this petition with both hands.” Mr. Haszard had taken so active and prominent a part on the side of the Conservatives that the Government Party were, however, unwilling to do. anything in his behalf. But public opinion was so, strongly in his faVor that means were employed to obtain for him the office of Secretary- Treasurer of the Royal Agricultural Society. This position he continued to hold, with ability and satisfaction to the Society and the farmers of the country, until the infirmities of page constrained him. to resign. ’ i

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