NEW BRUNSWICK.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 204, 16 August 1860, Page 4

NEW BRUNSWICK.

[From the Scotsman’s own Correspondent.] St John. AprW 17. 1860.

The Legislature of this colony commenced the session of 1860 on the 9th February last, and was duly prorogued on the 9th inst., thus occupying two months in despatching the business of the country. The Governor, the Hon. MriTidanners Sutton, stated in his opening speech that H.M.’s Government had recently placed .at his disposal for the use of the militia of this province 3000 stand of Enfield rifles, and that he had accepted offers from, several companies of militia, comprising 1092 men, had been enrolled for voluntary drill and exercise,/and that fifteen other companies were then in “course of enrolment. If necessary, this province could muster at least 10,000 as good and loyal volunteers as could be found inany part/of her Majesty’s dominions. The proposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to equalise the duty payable in England on foreign and colonial timber has caused great. alarm among the merchants of this province, whose principal market for th.eir ' timber and deals has been in the United bung- . dora. 3d any persons here argue that the colonies'iiave good ground of complaint, inasmucli'aswiey /have’ no voice whatever id the legislation T)f' the nation, or in, the'making of treaties with foreign countries, which very frequently affect their trade to.a seriotis extent. As far as the North American colonies ai,e ’ concerned, it is more than probable that before 1 long they will be united in a federal or legislative union, with power to regulate their own trade and commerce,, and to make such trea* ’ ties and arrangements, with foreign countries

as may best suit their interests, which are now growing too extensive and important to be overlooked by Great Britain in her treaties with foreign powers. With all these difficulties, it'must still bo admitted that there is scarcely a country in the world in such an enviable position as these colonies; they are thoroughly protected from external aggression without a farthing of cost for such protection ; the most perfect liberty, civil and religious, exists in every one of them; the taxes are very light, and each colony has the most complete control over the revenue raised in it, which is all expended in the colony ; every public office in each colony (except the Governor’s) is open to the most humble aspirant, if his abilities are deserving of distinction ; and the climate is one of the most healthy in the world, as the health statistics of the British troops fully corroborate. In New Brunswick; the revenue'last year was <£193,000 currency, or about £161,000 sterling, and estimating the population at 240,000 souls, this would be less than 15s. sterling per head. This revenue is all expended in the colony by the local Government on public works, including roads, for schools, and for the expenses of the Government and Legisla ture. Our provincial debt does not much exceed £1,000,000 sterling, for which we have a first-class railroad 110 miles iii length nearly finished, and which is expected to be opened next August, when it is hoped his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will officiate at the ceremony. The inducements to agricultural emigrants about to leave their native country to settle in New Brunswick are very great* with all these advantages before alluded to. Wild land of excellent quality can be purchased direct from the Government at a merely nominal price, with easy terms of payment; and if peisdtis can bring means with them, cleared farms can be purchased at very reasonable prices. There is a Central Agricultural Board, composed of delegates from the different agricultural societies in the respective counties in the province, and to this Board the Government entrusts all matters connected with agriculture. Zast session £2OOO was granted by the Legislature for the purpose of sending to land and the United States for improved breedof horses, cattle, sheep and swine. Nearly all the leading people in the province, including the Governor, take a great interest in agriculture, and all kinds of produce realise fair prices when brought to market; and the farmers and yeomanry of the country are a most comfortable ami independent class of people. There is no income-tax here. As regards religion, there is no want of churches throughout the country; the most numerous i-eing Church of England, .Methodist, and Roman Catholic. Presbyterians are well represented, however. There is no connection be tween Church and State, all ibe different churches supporting their own ministers. Since I last wrote you, a number of companies have-applied to the Legislature and obtained charters for mining coal or schist and manufacturing oil therefrom. In Albert county in this province there is a great abundance of the material, from which is made oil of a most excellent quality. One company has already commenced operations, and has manufactured about 15,000 gallons of crude oil The schist yields about 65 gallons to the ton. The refiners of oil in Boston, U.S., state that the oil is of superior quality, and the'Company has already made a c mtract, to supply a quantity at a quarter dollar, or about Is sterling per gallon. This is much lower tlian was expected, but the prospect of obtaining an unlimited supply of coal oil from the newly-dis-covered wells in Penns} Jvania and Ohio will tend to keep down- the price until the fall of the year, when the business commences. The demand for burning oils throughout the United states and Canada is increasing to an enormous extent.

Our Legislature has also passed a bill to provide for a decimal currency in this province, to conie into operation on the Ist November next. A similar measure had previously come into force in Canada. Dollars, parts of dollars, and cents will be the circulating medium in this colony, similar to the currency of the United States. The Government, in. the meantime, will obtain a supply of suitable coin front England before the Aci goes into, operation.

The past winter has been unusually mild, and up to the end cxf March the weather was warm and pleasant- Since the beginning of this month it hh.s ! 'been much colder than usual. The river is uo,w open, and the steamers are about commencing to run.