The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-30 00:00:00

PROSPECTS FOR EMIGRANTS TO CANADA.

The Commissioners of Emigration, in their thirteenth
report to Parliament, give the following extract from a
despatch addressed to them by A. C. Buchannan, Esq.,
the emigration agent of the Government of Canada, sta-
tioned at Quebec, on the prospects of emigrants to
Canada :—" The prospects and demands for labour are
Most satisfactory. The immense railway system under-
taken by the provinces will greatly stimulate general
Prosperity, involving, as it will, the introduction and
expenditure of a large amount of capital, which will
secure steady and profitable employment for the labour-
ing classes for several years to come ' • so that Canada
never presented a favourable opening for the reception
of all classes of her Majesty's subjects, or such others, as
desire to seek a comfortable home. The demand for
labour of every kind is on the increase. The wages paid
for unskilled labour are 4s. per day sterling." Mr.
Yawke, the emigration agent for Western Canada, speaks
in similar terms : " I have," he says, " conversed with
Many intelligent persons on the subject, and they are of
opinion that able-bodied, unskilled labourers will be able
to command a dollar a day. Agricultural labourers
Must either get equal wages, or the farmers will not be
able to retain them in their service. As these extensive
Works will not be completed for several years, and as
such a large outlay of money will stimulate every other
branch of business, I do not think it will be possible to
Overstock the labour market for many years to come; in
fact, the prospects before us are of the most cheering
description, and capitalists, merchants, mechanics, farm
servants and common labourers, may safely calculate on
finding in Canada an abundant demand for skill, capital
and labour, to a profitable, as well as to an almost un-
limited extent."
The arrangements made by the Government of Canada
for the reception and protection of emigrants on their
arrival at Quebec contrast in a remarkable manner with
the want of such arrangements at New York, and the
other ports of the United States, to which emigrants are
Conveyed from Europe. On the arrival of each emigrant
ship in the River St. Lawrence. she is boarded by the
Medical officer of the Emigrant Hospital at Grosse Isle,
situated a few miles below Quebec, and whenever disease
prevails in a ship the emigrants are landed, and remain
at the hospital, at the expense of the Colonial Govern-
Ment, until they aro cured. On the ship's arrival at
Quebec, Mr. Buchannan, the Government agent of emi-
grants, proceeds at once on board, for it is his duty to
advise and protect each emigrant on his arrival. He
inquires into all complaints, and sees that the pro-
visions of the Passenger Act are strictly enforced.
This he is enabled to do in a most effectual manner,
as, under an arrangement sanctioned by the Com.
Missioners of Emigration in Great Britain, when-
ever an emigrant vessel leaves any British port for
Quebec, the emigration officer of that port forwards to
Mr. Buchannan, by mail steamer, a duplicate list of her
Passengers, with their names, ages, sex, trade, &c. This
list is usually received by him two or three weeks before
the vessel reaches Quebec, so that he is not only fully
Prepared for her arrival, but is furnished with every
Particular which may be useful to him in protecting the
emigrants. If just cause of complaint exist he institutes,
under a very summary law of the province of Canada,
legal proceedings against the master ; but so thoroughly
are the value and efficiency of this officer felt, that
within a very short period, subsequent to his appoint-
ment, it has very rarely been found necessary to take
such proceedings. In cases where emigrants have ar-
rived without sufficient funds to take them to places
Where employment is most abundant and remunerative,
theiri fares have been paid by Mr. Buchannan' out of the
tom
in his possession for the purpose. Emigrants
"rn other than British ports experience precisely the
lajue protection at the hands of Mr. Buchanan. In 1853
about one-sixth of the emigration to Canada was Ger-
-84 and Norwegian,