The Provinces of Ontario and Quebec (formerly constituting the Colony
of Canada), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, were by “The British North
American Act, 1867,” formed into one Dominion. This Act was brought into
force by Royal Proclamation, bearing date the 27th of May, 1867. On the
15th of July, 1870, the newly-formed province of Manitoba; on the 20th of
July, 1871, the colony of British Columbia; and on the 1st of July, 1873,
that of Prince Edward Island, were successively admitted to the Dominion,
Newfoundland now alone, of all the North American Colonies, retaining its
independence.
As far as I have been able to discover, Post-office notices relating
to the issue of stamps were not published in _The Canada Gazette_ with
other official matter. The number of _The Gazette_ for March 8th,
1851, contains a long notice, stating that on April 5th following the
management of the Inland Posts would be transferred to the control of the
Provincial Government, and that the new rates of postage would then come
into force. We learn from the report of the Postmaster-General of Great
Britain for 1857 what those rates were; for we read:
“In 1851 a reduced rate of postage was established. Payment in
advance is optional.
On ordinary Letters per ½ oz., 3d.
On Letters posted and delivered in the same town each, ½d.
“Newspapers are conveyed free.
“Books are charged ½d. per oz., the weight of a single Packet
being limited to 4 lbs.”
I should add, the local rate of ½d. did not come into use until 1857.
In giving these extracts from the Postmaster-General’s Report, I have
invariably altered the rates to their proper currency value, as they are
given in the list at “about” the sterling equivalent.
The rates to England in operation on May 1st, 1856, probably earlier,
were:
Closed mail, _viâ_ U.S., by British Packet, not exceeding ½ oz. 10d.
_Viâ_ Halifax ” ½ oz. 7½d.
By U.S. Packet ” ½ oz. 1s. 5½d.
And on October 1st, 1856, by Canadian Packet ” ½ oz. 7½d.
We know from the extract from the Report of the Postmaster-General of
Canada for 1851, given further on in the Society’s list, that the first
stamps consisted of a Three Penny, Six Penny, and One Shilling, and that
these three values were issued shortly after April 1st. Taking into
consideration the notice I have mentioned, it seems probable the issue
took place on April 5th, 1851. I can give no new information about any
of the later issues, and I shall conclude my remarks on this province
by giving some postal statistics taken from _The Colonial Office List_,
1889, which prove to what a huge system the Post-office establishment of
the Dominion has grown. We find, however, the present expenditure greatly
exceeds the revenue, owing, I am told, to the desire of the Government to
extend postal facilities as widely as possible. I understand some changes
have been made by an Act passed this year, one of which abolishes the
privilege hitherto granted to Canadian newspapers of free transmission by
post to subscribers from the publishing office.
The number of letters sent in the year ending 30th June, 1887, was
74,300,000; of post cards, 16,356,000; and of newspapers (other than
those sent from the office of publication, which are all carried free),
periodicals, parcels, &c., 31,160,000. The number of newspapers sent from
the office of publication was about 60,000,000; the number of letters
per head of population was 15.24; the number of offices was 7,534; the
revenue for 1887 was $2,603,255, and the expenditure $3,458,100. There
is weekly mail communication with Great Britain _viâ_ Quebec or Halifax,
and twice a week _viâ_ New York. There is a through daily service by the
Canadian-Pacific Railway to the Pacific Coast.
The present rates of postage are as follows:
Letters. Per ½ oz. Newspapers.
Cents. Cents.
Canada and United States 3 ½ each.
Newfoundland 5 ½ each.
Europe, Egypt, the West Indies, and British Guiana 5 1 per oz.
South and West Africa, China, East Indies,
Mauritius, Straits Settlements, South America 10 2 per oz.
Australasia 15 2 per oz.
Ditto, _viâ_ Brindisi 19 3 per oz.
There is a Parcels Post to Newfoundland, the United States, and Europe.
The present Postmaster-General is the Hon. J. G. Haggart.