Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/384

 262 THE BRTTISFT EMPIRE: — BRITISH COLUMBIA

Lienfmant-GorcrTior. — His Honour Thomas "W. Paterson. The members of the Ministry are as follows: —

Premier and Minister of Mincft. — Hon. Sir Eichard MoBride, K.C.Sr.G., K.C.

Minister of Finance and AgricnUnre. — Hon. Price Ellison. Attorney-General. — Hon. William J. P)Owser, K.C.

Provincial Secretary and Minister of Education. — Hon. Henrv E. Yountj, M.D., LL.D.

Minister of Lands. — Hon. W. R. Ross, K.C. Minister of Public Works. — Hon. Thomas W. Taylor. President of the Council. — Hon. A. E. M cPhillips, K.C.

A gent- General in London. — Hon. J. H. Turner, Salisbury House, Finsbury Cirnns, E.C.

Area and Population. — British Cohimbia, Canada's Maritime Province on the Pacific Ocean, is the largest in the Dominion, its area, according to the census of 1911, being 355,855 square miles. It is a great irregular quadrangle about 700 miles from nortli to south, with an average width of about 400 miles, lying between latitudes 49 decrees and 60 degrees north. It is bounded on the south by the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the States of Washington, Idaho and Montana, on the west by the Pacific Ocean and Southern Alaska, on the nortli by Yukon and Mackenzie Territories, and on the east by the Province of Alberta. From the 49th degree north to the 54th degree the eastern boundary follows the axis of the Pocky Mountains, and thence north, the 120th meridian.

The last census (1911) places the population at 392,480; in 1901 the population was 175,657.

Some of the princi])al cities and towns are: Victoria (the capital), population, (1911), 31,660; Vancouver, 123,902; New Westminster, 13,199; Nauaimo, 8,168; Nelson, 4,476; Prince Rupert, 4,184.

The movement of the population for three years was as follo\\;p: —

—

Birtlis

j\Iarriages Deatlis

1

Excess of liirtlis

1909 1910

irtii

4,264 5,005

5,841

3,448! 2,784 3,280 3,221 4,500 3.660

1,480 1,784 2,181

Instruction. — A comi)lete system of free and noii -sectarian education was established by Act in 1872. The central control is vested in the Council of Public Instruction, composed of the members of the Executive Council, The Minister of Education directs the general management of the schools tb.rough the Superintendent of Education.

There are at present 23 high schools in the P)-ovince. The nundier of schools in 1911-12 was 538, under 1,179 teachers, with an enrolment of 45,125 pui»ils. The Legislabu'e has set aside two million acres of land as an endowment for a Provincial university, a site for which has been chosen in Vancouver.