23. On the 1st July, 1867, from the inauguration of the Dominion, the Ordnance Lands, previously under the direction of the Crown Lands Department of the Province, were transferred to the Department of the Secretary of State for the Dominion. The transfer then made under the authority of the Governor in Council was subsequently confirmed by the Act 31 Vic. cap 42. The impulse given by this change was at once seen in the immediate and increased activity imparted to this branch. The amount of business disposed of in relation to Ottawa the line of the Rideau navigation and the Seigniory of Sorel, has been already adverted to, but the same influence was exercised as practically and to the same good end, from Penetanguishene to Amhertsburgh, on the Niagara frontier, at Fort Erie, Toronto, Kingston, Prescott, down to Chambly, Laprairie, and Three Rivers in the Province of Quebec. The influence of the new state of things was further shown in the increased value of property generally throughout the Provinces and specially at the Capital. To meet an increasing demand, sales of building lots was ordered in Ottawa and elsewhere. The result is best shown by the returns.

24. Between 1st July, 1867 and the 31st December of the same year, sales were mad o to the extent of $11825.18, and the receipts arising from instalments paid upon the last mentioned and previous sales, and from rents, amounted for the six months to $25,971.40. From the 1st January to the 31st December, 1868, sales were made, chiefly of building lots, to the extent of $38,460.25, and the receipts for the same period, comprising instalments on sales as above, and the proceeds of rents for the year amounted to $38,307.27. Within the first months of the present year, 1869, sales have been made by public auction at Kinston, Toronto, Hamilton, Fort Erie, Amherstburgh, London and Penetanguishene which have realized $31,367.18, the actually netted proceeds of which amount to $5,204.28; and further sales of building lots, wharf lots and country lots in the vicinity of Ottawa produced on the 16th March last $30,670.53, on which the paid up instalments produced a sum of $2,559.55.

The whole sales for the three months amount to $62,037.71, and the actual receipts to $14,860.19, but the sum to be credited to the fiscal year beginning 1st July 1868, amount at the present date to $34,493.38, and justifies the expectation that by the 30th of June next, the last day of the said fiscal year it will equal a sum of $50,000.

25. The total results of sales made since the incoming of the Government of the Dominion, 1st July, 1867, amounts to $112,323.14.

The total amount of receipts for the same period, and up to the present date is $79,139.57.

26. This last amount of receipts must be understood to include capital as well as rents and interest, equivalent to rent.

The actual annual income derived from rents, or from interest equivalent to rent, for the year to end 30th June 1869, based upon the return for the preceding year, and on actual receipts since, may be estimated as follows:

27. The Ordnance Lands at the places hereinafter mentioned, which were considered to be saleable, without prejudice to the public service have been sold. and the proceeds realized or are in process of collection.

At Penetanguishene, except Juvenile Penitentiary and land surrounding.
At Amherstburgh, except Fort Malden and fifty acres of land around it.
At London, except the Barracks and the land surrounding.
At Toronto, except Victoria Square.
At Kingston, except a large part of Herchmer Farm under lease.
At Fort Erie, except the ruins of Fort Eric and land immediately surrounding.
At Pelham Farm, all.
At Burlington Heights, Hamilton, except Lot letter A.
At Prescott, except Fort Wellington and land surrounding.