ascertain in what manner the entrance to the harbor and the harbor itself could be most effectually secured from injury by the execution of harbor works.

improving Toronto harbor had been brought to the attention of the late Government, but without any result. He trusted that the present Government would take some effective steps to improve the harbor, though they would not be expected to do all that was wanted at once. While he admitted that the local authorities should contribute and would contribute their fair share, yet it was clearly the duty of Government to assist, more especially as the harbor was a valuable place of refuge for vessels in distress.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-The first thing to be done is to ascertain in an experimental way what plan was best to be adopted.

Mr. MOSS-I quite agree to that.

notwithstanding the fact that it was a harbor of refuge in which vessels sought shelter during storms. It was, therefore, desirable that the harbor should be improved by the carrying out of the neces- Mr. MOSS said the observations of the sary works. Toronto, he thought, had hon. gentleman from East Toronto were not obtained justice and fair play in the well worthy of the consideration of the expenditure of public money. House. Long before the present GovernHon. Mr. MACKENZIE said hement came into power, the importance of had been reminded by an hon. member that the representative of East Toronto had been talking platitudes. The appropriation of $20,000 for Toronto harbor was intended for experimental purposes in order to ascertain in what way the east passage could be kept open. The engineer had shown that it would be a most expensive and difficult operation, costing from $300,000 to $400,000. He was not willing to enter upon an expenditure of that extensive character until the Government had at least ascertained how the work could be carried on, and in what manner such a burden could be sustained by the port. Some of the harbors yielded a revenue, one of which was Cow Bay, for which the Government was about to ask a vote of $25,000. They were paying under the contract for returns and for dredging of the harbor $75,000, but it yielded an annual revenue of nearly $4,000. The harbor of Toronto paid no revenue except to the harbor commissioners. If the hon. member would peruse the return which was brought down a few days ago he would observe the amount of money which had been expended in the first place by the local authorities on harbor works. It showed that the important port of Hamilton had expended from local sources $200,000 in improving their bay, and they expected the large ports like Quebec, Montreal, Toronto and Hamilton to do much towards maintaining their own commercial position by imposing charges on shipping frequenting these ports. In the sense of being a general harbor of refuge, while Toronto harbor was undoubtedly a good one, it could not be compared with Southampton on Lake Huron, and some other harbors where vessels sought refuge during storms. The improvements on Toronto harbor must be met partly, no doubt, with the assistance of the Government, and ultimately, to a great extent, in connection with local taxation on shipping calling at the port. At the same time the Government propose to Mr. White.

Mr. WOOD said he was glad to hear the Minister of Public Works state that a large amount of this expenditure must be met from local sources. If the people of Toronto had taken prompt means to preserve their harbor in the first instance a large expenditure would not now be necessary. They had neglected, although they collect harbor dues from the shipping, and now it would take a large amount to make the harbor efficient. If the people of Toronto wished an outlet at the eastern end of their harbor they should pay for it themselves, for that was a local work.

Mr. WILKES objected to improvements in Toronto harbor being regarded as a local work. With regard to the remarks of the Premier that it could not be regarded as a harbor of refuge in the same sense as some harbors on Lakes Erie and Huron, he held that if it was inferior in that respect it was only because of there being no opening at the east end-it was in fact a sort of cul de sac. If the east end was open it would make the harbor a good harbor of refuge, and he therefore maintained that this would largely benefit the whole trade of the Lakes. He believed the statement was correct that if a judicious expenditure had been made on the harborseveral years ago a great deal of money would have

On item 15, Grand Anse, Baie des Chaleurs, (Loca authorities contributing an equal sum), $3,000; Campo Bello (Local authorities to furnish $1,000,) $600; Shippegan, $11,000,

Hon. Mr. BOBITAILLE said he had no doubt that these improvements were required, but he would like to know the principle that was followed in making these appropriations, and also the purpose for which the money was to be spent in those places.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the work at Shippegan was a pier or breakwater about 1,800 feet long at the entrance of the harbor. At Grand Anse the appropriation was for a breakwater to protect fishing vessels.

Hon. Mr. ROBITAILLE said he hoped the same protection would be provided on the North side of the Bay Chaleurs

where much more fishing was carried on, were properly expressed in the Supply Bill. than on the South side.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL confirmed the statement of the honorable the SPEAKER Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he had as to the necessity and importance of already called the attention of the Govmaking improvements in Shippegan Gully.ernment to the necessity there was for a Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD called attention to the necessity of making these items more explicit in the estimates, as they really, as they now stood, afforded no information whatever with regard to the character of the work.

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Company in relation to this matter, and as very satisfactory arrangements had been made for that one service, he had no doubt this could also be arranged. He realized the importance of the work.

On item 28, to aid Indian schools where most required, $2,000,

the Government from sale or settlement
to supply the land for railway purposes,
to their great detriment and disadvantage.
It was not the half-breeds alone who were
dissatisfied at the delay in dividing these
lands. It was a serious matter in a Pro-
vince so small, to lock up so much of its
land in this way, useless at present to the
owners of it, and a nuisance to those, who
coming to the country to settle, were com-
pelled to go beyond it to settle. Had the
people received it before, they would have
improved it, or sold it to those who would
have done so. They had not even power
to protect it, and the consequence was
that its wood was being robbed and its
value yearly deteriorated.
There was
again the grievance of the hay question.
The Manitoba Act had guaranteed all ex-
isting rights and when this claim was pre-

pooh-poohed by the Government, but when they appointed commissioners to investigate it, it was found after evidence being taken in two parishes, that it was expedient to grant the whole claim in fee simple. That was fair and equitable, but the injustice lay in this, as in the other cases, he had mentioned, in the great delay which had been caused by the action of the Department in this matter. The principle once conceded the grant should have been made at once and prevented the general and just dissatisfaction which prevailed. The last grievance of which he would speak in this connection, was that of the delay in the issue of the patents for lands in the settlement belt. The hon., the Minister of the Interior stated in the report which he had recently submitted to the House that "the legal and equitable

Mr. SCHULTZ said that he desired to bring up a matter connected with the extinguishment of the Indian title in Manitoba. For that purpose the Manitoba Act of 1870 granted to the half-breed pop ulation one million four hundred thousand acres of land, not one acre of which, he was sorry to say, had been received by them. It would be remembered that every year for the past four years he had brought the matter up in the House. For five years the intended recipients had waited, first with patience, lastly with impatience. Now their patience was ex-ferred by the people, it had first been hausted, and he must take this chance, which seemed likely to be the last afforded to him, to protest against any further delay. He regretted to see that the whole matter was dismissed in the report of the hon. Minister of the Interior in seven lines under the heading of disputed claims. He denied that these disputed claims affected more than two or three parishes and that that fact should not interfere with the distribution in other parishes. There was also a grievance in the matter of the land to which the heads of half-breed families were entitled. An Act passed subsequent to the Manitoba Act ensured to the heads of half-breed families the issue of scrip for one hundred and sixty acres of land each. There was no reason why this issue of scrip should have been delayed as it has. Five or six months would have been bearing of certain reputed claims to ample for the necessary printing and dis- "lands in Manitoba had been under caretributing of this scrip, but as yet, not one "ful consideration. That some of them person had received it. He begged briefly" had been disposed of and it is hoped that to point out the injustice occasioned by this. Had the heads of families received this scrip in a reasonable time, they might have taken up land for their use which is now locked up in the hands of speculators. In the county he had the honor to represent a special injustice was occasioned by this delay. Had the scrip been issued within a reasonable time after the passage of this Act, land might have been located with it in the vicinity of their existing holdings on the river, but the land so desirable to them was now withdrawn by Hon. Mr. Smith.

an adjustment of the remainder of all "such questions will be effected at an "early day." He thought that too long a time had been taken for these decisions and if decisions had been arrived at there was now no use for further delay. He could not understand why it was that a certain favored few, could get patents for lands in the settlement while the holders of undisputed titles generally had received no patents. The discrimination was most unfair. Again he must protest against the patent for the land around Fort Garry

Mr. COSTIGAN called the attention of the Minister of the Interior to the fact that a change should be made in the appointment of Commissioners for the Indians of New Brunswick. The Commissioner of the Tobique Reserve resided at Fredericton, 90 miles distant from that reserve and 150 miles from the other reserve with which he was connected. This was not only a great inconvenience, but as the Commissioner was allowed travelling expenses, it was a heavy drain on the limited funds of the Indians. He suggested that instead of continuing this commisioner at Fredericton, at a salary of four or five hundred dollars and travelling expenses, some one living on the reserve should receive the appointment. A competent man could be secured for about $150 a year. He did not hold the Government responsible for this state of affairs, but blamed them for allowing it to continue after their attention had been called to the subject.

made in such an extraordinary manner expired, and the actual settler had had his over two years ago. This patent was choice, could the speculator purchase, and granted in contravention of a regulation in too many cases lock up the land which which required the posting of all lands the good of the country demanded should for which a patent was asked at the office be used. of the County Court Clerk for a certain term. These conditions had not been complied with. He had stated before and he stated now that this land was worth over two millions of dollars and though the present Government was not accountable for the issue of the patent, yet they should examine into the matter while yet it was possible to rescind the patent. Having get to the end of these special and deeply felt grievances he begged to be allowed to say a few words in regard to the new Canadian settlements of the Province, and thought that the Government should assist such settlements in making roads and bridge at least on main and connecting lines. He was aware that in the other Provinces this aid came from the Local Governments, but Manitoba alone af all the Provinces did not own her public lands, and settlers had a right to expect assistance from that source which derived a revenue from their sale and their settlement. If the Province owned the land, to that source they would naturally apply for relief, but as the Dominion retained the lands, he felt that the people had a legitimate claim in that direction, and trusted the matter would receive the attention of the Government, especially as they had forced settlement in places remote because of the large blocks of land reserved. The last matter of which he wished to speak was that embodied in a notice of motion which he now saw would be crowded out by the early prorogation. This was an amendment to the Dominion Lands Act, which would prevent the present locking up of lands in the hands of speculators. It was a fact, he was sorry to say, that in the whole Province of Manitoba to-day there was scarcely an eligible homestead left for occupation by the actual settler. Every desirable quartersection had been either bought up or located. The clause that limited purchase to 640 acres was so easily evaded as to be practically useless. The American system of preventing this was a good one. In the United States the law provided that for a term of years after their survey the public lands should be open only for homestead settlement, and only after that term had Mr. Schultz.

Hon. Mr. LAIRD said the Government had made no change in this direction, but allowed matters to remain as they found them when they came into power. Besides the cost of these Commissioners, the Indians were paying four Missionaries to attend to their spiritual wants. Three of the latter received $100 a year, and the other $200. This was a legacy left by the late Government. He was fully persuaded that there was quite enough paid for Indian agents in New Brunswick without increasing their number. When this matter was under discussion on a former occasion, he had taken occasion to say that the Indians of New Brunswick were less numerous than those of Nova Scotia, and that the revenues arising from their reserves was invested for their exclusive benefit. He found after investigating the subject that this was quite correct. There were 300 more Indians in Nova Scotia than in New Brunswick, yet they received exactly the same Parliamentary grant. And besides the Nova Scotia Indians had no fund of their own, while the New Brunswick Indians had a fund of their own invested for their benefit. With respect to the