The Bill was read a first time. PROTECTION TO LIFE ON WHARVES AND DOCKS. Mr. COOK introduced a Bill to provide means of escape for persons falling into the water in the vicinity of wharves and docks. He explained that many lives were lost by persons falling from wharves where there were no means of reaching them. This Bill provided that ladders should be attached to all wharves and docks at distances of not more than twenty feet apart. The Bill was read a first time. NAVIGATION OF THE SAGUENAY. Mr. CIMON asked whether the Government are aware that there exists in the River Saguenay, at the place known as Bras de Chicoutimi, a shoal of about half a mile in length, on which, at low tide, there is not a sufficient depth of water to allow steamboats and the numerous other vessels trading on those waters to pass on their way to Chicoutimi, their port of destination; and whether, being aware of that fact, it is the intention of the Government, in the interest of commerce and navigation, to instruct their Engineers to visit the locality and report as works required to be done to enable vessels to reach Chicoutimi in all states of the tide? to the Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I am not aware of the fact stated by the hon. gentleman, but I will make inquiries respect ing it. NAVIGATION OF THE MIRAMICHI. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked whether it is the intention of the Government to expend during the coming season a sum of money in the improvement of the navigation of the south-west branch of the River Miramichi, from Newcastle to Boistown? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I am not intimately acquainted with precise location referred to by the hon. gentleman, but it is the intention of the Government to remove some obstructions in the river Miramichi above the railway bridge, so as to enable small vessels to ascend the river, and I presume the portion of the river referred to by the hon. gentleman is included in that arrangement. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-I would ask the attention of the Hon. Minister of Public Mr Cook. Works to the propriety of spending a small portion of the sum placed in the estimates. in improving the river above the place mentioned in the estimates. If the hon. gentleman will make enquiries into that matter I shall be obliged. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Certainly, that will be done. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked whether it is the intention of the Government to expend any sum in the deepening of the bar at the entrance of the Miramichi river during the coming season? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-It is the intention of the Government as soon as the new dredge now built on the Clyde comes out, to straighten the channel at this point. The hon. gentleman may be aware that it was only deferred last year because of our inability to furnish the necessary dredge power. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL—I am quite satisfied with the explanation. ALLOTMENT OF LANDS TO THE HALF-BREEDS. Mr. RYAN asked why the allotment of lands to the children of the half-breed heads of families under the provisions of the "Manitoba Act" has been stopped, and when the distribution of said lands will be made. set Hon. Mr. LAIRD-The hon. member for Marquette is aware that a year or two ago a certain quantity of land was set aside for the children of Half-breeds. When the Department undertook to proceed with the drawing of these lands it was found that there were a number of claims to a considerable portion of the lands so aside. These claims were of two kinds. One class was what were called "staked" claims; the parties havingstaked off the land or ploughed around it after the negotiations for the transfer of the territory had commenced, thought they had thus acquired a sort of title to it. The other class, who had, perhaps, a somewhat better show of right, were those who had made surveys before the before the opening of negotiations for the transfer of the territory, but who had not become settlers thus surveyed. The Department could or made any improvement on the land not proceed with the allotment of lands to the children of the Half-breeds until these claims were disposed of. They were 2 referred to the Minister of Justice. The Department received the report on one class of these claims some time ago and recently the report on the other class, and now is prepared to proceed to the allotment. Mr. RYAN asked when the distribution of land or scrip will be made to the Halfbreed heads of families, under the provisions of the Act of last session, entitled "An Act respecting the appropriation of certain Dominion Lands in Manitoba." Hon. Mr. LAIRD-In order to obtain some kind of proof as to whether parties applying were really Half-breeds it was necessary to have a Commissioner to receive evidence respecting the applications. It was thought advisable that the claims of the Half-breed heads of families and those of the children of the Half-breeds should be considered at the same time by the Commissioner, and this had caused the delay in the case of the parties referred to in the last question of the hon. member for Marquette. CLAIMS TO UNPATENTED LANDS IN MANITOBA Mr. RYAN asked whether it is the intention of the Government to repeal or amend the "Act respecting claims to lands in Manitoba for which no Patents have issued," or to provide another method than the one therein provided for the trial of claims for Patents under the Manitoba Act. Hon. Mr. LAIRD-It is the intention of the Government to amend that Act in order to provide a less expensive machinery for the trial of claims for patents than the one now in operation. LIMITS OF INSPECTION DISTRICTS. Mr. HORTON asked whether the Government have determined the Territorial Limits of the Inspection Districts under Chapter 47, 36 Victoria; and if so, what are the limits of the Inspection Districts for the Province of Ontario ? Hon. Mr. GEOFFRION—The divisions have not been made, but they will be made within a very short time. POST OFFICE MONEY ORDERS. Mr. LANDERKIN asked whether it is the intention of the Government to reduce the percentage now charged on Post Office Money Orders. Hon. r. Laird. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD-It is not the intention of the Government to make any change at present. STAMPS ON PROMISSORY NOTES. Mr. LANDERKIN asked whether it is the intention of the Government to abolish Bill Stamps now used on Promissory Notes. Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT—It is not at present the intention of the Government to abolish that tax, but the Government may possibly consider the expediency of repealing that portion of it which affects very small notes. LIGHTHOUSE ON ISLE OF HAUTE. Mr. GOUDGE asked whether the Government intend during the present year erecting a light house upon the Isle of Haute in the Bay of Fundy. Hon. Mr. SMITH-The subject is under the consideration of the Department, and my present impression is that a light house will be erected on that isle in the course of the year. PREPAYMENT OF MAIL MATTER. the Government intend during this Session Mr. BURPEE (Sunbury) asked whether to introduce a measure compelling the prepayment of all matter carried by mail in this Dominion. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD-It is the intention of the Government to do so as far as the Dominion is concerned, but of course the measure could not apply to mail matter from abroad. BALLAST WHARF AT ST. JOHN. Mr. DOMVILLE asked what progress has been made towards opening for traffic the Branch Railway of the Intercolonial to the Ballast Wharf, St. John, N. B. ; also, whether any, and what arrangements, have been made to acquire the Ballast Wharf from the Corporation. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-No progress whatever has been made. The offer made by the city was such that the Government could not accept. INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER SYSTEM. Mr. SCRIVER asked whether the Government have made or intend to make any effort to effect an arrangement with the American Government for the estab lishment of an International Money Order System. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD-Arrangements have already been arrived at by the Government of the United States by which the evil complained of will be done away with. CENSUS VOLUMES. Mr. ROSS (Middlesex) asked when the remaining volumes of the census of 1871 are to be brought down. IMPORTATION OF LAND PLASTER. Mr. GORDON moved for copies of Returns to the Customs Department :1st, For the entire quantity of land plaster imported into the Dominion of Canada from the United States since the 1st of April 1874; 2nd, For the respective quantities of said plaster imported from the United States as received at the several lake and river ports of the Dominion; 3rd, For the entire sum collected as revenue from the said article of land plaster between the 1st day of April and the 1st day of December 1874. He said the subject which he desired to bring before the House to the motion for the returns, was one of Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I believe they are all now in the printer's hands, and they will be brought down as soon as printed. RECOVERY OF LOST GOODS ON INTERCO- considerable importance to a large section LONIAL RAILWAY. Mr. FISET asked whether it is the intention of the Government to provide, by special legislation, regarding the Intercolonial Railway, means for the recovery of lost goods or effects. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE—It is not the intention of the Government to ask for any special legislation on this subject. I presume what the hon. gentleman wants to know is whether special means will be afforded to persons to institute actions against the Government for indemnity for loss sustained on the Government railways. The Government can only say that they will be always prepared to fulfil any obligations that may fairly devolve upon a railway company, but they did not intend to propose any legislation to give peculiar facilities for obtaining redress. NAVIGATION OF THE FRASER RIVER. Mr. THOMPSON (Cariboo) asked whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed this year with any work for the purpose of rendering navigable any portion of the Fraser River between Lillovet and Soda Creek; and if so, of what nature. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I made inquiries respecting this part of the river with the intention, if I found it was likely to be of any material use in the prosecution of the Pacific Railway, of placing a sum in the estimates for the purpose of making some improvements. The Chief Engineer reports that it can be of no service, so far as he is aware, and therefore in the meantime the matter will stand in abeyance. Mr. Scriver. of the agricultural community of Canada. The matter complained of arose through a mistake. The article of ground gypsum, or land plaster, was largely used for manure by the farmers of Western Ontario. The farmers of Central Ontario received extensive imports of the article from the United States, while those residing in the Western section derive their supplies from the beds on Grand River. Up to last year no duty was levied on this article; but since then at Toronto, Whitby and Oshawa duties were collected at the rate of 171⁄2 per cent. or 20 cents per barrel, while at Bowmanville no duties were collected. During last session he put the question direct to the Finance Minister-whether it was the intention of the Government to impose a duty on that article; and he replied that it was not. Notwithstanding this declaration, a duty had been collected at the ports he had named. He therefore brought forward this motion to have the matter remedied, and in doing so he had received the assurance of the Government that the duty was collected by mistake, and that it was not their intention to impose any further duties. Motions had been brought before the House for special committees to deal with the grievances of the farmers. He believed when such committees were moved for, no practical object could be gained by their being granted, because the House could not remedy the grievances, for they asked for protection to the farmers; but in the article of manure it was the desire of the Government to offer the utmost facilities for the importation of articles used in the improvement of land. With respect to the latter clause, seeing that unfairness had been shown to several Hon. MALCOLM CAMERON said that the difficulty had no doubt arisen from the fact that plaster was used for agricultural purposes and also as stucco. Hon. Mr. BURPEE said the difficulty was being removed. It was never intended that plaster for stucco work, worth four or five dollars per barrel, should be admitted free of duty; but the inferior quality, which was worth only ninety cents or one dollar per barrel and was used for manure, would be admitted free. The necessary instructions would be given to the Custom's officials. ing any difficulty found to exist in the West in discriminating between the two kinds of plaster. The motion was adopted. BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN BRITISH COLUM- if he soon surveyed. was -to Mr. ROSCOE moved an Address to HIS ExCELLENCY the GOVERNOR GENERAL praying him to call the attention of HER MAJESTY'S Government to the necessity British Columbia and Alaska as of having the boundary line between as possible defined and Mr. RoscoE said move the resolution, of which he had given notice merely, with the remark that the commercial and other interests of British Columbia required the boundary line between that Province and Alaska to be defined and settled as soon as possible. He did not suppose there would be any opposition to the motion, but he thought he might fairly assume that the House would wish, if not expect, to be informed, firstly, as to the nature of any questions which may arise, or have arisen, concerning that boundary line; and secondly, as to what had occurred which in his opinion rendered an immediate settlement of that question necessary; and he would, therefore, give the information he considered be referred to, it will be seen that the necessary. If the map of North America Territory of Alaska consists chiefly of that part of the continent lying to the west of the 141st degree of west longitude, and also of a narrow strip of the coast extending from the 60th to the 56th degree of north latitude. As the 60th Mr. GOUDGE called attention to the degree is the boundary line between fact that the United States impose a duty British Columbia and the North-West on ground plaster imported from Canada; Territory, the only part of the boundary they admitted crude plaster free of duty, line of Alaska to which his motion had but not ground plaster. The article was reference is the boundary line of this narone which entered into the proposed row strip. This was settled by the treaty Reciprocity Treaty. While he would be between Great Britain and Russia of very sorry to interfere in any way which 1825; previous to that date there had been would militate against the interests of the endless disputes between the various fur farmers, yet he saw a practical difficulty companies which represented the interests in deciding between the qualities suited of their respective countries in this part for stucco purposes and that for ground of the world, and when a settlement was plaster. What they did in the United made in 1825 it was found that while the States, and what he thought the consumers Russian American Fur Company had should do in North Ontario was to obtain made various settlements along the coast, the plaster in its crude state and manu- the British companies had acquired the facture it for themselves, thus building up whole interior of the country. A settlea new industry in their midst, and obyiat-ment of the boundary line was therefore Mr Gordon. made on the understanding that Russia should keep a narrow strip of the coast, the boundary of which was defined to be the range of mountains running parallel to the coast, but it is further stipulated that wherever this range of mountains is at a greater distance than ten leagues from the coast then the boundary line shall run at this distance. In 1867 this territory was sold by Russia to the United States, but of course in any question concerning the boundary line we have to go back to the original treaty of 1825: It is doubtful, however, whether this question would have arisen but for the discovery of gold in this part of the Dominion. As long ago as 1862 gold was found in the Stikeen River, and since that time there have been prospecting parties in search of diggings in this region, and two years ago these were discovered at a place called Deas Lake, situated about 80 miles east of the head of navigation on Stikeen River. Last year upwards of 2,000 miners were engaged in these diggings, which were found to be both rich and extensive, and in future we may look forward to a large immigration to this region. The only practicable way of getting to these new diggings was by ascending the Stikeen River of which we have free navigation, and in regard to this I would remark on what appears to me a somewhat remarkable fact. By the treaty of 1825 we had given to us forever the free navigation of all rivers which may cross the line of demarcation referred to, yet in the treaty between the United States and Russia no reference whatever is made to this clause, and I fail to understand how Russia could have sold this territory to the United States unless subject to any rights acquired by any third parties, and, if this was so, he also did not understand why it was thought necessary in the treaty of Washington to concede the navigation of the rivers Stikeen, Porcupine and Yuckon in the British Territory in return for the free navigation of these rivers while flowing through the United States Territory, if we possessed this right before. As soon as the trade up the Stikeen began to assume some proportions the officer commanding at Fort Wrangel,-in whom it appears is invested the Government of the territory,-measured a distance of 10 leagues from the coast, and placing a post Mr. Roscoe. there, delared this to be the boundary between British Columbia and Alaska. In consequence of the windings of the river it seems that this point is between 60 and 70 miles up the river. Now, if the statements of the traders and others going up the Stikeen are correct, it appears that the range of mountains which really defines the boundary line crosses the Stikeen at a point only 15 miles from the coast. He would point out how important the possession of the river between these points would be, especially to his constituents, the merchants of Victoria. It appears that above the present boundary line the Stikeen is so shallow that no steamer which could go there could also go out to sea. Goods, therefore, have to be sent from Victoria to Fort Wrangel, and transferred there to the river steamer, and it has been found that this has been accompanied with much annoyance, risk and expense; and after the goods are placed on the steamer, a Custom House officer is placed on board, who accompanies the steamer as long as she is in American waters, or what the officer commanding at Alaska is pleased to consider American waters, the expense being borne by the steamer. There was also another grievance which he was sure the hon. member for Vancouver will appreciate. As soon as he comes on board, this officer locks up the bar, puts the key in his pocket, and during the voyage the unfortunate diggers cannot get a drink. Now, if the boundary line were placed where we conceive it ought to be, a steamer would probably be able to run from Victoria to a point on the river above the boundary line, or at all events a steamer which could run there would also be able to run out to sea to Fort Simpson, and goods could therefore be transferred on British Territory. great annoyance and expense of transferring goods on the United States Territory would thus be obviated. There were other reasons why this boundary should be fixed as soon as possible. It was said that important discoveries of silver and gold bearing quartz mines have been made in the disputed territory, and until it is settled in which country these mines are, these sources of wealth will probably remain undeveloped. There may also arise some unpleasant complications in consequence of persons settling in what they consider British Territory, and resisting The |