by force any attempt made to remove them. Since he had put this motion on the paper he noticed in the estimates a sum of $100,000 for this survey, but from what he had stated it would be seen that this was not merely a question of theodolites, but that an important question as to the interpretation of the treaty had to be settled first. The hon. member concluded by moving adoption of motion. Mr. DECOSMOS rose to concur in the remarks of his hon. colleague who had explained the difficulties interposed by the Americau anthorities to our trade in that part of the Dominion, but he believed that the wiser course would be, if the Governments of the Dominion and Great Britain could agree with the United States Government on the subject, to sell to Canada that portion of Alaska stretching from the 141st meridian West to the 131st meridian West. There was a territory there including an archipelago of 11,000 islands running along the main land of the territory three or four hundred miles, the strip measuring in English statute miles from the coast about 34 miles. The whole of this territory measures about 25,000 square geographical miles. If our Government would pay a reasonable sum for this territory, we would obviate all the difficulties now existing, and which must continually exist in the future if that region were habitable. So far as the population of that belt was concerned there were about 6,000 Indians; and not more he believed engaged in the fur business along that coast than two or three hundred persons-perhaps less. The United States had bought the Alaska territory, containing 580,000 square miles, for about $7,200,000, and he saw no reason why considering what the United States itself had given, we should not be able to induce them to cede that portion of their territory to Great Britain for a million dollars. Hon. Mr. DECOSMOS said the people would soon be added if we had the land. By the plan he proposed there would be no divided sovereignty. He believed, when we looked at the mountainous character of this belt, that it would cost nearly as much to make a survey of it, to both Governments, as it was practically worth at present. When they came to ascend mountains 3,000, 5,000, and 14,000 feet. high to form a boundary, it would be found most expensive. With reference to the convention between Russia and Great Britain of 1825, and the subsequent Treaty of Washington giving the free navigation of the Stickeen River, he would remark that there were two other rivers -the Tako and Chilcot—which might yet be found useful as a means of carrying the mineral wealth of British Columbia north of the 300 mile belt out to sea. And it will be necessary in the interest of British Columbia to enter into further negotiations with the United States in order to define our rights. In addition to that, if mineral discoveries should be made in any part of this belt-and from the geological formation there seemed to be no doubt such would be made—it would be found that American claims on the Alaska side would run into Canadian territory, causing endless disputes. He moved in amendment to the resolution before the House that all after the word "survey" be struck out, and the following added:" And the desirability of acquir ing that portion of the territory of Alaska extending northwestwardly from 54′ 40′′ north latitude to the meridian of Mount St. Elias." all Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it was very well for his hon. friend to bring the subject up. It was one of very great interest and had engaged the attention of tions had already been had through the the Government for some time. Negotiaproper official channel with the GovernHon. Mr. BLAKE-Hear, hear! ment of the United States on this subject. Hon. Mr. DECOSMOS said the hon. It was one, however, that would not be gentleman from South Bruce, who had promoted by the passage of his hon. friend's recently pronounced in favor of national-motion here, and the amendment by the ity and a new departure, ought to be willing to make a new departure in the interest of Canada to enlarge our Dominion and get more land by which the nationality could be extended. hon. member behind him (DECOSMOS) was of course entirely inadmissable. Á motion of that kind could not seriously be proposed in the House. He (Mr. MACKENZIE) was quite aware that the real was simply the Stickeen River. Under the convention Hon. Mr. Blake-What about the difficulty at present people? Mr. Roscoe. of 1825, the boundary had in the plans exceeded a distance of ten leagues from the coast, and the real difficulty existed in taking these ten leagues from the mouth of the river, instead of following the ridge of hills to a point where it strikes the river. If that point were once determined, no serious inconvenience would arise anywhere else, and to get that point determined at as early a period as possible, the Government had already been directing their attention. He hoped his hon. friend would be satisfied with this explanation and withdraw his motion. As for the amendment it was quite inadmissable. Mr. BUNSTER said that having heard a good deal from the miners with regard to that region, he claimed to have some knowledge on the subject before the House. He was sorry to see the hon. gentleman from Victoria move an amend ment which the Premier had declared to be inadmissable, because the hon. gentleman (DECOSMOs) considered him a constitutional authority. He claimed that this vexed question, which interfered with the development of the rich mines of that country, should be settled. to the Stickeen River than the two thousand spoken of by the mover of this resolution, and should these vexatious annoyances continue to be imposed, the more excitable amongst them-though they might be generally peaceable- might resent such interference, and thus bring about complications between the two countries. There was another question which had recently been brought before his notice. The Indians did not understand the divided jurisdiction. They were very numerous, and spent the winter months on the cost, and during the summer fished in the These Indians had been accustomed to Skeena River, working also for the miners. roam at large over that country, whether understand the divided jurisdiction when by water or by land, and they could not told by American officers they were on American soil, and by British officers they vent coalitions with those Indians, who were on Canadian soil. In order to preare usually peaceable, but when under the influence of liquor were very excitable and Although the liquor traffic was nominally disposed to quarrel with the whites. miners had discovered and developed the Indians could get all they wanted in prohibited by the American authorities, exceedingly rich mines at Cassiar. They Alaska, and if they could not they were had been badly treated by unprincipled ingenious enough to make it for themAmerican officers, who had taken and selves. They made rum from molasses seized their boats while sailing under the with nothing but a tin kettle and a coil Dominion flag. They had been obliged of sea-weed. By fastening the sea-weed to pay heavy tolls, amounting to four or to the spout of the kettle they were able five thousand dollars, for which tolls no returns were made to the American Gov-ment of civilization among the untutored to distil liquor. This proves the advanceernment. That was a matter which required to be looked into by the administration of the day, and which should be brought under the notice of the American authorities. The official to whom he had alluded was now undergoing a trial in Oregon for fraud on the American Government, which, he thought, was sufficient proof that he had wronged those Canadians who had gone to the expense of constructing a boat for the navigation of the Stickeen River. The sooner this vexed question was settled the better. Mr. THOMPSON (Cariboo) did not wish to make any remarks after what had been said by the Premier. He was well aware of the great importance of having this question settled as soon as possible. During the ensuing season, perhaps, a much larger number of miners would go Hon. Mr. Mackenzie. He had no doubt savages on that coast. Hon. Mr. DECOSMOS withdrew his amendment. Mr. ROSCOE- As the Government have stated that they intend to do all that is necessary in this matter, I will willingly at the request of the hon. Premier, with draw my motion. The resolution was withdrawn. M. CIMON fait motion, secondé par le Dr. ROBITAILLE, qu'il soit présenté à SON EXCELLENCE le GOUVERNEUR GÉNÉRAL, une addresse pour ! 1°. Un état montrant le nombre des rivières dans les Comtés de Saguenay, Chicoutimi et Charlevoix, maintenant louées sous provisions de l'Acte des Pêcheries, le nom du locataire dans chaque cas et le prix pour laquelle chacune est ainsi louée. 2°. Un état montrant le nombre des baux de pêcherie maintenant en existence, accordées pour faire la pèche dans les eaux de la Rivière St. Laurent, dans les Comtés de Saguenay et Charlevoix, le loyer payé pour chaque bail, et le nom des parties auxquelles ils ont été accordées. 3°. Un état du nombre de pénalités infligées par les officiers des Pêcheries pour contravention à l'Acte des Pêcheries, dans les limites des Comtés de Chicoutimi, Charlevoix et Saguenay, depuis 1867. M. CIMON dit qu'il se permettra d'attirer tout particulièrement l'attention de cette Chambre sur cette question, car il importe de connaître la conduite des officiers publics en cette endroit. Son unique attention est de savoir ce que le Gouvernement retire de cette source de revenu. C'est un champ très entendu; il n'est que juste de savoir ce qu'il rapporte au Gouvernement. Dans une occasion ultérieure, il (M. CIMON) aura l'opportunité de faire d'autres remarques sur cette question. STATISTICS. Mr. YOUNG said he probably would not have placed the motion he was about to move on the notice paper had he known that the subject had been under the consideration of the Government. However, as the subject was before the House, he would take the opportunity very briefly, and with some degree of diffidence, to urge some reasons why he thought that some plan should be adopted for securing the early publication of as full and as accurate statistics as could be obtained. The present system of each department publishing his own statistics had probably on the whole worked tolerably well, but from the absence of any general supervision there were a number of defects which ought to be remedied. There were four points at least in which improvements might be made. In some respects our statistics ought to be fuller. We had no statistics, for instance, of our agricultural productions or of the produce of our forests -two of the great industries of this country. He was well aware that there was considerable difficulty in the way of M. Cimon. achieving the desired improvement. The co-operation of the Local Legislatures was necessary, but seeing that in immigration matters the Dominion and the Local Governments acted in concert, he thought that in this important matter some arrangement could be made for the co-operation of the Federal and local authorities. In Great Britain there was published every year, by the statistical branch of the Board of Trade, a return showing the total quantity of land under grain crop, green crop and grass, the yield per acre, and a great variety of other information, valuable not only to the agricultural community, but to the whole trade of the country. It would be of great advantage to this country if some such statistics could be obtained here, and notwithstanding the difficulties in the way, an earnest effort ought to be made by the Government to accomplish that result. Again our statistics might be made much more accurate than they usually are. It would probably be invidious to particularize, but he might mention as an instance, our returns of the commerce of the country. He was glad to know that efforts had been made by the Customs Department to secure more accurate statistics of our imports and exports. It was to be feared that for a long time past the collectors at our outside ports had not been as careful by any means as they ought to be in making entries, and he had felt, in dealing with such statistics, as he had frequent occasion to do, he could not so thoroughly rely on the entries of imports and exports, particularly of grain, as he would wish to do. It would be noticed by the report of the Minister of Customs that the deputy head of that department was fully aware that objections might be urged to the correctness of these returns, and was endeavoring to introduce improvements therein. Again, there was a good deal in many of the reports of the departments which might be expunged without loss to the public, and at the saving of a considerable expense, and the space thus saved given to more valuable information. He also had objection to take to the length of time which it took to publish many of these statistics-so long in fact that they were of very little value when they did appear. He was glad to see that this year that no less than four of the principal departmental reports were laid on the table within two or three days after the session opened. For his part, he could see no reason whatever why all of the departmental reports should not be submitted to the House immediately it met. He had seen it stated in the press-he thought correctly—that there was published in Great Britain eleven days after the beginning of the year, a statement of the whole commercial returns of the previous year of the United Kingdom. As our financial year ended on the 30th June, he could see no reason why before the meeting of Parliament, six or seven months afterwards, every report should not be ready weeks before the House met. The defects in the present system were apparent, but the question was how a reform could be effecte l. At the late meeting of the Dominion Board of Trade he observed that they suggested the propriety of having a Minister of Commerce, whose special duty would be to collect statistics of the kind he had referred to. He could see no great advantage to be derived from such a course being pursued. We had now three Ministers who might be called Ministers of Commerce-the Finance Minister and the Ministers of Customs and Inland Revenue. The most practicable way, in his opinion, to effect the desired improvements would be the way suggested in the motion he was about to move, namely: the establishment of a statistical branch in connection with one of the Departments. The Board of Statistics which he suggested in his motion might be composed of three Ministers, something like the Treasury Board, or of the deputy heads of the Statistical Departments presided over by a Minister. The duty of this Board would be, not to take out of the hands of the Departments the preparation of the statistics, but to supervise their statistics, and to decide what should be published and what should not, and to point out wherein improvements might be made. However, he was strongly of opinion that a better system than that was the system in operation in the Mother Country-that was, the establishment of a statistical branch in connection with one of the existing Departments. To make such a system successful it would be necessary to have one of the best statisticians that could be found, and such men were exceedingly scarce. He knew of but one Mr. Young. He such man in Canada, and he had no doubt that if such a man as the one he referred to could be secured he would place our statistics in at least a much better position than they were at present. If a plan like the one he had suggested was carried out, and means taken in concert with the local Governments to collect correct statistics of the products of the farm and the forest, the value of real and personal property and also vital statistics, together with commercial statistics, a volume might be published which would be of immense advantage to the whole Dominion. concluded by moving. "That the House do go into Committee of the Whole on Friday next to consider the following resolution :-That the collection and early publication of full and accurate statistics affecting the commerce, revenues, population and material progress of the Dominion is a matter of great importance, and in the opinion of this House it is highly desirable that the Government should establish a Board of Statistics, or take such other means as may be necessary to have our statistics as complete, reliable and early published as possible." Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he well knew the interest that his hon. friend from Waterloo had always taken in the subject of statistics, and he (Mr. MACKENZIE) was equally convinced, with that hon. gentleman of the great importance to the country of full and correct statistics. He had already stated that he had given his personal attention to this matter but up to the present time, he had not been able to secure a plan that in his judgment would prove successful. It was known that only in the Province of Ontario was there any regular system of collecting vital statistics, and even in that Province, the returns were so unsatisfactory as to create a good deal of discussion upon the question of adopting some other means to secure more complete returns. If this was the case in the Province of Ontario where the municipal system was most complete, we might easily imagine the difficulties in the way in other Provinces where they had either no municipal system or a very imperfect one. It was expected from the laws of Ontario that the municipal returns would furnish all the necessary information about the quantity of land under crop, the quantity held by private individuals in its original state, and the quantity under the cor different kinds of crops, and the value of such lands, and the value of the produce, as well as the value of all personal or moveable property. As a matter of fact, however, the returns were exceedingly defective, and to obtain the correct valuations in the country districts at least for they were a great deal more inaccurate in the country than in the towns and cities -it was necessary to double or treble the valuations given in the returns. It was a matter of regret that this should be the case, but it was so. He presumed that assessors in the country districts were led to assess property at a low rate under the idea that it would produce a responding low rate of taxation, which of course, was a wrong idea. The returns therefore, in the Province of Ontario were very incorrect and wholly unreliable as to valuation, though the acreage might perhaps be tolerably near the truth. In the Province of Quebec there was a parochial system of obtaining statistics respecting burials, baptisms and marriages, which were, perhaps, more correct than those of Ontario, although the system was deficient in other respects. There was a system in operation in Nova Scotia, but it was of little use, and in the other Provinces there was no system at all. The subject had engaged, and must again engage, the earnest attention of the Government as it was highly desirable to have full and correct statistics of the progress of the country. With regard to mere departmental statistics he quite admitted that many improvements might be made, and it was the intention of the Government, as one improvement, to publish periodical--at least quarterly returns showing the state of trade the imports and exports of the principal articles. This might be done without any addition to the present staff. He could only say that every attention possible would be given towards devising a scheme whereby we might obtain a collection of general statistics, with some approach to accuracy, which would be interesting and valuable to the country, and especially as it would be the means of disseminating abroad correct views of the state of trade, the value of property, the duration of life and other information respecting this country, which had great influence with persons proposing to emigrate. He was of opinion that our statistics if correct would Hon. Mr. Mackenzie. go to show that the comparative wealth of our working classes was perhaps greater than that of almost any other people. He saw no object in his hon. friend pursuing the subject further than he had done in bringing it before the House, as nothing the hon. gentleman or the House could do that could stimulate the Government more than their own sense of the importance of the subject would do. For his own part, it was a subject to which he had given considerable attention, and he would continue to give it as much attention as he could possibly spare from his other public duties. Mr. YOUNG-I stated in moving my motion that possibly I would not have proposed it had I known the subject had been under the consideration of the Government. After the statement of the leader of the Government I have no objection to withdraw the motion. The motion was withdrawn. SPECIAL RATES ON INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY. Mr. DOMVILLE moved for copies of all special rates granted for freight on the Intercolonial Railroad, giving names of person or persons obtaining same and dates. He said he made this motion in order to obtain some light as to the general mode of granting these special rates, and to see how far they were applicable to other parts of the Province that perhaps did not apply for special rates, or did not know that their case entitled them to special rates. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I have no objection to the motion, but I may say that I am not aware of there being any We have no special rates. returns of anything of the kind, but of course I will enquire of the Deputy Superintendent whether there are any, and if there are full particulars of them will be brought down. Mr. DOMVILLE—Mr. BRYDGES says he has made such rates as will suit persons owning large saw mills, &c., and it was upon that statement that I based my resolution. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE—I took that to be not special rates to individuals, but rates from certain stations where there were large lumbering or other industries for the carriage of the products of these industries. I am not aware of any other special rates, and I am not even aware of |