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L'hon. M. FOURNIER: Je ne suis of amending the Act 31 Vict., Chap. 10, för pas en état de donner au député de Char- the regulation of the Postal Service.levoix une réponse autre que celle que j'ai | Carried. donnée il y a un instant au député de Chicoutimi. Ma réponse est la même et le cours à suivre est le même pour l'un que pour l'autre.

Mr. GOUDGE said he could see no reason why the Judges of Halifax City and County of Halifax should receive higher salaries than any other Judges in Nova Scotia, and suggested that they

SALARIES OF PENITENTIARY OFFICERS,

Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved that on Thursday next the House do resolve itself into Committe of the Whole, to consider certain resolutions respecting the salaries proposed to be paid to the officers mentioned in the Bill respecting penitentiaries and the inspection thereof.-Carried.

MARINE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS.

On motion of the Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE, the House went into Committee of the Whole on the Bill to regulate the con

should receive the same amount for their services. He gave notice that he would lay his views on the subject before the House at a future stage of the measure. Hon. Mr. BLAKE called the attention of the hon. members for Northumberland,struction and maintenance of Marine Elec (N. B.) and the City and County of St. tric Telegraphs (Mr. JETTE in the Chair). John to the fact that the Act of 1873 The Committee rose and reported the Bill placed the Judges of New Brunswick on without amendment, and the Bill was precisely the same footing as the Judges read a third time and passed.

of Ontario.

Hon. MITCHELL said the Act referred to had entirely escaped his notice.

Mr. JONES (Halifax) in reply to the hon member for Hants explained that it had always been the policy of the Government in appointing Judges to so large a place as Halifax, to give them something more than rural Judges. It was so in the city and county of St. John as well as in the city and county of Halifax. He quite approved of this policy, and so would the hon, member for Hants if he knew the difference in expense between living in a large city and living in the country.

It was agreed to amend the first resolution so as to fix the salary of each of seven County Court Judges at $2,000.

The Committee then rose and reported the resolutions. Concurrence to-morrow. Concurrence to-morrow.

SALARIES OF SUPREME COURT JUDGES,

Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved that the House do on Thursday next resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider certain resolutions respecting salarios posed to be paid to the Chief Justice and Judges mentioned in the Bill to establish a Supreme Court and a Court of Exchequer.

-Carried.

POSTAL REGULATIONS.

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Hon. D. A. MACDONALD moved that on Thursday next the House do resolve itself into Committe of the Whole to consider certain resolutions for the purpose Hon. Mr. Fournier.

SUPPLY.

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT moved that the House go into Committee of Supply.

Mr. JONES (Halifax), said he desired, before the motion passed, to bring before the notice of the Government and the House the case of a public servant who, in his judgment, had been hardly dealt with by the Government. It would be remembered perhaps by some of the older members of the House that about three House on behalf of Mr. EDWARD DUCKETT, years ago he presented a petition to the who for forty-five years had been connected with the public service in Nova Scotia. Scotia. After that length of service he became unequal to the task (he was in to the Union, the then Government of Nova charge of the Savings Bank), and previous Scotia suggested to him that he should retire from his responsible position and have his name attached to the Custom service in Nova Scotia at the reduced salary of £150. This was done on the understanding that no duty was expected of him, for it was well known that he was no longer fit for active service. He (Mr. JONES) preforth the facts of the case, and the Governsented a petition to this House setting ment of the day promised to take the subject into their consideration. It should have been stated that at the date of Union the Government found Mr. DUCKETT' name on the list of officials at Halifax, and they superannuated him at $900 instead

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of $1,200, which was the allowance agreed
upon by the Government of Nova Scotia.
Many hon. members would recollect the
circumstance, and the members of the late
Government would also know that Mr.
TILLEY had written a letter to Mr.
DUCKETT on the subject. It was to be
regretted that the hon. member for Cum-
berland was not in his place, as he was
well acquainted with the circumstances.
He (Mr. JONES) now desired to bring the
subject before the House and the Govern-
ment. Mr. and Mrs. DUCKETT were very
old people, some 75 or 76 years of age,
and they were reduced almost to a state
of penury.
It would certainly not be the
wish of the House or the Government that
any one who had served the country for nearly
half-a-century should suffer any injustice.
A copy of the petition referred to had been
placed in the hands of the Minister of
Justice last year, and if its contents were
examined every member of the House
would be convinced that Mr. DUCKETT was
really entitled to the additional allowance
claimed.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he recollected that the hon. member brought this matter before the House some two or three years ago, but he was not aware that it had not been settled until the hon. gentleman mentioned it to him privately last night. He would see the hon. member for Cumberland concerning it. It was impossible they could give Mr. DUCKETT anything more than the present allowance under the Suporannuation Act, because all allow ances of that nature were governed by Statute. There might he a method, however, of doing what was thought to be just and of fulfilling any arrangement made by the Government of Nova Scotia. It would be better to place Mr. DUCKETT'S | name on the pension list, for which of couse a direct vote of the House would be necessary. He (Mr. MACKENZIE) would look into the matter before to-morrow afternoon, and would then be able to say what could be done.

The motion was then carried.

Mr. JONES (Halifax) inquired what the Minister of Public Works intended doing with reference to wharf accommodation at the centre of the city. It was proposed by Mr. BRYDGES to acquire the Queen's Wharf property, which Was believed to be the cheaper expedient than carrying the road into the centre of the city. He desired to know what steps had been taken in the matter.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the plan decided upon last year was to have the passenger station located between Water street, Lockman street, and North street. It was proposed that heavy freight should be conveyed between the wharves at Richmond station and this point by means of tugs and barges. At that time it was supposed that the Queen's wharf could be obtained from the Imperial Government. Upon application being made to that effect, however, a reply was received that they were willing to give it, provided accommodation were given them (the Imperial This was of course authorities) elsewhere.

impracticable, and the necessary wharf accommodation would therefore have to depend upon arrangements yet to be made. The item was carried.

On item, 71, $200,000, increased Intercolonial Railway accommodation at St. John, N. B.,

Mr. PALMER inquired where this additional accommodation was to be had, and whether the Government had the same plan in view as formerly. He desired to know why it was that the Government had not made available the ballast wharf.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the Government did not take that property because they could not get it. He might state that the property offered by the city was in the first place utterly useless, and in the second place the price was far beyond what was deemed proper. The proposal to have the terminus at Rankin's wharf had many advocates, and it seemed to him (Mr. MACKENZIE) to be the best place. There were some objections raised to it in connection with the navigation of the

The House went into Committee of river, but he thought they could be overSupply.

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come. There was no actual suffering in the meantime for want of the increased accommodation, and there was no reason for hurrying. As soon as the city would make a suitable propositien it would be attended to. Two places were suggesteil for building the bridge. According to

Mr. PALMER said the officers of the city understood the correspondence was closed.

one, it was proposed to bridge the river | Works Department. Since that time the near the Suspension Bridge, forming a Corporation of St. John had never raised connection with the Western Extension. the question in respect to the Ballast The Government had had some communi- Wharf, and if he understood the feeling cation with the railway companies in the aright, it was because of the movement city and with the Western Extension to made to place the harbor of St. John under ascertain to what extent they would be commissioners. In respect to the bridge disposed to assist in bridging the harbor across the river he believed the proper to Navy Island or at the Suspension place would be near the falls. Bridge, the latter of which projects was thought most advisable. These communications hod not yet resulted in anything, and it would be some time before it would be possible to say whether anything would come of them or not. This arose largely from the great depression in railway business in the United States and Canada. The Government, in the meantime, had taken some steps regarding the property at the Rankin wharf, to see whether they could not have their deepwater terminus there. The matter was not yet decided, and it had not yet been settled whether it would be most convenient to go there or to the place originally proposed.

Mr. PALMER said he was satisfied that both the terminus at the Rankin Wharf and a bridge at Navy Island would be an advantage. He did not see why the Government should not have the power to take the property at the Ballast Wharf, for he believed the Board of Works Act gave them such power. That Act provided that a person should be appointed by the Government to value the property, and the city would have to hand it over at his valuation. He thought it would be a pity that the Ballast Wharf should be abandoned, as a large sum had been expended in completing a line of railway through the city to that place. He was glad that the Government had not come to any final decision on the subject, and he urged upon them to locate the terminus at the Ballast Wharf, and bridge the River St. John at Navy Island. He hoped before any other conclusion was arrived at that most ample inquiry would be made. The people were desirous that something should be done in the matter soon, but they were opposed to anything that would be likely to militate against the navigation of the river or the usefulness of the harbor. :

Hon. Mr. BURPEE said the last correspondence had been between the Corporation of St. John and the Public Hon. Mr. Mackenzie.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE remarked that $20,186 of the sum placed to that item was due to the representatives of the estate of ROBERT F. HASTINGS for the purchase of five acres and a half of land taken in the city of St. John. The representatives of the estate had, for some unexplained reason, not called for the payment, and the Government had decided to formally tender the amount.

Item carried.

On items 73 and 74, Lachine Canal $1,600,000; St Lawrence Canals $1,000,000.

Mr. JONES (Leeds) asked for explana

tions.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that part of the works at Lachine were under contract, one of the large basins was nearly completed and the excavation at the locks was almost completed, and the other basin would be proceeded with as soon as the Government could get the contract let. The work for the enlargement of the canal above that point was almost ready to be let. The Government had experienced great difficulty in having the works contracted for, pushed forward as rapidly as they desired, but they had endeavored to make the best possible arrangements in order to push the works to an early completion. The Government expected within less than two months to have the entire line under contract.

Mr. JETTE said he desired, while this item was under consideration, to offer some explanations with regard to a matter rather personal to himself, but which, from certain articles in the Opposition press, had become to some extent a matter of public interest. Last winter, with some friends, he purchased a tract of land on the Lachine Canal, and last fall they offered a part of this property for sale at public auction. He was accused by some of the Opposition press in the Province of Quebec with

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked for general explanations with regard to this item.

having used his influence with the Govern- On item 74, for St. Lawrence Canals, ment in order to obtain information $1,000,000, in advance of their plans. He believed this was the proper place and time for him to make, as he did, a distinct denial of this charge, and to inform the House that he had demanded from some of these newspapers a retraction of the accusation they had made against him, and all except one had retracted, and against that one he had brought an action in the courts. He noticed, however, that another newspaper in Quebec had renewed the accusation, and he had finally decided to pursue the same course with regard to it that he had done with regard to the newspaper in Montreal. Some of the Opposition press had stated that this matter would be the subject of a Parliamentary inquiry, as soon as the House would assemble. No motion had yet been offered for such an inquiry, and he now desired to state that he would be very glad if an inquiry was demanded, and he would use whatever influence he might have with the Governmet to induce them to consent to such inquiry, in order that it might be shown that all these accusations against him were as false as he had always said they were.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that no such application as was stated had ever been made to the Government to purchase the lands of his hon. friend, or any other

lands. No lands were offered and no information was asked for further than

this: A map was brought showing lands that these parties had advertised for sale or were about to advertise for sale, and they wished to know whether the Government desired to obtain any land in that quarter, and, if so, whether their sale would interfere with any of the Government's plans. He informed them that the Government had not decided whether to enlarge the canal or make a new canal, and he therefore declined to offer any advice as to whether they should proceed with the sale or not. That was all that took place that he was aware of, and he was quite sure that nothing took place anywhere else than in his own office, so that the hon. gentleman was entirely clear of the remotest suspicion of wrong-doing in

this matter.

Item passed.

Mr. Jette.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said with reference to the Welland Canal,—the principal work in many ways because it was the only one which paid a considerable revenue over the amount expended in working it—nearly all the contracts were let providing for the construction of locks 270 feet long, 45 feet wide and having 12 feet of water on the mitre sills. The work was making satisfactory progress and during the coming year a very large portion of it would be completed. On the St. Lawrence proper, between Prescott and Montreal, we have the Williamsburg and Edwardsburg Canal, the Cornwall, the Beauharnois and the Lachine Canals. The Government were still considering what steps they should take in the public interest in regard to several of these works. On the Lachine Canal, the plans and specifications for the work were nearly completed, the report of the engineer having been made some time ago. The contract would be let in accordance with the plan sketched as to the size of the locks and prism of the canal early in the spring. With regard to some of the minor canals, such as that at Williamsburg and Pointe Aux Iroquois, comparatively little expense would be incurred, but the plans were not yet completed. There was one serious difficulty in connection with the depth of water in the

river itself.

At one place near Prescott there was a very serious shoal in the river which must be cut through to give a channel of fourteen feet.

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This would be necessary to supply twelve feet of water at all times as the depth was materially affected by the wind. The expenditure at this place would reach $500,000. The serious impediment was met in the river next point, coming downward, where a was immediately the upper end of the Beauharnois canal. In order to obtain the necessary depth water in the channel, an expenditure of over $500,000 would be required. Expensive dredging would also be necessary between Beauharnois and Lachine, involving an outlay of nearly half a million So that in deepening the river itself, apart from any improvements in the canals,

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an expenditure of $1,500,000, in round numbers, would be incurred. In answering a question, the other day, in reference to the depth of water on the mitre sills of the canals, he stated that it was inexpedient to attempt to obtain more than twelve feet, the reason being that it would be difficult to get fourteen feet of water in the river itself. The Government did not consider it expedient in the public interest that they should endeavor to obtain more than twelve feet. It would not be at all impossible to get fourteen at a future time if it should be found that the traffic of the country required it. For the present the Government intended to confine themselves to the operations indicated. He had also stated on a former occasion that there was no very particular hurry with the works on the St. Lawrence Canals, between Prescott and Lachine, until the Lachine works, which were the heaviest, were completed. He had merely given a general explanation, and was prepared to answer any specific question.

greater than required on the last of the two lines above described."

Mr. LANTHIER said this contained no reference to the expense of re-constructing the Beauharnois Canal or of making harbors. There was no harbor, no depth of water, and no channel at either end of the canal. The engineers had ascertained that the only available channel for vessels drawing twelve feet of water was on the north side of Lake St. Francis. Vessels entering the canal had to pass by that channel and cross the lake to the other side. The experience of navigators had shown that there was no way of making an entrance at the west end of Beauharnois Canal unless it was done at an immense expense. The bottom was of solid rock, and this was so well known that the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department had given instructions to run an extension line about two miles from the present entrance through the back country to give the canal a new outlet. With the extension below, it would be some three miles longer, giving about seventeen miles of canal, and that he believed was the shortest distance. The Committee would like to know what would be the expenditure on the Beauharnois Canal on this new plan, and the means of having a harbor at each end. It was always practicable to make a ditch through a country, but if vessels could not reach it, it would be of no use for navigation. That was precisely the diffiships are moored. These are of a nature, however, that can be readily removed. But at culty with the Beauharnois Canal. There Lachine a rocky shoal extends out for a consid- was nothing in the report which had been erable distance, so that it becomes questionable read to explain to the committee what whether the present entrance should be deep-was to be done to ascertain whether it ened or a new outlet formed about 1 miles higher up. Two lines were lately surveyed on the north shore of the St. Lawrence opposite the Beauharnois Canal, both commencing at McIntyre's Bay, a little below the old steamboat landing and the lower entrance of the Ordnance Canal at the Cascades. One line passes chiefly on the upland, and is about 14 miles in length, with 7 locks, 5 of which are of 14 feet lift, 1 of 11 ft. lift, and the guard lock 1 to 5 ft. lift. Estimated cost, including tow-path, $3,360,000. The other line, which is suitable only for tug navigation, passes through Chambery and Riviere à la Graisse Gullies, and is about 14 miles long, with seven locks of the same respective lifts as those of the other line.

Mr. LANTHIER said as a report on the proposed extension of the Beauharnois Canal had been prepared, he would like to know what would be the length of the line adopted.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the engineer reported as follows:

“Between Lachine and Beauharnois, through Lake St. Louis, a distance of about 15 miles, there is abundance of water, except at a few places, through the shoals on which the light

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Estimated cost, $3,000,000. Another line adopted exclusively to steam navigation, was examined with a view of utilizing that part of the River St. Lawrence between the Coteau and Cedar Rapids. Apart from permanent objectionable features met with on this route, the probable expenditure necessary to render it navigable is Hon. Mr. Mackenzie.

would be possible to deepen the channel
on the south side, He had come to the
conclusion that it was a matter of utter
impossibility to obtain the proper depth of
water there unless at an immense cost
at a greater expenditure, in fact, than
would be incurred in constructing a new
canal on the north shore. To re-construct
the Beauharnois Canal would interfere
with trade for one year at least, which
would not be the case if a new canal were
built on the north shore. The ice remained
longer on the south than on the north
shore. In fact last summer seven or eight
vessels were moored alongside of the ice,
and the Government had to obtain the
services of a large number of men with
saws and axes to cut the ice and open the

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