a later day. The true light in which the judiciary ought to view this law was that the cases brought before it should receive their earliest attention. Hon. J. H. CAMERON said the cases referred to by his hon. friend were somewhat unusual, and he had no hesitation in saying that judgment was given with the greatest possible despatch. There were several flagrant cases of delay in the courts of Ontario, but they had invariably arisen on account of the conduct of the parties to the suit, and the Judges had in every case threatened to dismiss the petitions unless they were at once proceeded with. Hon. Mr. BLAKE said if the judgments were given at the earliest possible moment he did not complain. He had not said that there was any great grievance, but simply took the occasion to lay down the proposition that it should be the sense of Parliament that the decision of these election cases should take precedence of ordinary ones. | present session, such trial may be commenced at any time within two months after such prorogation.” Hon. Mr. BLAKE said it was desirable to provide against any collusive arrangement being entered into between parties to a controverted election by which the trial might be put off from time to time and no evidence given in the premises. The people might thus be prevented from exercising their right to petition, if they believed a member to be improperly returned, by trusting to the efforts of whoever might have protested the election to bring it to trial, and would find it impossible to go into the case, when by this collusive arrangement they had been betrayed into permitting the period within which they could petition to pass. He proposed, therefore, that in case four months had elapsed after the petition was at issue, without the day for the trial being fixed, any one might, on application, be substituted for the petitioner, on such terms as might be considered just. He moved the amendment to that effect of which he had given notice. Hon. J. H. CAMERON suggested that the time should be made three Mr. PALMER said the facilities for trying election petitions in the Superior Courts of New Brunswick were somewhat limited, and it might be impossible for a trial to go on within the six months to be fixed by the Minister of Justice. He sug-months. gested that in order to meet this exigency the clauses should be amended by inserting the words "Without the order of the Judge." or Hon, Mr. BLAKE said he would prefer to lengthen the time to nine months even twelve rather than leave the matter to be thus disposed of by the order of the Judge because it made the language so uncertain. Hon. Mr. BLAKE agreed, and the amendment was carried. Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved an amendment to the effect that the Judge shall send in his report to the SPEAKER within four days after the close of the trial. Carried. Hon. Mr. FOURNIER also moved the following amendment : "In case, on the trial of any election petition under either of the said Acts, it is deter. mined that the election is void by reason of an ledge and consent of the candidate, and that act of an agent committed without the knowcosts be awarded to the petitioner in the premises, the agent may be condemned to pay such costs, and the Court or Judge shall order that fixed in such summons, in order to determine such agent be summoned to appear at a time whether such agent should be condemned to pay such costs. Hon. Mr. FOURNIER said the second section, as he proposed to amend it, would read as follows:-"subject to the provisions of the next preceding section, and except it shall not be commenced or proceeded with during any term of the court of which the Judge trying it is a member, and in which by law he is bound to sit, the trial of every election petition shall be had within six months from the time that such petition has been presented, and shall "If at the time so fixed the party summoned be proceeded with de die in diem until the do not appear he shall be condemed on the evitrial is over, unless the requirements of due proportion of the costs awarded to the dence already adduced to pay the whole or a justice render it necessary that a post-petitioner, and if he do appear the Court or ponement of the case should take place: Judge after hearing the parties and such eviProvided that in any case where the said dence as shall be adduced shall give such judgment as to law and justice shall appertain. period may have elapsed before the prorogation of Parliament, at the end of the Hon. Mr. Blake. "The petitioner shall have process to recover such costs against such party in like manner as Mr. TASCHEREAU suggeseed that some amendment should be adopted to prevent delays in rendering judgment. In the Dorchester election case, to which he had referred, although the case was argued on the merits as far back as the 15th December, no judgment had yet been rendered. Mr. BABY said it should be remembered that no less than 120 witnesses were examined in that case, and that the enquete lasted nine weeks. Mr. TASCHEREAU said that the evidence of only about twenty of these witnesses needed to be considered. Hon. Mr. BLAKE agreed with the member for Montmagny that the delay in the case he had referred to was extraordinary, but it would be entirely unprecedented to limit the time within which a Judge must render judgment. He hoped the discussion to-night would induce the Judge to give due diligence to the case, and it was for that purpose he had referred to it. The Committee then rose and reported the Bill with amendments. CONCURRENCE IN SUPPLY. The House then proceeded to concurrence in the report of the Committee of Supply. Items, 111 to 113 inclusive, were concurred in. Hon. Mr. TUPPER asked if the Government had not received an application from the Eastern Steamship Company at Halifax for a subsidy for a line of steamers running between Sydney and other ports in Cape Breton and St. Johns, Newfoundland. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-We have an item in the supplementary estimates for that purpose. Items, 114 and 115, were concurred in. On item 116, Steam Service, between San Francisco and Victoria, $54,000, Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked in what position that contract stood. Item concurred in; also item 117. tion of Masters and Mates, $5,500 was Item 118, to provide for the examinaconcurred in without discussion. On item 119, for the purchase of life boats, life preservers, and rewards for saving life, $4,000, Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he had received a letter from a very prominent merchant of Quebec, who had taken a very considerable interest in the trade and commerce of the St. Lawrence, in which he spoke as follows "I have sent you a copy of the Dominion Board of Trade Report, and would call your attention to the resolutions on enquiries into shipping. By the former you will see that no Lawrence alone last season, and that no public less than 71 ships met with disaster in the St. enquiry of any sort took place, and no pilot was even tried by the Trinity House (your act having as I would say, taken away their jurisdiction.) One of these cases, the collision between “S. S. Norma" and the barkentine, "James Seed,' was a terrible affair. Five lives were lost. It is stated that the pilot of the steamer was so stupid that no reliable evidence could be got out of him for the admiralty, and this is confirmed by one of the assessors. I asked the Minister why no enquiries were ordered, and his reply was the expense would be enormous. I wish you would put a question to him in the House, as surely some of the more flagrant cases ought to have been enquired into, and should not cost a large sum. Will you also please ask whether he intends to bring in a short Act to repeal or explain the 71st clauses of the Pilotage Act, to explain the powers of the Trinity House, which he said he might do on the Deck Load question. You will see some startling figures which I gave the Royal Commission. Their last report alludes to this question and they speak highly of your act. the appendix you will find the names of the 71 ships. In Now, if it were true that 71 wrecks had occurred on the St. Lawrence and no investigation had taken place, this vote was insufficient to meet the service. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said in the majority of these accidents or wrecks the circumstances were so well known that an inquiry was unnecessary. It was only in cases of collisions where the facts were disputed, or serious loss of life occurred that an investigation need take place. He would make inquiries with reference to the particular case referred to. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said an opinion Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE --Tenders are seemed to prevail that these accidents asked for now, and it is supposed that a were frequently due to incapacity of pilots local company will be able to send in ten- or drunkenness on the part of masters and ders that may be accepted by the depart- engineers. Inquiries ought certainly to be ment, but that of course we do not know. I made in some flagrant cases. Hon. Mr. Fournier. Ꮓ Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE promised to give his personal attention to the matter. Mr. McKAY (Cape Breton) hoped the Government would furnish the port of Sydney with a life-boat. Two lives were recently lost in an attempt to rescue persons from a wreck at that place, for want of a life-boat. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said steps had already been taken to furnish lifeboats at such places on the sea coast and on the lakes. · The item was concurred in. Item 120 was concurred in without discussion. On item 121, expenses in connection with Canadian Register and Classification of shipping, $6,000, Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked what steps were taken to carry the measure on this subject into operation. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE replied that it was quite evident last session that the feeling of ship-owners, so far as they were represented in this House, was hostile to enforcing that Act, and the hon. member would acknowledge that it would not be advisable to force an Act of that kind on the great shipping interests of the Dominion. If public opinion was getting more reconciled to it, he (Mr. MACKENZIE) thought it would be exceedingly desirable to have the Act in operation, but not against the almost unanimous opinion of the parties interested. If it were the case, as it seemed to be, that public opinion was veering round in its favor, the Government would be very glad to put it in operation immediately. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL contended that public opinion was never against it, even in this House. The opposition was due to the activity and influence of a few shipowners and not to any general disapproval of the measure. Mr. GOUDGE hoped the Government would not put the Bill into operation until hon. members from the Lower Provinces had an opportunity to consult with their constituents on the subject. The item was concurred in. On item 122, to provide for salaries of Mr. GOUDGE asked if it was proposed to pay salaries to the Secretaries of Pilotage Commissioners at other ports. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE replied that the Act did not make any provision for paying such salaries at any ports but the two named. Mr. GOUDGE claimed that the Secreretary of the Pilotage Commissioners at Windsor, should receive a salary. Mr. McKAY (Cape Breton) claimed that remuneration should be given to the Secretary of the Commissioners at Sydney for his services. The item was concurred in. Items 123 to 131, inclusive (with the exception of 128, which was allowed to stand), were concurred in without discussion. On the item under the head of Geological Survey and Observatories, Hon. Mr. TUPPER contended that the appropriation for geological survey should be increased. In England where the area of country was only 124,000 square miles, the geological staff consisted of 69 persons. In Canada with its 2,000,000 square miles of territory, our staff_consisted of only eleven geologists. More could be accomplished in the North-West by the expenditure of a comparatively small sum in geological explorations than could be accomplished in any other way. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE quite agreed with the general remarks of the hon. gentleman as to the importance of this service. All the Provinces owned their own lands and economic minerals, and it was as much their duty as it was the duty of the Dominion to employ a geological staff. The present staff was established on a very small scale by the late Province of Canada, and was continued by the DoIt had alminion after Confederation. ways been moot question whether SO well mainthe Dominion could tain that force as the local authorities. In the United States where there was a federal system like our own, each State has its own staff. a This was a mat ter he had thought of for some time and, in the meantime, the Government had not arrived at any decision on that point. A considerable portion of the service that would naturally fall to the geological survey would be performed for some time by the engineers and survey ors of the Pacific Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he would make a note of the suggestion, but he doubted if such a cable would be of much service in giving warning of storms, as they already had telegraphic communication with Newfoundland. With regard to the saving of wrecks, it might be of some service, and at any rate the Government would make inquiries as to the cost. Railway and partly by the surveyors out steamers to ascertain if there were any employed in the North-West survey. It wrecks on the Island in the case vessels was proposed, for instance, in the sur- were delayed. A great deal of property veying expedition which would be sent to might yearly be saved if prompt commuthe North-West beyond the bounds of nication was had with Sable Island. Manitoba to establish base lines from which surveys might be extended to the north and to the south, a florist would accompany them. Steps were taken last year to bore at several places on the Pacific Railway where good water was somewhat scarce. Two important objects were to be attained-one to get a supply of good water from artesian wells, the other to get accurate information as to the strata underneath and the various depths of rock or coal which might be pierced. The amount, therefore, which appeared to the credit of the geological survey would practically be supplemented in the manner he had stated, and the Government would be able in that way to assist materially in extending researches into the geology of that quarter. It would be for Parliament afterwards to consider whether it was better to establish this branch as a permanent part of the civil service of this country. Hon. Mr. TUPPER hoped the Government would hesitate very long before deciding to throw this work upon the Local Governments. The Provinces had not that direct pecuniary interest in the work as the General Government had. Hon. Mr. LAIRD stated what had been done by the geological staff in the North-West last summer. The increase in the vote this year was chiefly to enable them to increase salaries. Item concurred in; also items 133, 134, 135 and 136. On item 137, grant for Meteorological Observatories, including instruments and cost of telegraphing weather warnings, $37,000, Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he knew from his own experience in the Department of Marine and Fisheries that this amount was not sufficient to place our telegraph warnings on a proper footing. a Hon. Mr. TUPPER suggested the propriety of laying a submarine cable between Nova Scotia and Sable Island, distance of eighty miles, such a cable would be the means not only of giving notice of storms coming from the direction of Sable Island, but would save the Government a great expense in having to send Hon. Mr. Mackenzie. Item concurred in; also items 138, 139 and 140. On item 141, St. Catharines Hospital $500, and Kingston Hospital $500, Mr. NORRIS said this amount, which was all Ontario received, seemed to be very small compared with the amounts granted to Marine Hospitals in the Lower Provinces. Last year a grant was given for the building of the St. Catharines Hospital, but the work was not completed, and he hoped that it would not be forgotten in the supplementary estimates. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it should be remembered that the Lower Provinces largely contributed to the Marine Hospitals, whereas no contributions were levied on the lakes for this purpose. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said when the Act was passed, the representatives from Ontario objected to having the upper lakes included in it because they did not wish to have to pay the contributions. He would advise his hon. friend from Lincoln to have Ontario included in the Act, so that a contribution might be levied on the shipping of the lakes for the purpose of maintaining Marine Hospitals. Mr. NORRIS said he did not ask anything for maintenance, but only for the completion of the building. Item concurred in. Items from 143 to 149, inclusive, were passed without discussion. On item 150, under the head of Indians, Mr. PATERSON desired to impress upon the hon., the Minister of the Interior, the necessity that existed for the revision and codification of the Indian laws, and also with respect to the desirability of the enfranchisement of the Indians. very large gathering of representative At a Indians, held after the last session of Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the hon. member for South Brant was informed the other day that whatever had to be done with the Indians must be done with their consent. The President and one of the leading members of what may be called the Indian Parliament, visited Ottawa two or three weeks ago and asked the Government not to propound any measure this session, because they wished to have further time for consultation during the coming season, in order that the Bill might be prepared, submitted to their own council and their own people, for the purpose of obtaining their opinion upon it. After such an appeal it was out of, the question to proceed with any measure which his hon. colleague, the Minister of the Interior, might have in contemplation. He quite agreed with the member for South Brant as to the general desirability to deal with this question, and as to the high character of many of the Indians, especially in the West. A more peaceable and orderly population it was difficult to have, and many of them were men of great intelligence and learning. The Government hoped at the next session to be able to present a satisfactory measure to the House. The item was concurred in. Items 151, 152, 153, 157, 158, 159, 160, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167 were concurred in. On item 169 for Customs, Mr. McCALLUM suggested that the offices of Collector of Customs and that of Canal Tolls could in many cases be advantageously combined. The Collector of Tolls at Port Maitland should also be appointed Custom House Inspector. Mr. THOMPSON (Haldimand), supported the suggestion of the hon. member for Monck. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it was difficult to discharge officers at present employed, and until vacancies occurred the suggestion could scarcely be carried out. Mr. KIRKPATRICK asked for expla- · nations in respect to an appropriation of $10,000 to cover appointments, promotions, &c. Hon. Mr. BURPEE said he did not perceive the necessity of placing this amount in the estimates in this shape; but it had been so inserted in previous years. The item was concurred in. Items, 170 to 175 inclusive, were concurred in. On item 176, salaries of Canal Officers, $35,170, men He Mr. ARCHIBALD called attention to the fact that while the increase in the salaries of the men on the Cornwall, and other canals had been increased, that increase had not been extended to the on the Williamsburg Canal. hoped this matter would be attended to. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that he had called the attention of the chief engineer to this matter at the instance of the hon. gentleman, and the salaries of those men would be placed upon the same footing. Item concurred in; also items 177 to 183 inclusive. Hon. Mr. TUPPER asked when the subject of the Canadian Pacific Railway would be brought up, and in what way. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it was the intention of the Government to ask the concurrence of the House in the contract that had been let for the Georgian Bay Branch. He intended to give a full statement of the progress of the work on the vote on the estimates for the Pacific Railway. He hoped to be able to take up those estimates to-morrow. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he noticed in a leading newspaper the statement that |