time, if a motion of want of confidence is made, and this Government or some future Government should throw it over and not go on with it the next day, they would be very liable to the charge of being desirous of postponing the discussion; and if it appears on the Journals that, unless by universal consent of the House, a motion of this kind must not of necessity go on, this would relieve the Government of any possibility of such allusion should they really wish to throw the debate over. MR. MACKENZIE: It would be better to amend the rules of the House. I am not prepared to acquiesce at the present moment in placing your decision on the Journals. It is a decision, in fact, which covers a great deal of ground, and besides the formal decision is a very indefinite one. I would not now be prepared to say in what shape, if at all, it should go on the Journals; but I have no objection to consider the

matter.

SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD: All decisions of the Speaker, as a matter of course, go on the Journals, in order that they may be authoritative hereafter.

PETITIONS FROM ALIENS.

REMARKS.

MR. SPEAKER called attention to a petition from certain American citizens interested in the Connecticut Mutual Insurance Company, praying for amendments to the Insurance Law. Under the rules of the House this petition could not be received, and he would like to have an expression of opinion on the matter.

MR. MACKENZIE said it had been the invariable practice in such cases to allow representatives of companies resident in a foreign country to lay their case before a Committee of the House, for the purpose of presenting their views; and it did seem to him, therefore, rather unreasonable that, by adopting a tit-for-tat policy, the House should prohibit parties from coming directly before Parliament. He could not conceive of any possible injury which could be caused by the reception of such a petition, and he would strongly advise that it be received by the House.

SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD did not see any objection to the reception of the petition. It must be remembered, of course, that in England the rule was insisted upon, which exexcluded foreign corporations from doing business there. Of course, in England any deviation from that rule might be exceedingly inconvenient as regarded anything into which politics might enter, and possibiy that was one of the reasons why the prohibition was enforced. Canada, in this respect, was not liable to be inconvenienced in the same way, and he would suggest that petitions should be received by the House subject to special legislation.

MR. SPEAKER said he thought it would be well to have an understanding limiting these petitions to parties, companies or corporations directly and expressly affected by the legislation of this Parliament and its mode of doing business.

MR. KILLAM said many mutual companies in the United States doing business in this country were practically Canadian companies, and petitions sent by directors thereof were entitled to be considered.

MR. MACKENZIE: This is one of the cases in question, and this company does one of the largest businesses in the country.

Petition received.

THE ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC RAILWAY.

QUESTION.

MR. SCHULTZ enquired, Whether the whole or any portion of the following telegraphic report which appeared in the Toronto Globe of 8th March be true:

"[By Telegraph from our own Correspondent.]

It

"WINNIPEG, Man., March 7th.-The St. Paul Pioneer Press states editorially that the purchasers of the bonds of the St. Paul and associated with Mr. Stephen, of the Bank of Pacific Railway are Messrs. Hill and Kittson, Montreal, and Mr. Donald A. Smith. asserts that, through the influence of the latter, the support and co-operation of the Dothe adjustment of their connectious with the minion Government have been obtained in railway system of Manitoba.

effected a lease on favourable terms of the "It affirms also that they have, in fact, Pembina Branch, and that this intimate

The article concludes: "It is deemed proper to make public these facts to disabuse antagonist parties of misapprehensions which may lead to a useless waste of valuable time."

MR. MACKENZIE: The hon. gentleman must give notice of his question, and he will obtain the required information in the proper course.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

The following Bills were severally introduced and read the first time :-

Bill (No. 45) Whereby judgments obtained against Railway Companies for debts incurred for working expenses, may be enforced by execution against Railway property; and to authorize the appointment of a Receiver and Manager in certain cases.-(Mr. Irving.)

Bill (No. 46) To amend the Act respecting conflicting claims to lands of occupants in Manitoba.-(Mr. Mills.)

Bill (No. 47) To provide for the transfer of lands of estates, and interests in lands in the Territories of Canada, by registration of titles. (Mr. Mills.)

MR. MACKENZIE: The hon. gentleman will observe, from the newspapers, that tenders have been asked for for a fortnight back.

RAILS FOR NEW BRUNSWICK RAILROADS.

QUESTION.

MR. DOMVILLE enquired, Whether any rails have been apportioned for the projected railroad to start from St. Mary's, N.B., opposite Fredericton, passing through the counties of Queen's and King's and making connection with the Intercolonial Railway at some point between Hampton and Moncton; and, if so, how many tons have been promised?

MR. MACKENZIE: I am not able to identify the railway from the description the hon. gentleman gives of it; but there is a railway, the New Brunswick Central, which lies somewhere near Fredericton; and for this

tioned.

THE CONVEYANCE OF KAMOURASKA .MAILS.

QUESTION.

MR. ROY enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government, for the future, to ask for tenders for the conveyance, between Kamouarska and the railway station at St. Paschal, of the mail delivered at that station by the express train of the Intercolonial Railway?

MR. HUNTINGTON: I may say, in reply to the hon. gentleman, that the arrangement at present existing is a temporary one, and it has been the intention of the Government to ask for tenders.

THE MILITIA SERVICE.

QUESTION.

MR. HIGINBOTHAM enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to carry out the following recommendations concerning the Militia contained in the last Report of the Lieut.-General commanding:

1st. to extend the period of annual drills to 28 days.

MR. HUNTINGTON: I may say that, long since, applications by the hon. gentleman's colleague were made to the Department on the subject, and that the matter is under consideration.

delays have occurred because they were not supplied with proper forms. These have now been furnished, and bags for these places are now made up.

INSPECTION OF FISH.

QUESTION.

MR. LANGEVIN enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to amend during this Session the law relating to the inspection of Fish?

MR. LAURIER: The question is under consideration.

A UNIFORM COPPER CURRENCY.

QUESTION.

MR. SCRIVER enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to adopt measures to bring a uniform copper currency into use in the Dominion?

MR. CARTWRIGHT: The subject has only very recently been brought under the consideration of the Government, and I am not quite prepared to give my hon. friend an answer at present. If he will renew his question, or if he has any special grievance in the matter, and will call on me, I shall be glad to give him such information as I have.

MR. HUNTINGTON: I am not able to say more than that the subject has been thought of, and that it is now under consideration.

CANADIAN PACIFIC TELEGRAPH LINE.

MOTION FOR COPIES OF SPECIFICATIONS.

MR. MACMILLAN moved for copies of all specifications on which tenders have been invited to construct the Canadian Pacific Telegraph from Lake Superior to Fort Edmonton; copies of all tenders; copies of all correspondence between the Government and persons tendering for the same; copies of all contracts for the construction of the

several portions thereof; also copies of all demands for extras and amounts paid pursuant to said demands, in connection with building said line of telegraph.

Motion agreed to.

WRECKING AND COASTING IN CANADIAN INLAND WATERS.

MOTION FOR RETURNS WITHDRAWN.

MR. STEPHENSON said that, with regard to the motion of which he had given notice, asking for returns of all correspondence, petitions, reports and telegrams now in possession of the

CONNECTION WITH THE PACIFIC
RAILWAY.
QUESTION.

MR. WHITE (North Renfrew) enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to lay before the House, during the present Session, an Order in Council granting a subsidy or bonus to the Canada Central Railway Company, or any other railway company, under the provisions of Section 14. of the Canadian Pacific Railway Act

of 1874?

MR. MACKENZIE: I am not prepared to state the intentions of the Government to-day.

HOCKLEY POST-OFFICE MAILS.

QUESTION.

SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD, for Mr. MCCARTHY, enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to establish a tri-weekly mail with Hockley Post Office; and if not, why

not?

since the 1st January, 1877, relat ing to wrecking, towing and coasting in Canadian inland waters,

he had had several conferences with

the Minister of Marine, and other Departmental officials, and he was happy to say that the matter had been disposed of in every way to his satisfaction, and, he trusted, to the satisfac tion of those most interested, and he given on the subject. was well pleased with the information given on the subject. As to the latter part of the motion he had put on the paper, asking for the opinion of the Minister of Justice on the reference of the petition of the Windsor Wrecking and Towing Company, in connection with the same matter, given to the Minister of Customs, he believed it was a confidential communication which it was not in the interest of the country to make public just at the present time; and, as he had been informed that the Minister of Customs, with the approval of the Minister of Marine, was about to

issue an order in the matter, covering | the entire ground of his application to the Government, he begged to return his thanks to those hon. gentlemen for the manner in which he had been treated, and to withdraw his motion, as the object he had in view in making it had been substantially attained. Motion, with leave of the House,

withdrawn.

NAVIGATION OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER.

MOTION FOR REPORT.

MR. SMITH (Selkirk) moved for a copy of surveys or any examination made of the Saskatchewan River having in view the improvement of the navigation by removing the obstructions which now exist at the Coals Falls and other points between that place and the Grand Rapids.

Motion agreed to.

SURVEYS IN THE NORTH-WEST.

MOTION FOR REPORT.

MR. SMITH (Selkirk) moved for a copy of a report of surveys made of Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegoosis, the Waterhen River and Little Saskatchewan River. He said the subject of the motion was of great importance to the development of the North-West. It had reference to the opening up of navigation from the city of Winnipeg to Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegoosis, and from that to the Saskatchewan River. It was well known to the House that for two or three years past the Saskatchewan had been navigated by way of the Grand Rapids by stea boat as far as Fort Edmonton, and it was quite capable of being navigated 200 miles beyond that point, or within 50 miles of the Rocky Mountains. To reach the mouth of the Saskatchewan by the present route, the navigation of some 300 miles was necessary by steamboat. Of this a distance of 270 to 280 miles was on Lake Winnipeg, a steamer fitted for sea or lake navigation being required, that lake being subject to severe storms. All this would be avoided by following the line referred to in this and the preceding motion. It extended from Winnipeg up the

Assiniboine River, some forty miles, to Poplar Point, crossing there to the nearest point of Manitoba Lake, and then crossing from that lake to Lake Winnipegoosis, either by the Waterhen River or by a very short portage, and, proceeding from that to Cedar Lake, it would be quite possible to reach the Saskatchewan and save all that extent of lake navigation. The difficulties were not so great as might at first sight appear. The Assiniboine River, in its present state, was navigable during three months of the year, May, June and July, to boats drawing not more than eighteen inches to two feet. During the other months of the year the river was generally very shallow, but still it might be so improved, by removing boulders and other obstructions at the several rapids, as to be navigable the greater part of the season by boats drawing not more than two feet of water. An examination of that portion of the country from the Assiniboine to Cedar Lake was made by Mr. Henry Smith, Civil Engineer, in 1872 and again in 1874. That engineer reports that, at the Meadow Portage, between Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegoosis, it would be quite practicable to cut a canal at comparatively little cost, the length of the portage being only three-eighths of a mile, and the water level of both lakes being nearly alike. In this way a steamer could be taken into Lake Winnepegoosis and on to Mossy Portage which

led to Cedar Lake-the length of this neck of land being only three and a-half or four miles. Owing to the difference of elevation. between Winnepegoosis and the Saskatchewan, the latter being subject to great fluctuations in course of the season, the construction of a canal there would be both difficult and somewhat costly, but a short railway might be built, and the Grand Rapids route would thus be avoided. Although a tramway had been built by private enterprise from Lake Winnipeg to the head of the Grand Rapids, there were still very great difficulties to be encountered in overcoming the chain. of rapids from that point for twelve or fifteen miles in the direction of Cedar Lake, two days being required to accomplish this short distance. The