The figures he first read, as had been pointed out, were fallacious. They included $54,951 for freight, for which no cash was received; whereas, the $861,591 of last year represented the cash receipts of the year. In regard to the special rates, the hon. gentleman would perhaps be surprised to learn that no individuals got special rates; those rates were from station to station, and everyone who had the particular class of freight to which they applied would be treated as others were. As to the general rates being too high, he could only say they were 20 to 25 per cent. lower than on any other road on the continent.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-How do they compare with those of the Grand Trunk.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-They are much lower than any on the continent. Anybody can see this by looking at

the table.

Mr. McKAY (Colchester) said when he referred to the decrease, he took the figures from the returns; the Hon. Minister of Public Works had given the House figures which did not appear in the returns. He maintained that his statement with regard to special rates was perfectly correct. He had made strict enquiries, and went to a station with a gentleman and inquired the freight on iron knees to a certain point. He was told $7, but another gentleman shipped the same freight to the same place at $2.55. That was the case on the 1st February, and he presumed it was the same still.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-There is some mistake about that, and the hon. gentleman had better make the statement specifically in a letter and send it to me. If it turns out correct, we will soon call that station-master to account.

Mr. KIRKPATRICK asked if the

Spring Hill Co. agreed to give their railroad to the Government in considcration of the latter finishing it and putting on the rails?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Yes.

Mr. KIRKPATRICK said the road then became a public work of the Dominion, and he would like to know if it was formally conveyed back?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-There was no formal conveyance of the road.

Mr. KIRKPATRICK said the public money had been expended on the road, and it was just as much a public work as any other part of the Intercolonial or the Welland Canal. He held that the Government had no right to give it away. He would like the opinion of the Hon. Minister of Justice as to the legality of the transaction, and whether the Government should not have come down to the House and asked some authority or ratification of the bargain.

Mr. McLEOD said the company would gladly make a present of the road to the Government if they work it on the same tariff as they are working the Intercolonial.

In reply to a question by Hon. Mr. Langevin,

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he had stated that the company built the road themselves and the late Government agreed to iron and work it. The present Government put an end to that arrangement, although losing money by it, and decided to change the rails to steel. The company then agreed to work the road themselves.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN enquired whether the Minister of Public Works

would inform the House of the monthly disbursements and revenue of the railway.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I will send it to the hon. gentleman.

THE WINDSOR BRANCH RAILWAY. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked whether the Windsor Road had been transferred to a company.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE replied that The late this had not yet been done. Government, when he was sure they were otherwise fully occupied, had in October, 1873, made an agreement with the Western Province Railway Company; this was afterwards in the spring of 1874 embodied in an Act. It was then expected that within a would be accompsuch progress lished towards Annapolis, as to justify the transference of the road; this was not the case, however. The Windsor and Annapolis road, in the meantime,

year

had been worked on a lease, though the company was all but insolvent, and had always been in a state of impecuniosity. It became absolutely necessary to change the guage on this line, and also on the Windsor branch, or else to run a third rail from the Junction into Halifax. The road was in such a bad state of repair, that it was absolutely dangerous to run trains over it; and as the Government might have been legally held responsible for accidents, he was obliged to purchase 2,000 tons of iron rails to renew and render it safe for travel. The Windsor and Annapolis Company had in the meantime leased the road on the terms arranged by the late Administration; when the former were able to take it over, it would be so delivered, but no particular time was specified for the

transferment.

THE PICTOU BRANCH.

In reply to an enquiry of the Hon. Mr. Mitchell respecting the Pictou Branch,

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE explained that its position was as follows:-The hon. gentleman would remember that the Government in 1874 had obtained power to make arrangements with any company for the transfer of this branch, on condition of completing the railroad eastward to the Strait of Canso, and farther, if possible, to some point on the eastern coast of Nova Scotia. The House unanimously agreed to this proposition, and a company did make an offer through the Local Government. This offer was, however, withdrawn, and no company appeared inclined to accept the transfer of the branch on condition of its condition of its extension to Louisburg, or some port in its vicinity. The Local Government and the local members of both

this and the other House, seemed, moreover, to be under the impression that no company could be induced to extend the line beyond the Straits of Canso. He had suggested another plan to this effect-that the transfer should be made on condition that the company extend it to the Straits of Canso; and that if any other company would agree within a certain time to build a railway from thence to Louisbourg, or some other point in that

neighbourhood, they should become pro rata proprietors of the Truro and Pictou Branch. He hoped that this Mr. design would be carried out. Kenealy and his colleagues had had a number of interviews with him (Mr. Mackenzie) on the subject in London, England, but he was unable to assent to their conditions for want of authority. Recently an Order in Council had passed, recommending Parliament to transfer the road on condition of its being extended to the Straits of Canso, which would be ferried, if the company accepting these terms would undertake to build the line farther in that direction. He believed that the local Government had granted a subsidy of $7,000 per mile to any company that would construct a line from Campbellton to Louisbourg, or some other place in its vicinity.

not

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL regretted to learn that this was the state of things. The branch from Pictou to Truro was one of the principal arteries of communication between western Canada and Halifax, and more particularly the eastern portion of Nova Scotia, and he thought that it would be exceedingly unfortunate if a portion of the line fell into the hands of a private company. A very large proportion of the flour and provisions shipped eastwards from Montreal passed over this line, and such an arrangement would add to the coast and interfere with trade very materially.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE did not think that any such trouble would arise. Traffic must pass over about 60 miles of the Government line, and the Government would control the rails and running arrangements.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL enquired what quantity of old rails were on hand, and to what extend they could

be utilized for branch lines?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE replied that he could not give an exact answer until he was in possession of correct returns. He could at present only give an approximate statement of the quantity on hand; probably it would not lay more than 65 miles of railway. A considerable quantity of them were already engaged for the Elgin and St. Martin and Upham Roads.

the number of creditors and the amount of the claims against the insolvent upon which the acceptance of a deed of composition and discharge, or the consent to the discharge of the insolvent is based, non-traders who have availed themselves of the provisions of this Act, and the amount of their claims shall not be computed; and no deed of composition and discharge, nor any discharge from the Court or Judge shall in any way impair the right of a non-trader who has availed himself of the provisions of this Act, to recover from the insolvent any balance that may remain unpaid upon the claim of such non-trader, but the said balance may be recovered in like manner as if no proceedings in insolvency had been entered into, notwithstanding the acceptance by the non-trader of any dividend from the assignees as herein before provided: Provided always that no non-trader shall avail himself of the provisions of this and the preceding clause in the -case of an insolvent, whom such non-trader has required or forced to go into insolvency."

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said there were two grounds on which the Government desired this amendment should not pass. It was a proposition to change the Act in a vital part before it had been fairly tried. As at present advised, the Government did not see its way to assent to this amendment, inasmuch as it would practically destroy the effect of the Insolvent Act altogether. He looked to the House to vote down this amendment.

"The members were called in, and a vote was taken on the amendment, which was rejected on the following division:-

YEAS:
Messieurs

Haggart,
Harwood,
Hurteau,

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he had always been opposed to this Insolvent Law. He had opposed it whenever he thought opposition would bring about any good result. His experience had been, instead of promoting commercial integrity or success, it had had an exactly contrary effect. That was his opinion, and though he was aware no immediate good could result from expressing it, he felt it his duty to announce that he still was opposed to the Insolvent Law, and would be glad to see it removed from the Statute Book. He had voted for the amendment for the purpose of expressing his opposition, not only to the existence of the Law, but the very principles on which it was based.

Holton,

Horton,

Huntington,

Baby,

Irving,

Barthe,

Béchard,

Benoit,

Jones (Leeds),

The Bill as amended was then read the third time, and passed.

CONCURRENCE.

the Local Government. Various communications had been sent to the Government of the Province of Quebec,

On item $10,000 for slides and booms,

Mr. WHITE (Renfrew) said he observed the item for the Des Joachim works, which appeared in last year's estimates, was not revoted this year. He wished to know why it was not? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the engineer's report was as follows:"At present I am under the impres“sion that a flat dam and boom will answer the purposes required, but it "is impossible to give any decided "opinion until I have had an oppor

tunity of examining this portion of "the river at the season of the highest "water, which will be done.”

Mr. WHITE—Will the sum which appeared in the estimates last year be put in the Supplementary Estimates to be expended if the engineer considers the work should be proceeded with?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-It will not. Although it is a useful work it is not looked upon as a necessary improvement.

The item was concurred in. Item 146,providing $37,000 for meterological observations, including instruments, and cost of telegraphing weather warnings, being taken up,

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL regretted that it was not increased in order that the staff might be rendered more efficient, which at present was impossible. The United States in this connection, spent hundreds of thousands, and he hoped that the item would next year be increased.

The item was concurred in.

Item 148, providing $23,000 for the Marine and Emigrant Hospital, Quebec, being taken up,

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL enquired whether the Government intended to take the management of this institution into their own hands?

Họn. Mr. MACKENZIE replied in the affirmative. As to the inmates it would be conducted precisely on the sume principal as Rockwood Asylum at Kingston, under the jurisdiction of

changing the mode of admitting patients into this hospital; but he believed that no reply had been received. As soon as Parliament rose, they intended to place it on a proper footing as a Dominion Government institution, and if advantage was taken of its facilities for treating the iil, and persons who had met with accidents, for whom it was bound in no way to provide by the local authorities, their payment must be made pro rata.

The item was concurred in.
Item 157 being taken up,

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL stated, he thought that the grant of $500 simply to provide for expenses with the view of inspecting Prince Edward Island steamers, was excessive, as the steamers to be inspected were few in number, and the distance not so great as to necessitate the payment of so large a

sum.

Hon. Mr. LAIRD replied, that the steamers were not very few in number. He presumed that it provided for contingencies and travelling expenses.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL remarked,

that the Inspector for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, who performed this duty, was only required to cross to the Island to inspect five or six vessels and ferry-boats; this could be done in a week, and the amount was altogether disproportionate to the necessities of the case.

that he would call the attention of the Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT replied Ministry who had charge of this department to the matter.

The item was concurred in.

Item 178, providing $40,000 for probable expenses in connection with new treaties, being taken up,

In reply to Mr. Smith (Selkirk),

Hon. Mr. LAIRD stated, that they expected to make a treaty with the Plain Crees during the present year; and with the Indians on the line of the Pacific Railway over the Rocky Mountains.

The item was concurred in.