and Bruce, on which formerly it was a rare thing to see a train run the Seventh Day, there was now an average of four every Sabbath. However, he was satisfied with the Premier's explanations and assurances, and hoped the motion would be withdrawn.

Mr. ROSS (Middlesex) sympathized very much indeed with the position of the hon. member for North Ontario, who was actuated by the best motives. After the assurances of the Premier, however, that the influence of the Government would be used to secure a better observance of the Sabbath, he ought to be satisfied and withdraw the resolution.

Mr. GORDON said that in view of the general promise given by the

Premier that the Government would do whatever was in their power to better this question, he would withdraw his motion for this time. In the event of this promise not being fulfilled, he would renew the agitation at a future Session.

The motion was withdrawn.

ST. CHARLES AND ST. JOSEPH DE LEVIS RAILROAD.

Mr. BLANCHET moved an Address to His Excellency the Governor General for copies of any communication, report of engineers or other parties, relating to the construction of à Brunel Line of Railway from St. Charles, County of Bellechase, to St. Joseph de Lévis. He said this was not the first time this question had been brought before the House. It had been discussed some years ago at the beginning of Confederation, when the Act was passed for the construction of the Intercolonial Railay. The terminus

of the latter road had been fixed at Riviere du Loup, but it was because the Grand Trunk had a branch to that place. Some years ago the engineers of the Grand Trunk Company surveyed and reported favourably upon the branch line from St. Charles to St. Joseph de Levis. The cost was estimated at $200,000. The Grand Trunk would be ready to come to some arrangement with the Government for that part of their road from Riviere du Loup to Quebec, without which the Intercolonial Railway would be incom

plete. In reply to the hon. member for Rimouski some time ago, the Premier had stated the Government had no fixed policy on the subject at the moment. He was sure when the Intercolonial was completed, the Government would see the necessity of doing something to secure for it the large traffic which would follow the contruction of that branch, and which would save a distance of 25 miles. It was very important that the Government should take this matter into consideration. When the North Shore Railroad would be completed this branch would be a necessity.

Mr. FRECHETTE said he had also

given a notice on this subject, but this of the hon. member from Bellechasse had precedence. The motion now before the House brought up a matter entirely beyond the jurisdiction of the Federal Parliament.

His (Mr. Fréchette's) motives were to ascertain whether any step had been taken, or suggestion made by the hon. member for Bellechasse to induce the late Government to make this projected line of railway a continuation of the Intercolonial, and thus secure to Point Levis the advantage of the terminus of this important road. In consequence of what he had heard on the hustings, the hon. gentleman would admit that his curiosity was quite natural. Viewed in that light, this line became national in lieu of a local enterprise, and fell within the purview of the House. He hoped that sooner or later, and the sooner the better, the Government would adopt this course, and that the Intercolonial would never be considered complete until it connected Quebec with the Maritime Provinces. He

trusted that this would be done as soon as the financial position of the country would admit.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE replied that there was little use in adopting the motion, inasmuch as there were no such reports, he believed, believed, to be presented. He was not aware of any survey of that kind having been effected by the late Government. They were quite conscious of the importance of securing a short cut to the river from the Riveiere du Loup Branch of the Grand Trunk, but at the

same time other means at present existed of reaching the river, although by a route some nine or ten miles longer than that which the hon. gentleman proposed. This would probably have to be done, but they were not now desirous of expending more money than they could help on public works. They wished to avoid any expense not absolutely necessary, and therefore they did not propose to take any steps in building the branch line to which reference was made. While he freely admitted its desirability in the trade interests of the Lower Provinces, he would remark in the meantime a provisional arrangement with the Grand Trunk prevailed in this relation, advantageous and occasioning them no loss. He supposed that the hon. gentleman would drop the motion, as there were really no papers which could be brought down.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN said that four or five years ago the hon. member for Bellechasse had spoken to him about this matter, and he had caused enquiry to be made. He entered into communication with the then Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway, Mr. Brydges, and it was understood that a survey should be secured, and an exploration take place on this branch. Mr. Brydges thought that this would be important, as was also admitted by the Minister of Public Works. It took place, and plans were prepared. He did not know whether the latter and the report of the engineer of the Grand Trunk Railway Company were now in the office of the Public Works Department, but they had existed, and some six or eight months ago the late Manager of the Grand Trunk had written to him to learn whether the plans or reports were in his possession, as they could not be found. He had answered that they were not, and that they must be in the Public Works Department. They might have been, however, destroyed when a portion of the Grand Trunk workshad been burned at Montreal. He assured the hon. gentleman that the motion was brought before and taken into consideration by the late Govern

ment.

Of course the report and plans were not acted upon-they were made in 1873 if he was not mistaken-but the late Administration had been deeply

impressed with the desirability of having the work in question performed.

Hon. Mr. BLANCHET-Perhaps the Premier will allow my motion to be carried. In the meantime the papers may be discovered.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Oh! certainly.

The motion was carried.

THE SLATE INDUSTRY.

Mr. AYLMER moved for an Order of House for are turn of roofing slate and other manufactured slate imported into Canada during the present year from the United States.

He thought that an explanation was due to the House; and at the same he trusted that he would succeed in

enlisting their sympathy in favour of one of our struggling industries. As hon. members were probably aware we had large deposits of slate in almost every Province of the Dominion, though he was not aware that any of them, save in the Eastern Townships, and more particularly in his own constituency, had been developed to any extent. The band of slate in his constituency stretched from one portion of it to the boundary line; and for both quality and quantity, he presumed that it was unsurpassed by any in any part of the world. A large amount of capital, over $500,000 or $600,000, had been invested in this industry within the last few years, and a large number of men skilled in such work had been employed, the districts in the vicinity of the quarries being in consequence greatly benefitted. At present he was sorry to say this industry was almost strangled. At one time they hoped to make of this part of the Township a second Wales, but last year, probably owing to the great depression of trade, especially in the United States, American manufacturers of slate had turned their attention to Canada in order to rid themselves of their surplus stocks. As hon. members probably knew, we had a duty of 35 per cent. against our exportations of slate to the United States, while theirs entered our market free of duty. Until within the last few

years our neighbours had probably a sufficient demand for their productions in this respect in their own country, for they had not interfered with our market; and our quarries obtained a ready sale for all they produced. The increase in the supply was gradual in proportion to the demand, and we had every prospect of doing well in this regard; but owing to the circumstance he had named, this was no longer the case, and our slate quarries were almost closed. The cost of slates would not be increased if the protection required was granted; and it was worthy of remark that the American slate was

ex

not as good as our own. This industry deserved encouragement at the hands of the Government, and he hoped the present condition of affairs would be completely rectified. The loss sustained was not represented wholly by the amount of capital lying idle, for the portion of the slate posed to the action of the weather, while the works were closed, would become so deteriorated, that when they were reopened, it would have to be removed as waste material, at great loss and expense. Moreover, the question of labour was to be considered. Those engaged in the manufacture of slates were skilled workmen, and if kept long out of employment, would emigrate to secure work in the Vermont quaries, so that again we should, as in other instances, turn ourselves into immigration agents for the United States.

law

This industry was not like many of the interests for which protection was deinanded. Coal was used as material by manufacturers of Ontario; the Maritime Provinces were opposed to the duty it was urged should be levied on salt, and a large portion of the population was desirous of seeing the protection of coal oil reduced; but a duty on slates would not conflict in any way whatever with the interests of the whole country. country. One other article on the free list he would place in the same category with slate this was marble.

In the past year the importation of unmanufactured marble was $35,000, of unwrought stone and slate $101,000, of manufactured marble $82,000. The duty paid on this was some

$14,000; and if the same amonnt of duty had been collected upon our slate and marble as was collected upon the manufactured marble, we would have had an addition to the revenue of $35,000. The Minister of the Interior in his late report had the following in regard to the exhibition of our natural productions at the Centennial Exhibition:

"Amongst the specimens, which include samples of every useful mineral or mining product hitherto discovered or manufactured in Canada, the polished marbles, the building stones, the gold, silver, copper and iron with their ores may be mentioned as especially deserving notice. The marbles are represented by 60 polished slabs of 12 x 18 inches; the building stones by 70 six-inch cubes having one face polished, one rough and the others dressed to show four different styles of working; roofing slates and slabs, lithographic stone, refractory materials, grinding and polishing materials, mineral paints and manure, limes, cements, plasters, clays, bricks, pottery, petroleum, coal, lignite and peat are all well represented; also ornamental stones, mineral waters and salts."

With natural productions such as these at our doors, some encouragement ought to be given for the working of the quarries. With regard to his principles he might say he was neither a Free-Trader nor a Protectionist, but the following passage from the speech of the Finance Minister defined his (Mr. Aylmer's) views on, the tariff question :

"We know that we must have a Customs

tariff, and that it is impossible to have it with

out more or less granting protection to manufacturers; and although I do not believe in incidental protection, still I am willing that the tariff should be so distributed as to give an advantage to the particular classes of industry which will naturally grow up in the country."

He thought slate was one of those natural industries which would grow up if the same protection was extended to it as to all other manufacturing interests of the country.

It might appear to hon. gentlemen as though he had been inconsistent by, at the present moment, making what would appear a protection speech, and having on previous occasions voted against the amendments of the hon. member for Montreal West and the right hon. member for Kingston; but he had been consistent as he could not vote want of confidence in a Ministry of whose general policy he approved, and from whose Customs tariff he considered the protection required for

the country was derivable, as well as feeling that the agricultural community, especially in this part of the county, do not requireany protection. In his own constituency they imported a large quantity of coarse grains for feeding purposes and did not advocate any tax being placed upon this their raw material, which, when turned into beef and dairy produce, and under which system their farms are improving and their farmers prospering. For such reasons he voted against both amendments, and the only protection he asked for was that the same measure shall be extended to our State industry as is already given to all the other manufacturing industries of the country. This was realy fair, this was only just..

Hon. Mr. BURPEE said there was

no objection to the resolution passing, but the hon. gentleman would see from the return that there was no line indicating slate particularly. it was in

cluded with stone and marble. He would send for the returns from the principal ports, and try and give him the information as soon as possible.

Mr. AYLMER did not wish any great expense to be incurred. He would be satisfied if for the future the two items were kept separate.

Hon. Mr. BURPEE said that had been done this year, and would appear in the next report.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the hon. gentleman might be interested to know that until within the last few months a particular class of slates could not be obtained in Canada, and had to be imported for the better class of buildings. That was the quality used making various figures on the roof. He doubted if it was known now throughout the Dominion that slates of all qualities can be obtained at our own quarries. With regard to marble, he found on examination nearly $50,000 was brought from Italy-a kind which could not be obtained on this continent and the balance, between $60,000 and $70,000, was procured from the United States, a great portion being superior in its working qualities to what has been found in Canada. Although we have a great variety in this country it had not been worked to

such an extent as to fairly develop the best qualities to be obtained, but he thought in a few years we would be able to produce marble quite as good and cheaper than any now obtained in Connecticut.

The motion was carried.

THE JESUIT BARRACKS,

Mr. MASSON moved for an Address to His Excellency the Governor General for a copy of all corespondence between the Dominion Government and the Government of the Province of Quebec, relating to the Jesuit Barracks in the City of Quebee, together with all memorandums and Orders in CounHe said cil relating to the same. those who had visited Quebec would have observed an immense block in the upper part of the town, which looked like an old prison, was delapidated, gloomy and an eye-sore to all observers. The building had been condemned, but owing to a want of agree

ment between the Local and Federal Governments, nothing had been done in relation thereto. It had formerly been the Jesuits' College, formed part of the estate of the Society of Jesus, and had been for many years devoted to the higher branches of education. Ever since the dissolution of the Order in 1774 the building had been occupied by tre Imperial troops under Royal instructions, and the whole of the Jesuits' Estate devoted to any purpose

fit.

Crown might think It was known to every member in the House that the greater part of the property had been appropriated for educational purposes in the Province of Quebec. Up to 1831 numerous complaints were made that some part of the estate had been diverted from the purpose for which it was designed. In 1832 the circumstances culminated. The Legislature of Lower Canada sent a petition to England setting forth these facts. The answer was a dispatch from the Imperial Government appropriating all the estates belonging to the Jesuites at the time of the conquest, to the purposes of ed:cation.

The barracks alone were reserved, but they were reserved only temporarily. The Minister of Justice would bear him out that according to the dispatch