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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1873-03-14, Page 4•i • a l• 33zi • - tents THE flURQN EXPOSITOR. 'NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Masonic—A. Hally - Found—Charles Shaw. Private 13oarcline. Farm for Sale—J. E. Ryan. • eeds—Edward Cash. , Land. Agency—Charles Morrotv. Sete of Lots—Thomas Leaibeater. New Spring Goods—A. GiMcDougall. Montreal. Cut Inails----Johnson Bros. . Great Auction Sale—S. G. McCaughey. New Prints—Logan & Jamieson. . List of Letters—S. Dickson. - ' Plows ! Plows 1—Munro St, llogin. 'Farm for Sale—C. R Cooper.. Overskirt Lost. To Merchants. - *won txpootter. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1873. The Municipal Loan Fund Bill The resolutions iatrodriCed b Attorney_ General Mowat, on Fi day of last weeli, for the settleme of the. MuniciPal Loan Fund i - debtedness, and the distribution the surplus, will be found in full i this issue, ;together with the sche ules showing the exact emou each niunimpalit.T will still have • pay or receive. _The difficulty a tending the preparation ot a mea ure for the settlement of this que time- has been ltdmitte by all. Th task was one which none .but strong and carageous Governmen dare undertake. The resolution introduced by the Attorney Gene al, and to which the Legislature at asked to give their. assent, prov that the present Government ar not only able to deal with th . question, but that they are anxiou to effect, an honest aud definite se' tlement. The Government schem as indicated by these resolutions, one which will, in the main, d justice to all classes. It .is tru • that a very large portion of 'the in debtedness has been' fOrgiven, bu this was rendered necessary in orde • to fiecure the certain payment of th balance. Some municipalities ma - get off more easily than they de _ serve, .while others may per.ha,p have to pay a larger sum than, accordance with she measure of re lief afforded to others they shoul in. strict justice have to besr. Bu in bringing about a settlement suc as that proposed, it is imPos.sible t do strict justice in every individu al case. • The aim Should be to hay seheine which Will do general jus tice. Such a scheme, we believe,,i that proposed by the -Ontario C4eiv '• ernment. - By the reductions whicl have been made, the indebtedness o each municipality is placed at.a sum which can easily be paid, withou • endangering- the prosperity of th municipality. Consequently, ther • will be no excuse for •any naunici pality hereafter• to plead' inability The indebtedness of no municipality will be greatm than will cause an annual assessment of two cents on the dollar, to raise funds -necessary to defray all working expenses—ex • elusive ,of school rate—and pay the - interest on and- form -a sinking fund for the wiping out of the indebted- •ness in twenty years. This cannot • be considered ottnessive, as there is no municipality that is unable to bear. art assessment -of 'two cents in the dollen.. While. tlie defaulting i municipalities have been thus liber- ally dealt with, the .non -defaulting • municipalities will be fairly reccm- pensed • for the loss they sustain through the reductions made to de- faulters. . We notice that a number o. the. defaulting municipalities are not yet satisfied with the relief af- forded. This, of course. was to e ex- pected. It is often the case that the, more a man gets the more he wants. AS with individuals so with.corpora- tions. As a general rule, defaulting • municipalities are liberally dealt with by the _scheme. In fact, if this portion has a fault at -all, it is that -it affords more. relief to defaulters than they deserve.- But, there are some municipalities that, even' if forgiven the whole 'tlebt, would gronable because they were not al- lowed a share of the distributed surplus. We trust the that Govern- ment will pay no attention to these • grunablers, but adhere rigidly to the scale of reductions whieli they have adopted. The, ease of Goderich, however, might furnish a single ex- ception, as unfortunately,' the year selected by the Government, upon which to base their scheme, was one in which an incorrect assessment of that town was made. As will be seen by the schedule, the small balance due to the fund by the County of Huron has been. canceled, and in_ addition. we are to receive the suna- of $197,110. thi• s amount is exclusive of the allowa'nce to the town of Goderich, the town- ships of Howick and Stanley. ; In a.dclition to this sum, Hewick re- ceives $10,834, and. Stanley $4,849. The reason that these two townships have been separated from the Coun- ty is,' that Ilowick has already re- ceived benefit in the shape of rail- way aid, to the amount of $3,137, Whereas none of the other munici- • palities in the County have received _any such benefit, consequently it • nt of. d- nt to t- s- s- would not be just to allow Ilowick te come in for an equal share of the County's •porion with the other municipalities. Stanley, again, was a borrower from the Municipal Loan Fund. Her indebtedness has been canceled, and in' addition, she re- ceives as her share the sum ,of $4,849, but will receive n�share of the amount credited to the Count -Y. % The towof Gmlerich is the most unfoetunate of alit It was indebted to the Fund. It has its debt re-- clued in like proportion with the other m unicipa lities, according to the assessraent of 1858, but there is still a balance due of $101,823. Thus' this municipelity will receive no shere of the surplus distribution and will still .bet liable for fthe above large sum. So much foil recklessly rushing into debt. Wlei trust the County of Huron 'will not be unfor- tunate enough to beeonie _the pos- sessor Of any of her debentures. There is one portion of this scheme which we do not like, and which is unjust to the non -default- ing municipalities. It is proposed to give the debentures of the default- ing nmnicipalities to the non -de- faulting municipalities in payment of the sunrs to which they are en- titled. These debentures are to be given at par. This is manifestly un- just, ae the elms Which these muni - a cipahtles are to receive are sums t which, according to the distiibution. , the free 'regulation of Trade and, Commerce.' • Now, asl.a matter of law, the buying and selling of in- toxicating liquors 'comes 'within the scope of the terms Trade and Com- merce,'*and hence, according to our Aga Confederation, oould only be regulated by the Dominion Parlia- ment." This settles the question, so far as the Ontario Legislature is concerned. The advocates of this measure will hereafter have to di- rect their attention toward the Do- minion Parliament, and ifiduce that body either to take the question up or to amend the Constitution so as to bring the matter within the scope of the Provincial authorities. r- -e e. t - e, 11 e hen me tra 1 they arb rightfully entitled to in full. • Whatever loss there may be on these debentures, and there %int be a heavy loss, even on the best of them, should be ‘borne by the whole Province, and not by that portion which has already been too heayily taxed for the benefit of the others. The non -defaulting municipalities „ are Justly and rightfully entitled to th full amount of the award which ha been made. If they we com- pel ed to accept the -se dbbentui es th y will not. receive this. Who, we would ask, has a better right to be r, at least, a share of the loss of th se debenture's, than the munici- pal thr ag ne By pos ha 6 'ties .which make them, and ugh whose negligence, misman- raent, or extravagance, it is essary to receive them at all ? the Government scheme it is pro- d to compel municipalities who e paid.their debts, or who have contracted no aebts, to bear the whsle loss closed by others who ha e contracted debts and are either un ble, or unwilling to pay them; Th delinquents are absolved from all share of the- loss caused entirely through their -delinquencies, whereas the non -delinquents have to bear the entire loss caused by the inabili- ty •r unwillingness of the define qu nts. If this is just, or even -hone est, we confess we hava ho oompre- ion of whak justice or honesty n. he excuse given for the perpe- ion of this injustice is certainly ost silly one. It is argued that ese debentures are retained, by Government, there is danger political 'influence will be used unicipalitiese‘with the Govern - t, to prevent. their being come d to redeem them. 'This is a ession of weakness on the Fart hel Government, which, so far e piesent Government is con- ed, we are not prepared to ad - The present Ontario Govern - t is quite eufficiently strong to rce the payment of these deben- s in the face of any political in- ce that may or can be brought ear by municipalities, to pre - its doing! so. And any 'Gov- :int- that is not strone enough, a Iif t th. tha 14Y me pell on of as t cer mit. me enf tur 11 ite:.•• • • flue to ven ern or t nit is not•poesessed of sufficient firmness to prompt it to perform its duty fearlessly, no matter what pol- itical influence, may be brought to bear to prevent if doing so, is, un- worthy of, and should not receive the support of the people. • To 'tithe a p'ertion of the community suffer, for ear that a future Government ma not have the courage to per - for le a plain duty, is an injustice whi h should not be allowed. .` We trus that the Govequnent may re- con idn. their determination upon this point, and not inflict a wrong upoo innocent parties in order to remi)ve from themselves the perfor- mance of what may be a disagree- able or troublesome duty. The Prohibitory Liquor Law for Ontario. During the present session of -the Ont. rio Legislature, a large number of n unerously signed petitions have bee presented praying for a Prohib- iter Liquor law. Two Prohibit- ory iquor bills have also been in - trod ced, one by Dr. Clark,- and _anot ter by Mr. Farewell. In the Hoe e, ou Monday last, theseBills- cam up for discussion preparatory to tl eir second ,reading. The fact was then announced by Attorney Gen ral Mowat, that the Local Legi lature has no power to pass a Proh bitory Liquor law. The At - tome General explained that " by the lonfederation Act all matters rMati • e to the regulation of Trade 411.d . ornmerce were deputed to the juris iction of the Dominion Legis. latur --the words of the Act- were • THE ONTARto Gbvernraent have abandoned the MimicP property as the site for the Agricultural Col- lege, and have selected the farm of F. W. Sbone, near Guelph. This farm_ centains 550 acres, and the Government propose paying for it •$70,000, or $127 27 per acre. The matt r came up in the House on Tues aye and on a vote being taken the overarneet was sustained by a a majority of 9. THE MANIT0EANs are becoming a fast people. The Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Bird,- was, a few nights ago waylaid by a inob, tarred .and feathered, and otherwise mal- treated. The cause of this outrage is attributed to the Speaker having ruled as out of order a bill relating to the -incorporation of Winnipeg. The Goveniment has offered a re- ward of $1,000 for the detection and conviction of the perpetrators of the disgraceful outaage. ON TUEsplY NIgHT the Gladstone Administration si!ifferd a defeat on their Irish University bill. The majority against them, on the meas- ure, was three. Mi. Gladstone has tendered' his resignation, and it is thought that Mn Disraeli will be called upon to form an administra- tion. When the adverse vote was taken, the greatest excitement pre- vailed, both on the floor and in the gelleries of the House. The vote was the result of desperate exer- tion .on the part of the Opposition. One Conseil ative member was brought from Paris by special steam- er and railway train. DOINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE. From Our Ozvn Correvpondent. Tononto, March nn, 1873. Since my last letter a large number- of bills- have passed their third readings, and become law; and the disposition has been general to get through the 'pro- gramme with,as httle delay as possible) The Medical bill to which I referred has, as anticipated, been. thrown out by a majority of twO. On Saturday, in -con- nection with this, another maga meeting of students was held, and though mi. rate, sufficient has transpired to shay that they have drawn up a declaration to which they pledged themselves. This is understood to be, that they will absent themselves from all examinations of the Medical Council until the changes sought have been obtained, declaring also their approval of a centrainexamining board, one entrance to the profession, and greater economy in the administration of the affairs of the Council. As this in- cludes student* of fourth, third, riecond- end first years, the Council will not for at least four years have many students unless the changes desired. alike by practitioners and students, be secured by kgalonactment. • RECOGNISING THE ORANGE BODY. • The Orange Incorporation bill, and the Municipal Dian Fund and Distribu; tion scheme have been the two great topics of interest during -the past week. The former was 'without exception the meet exciting topic introduced this son sion, and gave rise to a scene of particu- lar interest to onlookers. There are really tWe bills before the Legislature on the subject, one to incorporate the Grand Lodge East, and the other the Grand Lodge West, of Ontario. When consid- ered in committee the bill for the East was defeated on the preamble which was reported as not proven." On the re- • port being brought in, a motion was made for its reception. To this, objec- tion was taken, and an amendment was moved instructing the Committee te-ee port the cause Of their decision. To the latter of these Mr. H. S. Macdonald moved an amendment, instructing the Committee to declare the preamble. " proiren." This gave rise to a most acrimonious debate in which a peculiar condition of things was developed. The Government was dit ided upon the sub- ject, and the Premier declared it an open question. He favored Macdonald's amendment, while the others, including Seott, opposed it. Frazer and Scott both made earnest protest against the principle of recognizing the Order by leganenactment. The former delivered himself of what on all hands was admit- ted to be a most able speech and eloquent appeal, from a Roman Catholic stand- point. Macdonald, the introducer of the bill, who is by the way Grand Master of the Eastern Grand Lodge, retaliated in a sharp speech during which he designated Frazer as a bigot. The niscassion which had. been commenced amid fear and trembling spon became excited as mem- bers warmed up. The Orange members, irrespective of party, were a unit itt favor of the bill, and, firrd retort fierce and fast. Deacon Grossed the House and went into Opposition. Robinson, of Kingston, who had always been a Grit took exception to the Tory Scott being taken into the Cabinet, though the secret was his being a Catholic Boult- bee and Cinistie were of opinion that it was a question in which the Govern- ment should give no uncertain sound. The tatter no longer had a leader and would henceforth act upon hie o-wn judgment. The former supported and the latter opposed the amendment. Those who objected. to the question (lid , •-•••=3-, So chiefly on the ground that it weal: lead to religione strife and heart -burn ing in the future, and that causes di not exist here for the maintenaisee o such an exotic organization. The vie held. by those favorable was that ahead it had legal recognition, and merely ask ed for powerto deal with funds and 'pro- perty without the present objectionable round -about manner. The debate, which begun early in the afternoon, was not concluded until about half -past 9 o'clock, when a division was taken on Macdon ald's amendment, which was carried 38 yeas, 30 nays. • • THE LOAN FUND SCITIEME. It was intended by the Premier to have introduced the Loan1 Fund scheme on the afternoon consumed by this de- bate, but it was thouidit desirable to postpone it till the following day. Im- mediately after the House opened, therefore, on Friday, Hon. Mr. Mowat rose to move the resolutions embracing the principles of the entire scheme. His speech consumed about three hours in delivery. That it can please every mu- nicipality, or all the members, is, of course, too much to expect, but it has most effectually disarmed many Critics. As Mr. E. R Wciod remarked in the House, the scheme, as a whole, chal- lenges the closest criticism of the Opposi- tion, and stands as a monument of the ability and comprehensive mind of the Premier: 'Its entent is such that but a few of its main features can be consider- ed in the limited epace at my disposal The creation of these debts was original- ly by an act of Parliament, in 1856. pro- viding a fund of some $7:500,000, to en- able municipalities to raise monetemore advantageously than they could by issu- ing- debentures on their OWII credit. The princitne nue last year amounted to about 36,600,000.in round numbers, with interest which now amounts to nearly $6,000,000; or about 412,600,000 in all. One provision of the loan was that in no instance should it'exceed one-fifth of the value of the assessed property of the mu- nicipality. The provisions of the loan and for the repayment were tnade most stringent. Notwithstanding this, how- ever, sums were obtained in some cases beyond the power of the borrower to re- pay, and such went into default at onci-. This arose from poor and unpaying in- vestments. To relieve the burden of payment legislation_ was subsequently required, and the annioal payment was fixed at five cents in the dollar, on actu- al assessment from year to year. The balance of the debts w(tre not, however. discharged. Default continued,' owing ; in some cases to political influence. and • enforcement was not carried out. Some paid the whole debt, or atlarge portion of it. The sums annually received by the -Government varied; but gradually decreased from year to year, the amount received for 1872 being only $43,000. The present • scheme is intended to place the debts' of defaulters on a better basis, and to relieve the sense of injustice in municipalities which have been paying, and to offer compensation to others for what they forego in order to aid these municipalities, and further to make the best provision for payment of remaining debts in future. One of the principles proposed is that with regard to all debts which five cents on the dollar in 1859 was not sufficient to pay the interest upon. these debts should be regarded as prantica,lly reduc- ed to such an amount as in 1859 would have been the annual payment, provided by that Act, in reference to the assess- ment of 1858. There certainly seems no use of burdening municipalities with debts eominally against • them, which hinder their prosperity, and cannot be collected. Municipalities receiving al- lowances under this seheme are not recen:e a share of the surplue with others. Few municipalities could be able to pay a larger tax than two cents ufl the dollar. The scheme makes'exceptional reduction in favor of a' few Municipalities, which would be unable to pay their indebted- ness without a much higher taxation than that. Thi se exceptional cases are Brock- ville, Cobourg, Chippewa, Dundas'Lon- don and Niagara. Taking one of these, for instance, Dendrite It advanced money on Desjardins Canal, but by so doing re- duced the value of its property. It has for several years been taxed. considerably over two cents on the dollar and cannot by the application of the rule]. ay. In this case the debt is wiped out, Itmust be remeranered that where debts are wiped out, they were such as never yielded the country any return. Another proposal of the scheme is that in the first place all municipalities not relieved by the statute of 1859 should receive an allowance of $2 pet -head of the .population. Liberai provision has been made to these munici- palities which advanced moneys to rail- way enterprises, which did not receive any other public aid. • It was expected that these would repay loans and divi- dends of stock. Their mistake was sub- sequently discovered, ad the consequence wan they Were burdened with debts they had no intention of being burdened with. Since Confederation the Govern- ment aided railways. With respect to railways built without any Provincial aid, the sclieme grants to those munici- palities that assisted; a sum of $2,000 per mile, the money to be distribut- ed -among the inuniciPalities as- sisting the line, according to the amount they had contributed. Among the municipalities -which had sums to re- • ceive, besides their debts to the Munici- pal Loan Fund being discharged, were-: Bruce county, Whose credit on this ac- count would be $35,092; Elgin county, $23,334 ; Huron county, $161,423. The Government's scheme as to how the Bur- ins giveu should be distributed, appears to be, that in the case of counties the money must first be given to the counties to be divided among all the local muni- cipalities, to be applied to the payment of the debt. In the first place the coun- ty or municipality pay to the Crown, if there is a county debt; bet in regard to the balance, if there is a balance, then it is to be distributed among all the local miniicipalities according to •population. Then if there is no debt due the whole amount is to be distributed according to the census of 1871. [The foregoing, as a matter of course, only touches upon the more important features of the scheme.] On. the motion for the second reading .of Dr. Clarke's Prohibitory Liquor Law bill, en Monday, a long discussion en- suecliewhich drew forth the opinion that howener desirable the object, it did not comewitliin the compass of the Local Legislature to deal with. The bill was consequently' discharged, though Dr. Clarke entered his strong protest egainst its removal.. This afternoon Hon. Mr. McKellar in- troduced the Government proposal with regard to the Agricultural College or Model Farm. An amendnaent was pro- — MARC!' 14 1873 posed by Mr. M. C. Cameron' but at the time of writing it is difficultto say aby what majority th c Government will be sustained in their choice of Guelph, though it is believed that the wisdom of their choice will be generally acknow- ledged. DOMINION PARLIAMENT. _ OTTAWA, March 1$2, 1873. - THE OPENING. • On the first day of the Opening of Par- liament therewas nothing of impoatance, save routine business, transacted. The great opening ceremony was pdstponed until Thursday. On that day tilt) Senate Chamber presented a brillant appear- ance on the occasion of the delivery of the Speech from the Throne. His Ex- cellency, Lord Drifferin, was attended by the members of his staff and a large number of officers and. officials. The • galleries of the House were crowded al- most to suffocation, and a large number of ladies, many of them the wives -and daughters of members, all in full dress, and presenting a very attractive appear- ance, occupied seats on the floor of the House. The Address was read by Hie Excellency in a clear and distinct voice, which was quite audible even in the most remote portion. of the Chamber. The Address itself, as you will see, furnishes about as scaaity a bill of fare as could possibly be laid before a deliberative body, and is, perhaps, as indicative of the weakness of the Government as any- thing else can be. After His Excellency had concluded the reading of the Speech ancl retired frem the House, some furth- • er preliminary business was proceeded with at the conclusion of which, Mr: Blake, iin a few mtroductory remarks, moved " then the Clerk of the Crown, in Chancery d� attend, in this House forth- . With with the rettrns of the last elec- tions for the Electoral Districts of Mus- koka, West Peterboro' and South Ren- frew, together with the poll books and all other letters, papers and documents which may have been transtaitted to him by the Returning Officer for the said dis- tricts." No opposicion being offered to this motion by the Government, it was agreed to, and the Clerk shortly after laid on the table the returns. Mr. Blake then gave notice that he would on the following day move resolutions to amend the returns for Muskoka and West Peterboro', so that the candidates whc received a majority of the votes in these electoral districts ehould be duly returned as members; subject to the rights of all parties to petition. THE WEST PETERBOROI ELECTION R'ETURN. On Friday, after routine business, Mr. Blake called the attention of the House to the West Peterbore' election return. No fewer than 47 members of this House were returned under four different sets of laws. Had the law' been made gen- eral, as he himself and. others with him had desired, they should now possibly have less difficulty in determining such matters than they now must experience under the circumstances. -8uch legisla- tion as he had referredto having been re- fused, he trusted the House was prepar- ed to deal with the facts without bias. • He referred to British- cases, and cited various Canadian precedents in point to support his ar m h the duty of • a Returning Office he pollings, was confined to the su e•• m. up the number ' of votes and making tis return according- ly, leaving it to the House to sit in judg- ment upon the correctness of the pro- ceedings by which tbe result had been arrived at. He closed by moving sub- stantially that Mr. Bertram was the can- - di -date duly elected for West Iteterboro' and that he was entitled to his seat. Hon. J. H. Cameron argued that the question at issue stead go to a commit tee. lie dited British precedent and opinion of British jurists to the •effect that the powers of Parliament in such cases were merely ministerial, that whatever ptecedents were offered in this country in support of his' honorable friend's argument should not prevail over those of an older and possibly higher au- thority. Hon. Mr. Dorionnin support of Mr. Blake's motion, produced the records of the House in the Brodeur ease, iu which on another occasion Mr. Cameron had supported and voted in favor of precise- ly a slimier motion to that now propos- ed, and he found the present leader of the Governm4nt in the same position. In the Oxford case, by an immense ma- jority, including all the judicial minds of that period, the course now proposed was token; and in the Beauharnois case, the course now proposed by the motion before the House was ,adopted. • unanimously. ' •'tit John A. Macdonald said that the real -question at issue was t whether this was the proper tribunal to dispose of such a matter as that referred to in the motion. If it was, if such practices werenllowed, then they might- bid good- bye to the hope of reaching the real bust ness of the session within any reasonable time. This was a question to be deter- mined judicially, and he . deprecated the policy of submitting it to a partizan House. He declined to be drawn into an argument whether the return in question was legal or illegal. It was enough that this return was made upon the opinion of a distinguished legal gen- tleman, Mr:R. A. Harrison, and, there- fore, his action was so far justifiable. He moved in amendment that the return in. question be referred to the Commit- tee ' on Privileges -and Elections, to re- port immediately as to the proper and legal course to be adopted: He further declared that he would take the same course with regard to all the other simi- lar,cases. Hon. Mr. McKenzie contended that there was no force in the argument that the House, being largely • composed of laynakti, was not competent to adjudicate in a case of controverted elaction, espe- cially where the only question to be de- termined_ was whethet• the candidate wbo received 705 votes or the one who received 745 votes, was entitled to be returned. The proposal of the Govern- ment was simply one to delay justice. Setting aside English practice, they found that Canadian precedent was "Un- varyingly in favor of the object of the motion. The honorable gentlemen op- posite were great sticklers for English porctice, but when he and • his friends proposed a court for the trial -of contro- verted elections, citing English prece- dents in support of that course, the Eng- lish precedents went for nothing in the opinion of the Government and their eh supporters. He moved in amendment wh • to the amendment, sti "That this House deems it proper to an follow the precedent famished by the co old Parliament of Canada, and in con- Wa formity with these precedents to forth- Mr with redress the flagrant violation of sel law committed, by returning the defeat- to ed „as the successful candidate, net de. claies that John Bertram should- teen been returned saving the right to eat, test his election." Mr: Palmer (St. John, N. B.) founat partizan spirit very strong in the Rent, and he thought sueh tribunal SCarCely the proper one to deteemitte this Tett tion, Sir Francis Hincks referred to case in Oxford. On the authority Sir Charles Ihilwer, at thattime lish authority of eminence, he wag vised that his ease should go to an RI - tion Committee. Not only Mr. Bald i* but Mr. Bouton, Sir Allan McNabb, the preseht member for -Cardwell, at tlea - - time supp4rted the position now tatee by his side of the House. He hadee ienacslei,nbatuitonb-ettohgoougiatoitthwee tan etoritsseeokf tthhee advice of the Comnuttee that /atilt be selected, and then, when the report of that Committee would be under eon. sideration it will be competent for pit. tlenien opposite to resume their present sppeolaiitriti.eotirB,-.0dliwee 1.1 replied to the preceding put the ease to each mein- ber as though it were his own, mid would ask apart from partizan -con. indentions, it was not manifest justice - that the candidate who had received the greater vote should' be declared elected.' After considerable further speaking, in which Messrs. Howe, Huntingdon, Scatcherd and others took part, the House divided • on Mr. eicKenzie's amendment to the amendment, whien was lost on a division, 79 voting for, ant 95Tahgeaillsorigtirtal motion_ as &mended was then declared carried on the same divi. sion, and the norm adjourned. On Monday Mr. 81:TroAulcght before the House his naotion relative to tie Muskoka election, to the effect that Mr. Cockburn was entitled. te tire seat. In consequence of the exhaustive disemsskixt upon the Peterboro case, this one would, require less time in argument. He aid Mr. Cockburn had polled, as appeared by the return, 652 votes ; and Mr. Boulton, 530. But certain poll books had b lost, and the returning 3fficer thenglithe could not, for want of a perfeet make a return -of either candidate. It appeired, however, that evea althaugn all the votes belonging to the dieisions- whose poll books were lost, had. been given, to Mr. Boulton, Mr. Cockbura would still have a clear majority Of 26. He (Mr. Blake) held that the Heusi would. not be AltIciding the election, there was a clear question of law. The facts, were as they appeared upon the IIs books, and he quoted the proceedings taken in the Beauharnois and other for cases to show that it was quite court petent for the House to take action at, once thwards rectifying the retarn; Par- liament was the High Coart of the la. and when the returning officers failed_ts-r obey the exigency of the writ, but sidn mitted all the facts, it seirety was the privilege of the House to earry out the - law ; but if there was any objection to the proceeding because of the missing poll -books, he found that there was a provision of the law by which the evi- dence of the poll -clerk could be takenas- to the state of the missing poll. But in thib ease the deputy returning officer had. failed to appoint a poll -clerk, but took and recorded. the votes himself, as the law empbwered him to do. He - therefore contended that the evidence as . to the state of the poll .was in the pos- -session of the House. There was no course open to the House but to accept the evidence at hand as to the state of the lost poll, -although it would be eta tirely without -effeet .as to the final re- . sult. Ile had reason to believe that this would appear a clearer case to most members than the other, and. a just con - elusion would be arrived at. Mr. Hilliard. Cameron said there were other circumstances thit -must be remem- bered in dealing welt. this matter. He denied that the case of the Beauharnois election was at all a precedent for the action now proposed. In the present case the difficulty of the Returning Of; ficer was to know what he ought to do. The statute declared th-at the Returning Officer could not return a candidate as elected, unless he received all the poll - books, and it then provided the course to be followed in the case of a poll -book being lost. The House had no right to consiclar thelist of voters, as the solute in no way allowed it as -evidence. In this respect it was altogether Idifferent from a poll -book and could not tie accept- ed by the House as a fact without proper proof. Be did not deny that if the votes in Morrison and Parry Sound were struck out, Mr, Cockburn wnuld still have a majority, and if the matter were sent to a committee, and were he one of the committee, and this were shown to be true, he should be in favor of giving Mr. Cockburn the seat. Sir John Macdonald acknowledged that the case as pie. by Mr. Blake was a strong one, and he believed the Return- ing Officer would have exercised -a wise discretion if he had returned. Mr, Cock- burn. He believed. the Returning Of- ficer hadacted to the best of his ability, though he believed his course to have been a mistaken one ; still he b -ad. acted. on advice. He was always opposed. to. the House „dealing with questions of this character, still the eitcumstances were so different from those of the West Peterboro' ease that he should not oppose the motion, but ha doing so he hoped that the Roust would pass an act during the session which would do away with any possibility of waking the case a precedent m the future. The return was amended, and Mr. Cockburn was introduced by Messrs. Mackenzie and Dorion, and took -his seat. It will thus be seen that Sir John, finding he could not carry the House with hirn, as he had done on the pre:4- ous Friday, tnade virtue of necessityt, d accepted the hunailiating position of au turning his back on his previous profes1 sionstin orden to escape defeat. He had declared. that all these cases ;should. referred to a conmaittee, but finding tha the House would not sustain him, h backed down and accepted Mr. Blake's motion. The precarious position of the Gonermnent will be more fully under- stood when I., say- that on Saturday, Sunday and Monday the canvassing of members by the Government was pur- sued most diligently. Even for some tim.e afterjthe speaker had taken the air, on Monday afternoon, members • o were thought to be hesitating were 11 beset by Government supporters, d. not until i Mr. Cameron had made nsiderable progress in a speech which s at firstintended for an answer to . Blake, did ministers assure them- ves that to -continue their course was go on to defeat. A line to r. Cam - 31 14, rartenoafha t thilfS ajarnpreoturvaei,olfeelthheitnutoeti urn the eurrent of his remark eft it for the consideration of th f the C.tovernment whether it well. in this ease to amend unteartirrast: enessedi:,haspsadtowisiliettililofeunaertlstItocePewifx-ttt:ere7tfaellilitt tentiou of dealing with this ere compelled to abandon their Be Oil Friday, it nay be re hat upon Sir John moving the ent of the Rouse, the leader of i,osl'don asked. if the debate on dreassvieryuldvii:ti ene.p. roTcheisedadedtni5-ei pWlia:C1Stilea.thrleY-Ginovtehrame deanYi wSasirn do so, and adMitted that they • °tea the debate just conclude reeeivsreclaylit .4,e0pososityrgionALit P13 1:4aENTxtb._ on Tuesday tb.e only businee ;rt. anTocbeintraonfsacHteclaufawxas, :37)3ecot he Throne. The address Was na lie ail dress in reply -to the see Mr. Palmer, of St. John, I speeches of these gentlemen itt and secondirig the address were, et coll. fltnn. the- Throne itso the Opposition Mr. McKenrid z • the course of the Opposition u nit° hi:er sof oipyre az*, sr eet iri tre bws :11r roa e afr ne we Epos efaedote ,A.aress woola be that which come the practice in this count Zhfeirrch.eauat) tebteiscted.liraufiocrsstoamtee°1tet( financial circles in this count ibesheyaczidtgessbeed fmopthaapt.nocistiiatropansolitahei orfesthneltg't who now represented Vancoue reviewed the bistoryiof the Rani way legislation of last sessi charged the Government with been utterlypck.less in the inn the countty. He had no more ( than tbe member for Vaneouve application of American capit.a development of -Mats coontry would. not countenance any m th ro alit pyewotikaldriyt,L asthedone,to control ef As public work of sue lance into the hands of a rival eign company. He -could not guage strong enough to conder bad been done. He eontended kind. policy of the Goverrimet nection with the Pacific Railwe prove au effectual bar to the pr the tountry. The price of acre, the minimum price at whn Lands were to be sold, was eale give a fictitious :value to the lat sidy in the English market, 341 eause deception and trouble, it was absurd to think ol the „Crown Lands at twill and a half per acre, in eompetil -those of a neighboring conntr for nothing to actual, settlers. - glad the Government had eoni lent to bring in an election lawn Sir John .Macdonald expresm pteeiation of the course on the taken by the Opposition, and --41 some length and. in vehement defend the policy of the Govet - the Peeific Railway scheme. upon the provisions. of the Pai way aet, and. took refuge in t that the Government ..was taint of Parliament and bound its cemmands. He sought te the Renee that the public w� DOMilliOn were in as forwar& the ciremnstances of the touid ed and would allow, tie sal some three years ago intrs Election bill, , and a measure r e controverted elections, which, ence to the desire of the major Home, he bud Withdrawn ; a laboriously to prove his policy asit been,'aaejterin harmon publiciiterest,t rErasHiloieei0ationzoniececwhs i0theGvrxets dire ito the adverse reception he in Brant, for he was proud of th n consequence of the very etai tion he met from those who ago had been his constitnents ing from the Governmene be entirely upon the advice of I -• adviser, the stateof ¥ihea1tb that he dared not eo-ainue to the arduous duties of the ,offic • held, Dr. Grant alno stated by his Advice, „given professio Sir Franeis had. retired from ter some further diSCUSS10/1 -0 portant nature, the Achlresm paragraph by paragraph a The discussion taken as a wh eeedingly tame and uninteres Opposition seemed -to thinle was nothing contained in worthy of criticism, and the ,evidently determine& that policy for , them to pursne Wei 118 tilleoe-ePthinegy eould. It ie genei tvtoheer tsheoavap.opoytest:itaitonHsrfreaitjshlahliretetli:::: ressea it to be his intention overnment through at a iunt whsnwkianooni nothing atl be sgoeefi lave eaatrenwroffieriatiyitee. natescoxenzgeiesivp:Tee et y iBrumor. • ;AUCTION SAlgtS.' Tuesday„ March 18, on LO Stanley, Farm Mock and John McCormick, propriet • Brine, auctioneer. Tuesday, March 25, on 10, Grey, Thoroughbred 5 Stock, Implements and Ho niture. 'ruie1 T Woodrifii J. 1. Bninet'auctioneer.. Monday, Ma.rch 31, on. Lo Stanley, Farm Stock and Thomas McKay, proprietor ; auctioneer. Wednesday, Mareh 26. ` Con. 7; Morris, Farm Stock, and Household Furnitnre. ' thur, proprietor; -George tioneer. Monday, Mareh 241, on 3, Grey, Farm Stock, Imp Household Furniture. _Ilot proprietor. J. P. Brine, auc Thursday, April 3, on Lo Morris, Farm Stock, Top', 100 acres ,-of land. Jona: proprietor' ; J. P. Brine, au, Wednesday, April 2. on 9, IticKillop, Farm Stock merits. Michael llogan, P. Brine, auttiorreen