The Huron Expositor, 1888-02-10, Page 4s.
4
THE
HURON EXPOSITOR
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
gar The figure between the parenthesis after
each line denotes the page of the paper on which
he advertisement will be found.
Auction Sale—J. Montgomery. (5)
Cottage for Sale—George Sproat. (6)
Farm for Sale—D. M. Radcliffe. (5)
To Milk Drawers—R. H. Ferguson. (6)
Public Notice—John Hasty. (5)
Splendid Farms for Sale—W, S. Mundell. (5)
Farm in Stanley for Sale—Win. Collins. (5)
Teacher Wanted—Thomas Haywood. (5)
Farm for Sale—Robert King. (5)
Mortgage Sale.—Bayly & Bayly. (6)
Bulls for Service -0 E. Cresswell. (5)
Whey for Sale—Belgrave Cheese Factory. (5)
The Last Warning—R. Willis. (8)
Large Stock StilL on Hand—J. L. Smith. (8)
Anniversary SerMans in Methodist Church. (8)
A Good Chance—ExPosrroa °rms. (8)
Who Wants Wioney—ExPosrroa OFFICE. (8)
Rooms to Rent—A. G. Ault. (8)
Cheap Coal—McDonald & Waugh. (8)
Special Bargains—A. Taylor. (8) ,
Card—Misi Morrison. (8)
Seeds Wanted— 0. C. Wilson. (8)
Clearing Sale Continues—J. Pickard. (8)
„Everything for the Public. [15)—H J. Scott.
A Cure for Hard Times—G. Good. (8)
(8)
IIOU(expositor.
SEAFORTH, FRIDAY, Feb. 10, 1888.
Insuring Live Stock.
A short time ago an Association was
formed in this connty for the purpose of
insuring live stock, to be conducted in
the same way and on the same principle
as the Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
panies. After all arrangements had
been nearly completed, however, and
application was made. to the Government
for a charter, it was ascertained that a
charter could not be granted until a de-
posit of ten thousand dollars is made
with the Government.' We notice by
our Toronto correspondence that a large
number of petitions are to be presented
to the Legislature asking to have the
law so amended as to permit of the
establishment of these miltual companies
on reasonable terms. This proposition
will, no doubt, be opposed by all those
interested in Stock Companies, as the
Mutual Companies in this, as in fire and
life insurance, are a powerful lever in
drawing away business from the Stock
Companies and in pulling down their
exorbitant profits. A correspondent
writing to us on this subject gives the
substance of the arguments which will
likely be used against granting this
asked for legislation. He says:
" The Insurance Monitor, the leading
insurance journal in the United States,
says the business of live stock insurance
has been attempted several times in that
country by skilful under -writers, backed
by large capital and the best accumu-
lated experience of the world, and each
time it has resulted 'disastrously. The
simple fact is this, the mortality is so
great that rates sufficiently high to cover
losses and expenses cannot be collected,
consequently experimental companies
which offer rates low enough to induce
business proceed upon an unsatisfactory
income to early bankruptcy. I am
afraid there is too much truth in this."
It is not safe to place too much de -
p endence on what insurance journals
and authorities of this kind say upon
such matters. Many of these journals
are interested in the large stock com-
panies and it is to their interests to
keep the mutuals out of the field. All
the insurance and monetary papers
long declaimed against Mutual Fire
Insurance Companies, and predicted all
manner of evil and disaster if they were
allowed to gain a footing in the country,
but all these predictions have been
proven false by actual, practical ex-
perience ; so we believe it will be
with mutual companies or associations
for the insurance of live stock. These
companies are simply an association of
men engaged in one common calling,
and running about equal risks, for the
purpose of assisting each other in the
event of misfortune to any, and there is
no earthly reason why ruin or injury
should :befall any by reason of this asso-
ciation if it is properly and honestly
conducted. Each member is bound only
for the amount of his premium note and
he, therefore, knows the utmost amount
he will be required tp pay even if the
worst comes to pass. When the notes
become exhausted the aid ceases an d new
responsibility need not be assumed un-
less all are agreeable. So we cannot see
where there is any chance for serious
injury to any person. But there are
abundant opportunities for good in
an organized system which will enable
the fortunate to assist the unfortunate,
while the fortunate this year may be
the unfortunate next year. It is well
worth while to try the experiMeiat at
any rate, and we hOpe the Legislature
will afford the necessary facilities for so
doing.
..••!1•••
Pounding the Globe.
Several of the Liberal papers have
recently been pounding the Toronto
Globe on account of the views it has
been putting forth on the Trade ques-
tion. The Globe has been advocating
Universal Free Trade and the raising Of
the revenue by direct taxation. This
doctrine does not meet with the approval
of many of the Liberal papers, and they
denounce it as rank heresy and repudiate
it as a plank in the platform of the
Reform party. They also denounce the
Globe for advocating it because, as they
say,' that journal has hitherto been
looked upon as the mouthpiece of the
Reform party and its utterances as being
the authentic utterances of that party.
All this is true to a certain extent, and
the present discussion may serve to place
matters in their proper light before the
public. If it has this result it will do
good,although it may not serve any other
practical purpose. Now, under the cir-
cumstances as they at present exist, we
do not see why the Globe should not ad-
vocate Universal Free Trade, with the
necessary accompaniment of direct taxa-
tion, or anything else it may see fit,
without being called to account for so -
doing by the other Liberal journals. -It
,is quite proper for them to combat its
views on this or any other subject, but
they have no iight to act as the mentors
or guardians of that journal's principles.
The Reform party, as a party, is not re-
sponsible for the Globe's utterances any
more than the Globe is responsible for
the actions of the Reform party. The
one is quite independent eef the other.
In this respect the Globe occupies pre-
cisely the same position as any other
paper in the country. There was a time
when the Globe could be very properly
taken as the official exponent of the prin-
ciples of the party to which it belonged.
At that time, however, thr Globe was
owned and controlled by the recognised
leader of the party,and its utterances on
public questions could be taken as
reflecting his views and through him the
views of the party of which he was the
leader. But this is all changed now.
The Globe is not -now the mouth -piece of
the leader of the party. It is owned
and controlled by a company of business
and political speculators and its utter-
ances only reflect the views of its pro-
prietors, and it cannot be considered in
any sense to speak officially for the
party to which it belongs. Nor does it
profess to do so. It ;would be well,
therefore, that this difference should- be
understood and remembered by the pub-
lic. But, although the Globe cannot
now be; considered, as formerly, the
official mouth -piece of the Reform party,
it still wields a powerful influence in
the country. For this reason, its some-
what erratic course on the trade question
is deeply to be regretted. It has been
all things by turns and ):mthing. long.
It started out as an ardent advocate of
Commercial Union with the United
States; itthen turned its attention to
Universal Free Trade with Il nations
and direct taxation for home revenue
purposes, and now it seems to be advo-
cating Unrestricted Reciprocity. In
this way it is doing immense injury to
the cause it professes to serve. By its
unstable course it is distracting public
attention from the practical and what
should he the real issue, and is causing
a division in forces that should be
united for one common purpose and
with eine common aim; instead of pur-
suing after half a dozen different
phantoms, which at best can only •be
hoped for in imagination. The Globe
admits that Commercial Union is feasi-
ble; that it would be immensely bene-
ficial and that there is a reasonably good
prospect of securing it. Why then does
it not exert its whole strengthin sup-
port of this Measure which it believes
in, and which it admits is practicable,
instead of frittering away its strength
in advocacy of a visionary scheme such
as Universal Free Trade ? If, however,
the waSting of its own energies were all
the evil it is doing, that might be ex-
cusable, but as we have already said, it
is diverting the attention of the people
from the real issue and making divisions
where only unity should exist. It is to
be hoped, therefore, that its usual good
'sense will soon come to its aid and that
,et will see the folly of the , unstable and
wild -goose -chase it is Pursuing and
settle down to common sense and reason._
btu icipal Accounts. ,
1 , ,
On the Si th page of this issue will be
found a weI
1 written letter in reply to
our article of two weeks ago on munici-
pal accounts. It will be. seen that our
correspondent does not exactly agree
with us on this subject.- While we ad-
rift with him thatIthere are many effi-
eient municipal treasurers, we also know
t_hat there.are many who are pot efficient,
knd who do not keep their accounts ac-
cutately or intelligently. We also be-
lieve that most of the irregulkrities in
e
municipal accounts which occasion muni-
cipalities loss, and which should bp, but
are not; disdovered by the auditors, are
due not to dishonesty, but to igneranCe
and carelessness. In every municipali-
ty there is, �r should be a good deal more
than a " general cash account," and if
there is not it is not surprising that thei
accounts get mixed and muddled, so
that frequently even the most expert ac-
countants, cannot get to the true inward -
her of them. , There are many somees
,
I
of income ,as well as many sources of ex-
penditure, and a separate account should
be kept for each, to say nothing of the
assets and liabilities, and the calcula-
tions for interest and assessment. In
1
fact the accounts of a municipality are
as intricate as those of an ordinary busi-
ness. It would be a very caeeless busi-
ness man who would entrust the making
up of his balance sheet to a novice in
book-keeping, and still the work of mak-
ing up the annual municipal balance sheet
s
is frequently entrueted to men who have
very little knowledge of the work they
undertake, and the work, as a natural
result, is performed in the most perfunc-
tory manner.
We admit with our correspondent that
the system now in vogue of appointing
auditorsis in accordance with the statute,
but that does not make it 'right. What
we advocate is a change in the statute.
It is only for the auditing ' of municipal
accounts that the auditors are appointed
by the parties who are directly interest-
ed in those accounts. In the case of
agricultural societies, churches, &c., as
instanced -by our correspondent, the
auditors are appointed by the members,
and are entirely independent of the
Boards of Directors or Managers who
have the expenditure of the moneys to
be accounted for. If municipal auditors
were appofuted by the people, then they
would occupy a position similar to the
auditors of agricultural, church and
other societies. As to the appointment
of Government Inspectors, we are not
wedded to that scheme by any means,
although we would not object to it on
the score of"- cost, as we believe the sav-
ing which would be effected through in-
creased efficiency on the part of munici-
pal officials, would greatly counter -bal-
ance the cost of efficient inspection. But,
it must be evident to all who know any-
thing of the subject, or who have given
it any consideration, that a change of
some kind is required, and if our corres-
pondent or any person else can propound
a better scheme we shall be very glad to
give it publicity.
THE weekly press in all parts of the
Province is calling on the Legislature
to pass Mr. Balfour's bill to prohibit
bonus -granting. The majority wants
Protection against itself, and as regards
bonusing there is a good deal of evidence
that it needs it.—Globe.
This is all nonsense. So far as we
have been able to see there is no general
demand for any such .legislation. We
have not seen a Copy of Mr. Balfour's
Bill bilt if its object be to prohibit, by
law, the people from granting bonuses
to manufacturers or to any others they
see fit, it proposes an impudent interfer-
ence with the rights of the people
which the Government should not
permit even if the Legislature is agree-
able. It is well that the rights of the
people should be properly protected, but
to say that they should be prohibited
from using their own money in any way
they may consider to be for their own
interests, is absurd. The people, as a
rule, are not fools and they know what
is for their own interests as well as the
legislature can tell them. In order to
carry a bonus by-law it must now receive
the assent of two-fifths of the entire
rate -payers, whether absentees or not,
as well as a majority of the whole, and
any by-law that receives a vote of this
kind, is pretty sure to be in the
public interest whatever its object may
be. If Mr. Balfour's bill is as repre-
sented it should be slaughtered in its
infancy.
Mn. BUTTERWORTH, Of Ohio, has in-
troduced in the House of Representa-
tives at Washington, a bill to extend
the trade and -commerce of the United
States and to' provide for full recipro-
city between the United States and the
Dominion. It is said that there is a
very good prospect of this bill being
favorably received if not finally adopted
by both houses. If it should. be, the
hopes of so many Canadians will soon
be realized. Let it be once known that
the Americans will agree to either Un-
restricted Reciprocity or Commercial
Union and no government in Canada
can long resist the almost universal
desire for this change on the part of the
people. It will kedeed be a red letter
day for Canada the day that either
scheme becomes an accomplished fact.
ONTARIO LEGISLATURE. _
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
TORONTO, February 6th, 1888.
Those who make a habit of sneering .
at the Local Legislature as of no impor-
tance should take a look over the pro-
gramme already mapped out for the
present session.1 They would find there
proposals Made to legislate in ways
affecting so deei>ly and widely the peo-
ple's every day interests that they could
not but recognize the wisdom of the
majority of Ontario's citizens in guard-
ing 80 carefully the rights of the legisla-
ture and in choosing able men as their
representatives in Provincial affairs.
Last week a- partial list of the Govern-
ment measures to be brought forward
was given. But private members in
this, as in every legislative body, are
the leaders in many reforms which do
-not commend themselves to the Govern-
ment and its supporters as a body and
must therefore be fought out in hand to
hand fashion without bringing the party
machines to bear. Some of these lead-
ing measures may be barely mentioned.
REFORMS AND OTHER CHANGES.
Though not itself of first class impor-
tance, the proposal to give women the
right to vote in elections to thee> Load
Legislature, if carried, is certain to lead
to the other radical changes, In fact,
it is a move in the direction of universal
suffrage and will practically commit
the Province to that system if it is
carried. As a link in a chain and as
the link which binds the Province
irrevocably, this bill is therefore of the
greatest moment. The importance of
the female franchise as affecting the tone
of public affairs and as affecting legisla-
tion on moral and social questions can-
not be exaggerated. It means simply a
revolution within a short time. It is,
of course, practically impossible that the
measure can pass this session, but the
man who brings it forward, Mr.
Waters, of Middlesex, is not one to be
turned aside from hi S purpose and, if he
lives, the adoption of his view some day
is assured.
Mr. Nairn, of Elgin, proposes- sweep-
ing changes in the law relating to the
conditional purchase of goods. He
aims to prevent the swindles carried
on under pretense of selling ma-
chines and other expensive articles
on the "instalment plan." These
frauds are perpetrated mainly on the
poor, but it is practically impossible to
strike off these suckers without injur-
ing the tree of the credit system which
is practically all our trade. The meas-
ure met with such a good reception last
year, however, that it is almost certain
to pass within a few years, being modi-
fied a good deal in the discussion.
Petitions from Huron and other
counties have been presented by Mr.
Gibson, praying that laws be passed
under which mutual live stock insurance
companies may be formed as mutual
insurance companies are formed now.
Doubtless a measure' to this effect will
soon be before the House.
Mr. Snider, of North Waterloo,'ibrings
forward a bold proposal amounting to
making each- municipality the insurer of
property within its bounds. The cost
of insurance on the mutual plan is now
very low but Mr. Snider wants to see
it made lower still by using the Muni-
cipal government machinery for the
collection and disbursement of the fund.
A scheme for making all the roads in
the province free _ of tolls as are the
magnificent roads of Huron County al-
ready, is proposed by Mr. Lees, of
Lanark, whose county is kept back in
the race of progress by the ancient
barbarous system of tolls that preGails.
The importance of the sweeping changes
proposed can be imagined by those mu
Wentworth, Middlesex, York and other
counties, where the toll curse still
hampers traffic and stands between buy-
er and seller.
The proposal is made that farm stock
should be free from taxation and there
are petitions in circulation asking that
the municipalities be given the right to
fix each for itself the schedule of taxae
tion rating or exempting as it pleases..
These and other most important mat-
ters, besides the ones mentioned last
week, are to be dealt with by the Pro-
vincial,. Legislature. In effect upon the
people themselves, the measures are
quite as important as any the Dominion
House has ever passed or ever will Pass
unless the constitutional checks now
placed upon that body 'are wholly re-
moved.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
Since the last letter the Government
has distributed copies of the proposed.
Bill relating to Friendly Societies. It is
intended to regulate the many organiza-
tions which, especially in cities and
tons, have large membership because
of the attractions of social meetings com-
bined with benefits. The Object is to
regulate that part of these societies' af-
fairs which partakes of the- nature of a
business contract between the organiza-
tion and the members individually. It
is too often the case that persons join
these friendly societies under the im-
pression that they are securing insurance
and not merely benefits made up of as-
sessments upon the members. The great
value of membership in good organiza-
tions of this kind has led, in Canada as
elsewhere, to the formation of societies
which are conducted merely for the pur-
pose of giving positions and salaries to a
_few officers. In these there are some-
times irregularities, and downright
frauds are not uncommon. The remedy
for a most alarming state of affairs aris-
ing lout of the abuse of these society
privileges in England was found in a
statute under which all friendly socie-
ties granting benefits must be registered,
furnishing statements of their affairs to
officials appointed to carry out the law,
and giving the members access to the
books at proper times. These, in the
main, are the features of the measure
now proposed for Ontario, but certain
modifications are made which will adapt
the system to the peculiai Ries of the
business here. The Bill will please the
life insurance men much better than the
Dominion measure on the same subject,
because of the clear distinction made be-
tween the "old line" life insurance
companies and friendly societies. • The
measure is put forward in its pres-
ent shape merely to test public opinion
on this important subject, but it will
probably meet with the cordial approval
of the House after comparatively little
amendment.
THE NEW MEMBERS.
The elections in Dundas and East
Northumberland have not yet had their
effect in the House,for neither of the new
members, Ma Whitney and Mr. Clarke,
has come to claim his seat. Honors ate
easy as between the Gnvernment and the
Opposition, each having lost and won a
seat. The new members will probably
plat in an appearance to -morrow or next
day. Both are spoken of as strong men,
Mr. Clarke, the new acquisition on the
Government side, being looked upon as
a apecially valuable addition to the ranks.
He will need to be a good man to take
the promtnent place which Dr. Cham-
berlain, the defeated Government can-
didate in Dundas, was rapidly coming
forward to fill. Dr. Willoughby, whom
the Opposition lose in East Northumber-
land, had iven promise of a useful
career, it being evident that he had the
full confidence of the Opposition leader
and the respect of his colleagues as well.
Mr. Whitney, however good a man he
may prove, will not make the Opposi
tion forget their loss in the defeat of Dr.
Willoughby.
PRESS AND PRAYERS.
-One of the funny features of the ses-
sion is the agitation which is being car-
ried on by the admission' of the news-
paper reporters during prayers. For
some reason, which nobody seems to
understand, the doors are solemnly
closed, and everybody, including press-
men, excluded from the galleries while
Mr. Speaker is reading the prayers with
which the sittings of the House are
opened. The Globe man, for want of
something else to say, probably, began
to write about this in a semi-serious way
as a grievance, and he made such a dis-
turbance about it that Mr. Graham, of
Lambton, has actually placed on the
paper notice of a motion- to admit the
press representatives to prayers. So far
the resolution has not been regularly
brought forward. If it is proposed,
doubtless it will be carried without
dissent, as the members probably do not
care to establish a prayer monopoly.
Talking about the Press Gallery, it is
worth while to mention the, decision re-
cently arrived at in a gallery meeting
concerning the Mail and Empire. From
a time anterior to the gallery experience
of the oldest hands now representing the
press in the Local Legislature, the Globe
and Mail have had the corner seats in
the galleries on either side of the Speak-
er, the Mail on the left and the Globe
on the right. This session, however,
comes the Empire, and claims the seat
held from olden time by the ex -organ of
the Conservatives. The Press Gallery
took this thing into its serious consid-
eration, and after several postponements
FEBRUARY ID, 1888.
and an elaborate consideration of the.
whole case, awarded the coveted seat to
-the Empire, relegating the Mail to sec-
ond . place. The question aroused no'
little interest in the House and among
politicians generally. The result of the
vote seems to be regarded generally as
fair, thus endorsing the newspaper men's
judgment.
A QUIET WEEK.
The week was _devoted mainly to the
introduction of Bills, most of which have
been already referred, to. The sittings
did not exceed half ai4 hour in length on
any day, and the pre4nt week has open-
ed with a sitting as short as any of
the others. It is probable that it will
be near the end of this week before the
evening sessions begin. It was thought
at one time that the fludget Speech
Would be delivered on Thursday, but it
is definitely settled that this central
event of the session cannot come off
until next week.
SHARP PRACTICE AG AI :s.TST FARMERS.
Mr. French, a leading member of the
Opposition, has called attention to what
looks like the beginning of a very serious
abuse. He sent to the Attorney -Gen-
eral a copy of one clause in the printed
agreement of an agricultural implement
maker which, when signed by the pur-
chaser, conetitutes a mortgage on his
land. This, if in small type and if un-
explained by the agent, is very apt to
lead to sharp practice, if not. actual
fraud. Mr. French has come across
several cases of •this kind in his own
county. He proposes to pass a bill under
which such agreements shall terminate
at the end of a certain period, say one
or two years. This would be fair for
the manufacturer if he were given fair
warning of the change, so that he could
sell without expectation of having real
estate for security after a certain period.
A. B. J.
FROM THE DOMINION
CAPITAL.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
OTTAWA, February 8, 1888.
The present attitude of the Executive
may be described as awaiting the result
-of the Fisheries Commission. Many
executive acts are pending the feturn of
three important departmental heads, the
appointment -of a jtidie for Prescott and
Russell, and the awarding of the ocean
mail contract, being cases in point. A
few days ago there was a great cry that
a treaty:had been drafted, which turned
out to be false, but it drew from Sir
John Macdonald the important state-
ment that an agreement had been reach-
ed on several points, and others were
still under discussion. Of course the
unsettled matters are the main points.
That the Alaska boundary line is being
now discussed seems proved by the de-
parture of Professor 0. M. Dawson, who
.is thoroughly posted on the subject. If
this commission settles the boundary
between British Columbia and Alaska, a
dangerous snag will have been avoided,
for, owing to the deposits of gold in that
section, requests for patents from either
one government or another are sure to
be frequent: The actual state, how-
ever, in Which newspaper -men find
themselves in with respect to the atti-
tude of the commission on the fishery
questions is one of pi ofound ignorance,
for once. A most important thing has,
however, transpired at Washington. A
Congress committee were induced to
withhold a report recommending a bill
forbidding all foreigners from fishing in
American waters, by the statement made
to the committee by a member who had
the ear of the Cabinet, that Secretary
Bayard was confident a conclusion- would
be reached.
MILITIA ANT) DE• FENCE.
Major- General M id d letup 's forthcom-
ing annual report will he as comPtiment-
ary as usual to the militia force, and
will recommend an increase in numbers,
new arms, and a longer time in camp. •
The new infantry school at London will
be opened early in the spring, when 100
men may enter on a three years term and
20 on a three months' course. A con-
tract has been awarded for the erec-
tion of huts on the Pacific coast, and I
have seen in the Militia Department
here plans for a series of fortifications at
Victoria harbor, which include earth-
works and embrazures in which good-
sized guns will_be mounted. An arrange-
ment has been entered' into by the Dom-
inion Government and the Imperial
authorities under which the Dominion is
to construct the defensive works at the
joint expense—in what proportion is not
known.
ELECTION MATTERS.
The straight convention candidate,
Mr. Dickinson, beat his brother Conser-
vative, ex -Sheriff Powell, by an official
majority of 573 in Carleton. But this is
not all. The ex -sheriff's brother-in-law,
Senator Clemow, and his following are
incensed at the interference of Mr. C. 11.
Mackintosh in Carleton, and declare that
they will support Mr. Edwards in the
corning contest in Russell against -Mr.
Mackintosh, the Conservative candidate.
Mackintosh, however, is a dauntless
fighter. The result of the Halton con-
test is known py this time. In Joliette,
Quebec, Mr. Guilbault, Conservative,
has been unseated, and Mr. Neven is
now claiming the seat. Argument on
this point will be heard on the 18th.
Mr. Guilbault was returned at the gen-
eral election by the casting .vote of the
returning officer, the electoral vote being
a tie. We have not after all heard the
last of Haldimand, Mr. Coulter having
appealed against the decisions of Judge
Street to the Supreme Court. The peti-
tion against the return of Mr. Joncas,
M. P. for Gaspe, has been discussed on
the six months rule. The protest in
Montmagny will not be heard until after
the session. Mr.. Choquette, the sitting
member is a Liberal, and defeated
Landry, of Rid l fame. Dr. Wilson,
East Elgin, has come out of his trial
successfully, being confirmed in his seat.
In my next I will state clearly the posi-
tion of each appeal to be heard by the
Supreme Court on the 21st.
A HA IRBRA TNED PRAM ECT.
Probably. Prince Edward Island will
soon threaten to leave the Union unless
the Dominion constructs a tunnel to con-
nect with New Brunswick under North-
umberland Straits. Of course it is dill -
cult to keep up a regular mail service
all winter by boat, but as an official ex-
presses it we had better bring all the
people of Prince Edward Island over to
St. John and board them at a first-class
hotel all winter than to attempt the con-
struction of a subway or tunnel. It
Would be cheaper. Senator Howland
has been here urging the tunnel scheme,
which he says can be constructed for
$5,000,000 if the Government will guar-
antee 4 per cent. on this sum for 50
years. This is the Senator's hobby.
IS MONTREAL IN LUCK.
It is said that the Government intend
at last to deepen the channel of Lake St.
Peter and take over the Montreal harbor
debt, and that the banquet to Sir
Adolphe Caron at Quebec this week is
for the purpose ofetllowing the Minister
of Public Works to soothe the feelings
of Quebeckers, as the favors to Montreal
would be sure to ruffle them, and assure
them that the Government intends doing
something handsome for the ancient
port. One thing is certain, the improve-
ment of ' Montreal's harbor will not be
opposed outside of its Quebec rival.
Canada is proud of her great waterways,
and the better ocean terminal facilities
afforded Montreal the better for the
commerce of Canada.
THE MILITARY COLLEGE.
The military college at Kingston is
puehing its claims for exemption from
law examinations and surveyors' examin-
ations, and not only so, but it is urged
by the high military officers that the
Government should appoint the gradu-
ates of this college to permanent Gov-
ernment positions. This is going a little
too far. If we are at great expense to
give these young men the benefit of a
good college curriculum, combined with
a discipline which should fit them
for the world, and then keep them at
the public expense the balance of their
days, it is a sad outlook. Young men
of their abilities, education and advan-
tages ought surely to be able to carve
out their future. Again, most of the
students are sons of rich men, and if
they care for the country that reared
them will stay in it without such induce-
ments.
A GREAT STRIKE.
Little has been published of the fact
that 1,500 cotton operatives are idle at
Cornwall, and two cotton mills are idle,
one of them having _26,000 spindles.
The managers say they are not paying
any dividend and cut down the pay of
the operatives, hence the trouble.
OR PERSONS AND THINGS.
It is said that ex -Lieutenant -Governor
Masson will be called to the Senate.
Petitions for Scott Act repeal remain
undecided from Glengarry, Stormont,
Dundas and Stanstead.. Repeal votes
will be taken in Renfrew and Simcoe.
The Governor-General is quite a pro-
ficient skater, and is frequently seen at
the rink. He drove a party of friends to
Aylmer the other day behind his pair of
splendid bays.
The papers are now explaining the
trouble in the United States Senate
over the Extradition Treaty, which I
told you of fully two weeks ago.
The Post Office Department has 40
applications for a vacancy in the King-
ston office.
Mr. J. L. Archambanit, Q. C. has
been raised to the Bench for the Mon-
treal district as one of the two addition-
al Superior Court Judges. He is a young
but successful lawyer.
As a ground for his action against the
Government Wong Ching Foo, the
Chinese journalist, says when he came
to Canada to lecture he was seized at
Clifton, tagged and labelled like a chest
of tea, and stored in a warehouse. He
had to pay the $50 poll tax before he
was released.
News of the Week.
DEAD. —England's great botanist, Dr.
Thomas Irvine Boswell, is dead.
DEATH OF MARY HOWITT. —Mrs . Mary
Howitt, the poetess and author is dead.
TOBACCO ROOM.—There is a great boom
in tobacco ip the States.
MILLIONS DEVOURED. —The total loss-
es by fire in the United States during
last month aggregated $16,040,000.
ANOTHER IRISH M. P. IMPRISONED. —
Mr. Cox, M. P., has been sentenced to a
month's imprisonment on account of his
Kildysart speech.
THE QUEEN'S TRIP.—Queen Victoria
will start for the Riveria on March 18th.
It is estimated that her, continental trip
will cost $1,000 a day.
THE POOR CROFTERS.— Several of the
Lewis crofters have been sentenced to
imprisenment, the terms ranging from
six months to a year.
COMPENSATION ASKED. ---A deputation
of Irish landlords waited on Lord Salis-
bury Friday, and asked compensation
for losses caused them by recent legisla-
tion.
HOME RULERS APPROVE. —The lead-
ing Home Rule organs in England ap-
prove the heavy sentence- imposed on
Callan and Harkins, the dynamiters,
who go to penitentiary for fifteen years.
Mits. CLEVELAND'S PICTURES. —Presi-
dent Cleveland is not pleased with the
free use of his - wife's photographs and
has requested her not to have any more
pictures taken.
YACHT BuiranNe.—The designer of
the cutter Thistle has completed the
design of a cutter similar to the Thistle,
but to be built of composite instead of
steel. He has also finished the design
of a steel yacht which will have a centre-
board.
PRINTER CLARK IS DEAD. --George
Clark, who served three terms Ois presi-
dent of the International Typographical
,Union, died Saturday at St. Louis of
ipnipumonia. He was born in Scotland,
, March 12th, 1837, and has lived in St.
Louis since 1857.
1 THE TREATY BETWEEN ITALY AND
GERMANY. —The treaty between Italy
rand Germany stipulates that if France
attacks either country the other shall
send an army of 200,000 men to the
French frontier.
RESULTS OF THE WAR • SCARE. -The
Stock markets are flat with a general
decline of prices of to 1 per cent. The
Berlin and Frankfort stock markets are
also fiat. The Paris Bourse is weak.
Is STANLEY DEAD ?- —Alarm is now
increasing over the prolonged absence
of news from Stanley, despite recent as-
surances of his probable safety. It is
reported that unfavorable advices have
reached the King of the Belgians.
HEAVY DAMAGES CLA 1 MED. —Baron
Louis Cremers, son of a wealthy St.
Petersburg banker and nephew of the
Russian Minister at Washington, has
sued The Press for :;3100,000 damages for
alleged libel.
THE JOUR :\ AL's 0 PI NI oN. The Dublin
Freeman's Journal declares that the
claims of the Irish landlords are absurd,
and that their .plans for compensation
for the losses they have suffered in con-
sequence of recent legislation cannot be
carried out.
Fun. SALES is LON DON. —The Cana-
dian Gazette states that at the Hudson
Bay Company's fur sales in London
England, on Monday, the prices of beav-
er showed a decline of 15 or 20 per cent.
The prospects for the great sales in
March are not quite so bright as might
be wished.
HEAVY DAMA GES. i Coots, a
Detroit fire department driver, was
thrown from his engine in July, 1886, by
the wheels running into a hole on
Michigan avenue. He received injuries
which will make him a cripple for life.
A Wayne circuit jury has given him a
verdict against the city for $10,000
damages.
VICTIMS OF THE BLIZZARD , —1,011i8a
Royce, a school teacher, iagar Norfolk,
Nebraska, one of whose pupils died in
her arms during the recent blizzard, will
lose both feet and a portion of one arm
as the result of exposure. Nearly $4,000
has already been contributed to the fund
for the teachers, Miss Freema.n, Miss
Qoyce and Miss Shattuck. The latter
lost both of her lower limbs.
Huron Notes.
Mr. John McElroy is having the
plans prepared and is making other
arrangements for the erection of a new
residence on his farm on the 8th con-
cession of Morris next summer.
—Mr. J. R. Miller, formerly Public
School Inspector in this county, and
Mr. E. Duncan, also a former Huronite,
have formed a law partnership for the
practice of their profession in Toronto.
—Mr. W. Knox, of HuIlett, near
Harlock, has the bricks and other
material on the ground for the erection
of a handsome new residence next
mmer.
—There are now 272 members in full
communion with the Wingham Prespy-
terian church. Of these 22 wereLre-
ceived last year. The congregation
raised last year the sum of $2,500,
— A petition has been circulated
among the members of the Blyth Pres-
byterian church to have the " kist o'
whustles " removed from the Sabbath
school.
— Allan Spier ,of Morris, met with a
severe accident recently. He was in
Brussels with some apples and in carry-
ing them into a dark cellar struck his
face against a shelf causing a nasty
wound.
—Thomas Carniss, of the third line of
Morris, has purchased from Wm. Bis
-
h I), Grey, the Short Horn Bull, " Lord
8ecterry, " got by the 4th Duke of
Lent, bred at Bow Park, for which he
hes paid the sum of $100.
—The census Commissioner of Exeter
has completed his enumeration of that
village and reported to the council. The
population at the present time is 1811.
_The council have decided not to take
any steps at present to have the place
incorporated as a town.
—Mr. Charles Switzer, of Cranbrook,
has suffered intensely for the past four
weeks with a severe cut in the palm of
the hand and across three fingers, caused
by an iron snap attached to a rope being
pulled through his hand, whilst leading
a refractory cow.
—It is proposed to hold a series of
public meetings in the East Riding of
Huron before long in connection with
the Scott Act repeal campaign. An in-
vitation will be given to the opponents
of the Act to air their opinions as well,
so that both sides may be heard.
—Mr. Alex. Watt, of Harlock,
Hullett, was recently presented with a
very comfortable easy chair by the
members of his Sabbath school class who
waited on him at his residence and
made the presentation. May he long
live to enjoy its comforts and to continue
the good work in which he is engaged.
—Last week, when it was found that
Mr. Geo. Hewett, of the 12th con-
cession of Hullett, had lost nearly all
his worldly effects by the bureing of his
house, some of his neighbors went to
work and raised by private subscription
a sufficient sunr to purchase new furni-
ture for him, which they kindly present-
ed to him.
—Mr. A. G. Macdonald, of Wingham,
has been recommended by the Reform-
ers of that town and vicinity to the
Government for the appointment of
bailiff of the 5th Division Court, render-
ed vacant by the death of the late Mr.
Snell. Mr. Macdonald is said to be a
good man for the position and will like-
ly receive the appointment.
—Mrs. Wm. Vanstone, an old and
highly respected resident of the town-
ship of Howick, died on the 30th ult.,
at the age of 68 years. She was a
native of Devonshire, Eugland, and with
her husband came to Canada in 1858.
They resided on a farm in Turnberry
for upwards of 20 years when they took
up their abode in Howick.
— One night last week some person or
persons entered the blacksmith shop of
S. Plum, in Brussels, and stole a full
set of dies, taps and stocks, valued it
$15 or $18. The shop is always kept
locked at nights but on this occasion the
door was not secured and the thief evi-•
dently watched for this golden oppor-
tunity.
—The anniversary of the Thames
Road, Usborne, Presbyterian church
occurred on Sunday, January 29, and
the annual tea -meeting was held the fel-
lowing evening. Both Sunday and Mon-
day meetings were well attended,
especially -that of Monday evening. A
great many from Exeter were in attend-
ance, all of whom report having had a
pleasant and profitable time.
—On Tuesday morning IAst week Ain
Timothy Nolan, who lives a couple of
miles from Walton, came to _Myth with
information that on the previous even-
ing about 8 o'clock his horse, cutter,
harness and goat robe had been stolen
from the shed at Walton. A constable
was set to work to search out the mies-
ing property and it was found in the
township of Grey.
—A few..days ago as Mr. W. Bawtin-
heirner, of Grey, near Ethel, was com-
ing out of the bush with an elm log
about three feet through, the sleigh up-
set and he got caught between the log
and a tree, bruising his hip very badly.
Fortunately help was at hand to get him
out of the fix, or he might have been
there for some time. He is getting all
right again.
—Mr. George Patterson, of St. Helens,
met with a very painful accident while
chopping in Mr. Devereaux's swamp.
It appears that he had felled a tree which
became bound between two others,
and he mounted it to put another cut
into it. As soon as he struck the axe
into it, the axe stuck fast, and the part
on which he was standing gave way
throwing him upon the axe and nearly
severing the small finger of his left
hand.
—Mr. John Hill, of the 9th concession
of Grey, near Brussels, has purchased a
twelve acre park lot from Joseph Pick-
ett, within half a mile of Clinton. It
is a nice place, with good dwelling house
&c., price paid $2,100. Ile purposo
moving to it as soon as he sells his farm,