HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1889-12-20, Page 4't
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etes
1 NEW 'ADVERTISEMENTS
•••••••••••••••
or The figureebetween the parenthesis after
each line denotes the page of the paper on which
the advertisenieut will he found.
Clothing, &c.—Jackson Brothers. -(5)
Pianos and Organs—Scott Bros. (8)
Teacher Wanted -Wm. Cash. (5)
House for Sale-,Murdo McLeod. (5)
St. Thomas Business College—Phillip & Carl. (6)
Groceries at Cost—George Hart. (8)
Display of New Goods—H. F. Edwards. (8)
Notace—Gedrge E. Jackson. (5)
Election sif Sehoel Trustees—R. B. McLean. (6)
Estrayed Cattle—John Scheffer. (5)
Notice of Assignment—R. Gibbons. (5)
New Sugare—'Estate IL Robb. (8)
Low Prices [2]-0. Weismiller. (8)
money Wanted—Thomas Meths. (8)
Xmas Goods—Lumsden es Wilson. (8)
Pas- Up—Dr. Scott. (8)
Great Bargains—Gcorge Good. (8)
Wide Awake—D. Lothrop Co. (8)
Auroi expeoitor.
SEAFORTH, FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 1889.
The Millers and the Farmers.
The Pre:ident and Secretary of the
Ontario Millers' Association atanded
-4• the East Huron Farmers' Institute, at
Brussels, on Saturday last. Their ob-
ject in making this visit was to secure
the assistance. of the farmers to bring
pressure to bear upon the Ottawa Gov-
ermilent to induce them to increase
the duty on American flour coming into
this country from 50 cents per barrel to
one dollar. The grievances of the mil-
lers have been so often explained in
these columns that it is unnecessary to
go over the same ground again. Suffice
it to say that the millers' complain that
the daty on a barrel of flour com-
ing into this country is some twenty-
flve or thirty cents less than the duty
ma the amount of wheat required to
make a barrel of flour and that, there-
fore, this gives the American miller
an undue advantage over the Canadian
miller in his own matket; in fact that
on account of this disparity in duty the
- American flour is crowding the Canad-
*ian article out of the Canadian market,
especially in the Lower Provinces, and
that this is ruining the Canadian mil.
- ling industry. They ask an increase of
the Canadian duty to one dolla,r per
barrel,whieh they say will enable them
to retain the Canadian market and
thus give increased and profitable em-
ployment to their mills. The millers'
case is a very plausible one and the
President and Secretary of the Orctario
Association are `just the rnen make
the most of it. We notice that they
have induced several Farmerst' Insti-
tutes to give them their aid by passing
resolutions asking the Government to
impose the increased duty on flour.They
were not successful at Brussels, however.
The intelligent farmers of East Huron
are too keenly alive to their own inter-
ests to deliberately place their heads
into any suchlnoose.
At the meetihg on Saturday a reso-
lution was submitted, in compliance
with the wishes of Messrs. Hay and
Plewes to the effect that the Dominion
Government' be asked to impose a duty
of $1 per barrel on flour until such
time as a Reciprocity treaty is ggranted
on grain, breadstuffs and the products
of the farm. An amendment was sub-
mitted declaring that the present Tariff
is injurious to the farmer, and that a
demand be made to have those duties
1
their flour, will just pay the' Canadian
farmer the price that is fixed for their
wheat in Liverpool, or wherever the
surplus Wheat is disposed of. It would
be presuming too much on the cred-
ulity of any one to say that the millers,
having been helped by the farmers te
geta higher price for their flour, would
in generosity turn round and divide
theitaprofits with the farmers by paying
Ia higher price for their wheat
than the open market would de-
mand. Yet this is what the millers
are trying to make the farmers believe
they woUld dO: The farmers of East
Huron'acted wisely in refusingto believe
any such soft story. If, therefore, the
millera would not do this it is impossible
the farmers could be benefitted by the
change. IR ie also equally clear, we
think, that they would be• injured, and
in this way : Flour, the finished product
of the miller, is a.raw material of the
fisherman, the lumberman, the artizan,
the laborer, and almost every other
class. If the millers, than, get a higher
price for their flour,- and this can be
the only object in seeking the increased
duty, all these classes, named' must pay
higher for it, and ,eonse4nently they
must charge the farmer more for their
products which he must purchase from
them for itise on his farm. In this way
the ball of taxation rolls along, increas-
ing in volume aa it rolls until it reaches
the shoulders of the farmer, who must
bear it, as there is no peraon for him to
pass it on to. Hence the farmers, by
asking the -Government to incre,ase the
duty on flour, are simply asking to have
their own revenues lessened that the
profiti of the millers may be increased
and their burdens lightened.1 This,- of
course, is a very generous thing to do,
but we scarcely think it will be as
beneficial as it is generous.
A
entirely removed. The amendment
a was caaried almost unanimously.
In view of this very decided action -
on the part of these East Huron farm-
ers, it may not be amiss to consider
whether or not they acted judiciously
and in their OWY1 interests in refusing tot
comply with the request of the millers.
Would they be benefitted or injured
were the duty on flour increased to one
dollar per barrel? Why is it that the
millers desire this increase ? Is
it that they may get a higher price for
their flour, or that they may be enabled
to pay the farmers a higher price for
their.wheat ? If they succeed in obtain-
ing a higher price for their flourds there
a reasonable probability that they will
pay the farmers a higher price far their
grain? We shall endeavor to answer
t hese questions, and in doing so will
take them in the reverse order to that
which we have put them. It is gen-
erous, at any rate, to suppose that there
are some people so patriotic and so per-
meated with the spirit of brotheVy love,
that they will not accept of an advan-
tage for themselves unless they can_se-
cure equivalent benefits for their neigh-
bors and friends. Such people, how-
ever, are exceedingly rare,'and judging
the millers by their past history they
,are not of this generous and self-s,acri-
&lug class. We cauld more correctly'
place them in the ranks of common hu-
manity. With ordinary men, patriot-
ism and neighborly love and generosity,
weigh light in the balance compared
with aelf interest. We think, there-
fore, that we are not doing the millers
any injustice in saying that they are
seeking this enhanced duty solely' in
their own interests, and not in the in-
terests of the farmers. This being the
case, and having by the aid of -the
farmers expelled the American flour
from the Canadian market, they will
continue as now to sell their flour at the
highest poseible figure, and to buy their
wheat at the very lowest price. Ameri-
cans and Canadians have but one mar-
ket for their surplus wheat, and so long
as there is a aurptus to dispose of, the
export market will regulate the price of
both home markets, and the 'Canadian
millers, no matter what they get for
a a
.e
THE (3 RON EXPOSITOR.
understand the language or not.. His
strictures on the conduct of the Govern-
ment on both these questions fell flat,
coming so soon after the able and con-
vincing defence made by the Premier •in
his recent addresses, Indeed, it was a
noticeable feature of Mr. Meredith's ad-
dress, that he made no reference to Mr.
Mowat's speeches, leadiag One to the
conclusion either that he had not read
them or that his speech was prepared be-
fore they were published.
In his entire speech, in which the
platform of hie party was to be deline-
ated, Mr. Meredith made only one dis-
distinct pledge as to anyechanges that
would be made if he were' placed in
power. That was, in reference to a
change in the system of managing our
educational affairs. He promises .to
do away with a. Minister of Education
and remove the control of the educa-
tional interests of the Province fnorn the
Government and Legislature, and place
it in the hands of a Chief Superinten-
deni and Council of Public Instructian
as was the ca,se in Dr. Ryerson's 'time.
In ather words, he pledges himself to
1
take the control eat of the hands of the
people's chosen repreeentatives, who are
directly responsible to the people 'for
their acts, and plait° it in the hands of a
semi -irresponsible hody who could, and
no doubt would act irrespective of the
wishes' of those whose interests are to•be
served. With our edocational system,
for example, under the 'unchecked con-
trol of an educational autocrat of the J.
L-, Hughes siamp; what a delightful
time we would have. It is not at all
probable, however, that this one plank
which forms Mr. Meredith's Political
platform will meet with the undivided
approVal Of the free people of thie
Province.
The only other point that he was at
all definiteupon Was his determination
to do ivhat he can to• limit the scope and
power of the r royincest by having the -
veto power more firmly fixed in the cent.
tral government and used -vith greater
rigor. These are both reactionary
measures, and are so diarnetrically Op-
posed to the veryixfoundation principles
ef respensible GOlernment that it is not
likely they will meet with favor from
any except the oldest and most fossiliied
Tories of the old sehool. If Mr. Mere-
,
dith can not get up a more attractive
programme for a progressive Canadian
Province, we fear his chances of climb-
ing to power are not of the brightest.
)But, although we do not think an in-
creased duty on 6our would benefit the
farmers,there is an evil from -which both
millers and farmers'are suffering keenly,
and in the redressing of which they
should bah make,common cause. That
ia the discrimination in railway rates.
We believe that both millers and farm-
ers suffer a great deal more from this
evil than from any irregularities in the
tariff, and this, also, is an #ivil which,
if rerfiedied, would _beitiefit both and could
not possibly injure either. Yet; atranget
to, saY, the millers never look hi- this
direction at all. They are anxious to
bleed the working man by raising the
price of his flour in order that they may
increase their own profits, but they have
not one word of complaint against the
wealthy railway corporations, some of
them made wealthy and powerful by the
money given them by the pelople of Can-
ada, who are daily bleeding them for
the benefit of their American nompeti-
tors. Why is this ? , We shall endeavor
to answer this query next week, tvlien
we will further refer to railway discrimi-
nation and point out, to some extent,
the remedy that should be demanded
and the way to obtain it.
•
,The Opposition Leader.
Mr. W. R. Meredith, the leader of
the Opposition in the Ontario Legis-
lature, delivered an address -to his con-
stituents in.London, on Monday evening
last. In this address he was supposed
to promulgate the policy of party
on Provincial affairs.. Notwithstanding
this expectation he did -'not put itforth
any new. platform. It waa pretty much
" cauld kale het ovsr again." We
e,
do not know, however, that Mr. Mere-
dith ia much to blame for this. It is a
very hard matter to make bricks with-
out clay, and it is an equally difficult
achievement to construct a new platferna
when all the material has been aps.
propriated by one's opponents. That
'is the position in which Mr. Meredith
finds himself. Nearly every question
requiring consideration has been dealt
with by the present Government knd
any reforms that are yet ' needed are
opposed by Mr. Meredith and his
friends even more strongly than they
are by the Government. There is,
therefore, not much left for Mr. Mere-,
dith but the old, worn but and oft re-,
futed charges of squandering the capi-
tal of the >country_ in selling the tim-
ber4imits ; centralizing power by grab-
bing uP Offices and aPpointments that
should rest with the municipal councils,
and terrorizing Tory hotel keepers into
voting for Grit candidates for Parliment.
Mr. , Meredith takes very tgood care,
however, not to pledge himeelf that if
he is placed in power he will hand over'
the appointment of these officials to the
Municipalities. He also took up the
Roanan Catholic Separate School and
the I'rench Sehool questions. In the
former he balanced very skilfully.
While denouncing Mr. Mowat for, as
he said, truckling to R,..oman Catholic
influence' and making alterationno in
the Separate School law to suit their
purposes, and while in this way seem-
inglY siding in with the Equal Righters,
he still left himself plenty of room to
.
dismont from the Protestant horse 'if
deemed adatisable, and take a turn on the
other animal going in the different direc-
-tion. lOn the French School Question
he was aomewhat more explicit and still
adheres to the contention, that • the
French language should be entirely slid
immediately abolished from these
seheola and that the French children
should be taught English whether they
understood plans are being coneidered
for the possible extension of trade next
year in this direction.
DR.SHEARER'S OPINiOnS.—At the ses-
sion of,the Presbyterian Synod of West
Florida and Alabama on Friday night,
Dr. Shearer, President of Davison
,College, North Carolina, denounced the
Common school system of the United
States,and declared in favour of denomi-
national education.
THREATENED STRIKE. —Three thou-
sand miners employed in the Oldbury
collieries, ,F,nglancl, have -given notice
that they ssill strike unless they are
granted a, ten per cent. increase in their
wages. ,
KILRAIN THE 1-13GILIST.—Kilradt was
sentenced Saturdaylat pur v is Misaissip pi,
to pay a fine of $200 and to be impris-
oned in the county gaol for two months.
The case was appealed, and Kilrain . ad-
mitted toabail in the sum of $1,000.
SMoTHETtED IN A SANDPIT. —,LA. sand-
pit fifteen feet deep, near Crosswell,
Michigan, caved in on Wednesday of
last week, killing John and Alexander
McKellar, aged 23 and 25 years.
Four men were bu'ried, but two were
rescued.
THE JURY'S VERDICT IN THE CRONIN
'TRIAL.—After a trial which extended
over -seven weeks, and after three days'
deliberation, the jury in the Cronin case
rendered their verdict Monday. Burke,
Coughlin and O'Sullivan were found
guilty of murder, and sentenced to im-
prisonment for life ; • Kunze, the little
Gerthan, was given three years in the
penitentiary, and Beggs was acquitted.
In the ease of the condemned men a
motion was made for a new trial.
THE AMERICAN WHISKY TAX.—The
whisky tax will uot be touched in the
revenue revision which will be made by
the present Congress. The surplus, as
estimated by the Secretary of the
Treasury, will be but $44,000,000 in the
fiscal year which ends with dune next,
and about the same sum in the twelve
,mcnths succeeding, A removal of the
whisky tax would not only cut off thie
surplusi but create a deficit of at least
$45,000,000.
A VICTIM OF THE W1RES.—Patrick
Sullivan, an employee of the Manhattan
Electric Light Company, New York,
was instantly killed Friday by an elec-
tric shock, while at work in' the com-
pany's building.
SUICIDE.—Franklin 13. Gowen, the
well-known railroad officer and htwyer of
Pennsylvania, formenty president of the
Reading railroad, shot himself dead on
Saturday in his room at Wormley's hotel
in Washington.
MANY MOUTHS TO nate—There died
in Fayette. county, Georgia, last week
Usobirs Slaton, who had lived in the
same house for 61 years. He was 81
years old. By his first wife he had 17
children and by his second 15. Around
his bedside when he died were 17 of his
19 living children. He had grandchil-
dren too numerous to mention.
BROWNING DEAD.—Robert Drowning,
the poetedied at Venice on the 12th
inst., without any suffering. During
the day he expressed himself as satisfied
with thesuccess of his new volume of
poems. Mr. Browniug was 77 years
old.
SA31 .SMALL AN" EPISCOPALIAN, —The
Rev, Sam Small has applied for ordina-
tion in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Mr. Small has been a minister of the
Methodist Church, but his family are
members of the Episcopal Church.
• HON. MR. COLBY, the recently ap-
pointedtmember of the Dominion Gov-
ernment? was re-elected in Stanstead,
Quebec, on Wednesday, by a majority`
of -over 1,000. His opponent, the Equal
Rights candidate, in this strongly Eng-
lish speaking and Protestant constitu-
ency, only received 500 votes.
THE Ontario Legislature has been
called to meet for the despatch of
business on Thursday, 30th of January,
next.
News of the Week.
THE PRINCE OF WATES.—The Prince
of Wales is expected to visit the
Kaiser at Berlin about the ,,middle of
January,
DYING. --Mrs. Beath, wife of -the com-
mander of the Salvation•Army, is dying.
Her disease is cancer.
TENANTS' DEFENCE FUND. — Shb-
seriptions in Dublin to the Irish ten-
ants' defence fund have reached the sum.
of 0,000 -
NOAH 'WEBSTER'S SISTER,. — Mrs.
Clariesa Jackson, sieter of Noah Web-
ster, the lexicographer, died at Goshen,
Nevi -York, 011 Friday, aged '77.
DEATH OF A LITERATEUR. —Ed ward
Bradley, ,known as Cuthbert Bede,
is dead. He was a favorite contributor
to nearly all the English periodicals.
PRINTERS' STRIKE.—There is a gen-
eral iprinters' strike throughout Ger-
many and Switzerland. Three journals
in Berne failed to appear last week.
THE WIRES IN CifiNA.—The Chinese
Government has made an the tele-
graphic concessions asked, and noes tele-
graphy is as free there as elsewhere.
FOR A WORLD'S FAIR.—Mr. Gorman
has introduced into the Senate at Wash-
ington a bill providing for a world'e fair
in that city in 1892.
HOMES FOR HIS EMPLOYEES.—Fred-
erick Krupp, the head of the great gun
foundry in Germany, hae established a
fund: of $100,000 to aenable his em-
ployees to build their own houses.
STANLEY'S MOVEMENTS. —Stanley in-
tends to remain at Zanzibar several
weeks, whence he will -go to Cairo and
arrive in London in the spring.
WARM LY WELCOMED. —The Earl of
Zetland, the new Lord -Lieutenant of
Ireland, made his entry into Dublin
on' Saturday and received a very warm
welcome.
THE ABILENE BANK FAIL1UBE.—Care•
ful estimates regarding the failure of the
First National Bank at Abilene, Kan-
sas, place the liabilities at $131,000, and
assets, mostly Western land mortgages.
at $210,000.
THE PRIZE POTATO CROP.—The grand
prize of $500 offered by an agricultural
paper in NeW York for the beat acre of
potatoes has been awarded to C. 13.
Coy, Aroostook County, Maine. His
crop was 738 bushels.
ALARMING DISSATISFACTION IN BRAZIL.
—Reports from Brazil are of a most
alarming nature, and hint that the situa-
tion is anything but as peaceful as. tele-
grams from Rio Janeire would imply.
The° provisional government exercises
the closest kind of espionage.
CANADIAN CATTLE IN ENGLAND.—A
despatch from London, England says :
At the Smithfield 6a,ttle show, which
cloied Friday, very few points of Cana-
dian interest have arisen. In several
quarters, however, commeati were made
on the marked growth in the past sem-
aen of the trade in Canadian store cattle.
That success has attended the introdue-
tion of these stores inte the Midla,nd
counties is generally admitted. -It is
s
Coramissioner's Report.
The following is the report of the
Commiesioner appointed to enquire into
the financial affairs of the Township of
M cKillop : . •
TO the Honorable -Sir 4.1exander Catnfi-
I bell, K. C. M. 'b., Lieutenant -Gover-
nor of thc Province of Ontario :
•
Loan Fund was paid in and at once re-invest,ed
at 7 per cent, the former rate being 8 per cent,
$44.66 was -made good out of Township Fundis -t
meet the shortage in income anticipated from
mortgages. -
The borrowing this t----3'.6'n-r•-teaa only 51,200, and
nothing further need be said regarding:the trans -
options of this year.
1883.
No fault can be found with the borrowing of
this year. There were no liabilitiee at the close
of the year's accounts. $1,4S2 of the principal of
the Municipal Loan Fund was paid in, and
$1,400 of it re -invested speedily at 7 per cent,
the sassie rate as before, leaving 582 in the
Treasurer's hands -uninvested.
Two thousand dolla1rs884Was borrowed during
this ssear at times when the money was really
required.
The aucliteddditteinent shows balance of cash
on hand 3508.20, while the Cash -Book shows
$318.20, the difference being $100, for Boundary
Line money Or 1884 which was not actually re-
ceived till afeirch1Oth, 1885, a few days atter the
Auditors -gave their certificate. The real amount
received was $183.92 and appears in its proper
place in -the statement for ldsfi.
. This is only one inetance of the carelessness of
the andit, which seems to have been confined
chiefly to seeing vouchers for the various items
of expenditure. I do not wish to reflect severe-
ly on the Auditors who were unprofessional men
from whom much could »ot be expected, seeing,
their services were valued at the rate of 59, $8,
and as low as 37 per annum. They also in their
published statement for this s ear certify that the
whole of the Municipal Loan Fund, $14,582, was
invested, whereas if they had examined the
securities (which were not numerous) they
would have found that the Treasurer had 5367 in
his hands uninvested, 382 of which had been
there over a year earning nothing.
The saine published statement also mentions
as an asset " balance OD hand on Township ac
count, inel u ding non-resident tax, 38 t 472,"
which is unintelligible to me, and which the
Treasurer is unable to explain.
Another inaccuracy in the published state-
ment for this year is in saying there was a liabil-
ity to the Bank of Comieerce of $500, the same
having been paid off during the month before
the accounts for the year were closed.
1885.
This year's account commences with a bal-
ance of Township Funds in Treasurer's
And of Municipal Loan Fund uninvested 5336178 0200
• hands of
Together $685 20
And during- the year $3,400 was judiciously bor.
rowed and repaid. The County rate for 1885 is
all included hrthis account, so that in this case
the statement that there were "no liabilities" is
correct. It is, however, stated that the whole
of the Municipal Loan Fund (14,582) was invest-
ed, whereasthe Treasurer had in his hands at
the date of the publication of the year's state-
ment 31,132 uninvested. Of this anmept $765
came ip in December, so there was little loss of
intereston that part of the Fund. But 5367 had
been in the Treasurer's hands the whole year
and n'ot touched upon kr Township purposes,
while it might have been drawing at leaet 4 per
cent, saving's Rank interest. This ie a loss to
the Township of over $14. 3960 was paid to the
different School Sections from the Municipal
Loan Fund. The income. from investinents•
amounted to $950.05, leaving $9.95 to be supplied
from TOwnship Funds. The Treasurer charges
551.95, en overcharge of 542, which he 'ought to
refund;
1886.
The *Treasurer says in his Mortgage Book
" $1,132 in use by the Council," meaning for the
year 18516... He had this amount since December
lst, 1885:- 3,87.48 of it- Was -used in March, and
again June it was touched to the extent of
538.76. ln July 3835.27 of it was used. In
August it had been restored all but $256-05. In
September it had been used to the. extent of
8423.99, and in October to the extent of $834.24.
In November it was all restored. It will thus be
seen that for only about four months of the year
was anY considerable part of the Fund ueed for
Township purposes. 565.03 was paid by the
Township for use of this money, which is about
as much as it would have earned if loaned at six
per cent, but the Township could have borrowed
-the necessary fund,s, for such time as they were
a tually required, at a cost of not more than
8' • 'There was thus a loss to the Corporation of
ao ut $45, always assuming that a good invest -
me t could have huen obtained. This would
h .e affected the other borrowings ;only 'by les-
sening t4e amount about 8200, and shortening
the peri4d for perhaps tau months.
Again the Municipal Loan Fund is certified to
be all invested, whereas the Treasurer held $782
of it uninvested.
1867.
At the 28th of February, 1887, the Treasurer's
cash balani e was 31,579.52 of which there was in
Bank only d300.79. I men'tion this as only one
of many natances when the Treasurer appears
to have had considerable sums of money not
depbsited in Bank. There were on the other
hand times when the Township owed him for
small sums of money advanced.
I will now refer more minutely to the borrow-
ing done hi ihis year. The first discount was on
July 25th, $500 yielding $485.04. The Treasurer
had oh hand at June 30th, including $782 of
Municipal Loan money :t891 32
In July his receipte were, exclusive of
proceeds of note discounted 41 75
hands of the Treasurer $1,000 front' Augutit to
November would have sufficed; and 566 or there-
alteetts in interest cotild have been saved. $67.99
credited to Municipal Loan Fund Interest was
too much to pay for that p.ortion of the fund
really used by the Township,but it hadto be paid
to ma,ke up the amount promised to the Scheol
Inspector.
A preliminary statement dated 17th Deoern-
ber, 1888, was issued in printed form, certified
to by the Reeve and Treitsurer, which is some-
what misleading, as itediffers considerably from
the auditors' report subsequently published,
some iterns being omitted, some repeated. and
others incorrectly stated. It purports to be a
statement of assets and liabilities of the Town-
ship, while it is simply a memorandum of se-
ceipts and disbursements, and very incomplete
at that, the only asset mentioned being uncol-
lected taxes, and no liability is given. The
Treasurer explains to me that it was pre-
pared to comply with the law and was hurriediy
got' up.
lathe auditors' statement for 1888 there are -
several inaccuracies. The liabilities are said to
be." none," whereas there was owing for County
rate $3,125 74. which was not all paid till 29th
May, 1889, and then with 58 for interest. The
Treasurer explains in evidence that the payment
of this county rate was delayed because the
Conned wished him to hold the Municipal Loan
Fund for tnvestment, there being then an a.p-
plication for a loan of 81;1oa.- I cannot accept
this explanation, because his own account shows
that independent of Municipal Loan moneys he
bad on hand $3,269 05, to which add 342 over-
charged by him in a previous year, making to-
gether 33,311 05, or more than enough to pay
the County rate in full.
Then the Municipal Loan Fund is stated to be
all invested (514,582) whereas the Treasurer ad-
mits that he had $2,235 in his hands.
The amount of Municipal tax for Schools is
put down (in an abstract of the School Account)
at $4,358,69 ; it should be 34,290.70, an error of
867.99, but this does not affect thesbaJance of
the Treasurer's cash account, though of course
the Auditors ought to have detected it.
This report for 1888 is the only one I have
seen which gives an account of the interest
collected and paid out on behalf of the Muni-
cipal Loan Fuud.
1889.
The record of this yeatswill end' with the 30th
June which is as far as the Treasurer's Cash-
book was written up to when I began myinves-
tigation. At the beginning of the year's ac-
counts the Treasurer had on hand as previously
stated 83311 05
Besides Municipal Lean Fund,82235 00
On the 13th day of August last letters patent
were issued appointing me a Commissioner to
enquire into the financial affairs of the Corpora-
tion of the Township of McKillop and t ings
connected therewith.
`As required by the said Commission, I now
beg leave to report the result of my investiga-
tion into the affairs of theasaid Corporation.
The petitioners in their petition tor a Commis-
eion alleged that they had reason to believe
there had not been a correct statement of the
financial affairs of the Township made for some
time, an 1 that the By -Laws were in an imperfect
staIteex. amined a uumber of the petitioners and
otherswitnesses under oath with a view to ascer-
tain their ground of complaint, which I found to
be substantially as follows :
1. That the dealings of the Treasurer with the
share of the surplus from the Municipal Loan
Fund derived by the Township were not shown
in the published yearly accounts.
2. That the published accounts had stated this
Fhnd was all invested when such was not the
.case, and that -there were other serious inaccura-
cies in said accountseauch es setting forth there
were no liabilities when the Corporation did owe
debts.
. 3. That the Coancil borrowed money from
time to time from the Canedian Bank of Com-
merce when it was unnecessary, they having the
use of certain Uninvested balances of the Muni-
cipal Loan Fund.
4. That the By -Laws were in an imperfect con-
dition.
The sharesof the Municipal Loan Fund which
came to thie Corporation in 1875 was 814,682.66.
,It was all invested, saving the odd cents, in first
mortgages during the years 1876, 1876, 1877 and
1878. la 1879 part of the principal was paid in
and re -invested. I made this the starting point
of my investigation and have carefully analyzed
the accounts of the Treasurer in this and each el
the subsequent years, dividing them into month-
ly periods.
The income from the Municipal Loan Fund is
devoted to the support of the schools in the
Townehip, and what this lacks of the amount re-
quired is made up by a local tax.
1879.
In 1879 the amount borrowe,d from the Bank
was $3,000, which apreare to have been neces-
sary, and was re -paid within the year. At the
closing of the year's accounts there was a bal-
ance of $652.54 on hand, with 'an unpaid debt to
the County of $815 79, which was not all paid till
August 4th, 1880, with the addition of 516.82 for
interest. Some portion of this debt might have
been paid a little sooner, but I am not disposed to
find fault with the delay, as it would no doubt
be necessary to keep a certain amount of fends
on hand for current requirements. 81,700 of
Municipal Loan Fund money was paid in and
promptly re -invested. The borrowing from the
Bank is properry recorded in the Cash -Book this
year, but afterwards there is DO entry of any
notes discounted, excepting to charge interest
paid for use of the money.
1880.
The borrowings of this year, amounting to
54,800, including renewals, seem to have been all
required. The Auditors' report savs nothing
about liabilities ; there was due for C;cunty rate
8611.48 which was not paid till June 20th, 1881,
with e11.75 additional for interest. It could not
well have been paid sooner..
' Three thousand, six hundred and eighty-twd
dollars of Municipal Loan Fund principal was
paid in and re -invested without loss of time.
5300 of this sum was accepted in part payment of
mortgage contrary to the pro-
visions thereof, and although re -invested it was
at 7 per cent, whereas his mortgage was drawing
8 per cent. I can find no warrant in the minutes
for accepting this prepayment.
1881.
The borrowing iii 1881 appears to have been
all necessary and cost at the rate of eight per
cent.
Four thousand, nine hundred dollars of Muni-
cipal Loan Fund principal was paid in and re-
invested at 6 per cent, the previous rate having
been 8 per cent. The actual income from this
Fund fell short by $43.97 of the estimate, and
Fthuinsdisshortag. e was made good out of Township.
1882.
Six hundred dollars principal of the Municipal
sa
Together 5933 07
And he aid out in July 550 01
Leavin still in his hands $383.C6
Exclusive of discount, so that there does not ap-
pear to have been any necessity for borrowing,
at this time, especially as there was nothing to -
provide for in Augusts,
The second borrowing was on 22nd September,
on a note for $400, yielding, • $393 00
while he had the above $383 06
and the proceeds of previous
note i
485 0
and cash received in Sept,. 10 00
3878 10
Less paid out in September, 565 18 5312 92
Then on 30th September, another note
was discounted for 8300, yielding, 5294 53
• /`
making his cash on'hand at end of ,
September, 51,000 45
not an extravagant balance, seeing a good deal
had to be paid out in October. With the excep-
tion of the first, which might have been defer-
red, there is not much fault to be found with
these loans, and even with regard to the first it
would be justifia.ble if it was the intention to
keep the Municipal Loan Fund intact to be
ready for an investment. But when we come to
the end of October, we find the Treasurer's bal-
ance reduced to 3226.64, so that -the Municipal
Loan monies, as well as funds borrowed from the
Bank, are nearly all used up.
DECEMBER 20, 180.
is indeed a very sad bereavement to her
husba.nd and six small children, the eld-
est of whom is a little girl who isalmost
hel—plTeshselyoerrainpgpelinede.n- of Greenway and
vicinity have decided to hold an oyster
supper on New Year's evening in honor
of Bro. R. L. Wilson, who will return
CLilidegethtel3enb.alance of the
f r RA 1Bb ae rr rt
. cheese of Ethel factory at the late sale
at Listowel. The price realized was
lot cents per pound, being the outside
fig—urme fisoar cmolionrneide.
Lavin, -daughter of
Mr. T. • Lavin, Clinton, has , been re-
engaged as teacher of the sicond depart-
ment in the Dundalk schoO at an in-
creaie of $25 in salary.
—John Bedford, John C. McLean,
and Norman McGuire, who have been
sailing on the steamer Stevens, of De-
troit, for the pas! eight months, arrived
home at Goderich on Wednesday of last
we—ekilrs. Robert Work and child, of
Dakota, arrived at, Brussels the other
day, and was soon at her old home. She
is a daughter of Mr._ Donald McLaugh-
lin, of Grey township, and a sister-ina
law of Mr. Wm. Work.
—On Sunday December 8th, Mr.
John Gillespie pluaked a boquet of.
pansies from his own garden in Exeter.,
They were bkoming and fragrant as
though they had mistaken December for
"—neon Saturday, December 7th, a nine-
year-old son of Mr. Robert Fletcher,
while returning home from the black-
smith shop at Winchelsea, was thrown
off his horse and had his wrist broken in
tw—o PMlare.eSsa.muel Sample, sr., of Ilaborne
Township, has made an assignment to
Mr. Lewis H. Dickson, for the Itenefit
of his creditors. The liabilities are esti-
mated at about $7,000, and the assets in ,
the neighborhood of $5,500.
--The Millen farm, being lot 11, con-
cession' 3, Morris township, containing
140 acres was -sold under mortgage
sale a feve'days ago for $4,150s Mr.
H. W. C. Meyer, of Wingham, being
the purchaser.
—Mr. Luther Brown, jorinerly a resi-
dent of Dungannon, but for the past
nine years located in Qul'Appelle,North-
west Territory, is at present visiting
relatives, friends and °Lel acquainta-nces
in —Hlu4rro.n.
Thomas Black, 'bus -driver,,
.has been awarded the contract of car-
rying the mails between the Wingham
Pos..0ffice and Oanadian,Paciflc Rail-
way tation, for a_term of four years.
—Walton school teachers for next
year will be Mr. T. McLauchlin, of
Brueaels, and Miss Kelly, of Morris.
Waltonites are sorry to say =` Good-
bye " to Miss Hillen and Misa McDoue
gall, but they will go.
—Mrs. W. Doig, .of Gorrie, sister of
Mrs. H. F. McAllister, who has been
it? the hospital at Toronto, was brought
home by her friends on Saturday even-
ing, the 7th inst. She was conveyed
to the residence of H. F. McAifister,
wdihtiez.she now lies in ,a precarious eon-
-A meeting waa held'in Duff church,
McKillop, on Friday, 6th inst., to estab-
lish a branch of the Woman's Foreign
Mission Society. - Mrs. T. Fair, of Clin-
ton, conducted the meeting and succeed-
ed in getting the ..ladies present inter-
ested in the work, ' Mrs. Geo. Habkirk
was elected presidenelthis branch.
—Mr. Thomas Blunket, who lives
about two miles from Wingham has
made an assignment for the good ()If his
creditors. The liabilities of Mr. Blune
ket are said to be pretty heavy, a E3,
000 mortgage on the farm and some
seventeen or eighteen hundred dollars
to creditors.
—Mr. Thos. McMichael, of Hullett,
sold a two-year-old entire colt to a
couple of Americans, for the sum of
$400, to be delivered at Exeter. When
he got there some complications had
arisen which caused him to take the
horse hack with him, as he refused to
deliver it under the circumstances.
—Rev. J. 'Carrie preached the elev-
enth anniversary sermon in the Episcos
palian church, Dungannon, on Sun-
day, December lst. As the weather
was very unpropitious there were
not many present, but the sermon
wail an eloquent discourse evincing
Christian charity.
55546.05
In February 51,500 of the Municipal Loan Fund
was reinidested, leaving 5735 of that fund on
hand, which is the amount remaining uninvested
at the close of my investigation and which ac-
cording to the account of the Treasurei,-and as
shown by his cash-book is being eased by the
council for Towpship purposes. After paying
out the aforesaidt$1500 on a new mortgage loan
the Treasurer's dash balanee at the end of Feb-
ruary was 81036 76. The Treasurer testifies
that in part payment of the loan be drew two
cheques on the Bank for 5800 and 5200 re-
spectively. I cannot help remarking that in-
stead of drawing on the Bank to provide for this
loan it would have been more appropriate to
have used the moneys which evidently at this
time were in his own hands.
By the end of May the MuniciPal Loan Fund
is all used up and a loan of 5600 obtained from
the Bank of Commerce, which appears to have
been really necessary. At the -end of June
the total funds in Treasurer's hands amounted
to 5254 71. •
GENERAL IMAM&
'Prim the foregoing report it will be seen that
though the total discrepancies do not amount to
any cOnsiderable sum, yet the irregularities
have been so frequent and of so serious a na-
ture as to give just cause for the dissatisfaction -
which existed -among. the ratepayers who peti
tioued for a dommisston of enquiry. The pub-
lished statements have been incomplete, incor-
rect and misleading. The Treasurer. has been _
allowed to do pretty much as he pleaSed with
the funds of the Corporation. The Auditors
have confined their attention chiefly to
seeing vouchers ,for the expenditure, while
they should have gone further and exam-
ined the securitietf held by the Treasurer and
verified his balances once a year_ They have ac-
cepted the word of the Treasurer that the Mu-
nicipal Loan Fundwas all invested, while he
had hundreds or thousands -of dollars in his
hands. They have certified there were no lia-
bilities when such was not the case. The
Treasurer never summed up his cash-book nor
balanced his eash till the close of the year's ae-
counts when preparing for the auditors. He
did not keep Corporation moneys separate from
his own, and acknowledges that he may some-
times have used the TOwnship's funds fo:r his
own purposes, of course replacing them after-
wards.
1 have no reason to believe there has been any
intention of wrong -doing, but there has been
looseness in the management of funds and in
the system of book-keeping. With the view of
remedying these defects and preventing cause of
dissatisfaction hereafter, I beg respeefully.' to
make the following recommendations, namely :
I. That when a loan obtained from the
Bank the full amount ofloan be debited to Cash,
and the amount paid for diseount be chargad in
the Cash -Book ; -
2. That all moneys received belonging to the
Municipal Loan Fund, whether of principal dr
interest, be entered in the Cash-book, as re-
ceived, and the disbursements likewise entered
at the dates they are Paid ;
3. That instead of entering the full amount
of the Collector's tall in one, sum at end of the
year, the Treasurer charge hiniself with each
payment made to him by the Collector on the
date of its receipt, and the balance of -the roll
at the close of the year.
4. That the Treasurer balance his cash at
least once a month, and present at each month-
ly meeting of Couneil an abstract of his re-
ceipts and, disbursements, shewing the amount
of money in his hands and in bank.
11Y -LAWS.
I have also examined the By -Laws of the
Township, and find a great many irregularities.
Quite a number of them have no :teal. attached,
some have no datee, others have blanks left un-
filled. some have blanks filled up in pencil,
others. have alterations made in pencil, and
some are not signed. A few of the minutes also
have not been signed by the Reeve or Chairman.
I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) , W. F. FINDLAY,
Commissioner.
HAIM:1'0N, Ontario' 16th October, 1889.
In December of this year 5337 of the princi-
pal of the Municipal Loan Fund %sae paid in and
none re -invested, so that at the close of the
year's accounts the Treasurer had in his hands
51,119, no part of which was in the Bank, while
the published statement said the whole fund was
invested.
There is a charge of 8112.22 " paid by Trees-
urer to balance the interest on Municipal Loan
Fund," etch means that tlae interest collected
fell short hat much of the suna promised for
the use oltschools. It was an error on the part,
of the T easurer to advise the Inspector
Schools tbitt he might reckon on 3950 from this
fund, becanee he knew that not more than 5875
would be collected, a general reduction to 6 per
cent. having been made in the rate of interest on
mortgages, to take effect from 1st Deceinber,
1886.
Regarding this reduction of interest on exist-
ing mortgages, I do not find any by-law, or even
resolution on the minutes, directly- authorizing
it, though perhaps the minute of 17th January,
1887, might be held to infer that such was the
intention of the Council. On 11th October,
1886, an irregular entry in the minutes would
indicate that rate was to be re-
duced from 7 per cent. to 6 per cent., but again
on 29th August, 1887, it was resolved to take.no
less interest on said mortgage than it calls for
until paid. As a matter of fact, 6 per cent. was
paid on it for one year till the lst December,
1886, 7 per cent. for the year following, and in
1888 six per cent. However, the Treasurer says
in his evidence the reduction to 6 per cent. was
approved by the Council, and that he received
his instructions from the Reeve.
The certified account for this year says, " Li,
abilities none," which is not correct, as there
was a balance of 5187 due for County rate,
which was not paid till 10th April, 1888.
1888.
On 2nd March, 1888, a proinissory note for
$800 was diecounted. At this time the Treasurer
had in handa 81,119 of Municipal Loan Funds
lying idle, so that it is difficult to see the neces-
sity of borrowing from the Bank, there being at
that time, as far as 1 can learn, no application
for a mortgage loan.
The Municipal Loan Fund was encroached
upon in June to the extent of S116.24, in Aug-
ust 3207.14, in September V-80.07, in October
5405.08, in November when taxes carue in
it was fully restored. And in December
the amount of this fund uninvested,
was $2,235, and so remained until the
year's accounts were closed. The total borrow-
' ings during this year were $3,300. If right to
use this fund at all for Township purposes; this
was much in excess of what was necessary, for
with these and other corporation moneys in the
—Dr. itk. Shaw, of Dakota, is -making
a visit to his brOthers, Principal ;Shaw,
of Brussels, and Angus Shavi, of Grey
township. The doctor purposes visiting
the Continent and expects to sail about
the close of this month. He will take
a course at London, England, as a
specialist, the eye and ear being his
subject,
''I
—A few days ago while Messrs. Jar-
vis and Tomlinson were hunting on
Huron Notes. Canada Company's Land, near Trick's
Goderich is now free from dint': I mill, on ,e Bayfield Road, some rascal
therea, the last case having recovered. levelled a gun at one of their hound's
I
—The Gorrie curlers played the first and shot it dead. Any one vrho is mean
game of the season on the river ice on enough to do such a trick on a dumb
Saturday, 7th inst.
—The periodicals, magazines and pa-
pers received at the Goderich Mechanics'
Institute number about 30.
—Mr. John McRae has been engaged
for another year at an advanced salary
in school section No. 15, Ashfield.
—Mr. Reuben Wilson, of Greenway,
has sold his fine matched team of horses
for the handsome 811111 of $255.
—Mr. Allan McDonald, of Khiva, and
Mr. W. Ruby, of Dashwood, returned
from Dakota a few days ago. . They in-
tend going back in about a month.
—Mr. Robert Hays, one of the retir-
ing farmers cif Howick, has purchased a
residence in Gorrie and will shortly re-
move to that village.
—Mr. Osborne, of Clinton, was lift-
ing a board off a hand car the other
day when a bar of iron dropped on his
foot breaking several bones.
—Metiers. J. A. Halsted, of Mount
Forest, and J. W. Scott, Listowel, are
arranging to open a private bank in
Wingham.
—Mr. Rose Anderson, of Ashfielcl
township, near Dungannon, is the owner
of a fine colt, one and a -half years old,
which weighs 1,350 lbs.
—The son of Captain McDonald, of
Porter's Hill, who was hurt seine time
ago in Dakota, arrived home a few
days ago.to have his injured leg ampu-
tated. ,
r'—The Lucknow Sentinel of last week
says : One of the saddest deaths that
have ever occurred in the village took
place on Saturday last, when Mrs.
Young, the wife of Mr. Henry Young,
carpenter, was suddenly snatched from
the bosom of her Emily, and after only
a few days illness was borne to that land
from whence no traveller has returned.
She was a woman much esteemed by
those who knew her, and her removal
brute merits severe censure.
—At a certain church in Blyth, dur-
ing the service on Sunday evening, a
small boy coming in says " Where is
Mrs, —," Official—" kush, boys 1"
" But I must get Mrs. for the
baby is yelling _like 2.40, and' Mr,
cannot get him to quit. Rapid exikof
Mrs. , and soon the baby was quiet.
—Robert Armstrong, general watch-
maker and clock cleaner, has been ap-
pointed mail carrier between Kincardine
and Kintail. Last week Bob had a des-
.perate encounter with highwaymen, but
on drawing out his seven shooter he
soon dispersed the band. Bob is an
adept story -teller, and can have more
encounters, real and imaginary, than
any other man Icpown.
—At the last/regular meeting of L.
0. L. No. 794, Wingham, the following
officers were duly elected and installed
for the ensuing year : W. M. John
Davidson ; D. W. Wm. Clegg - Chap.,
D. B. Calbick , Rec. Sec., 3oli'n Kerr ;
Fin. Sec., James MeCreight ; Treas.,
F. H. Roderus ; Leet., Johnston Miles ;
D. of C. George Pettypiece ; Commit-
tee, T. Agnew, Josegh Bullard, A. Gal-
braith, T. Abraham and J. Jackson ;
0. T.. George Stewart; I. T., Mar-
shall Bell, The hall has recently been
fitted up and painted outside and great-
ly improved inside. Financially and
numerically No. 794 is in as good It
standing as any lodge in the county.
--A late issue of the Globe contained
the following in its legal notes, whkh
refers to a ease that has heesome some-
what celebrated in this section : Rose
vs. Township of Wawanosh—Garrow,
Q. C., for the plaintiff, moved to con-
tinue ari injunction granted by the
local judge at Goderich, restiaining the
defendants from illegally taking gravel
from lands belonging to the plaintiff.
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