THE HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4,

nentnnatt vesenandlemunanmeins —s

1868.

~

News by Telegraph.

Lonnow, Feb. 18, midnight.—In the House of Com-
mons to-night, in 2 committee of the whole, it was
a to renew the suspension of the Habeas Corpus
Act in Iveland.....In the House of Lor-ls this evening
Sir Stafford Northcote, the Secretary of State for India,
inate a statement in regard to the presence of the
Egyptian troops ia the Abyssinian expedition. He
said that at the request of the British Government, the
Pasha had agreed to recall his auxiliary foree from

sinia, and the reports which had been received,

the Egyptians still remained in the country, and
e~ istg advanelng With the British forees,-have. not yet

*

confirmed by any official despatches received by
hyo ment. Ie also stated that the expedition no
i if. red from a scarcity of water.....The ex-
amination of the persons arrested on suspicion of being
-~aronndvted with the Clerkenwell explosion, has termin-
ft + ated, allythe prisoners have been remanded to contne-
. mént, except Allen, against whom no evidence has been
Pra veligted, and he has bogn diseharged.. ...Balletias in
regatd ty Lord Derby's health, report that bets improv
ey ‘iag.....The Upper Mouse of the Prassian Diet has
passed thd oavention made with the Dynasties, whose
" territories ‘have been annexed to Prassia. The
engages to suspend all payments of money tothe Princes
wud tO confiseate their property in the case of disloyalty.
Liverpoor, Feb. 18—Cotton closed active and
' higher. Advices from Manchester {worable. Markets
} for goods and yarns buoyant... ..Corn S45, 3d. 5 Wheat
i 168.1, fur California Ay andl lds. 5d. for No, 2 Red
‘Western; Flour 37a. 6d.; Beef 115s.; Pork 7la.; for
: New Lard 55376... ; Cheese 528,
if New Yous, Feb. 19.—Gold opened at M04.
; 3 Lonpoy, Feb. 20, eve.—-Advives to the lat Jannary
have been received here from the English eaptives in
Abyssinia; at that time they were all safe and well,,...
‘Late ‘advices frow Cape Town, Airica, state. that the
Supreme Court of Natal has at last decided the question
e| touching the matter Of Church property, in favor of
an Bishop Colenso. . . .. The regular weekly returns of the
Behk of England shew that the bullion in the vantt has
decreased four hundred and thirteen pounds sterling... ..
— closed easier at 03, Breadstulfs steady, Pro-
vis

ions quiet and unchanged,

New Yonx, Feb, 21.—Gold opeucd 1408,

“London, Feb. 18,—Allen, the Fenian, who was dis-
‘charged from custody yesterday, after being examined
on the ebarge of causing the Clerkenwell explosion,
was 800n afier re-arrested on the charge of murder.,...
he hill tor the regulation of the press iv still under
discussion in the French Legislative body. Tiere wag a
Yiolent, debate yesterday on the question of the: dis-
tribution of the Government advertising patronage
ane Opposition claimed that the Liberal journals were
entitled to a ghar. of advertisements published by
national ond manivipal authorities, This was demanded,
not of necessity bat of prinvipls, the speakers declaring
that in ada for the regalaticn of the press all journals
should be treated with the strietest impartiality. The
effort to have a’ bill modified by the insertion of a pro-
yision to this effect was defeated, bat the majority
Against the proposition was sill ‘The Moniteur de
Scuv has a report that there has been a stop in the ad-
vonce of the british ir, Abyasivia, aud that Gen. Napier
i8 callitig for reinforcements. Consols 92.

*Lonvon, Pov. 19, eve. —The House of Commons this
Ovening passed a bill for the continned suspension of
writ of Habeas: Corpus in Treland.....'The leading
members of the Liberal party propose to given farewell
dinner to the U. 3. Minister, Chas. Francis Adams... ..
Sir George Lee, Judge of the Court of Queen's beuch,
died to-day Mr. Vigot, of the Dublin Jrishman, has
been convicted of publishing seditious libels.....Des-

¢hes and letters {vom Lisbon represent that the po- |
itical agitation in Portugal continues. The new |
‘ Government is very unpopolar, andtumaults are reported |
’ in various parts of the country A report is current |
in Florence that the French Government has detailed a |
frigate to watch tle movements of the U. 8. squadron |
under Admiral Farragut, in the Adriatic Galf and east-
ern end of the Meditterranean.. ...Consols closed 925.
General markets unchanged. Gold 140,

Monrenat, Feb. 19.—There is intense excitement
here over the departure of th: Canadian Papal Zonaves
for Rome. An immense audience was present at the
‘ special services held at Notre Dame Cathedral last
night in connection with the event. ‘To-day over 20,-
000 persons assembled at the station to see them off,

everal persons were nearly crushed to death by the
g pressure of the crowd, ‘The greatest excitement pre-
a wails among the Roman Catholics.
| New York, Feb. 20, rv. m.—Gold closed at 1404
: -| Lonpon, Feb. 21.—George Francis Train dehvered
his first lecture in Dublin last evening; it was very
thinly attended. Measures had been taken by the au-
thoritics for the preservation of peace, The correspon-
fori ef one of the mornivg journals, in alluding to the

lecture, says, a8 & specalat‘on, it was an entire failure.
....dohn Custin, an inn keeper, and David Murphy,
# writer, were arrested at Cork vesterday on the gener-
al charge of eomplicity in Fenian movements. Murphy

Consols 93$ a 934. Manchester advices favorable.
Corn 43s, 5d. Provisions quiet.
' "“‘Wasnrxoton, Feb. 21,—President Johnson has ap-
* pointed Adjutant-General Thomas, Secretary of War,
thus again removing recta g? Stanton. General
McClellan has been nominated Minister to England,
© WasutneTon, Feb. 22.—Great exenement caused by
Pie the action of President Johnsen in the removal of
ga: Stanton from the war office. Gen. Thomas, appointed
ae to succeed Stanton, has been been arrested for violation
of the tenure of office law; and committee on recon-
struction agreed upon a bill to impeach the President.
New. York, Feb, 21.—Advices from Nassan to the
13th inst. have been received, A meeting of blacks
had been held there; the speakers openly eritiezed the
:” Goryernment for its inability to extricate the Colony
Bees. from the difficulties cuased by lavish expenditure and
4 extravagent measures, Gc. ‘The whites are thorougnly
loyal to the British Crown, but are uneasy in regard to
the disposition of the negroes.
“New York, Feb. 21, rv. m.—Gold 140}.

Lonpow, Feb. 22.—The Lvening Globe has a repoit
that alarming revolts have broken out among the
prisoners in India.....The audience at George Francis
‘Train’s leeture last night in Dublin was very boisterous.
Some persons present who hissed tho speaker were nee’ J

. roughly used, A strong force of police were on hand,
and prevented any serious personal violence or disloyal
demonstrations... ..The corouer's jury have concluced

a protracted investigation of the explosion of the Clerk-

enwell house of detention, and to-day rendered their

“They bring a charge of murder againet the

rs, Barett, English, O'Keefe, Mallaney and tivo
onds, the woman Ann Justice, and others whose
naniés have not yet appeared. A doubt is expressed as
to the complicity of Allen, who was recently discharged,
but has been re-arrested. The verdict concluded by
severely censaring the metropolitan police in the
Clerenw istrict for lack of activity and vigilance.
“Lonvon, Feb. 23.—Mr. William Foster, member for
Brad(ord, has given notice that on Friday, the 28th inst.,
He will call the attention of the House of Commons to
the stato of the Naturalization Laws, and to the right of
ee'f-expatriation.. ...Mr. age nie of Ky cig ation,
“recently conyi at city of publishing seditious

; be ‘se J wade sng hin gas ps

Pigot, of in Irishman, convicted of a

and . Wes sentenced to twelve mopths inprison-

eh eirpreoucre will berequired ut the expiration

their t of confinement to fnruieh eecarity for

Saocaoet behaviour... . oe se for the a eer

of the newspaper «is still under dieeussion in the

‘Legislatiff, Pe Tho amendments for allowing the

b sipe blication ef summarics, and of the Corps Legis-
ceanses

*

ti debate, were rejected by a vote of 15440 67.
‘Yorks, Feb. 24— The impeachment question
great excitement in political circle, and tends to

of the President led to a wa’
the House all day, Predictions are that the resolutions
of —e will pass this evening.
at 1428.

charges of Impeachment and report them to the

King b

of each class of
make the particalar Estate to which it belongs self-sua-
taining, but no more than age and that if a
logs should hy any means occur, or he likel

respect of any particular Estate, it must be paid out of
the Generai Revenne, and cannot be charged apon the
Tenants of an other Estate, in short, that one Estate
cannot be supplemented at the expense of another. A
close consideration of the wording of section 9, appears
to ns conclusive on this point,

ment La
ae at which some of those Lands had previously been eold,

veri pooh sayy | pict. I. then, the

vaily, in saying that the vast military preparations whic
are now going on in all parts of France, aro of a char-
acter and on # seale which lead to the conviction that
they are designed to answer other purposes than those
of national defence, ;

Wasuixctron, Feb. 24.—T

proposed impeachment
aickae. whee occu

Gold closed

Wasurnaton, Feb. 25,—The question of Impeaching
President Jobugon was taken in the House of Repre-

sentatives last evening and carried in the affirmative.

126 to 47.....Committees were appointed to prepare

enate.
Great excitemgnt prevails on the subject.

Loxpon,. Feb. 24,—Charles E. Stewart, Chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Ang'o American Telegraph

Company, died suddenly of appoplexy, in the Board

Room, on Wednesday last.....In the House of Lords
tonight the bill removing the suspension of the writ ot
Habeas Corpus in Ireland was advanced to a second

reacing.....In the debate to which the bill gave rise,

Harls Russell and Grey spoke at length, advocating re-
form in Iveland in both State and Chureh, Speeches in
reply were made by the Earls of Hardwicke and Ellen.
orough and the Marquis of Westmeath. ...In the
House of Commons this evening the proceedings were
unimportant,

Opinion and Report
Of Altorney and Solicitor Generals, upon the Petition of

Joseph M. Dixon and others, (Selkirk Estate), referred

to them by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor in

Couneil,

The Petition of Joseph M. Dixon and other inhabi-
tants of the late Selkirk Estate, am this Island, has been
referred to us for aw opinion,

It sets forth that they have all become purchasers
from the Government of their locations on the above
estate, and that most of them have regularly paid up
their acerning instalments of the amount charged rape
them by the Leeil Government, for the Freehold of
their Farms. That it appears now, as they allege, from
the public accounts, that the total amount paid in, on
account of the estate, has been more than enough to
repay the capital and expenses laid out by the Govern-
ment in purchasing it. They snbmit their opmion that
according to the spirit and intention of the Land
purchase Act, 16 Vie. cap. 18, it was not intended to
exact from the tenants of any estate purchased by the
Government, any amount beyond what would be neces-
sary to render the purchase self-sastaining and keep
the Government free of all costs and charges, Their
request is, that an acgeunt of the estate should be made
up, and if it should, then appear that the capital ad-
vanced by the Government, interest aud all lawfal
charges respecting the Estate, should appear to have
been repaid, that measures should be taken to release
the Petitioners and their Lands from all further pay-
ments ov account of their purchases,

For the purposes of this opinion, we assume that the
Petititioners are correct in stating that the fall purchase
money of the Selkirk Eatate and all costs and expenses
connected with its management, &c,, have been reim-
barsed to the Governmen®, and the questions on which
we are called upon to give an opinion, are, as we under-
stand them, whether, according to the intention and

meaning of the Land Purchase Bill, an Estate when!

purchased, is to be required only to be sustaining in
respect of itself, or whether an Estate purchased can
he required to assist in sustaining another Estate, or
Estates, where a loss may occur or shall be apprehended,
and, incidentally, whether, where an Estate proves more
than self-sustaining, aud the purchasers or occupiers
have paid a sufficient amount to clear the Government
from loss, they are ipso facto discharged from further
payments to which they have bound themselves by deed,
or whethor they are by law bound and compellable if
required still to discharge all remaining unpaid instal-
ments of their purchase money,

The Land Parchase Bill must, like all other acts, be
construed according to the intention of the Legislatare,
collected from its expresa words, and where those are

| not explicit, gathered from the occasion and necessity

of the Law, and the eause which moved the Legislature
to enact it. The good intended to be done, the evil to
be cured aad the remedy proposed must also he inquired
into, and such a constraction given, to it +9 will, if passi-
ble, give fall effect to the act, recording to the trne intent
of the makers of the act, deduced from a view of the
whole and every partof it taken together. Guided by
these principles, we approach the consideration of this
important case. and having given the statute in question

careful cousideration in ell its parts and enactments,

we repoxt upon it and the Petition, as follows:
The object and intention of the Act, as declared in its
preamble, was.to enable the Tenantry of this Island to

convert their Leasehold Tenures int) Prechold Estates,
at an easy rate, and on fair terms.
by the Government stepping in—advancing the money
. : ; —purchasing the Lands, and reselling them to the
had but recently arrived from. the United States...-. | Tenants on favorable and easy terms, with time for my

e

‘This wee to be done

ment to be given them as specified in the Act. '

Act requires the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice
and consent of the Exeéutive Couneil, to eall for Ten-
ders for the gale of Lands to the Government, and when
any Tender of an Estate has been received and con.
sidered, to conclude the purchase if approved of.
‘each purchase of Lands’ effected under the Act, the
ih section enacts that *‘it shall be the duty of the
Commissioner of Public Lands within three months to
make a report and return of the Lands purchased, (for
each Township, a separate report and return.) designa-
ting praticularly the quality, nature, description and
position thereof. and arranging the same into classes ;
and it shall be lawful for, and the duty of the Lieutenant
Governor, by and with the advice and consent of Her
Majesty’s Executive Council, thereupon to fix upon and
determine the price to be charged for the sale of each
class and description of Land; the same to be regulated
so that a suflicient price be charged in the aggregate
to cover ail costs, charges and expenses of the purchase,
transfer, survey and management of the Lands,—the
purchase money and interest thereon—loss to theggene-
ral revenue from decrease in the land tax, on account
of the lands purchased ander this Act; it being intended
that this Act shall if poesible, be self-sustaining, and
that all expenses and outlays shall be paid out of moneys
arising from the sales and rents of Lands purchased
hereunder, and that the purchase moneys, and interest,
should also be repaid out of the same fund, without an

resort to the general revenue, ifit can poasibly be avoid-
ed, but that this object being attained, the Lande shal!
be disposed of to the Tewants and other persons desirous
of becoming purchasers at as low a rate as possible,’

After

The principal question now submitted to us, is in-

volvedin the construction to be put upon this 9th section.

We are of opinion that under this section each Estate

purchased is to be priced separately, with referenee only
to its own cost, whether of purchase or working ex-

enees, and not at all with any reference to any other
istate previously purchased, and that the selling price
ania is to be fixed, so as if possible to

y to oeeur, in

The Report to be made by ‘ the Commissioner of

Public Lands” after “ each purchase of Lands’ is to
be
design
thereof, and
Lieatenant Governor,
y | each class and.deseription of Land. This can only re-

fer io a particular Ketate in question, recontly pe

A separate report and retarn for cach Township,
atlog the quality, nature, description and position
arrbogie the sane into claseee, and the

.4 iv thereupon to fix the price of

a

prioed. Tt
an *

involve a repricivg of all the Govern.

nds et & new porchase took place, aud

ght in eome cases lead to raising the prices’

ticed before. It cannot refer to
tos prev

iously po

mpracticable. u and ab-

Report

apon which the are clacsified and
‘relatesonly to the particalar Estate under con.

| the Gener

sideration, as “recently purchased, and not previously

survey and ma ment of the Lands comprised in that
Estate, its parehase money and interest thereon, loss to
Revenne from decrease in the Laud Tax,
on account of the Lands purchased, the salary of the
Conmissioner of Pablio Lands, and all other expenses
attendant upon the working of the Act, so far as the
latter relate to the particular Estate, or can be fairly
chargeable to it. .

Acting under the strict provisions of this section, it is
hard to see how the pricing of any Estate can be in-
fluenced in any way by the results of a former purchase
of another Estate. 4

The Act supposes that each purchase shall be self-
sustaining, and whilst it acknowledges the bare possi-
bility that the general revenue may, under certain cir-
cumstances, be regorted to, it never, in auy part of it, |
gives the slightest evidence of intention that one Estate
should be resorted to to make up avy loss incurred in
respect of another Estate, i ;

If, as the Petitioners. allege, the Selkirk Estate has
heen charged with the payment of any large amount
more than was required to make its purchase selt-sus-
taining, then we think that it has been se charged con-
trary to the spirit and meaning of the Land Purchase
Act, under whieh it was purchased.

They have, however, it appears, under the 10th section,
come forward and consented to purchase their locations
at the price so fixed, and haye taken and signed and
sealed their deeda, aud by so doing have solemuly boand
themselves to pay the full amount charged, from the
payment of a portion of which they now seck to be re-

ieved ; are they not legally bound, therefore, to pay in

full, although the price charged may have been exorbii-
tant? We are of opinion that they are, and that the
relief for which they now seek must be obtained else-
where than in a Court of Law,

The question raised by the Petitioners is one of the
fair construction and intention uf the Purchase Bill, aud
we repeat our opinion that the Estate should have been
priced only so as to be onasioing in regard of its own
cost, and that any price charged over and above what
may have proved requisite to effeet that object was not
a charge in accordance with the spirit and intention of
the statute, ;

Should the allegations ia the petition as regafds the
Government having been reimbursed in its outlay,
prove correct, on a carefal account being taken, it will
then be a inatter worthy of the consideration of the
Government and Legislature, whether it would or would
not be right and equitable to pass an act giving some
relief to the Petitioners,

Solicitor General,
Chariottetown, 13th Febreary. 1868.

Ghe Bervala.
Wednesday, March ote isos.

MEETING OF TUE LEGISLATURE.

Ovn Island Legislature meets to-day for the despatch of
business. We are not in the secrets of the Govern-
ment. We do not pretend to know more’ than our
readers of its future policy. Any remarks which we
may make are altogether our own; we owe nothing to
governmental inspiration. It is the fashion, in certain
quarters, to speak slightingly of our Island constitution,
and to be witty at the expense of the three estates of
our litle realm. The area of our Island Home is very
limited, aud our topics of legislation are certainly not
of world-wide tinportance. , The newspapers of foreign
countries are not filled with discussions on our
political affairs, and the telegraph does not hasten to
flash our governmental changes to the ends of the
earth, Yet the people of the Island, few as they ere,
must be governed, and the interests of its public,
though they be neither many nor great in the eyes of |
our neighbors, are of the flrat consequence to its inhab-
itants, and must be attended to. Though our relations
with foreign countries and the defence of our shores
are all managed for us, yet enough-remains to demand
the anxious care and to tax the energies and abilities of
the best of our public men. It is of the utmost im-
portance to the inhabitants of the Island that justice be
fairly and impartially administered ; that they enjoy the
fullest protection of their lives, their property, and
their reputations, that taxation be as light as possible,
and that it be fairly imposed on all classes, according to
their ability to pay, and in proportion to the benefits
they receive from a scttled government; that the edu-
cation of their children be as good as possible, and as
general as the circumstances of the country permit;
and that their roads and bridges be in good repair, af-
fording a safe and easy means of transit from one part
of the country to the other. These, we say, and other
branches of the public service that we have not men-
tioned, require the utmost attention of all who have the
making of our laws and the direction of our public af-
fairs. The happiness aud the prosperity of the people,
in a very great measure, depend on the able and effective
performauce of their many important and onerous du-
ties. A truly intelligent man will never view with in-
difference the politics of the country in which he may
happen to live, or regard with contempt the public acts
of its public men. We know that, whatever be the
course pursued by some few individuals who are very
wise in their own conceit, the people of the Colony
peters take, as they ought to do, a very lively interest
n public affairs. Our legislators would do well to re-
member, at all times, that the public eye is upon them.
If they evince a sincere desire for the public good, and
shew themselves both willing and able to deal with our
public questions in a statesman-like manner, their hold
on the contidence and esteem of the people will be very
greatly strengthened, Whatever may be sald to the
contrary, it is our conviction that the people of the Is-
land appreciate, at his true value, a really honest and
able politician, They have~and very properly, too—a
thorough abhorrence of that scheming and twisting and
dodging which certain Fy ties, more cunning than wise,
dignify by the name o litics.. The public man, once
convicted of trickery and double-dealing, need never ex~
ct to regain their contidence and support. The really
onest man, though his abilities may not be of the most
brilliant order, has nothing to fear. If he earnestly en-
deavors to discover what is best for the public good,
and having come to a conclusion, fearlessly and honestly
acts upon his convictions of what is right, he need be
under no apprehension of the result. In politics, as in

social life, the easiest and the surest way to yay a
and a lasting reputation is—to deserve it. e are fully
convinced that the present House of Assembly contains
more real unfeigned lovers of their country, and fewer
mere politicians, than any previous one, e have no
doubt but that these gentlemen will bring to the consid-
eration of every public question, if not the most
splendid talents and the longest experience—that with-
out which talents and experience are curses to the pub-
lic instead of blessings—name'y: a sincere desire and a
settied resolation to co their best for their country. We
do not wish to be considered as wishing to write dis-
ngly of the present majority of the House of As.
sembly. We bellove that the members who compose
that majority are, to say the very least ot them, in native
strength of intellect, the equals, if not the ies pte
of their opponents, aud we are much mistaken if their
future legistation does not prove the correctness of our

Our ackeol lw Ives revision, In. its present
state, {¢ is at pally. ota Tbees, and ineffective. Its
provisions are too numerous and too 1
dletory for the use of plain count
those most frequen called

Jeg wk all our Jaws, our a4

simplest, most carefully worded, least

cated weatbt trina provia which i yo
west possible. in to

Oe eel ee ee ee '

=

schools should more effective than at present.
We hare oe fetiolee telbtamalce tase tae ctoteey eae:

ers are allo
minds and habits of the children entrusted to their care;
while there is no in
ag ww schoolmaster to continue in the profession which
he

weedin
profession, and of encou
pacity for teaching to endeayor to excel in It, and to
scope the Instruction of youth as a permanent occupa-
on
pends on the competency of our teachers more than on
anythin
teache'
if’ they be ignorant and incompetent, no matter how
excellent our system or how wise our laws, the educa-
tional interests of the country will be sure to languish.

length on
come under the attention of our law makers of
Niouses during the present session, but we will return to
the subject in a short time,

CONFEDERATION IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

= }every constitutional means.
speech was made public, a large and influential meet-
ing of the citizens of St. John’s was convened, at which
the following Resolutions were unanimously passed :~-

present, but wil De'atnonded
“R. B. Reid's” report of a public meeting recently held
oy from Mr. report
wv

in

cation in the county . The Reports of the Inspectors of
Schools are so much waste paper, The Government do

iced, then it follows that the price must and can only
C padi in veferonall to led on the basis of th peer ae § age its gt a ee aay Sie nceangdlrsero
costs, charges and expenses of the purchase, transfer, With ite best. TRMRCEA indolent. and immoral teach-

ed, without a single check, to ruin the
nt held out to the really com-

has chosen. Some means should be contrived of
the incapable and immoral members out of the
ing those who evince a ca

The eMciency of our school system, after all, de-

else. Let there be a really staff of
in our schools, and education will flourish; but,

Want of space

ers us from writing to-day more at
e vari

topics of legislation likel, >

By our Newfoundland exchanges, which we received

on Saturday, the 29th of February, we learn that the
Legislature of that Colony was formally opened for the
despatch of business on the 80th of January. Notwith-
standing the distracted condition of the Dominion, and
the unsatisfactory experience of its history upon the
smaller Provinces, the Governor of Newfoundland,
under inspiration from Ottawa, seems anxious to have
that Colony joined to the Dominion, as will appear from
the following paragraph in his opening Speech :—~

**Since we last met, the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia

and New Brunswick, under the British North American
Act of 1867, has been carried into effect.
tion of Lord Monck, I was present at the opening of the
first Parl ament of the Dominion, and during my visit to
Ottawa had opportunities for communica’
Governor General and his advisers on questions affecting
the Confederation of the Provinces.
est readiness evinced by the Government of the Do-
minion to consider in a spirit of liberality any sugges-
tion or propositions on the
which have not yet united wit
confident that any reasonable stipulations as part of an
agreement for union will be assented to cordially.
will be to covsider on what terms you would re;
union with the other Provinces as expedient,
an expression of such an opinion, I should be prepared
to submit the question to the decision of the constitu-

By the invita-

nm With the
found the great-

art of those Colonies
the others; and I am

It
rda
after

(Signed) JOSEPH HENSLEY, encies.”
: : Attorney General. | Now, although it must be satisfactory to the people of
(Signed) D, O'M. REDDIN, Newfoundland to know that they are not to be deprived

of their liberties in the same way as the people of Nova
Scotia have been, yet we are pleased to find, from the
St. John’s Patriot, that they have taken the alarm at
once, and are determined to resist Confederation by

Immediately after the

‘Resolved, That this meeting sees with regret that It

is the intention of the Government to press the subject
of Confederation upon the consideration of the Legisla-
ture during the present session.

“Resolves, that it would be highly inexpedient and

detrimental to the general laterests of our Island to
enter the Confederation on any terms whatever, whilst,
as at present, the Dominion is distracted by financial
and other internal troubles, and with the prospect of the
secession of at least one of its members, that member, |
Nova Scotia, being our nearest and most Intimate
acighbor, whose Interests are, in many respects, identl-
cal with our own,

“Whereas, it is admitted on all sides, and accepted by

the Government, that before any step pledging New-
foundland to the Confederation can be taken, the whole
question must be submitted to the people at the Polls;
aud whereas, by our Constitution, a General Election
must be holden in the fall of 1869: therefore—

** Resolved, that to anticipate such Election, as appears

to be indicated in His Excellency’s speech, would be an
extravagant waste of the public money, and would lead
to great excitement, and arouse political passions, and
this at a time when, from the depressed state ef our
common country, the harmonious action of all classes
of our population is most necessary.

“Resolved, that a Petition embodying the foregoing

Resolutions, and praying the Legislature to postpone all
action in the matter of Confederation until the next
General Election in 1869, be drafted for signature; and
that the Hon J. 8. Clift be requested to present the said
petition in the Legislative Council, and Henry Renvuf,
Esq., M.IL.A., in Legislative Assembly.”

It would be a great piece of folly upon the part of the

Newfoundland Legislature to entertain the question of
Confederation, or to put the electors to unnecessary
trouble and expense, until tne result of Nova Scotia's
efforts to obtain a Repeal of the Union are first known.
If these efforts are successful, we do not think that New-
foundiand will have any great reason to enter into a
Union which has proved a source of heart-burning,
misery, and positive Injury to a sister Province; and, if
unsuccessful, this Important lesson can be learned at the
expense of others, that once the liberties and privileges
of the Colony are surrendered to an all-powerful Cana-

dian majority, whether it be for weal or woe, they are
gone forever,
unavailing to have them restored. The people seem to
be well aware of this fact, and it is refreshing to find
them taking timely measures to thwart the designs of
scheming and mercenary politiclans—a tribe with which
Newfoundland, like every other place enjoying represen-
tative institutions, seems to be cursed. Judgin;
the spirit of the people and the tone of the Resolutions
above quote, we entertain the confident bellef that the
political schemers will come to grief, and that the Colony
of Newfoundland will jealously guard and cherish its in-
dependent privileges, to be bas by its inhabitants
for many, many years to come.

origin, history, or experience of Confederations to induce
the inhabitants of Newfoundland to throw in their for-
tunes with the Dominion, An Island, like Prince Ed-
ward, they are divided from the Dominion
and they enjo
suming-any of its burdens. Evéry reason and consider.
ation urge
Newfoundland, who, with the experience of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick before him, seeks to destroy the
autonomy of his native land, must be a fool, and no fit
guide to lead others.
aggrandizement, and seeks to rear his own fortunes
upon the ruins his of fellow-colonists, he must be a
traitor,
found a home in Newfoundland——who labors for the des-
truetion of the liberties of his adopted country, must be
false to his own instincts, false to the traditions of his
country, fulse to his personal experience in his native
land; and, had we the ear of the people of Newfound-
~~ sen would simply say to them: ‘let no such man

trusted.”’

Agitation and repining will be alike
from

here is nothing in the

aA nature,
all the advantages of Union without as-

them to remain as they are. The native of

If he does so for personal

The Irish settler-—-not a few of whom have

Fink From AN Asttes Barne..—A fire broke out in the

honse of Jas. Davison, Esq., of Rollo Bay, on the night
of Friday, the 28th ult,, which nearly resulted in tle
total destruction of the premises. By the most
strenuous exertions of Mr. Davison and family—no
time having been allowed to call other assistance—the
— were confined to the room in which the
re o
terior of the room was entirely charred, and the glass in
Pi gy Sy ‘originated, we believe, in the ve
sus \.
common yet careless practice of putting hot ashes .
barrel, usually placed in some out of the way room, In
the present instance,

ted, and were eventually subdued. The in-
loss was

Beyond this, no serious

, the barrel was in the garret. We
accident will prove a ae to others

‘Somn original on hand, is crowded out for the
to as soon as possible.
week. We are sorry to
that much distress, which
ee ee prevails

the Weatern end of the le

SS, ements San a i aia ESE mesieescumneimngecitsnnltn > Renaapnanag si metnn th epee i al

Tux Nova Scotia Legislature has adjourned until
August next. Ithas been calculated by A. Jones, Esq.,
of Halifax, one of the Dominion Members of Par.
liament, that Nova Scotia pays at the rate of $2,000
doy into the Ottawa Treasury over and above what sho
receives out of it. Under such circumstances, it is no

wonder that that Provinces seeks for Repeal. The lesson
should not be lost upon this Colony or New‘oundlaud,

Aw English Mail, with dates to the 15th ultimo, was

received at the General Post Office on Saturday night
last, but, as-usual, the despatches across the Atlantic
Cable have anticipated the news contained in our latest
English papers, , |
Mr. Lawson's communication on the proposed amend-
ments to the Corporation Act will appear in our next.

Disastrous Finns.--Between, 12 and 1 o'clock a fire
broke out in a carpenter's shop, on Agricola Street, owned

aud baw | by Mr, James Scott. This fire we
beheve, by the shavings around the stove catching, which,
burstin ‘a fiame, dso rapidly that in a few moments
the sesoliy af ates In, te vctensy the bre agreed atin
t ty of wa

and notwithstaning the utmost exert seat fire fon ous
the building in which the fire broke out, with its

conten
the residenceof Mr. Scott, adjoining, a cottage owned von
oceupied by Mr, J. Morris, carpenter, and another owned
by R, H, Nichole, and occupied by Mrs, McKenzie were all
destroyed, Messrs, Morris and Nichols’ properties were in-
sured m the ‘ Queens ;" Mr, Scott's was insured in the
‘Royal;’’ but he is a heavy loser, as he had no insurance on
his stock er tools, About quarter to six o'clock on Sun.
day evening, fire was scen issuing from the tower of the
Grafton-street Wesleyan Church, An alarm wag immediate.

ly given, and the fire boirg apay d and mili at once repair.
ed to the scene, Fanned by a high wind, the fire spread ra-
pidly over the building, and it was soon apparent that any
attempt to confine its short of the destruction

of the church was futile, Cat Guanes every effort was di-
rected to prevent the fire from extending to the adjoining
buildings.—Fortunately, the houses opposite, on the east.
en side of Grafton Street, were low, and the church stand-
ing on an elevated site, the north-east wind carried the
flames over them—other wise, in all probability, with the ex.
treme cold that prevailed, we should have had to record a far
greater calamity from the cevouring element. Ihe progress
of the flames on the Church was watched with intense in.
terest by thousands of people. As the forks of flame would
rush upon the exterior of the steeple, and shoot up from the
pinnicles at its four eorners, the ppectacle was grand in the
extreme, At length the pile of wood, having lest its sup-
port from below, began to totter, and at last fell with a ter.
tific crash into the burning mass below, sending the flames
roaring and seething high inte the air. With the fall of
the steeple the danger ot the surrounding re was past,
and the flames were left to consume what remained ot g the
Grafton street Wesleyan Church. The fire is s to
have originated from the bursting of a flue near the root,
close to where the steeple. and roof joined. The building
had recently undercone thorough repair, and had been en-
larged, The interior was very handsomely fitted up, the
pews on the ground floor being all lined with crimson, while
the walls, pillars, &e., Were painted pure White, The or-
gan was new, and said to be a very fine instrument. This
was consumed, The books, cushions, &c , and some of
the gas-fittings were saved. The new school huuse, +, est of
the church, being of brick with a slate roof, is uninjured.
The usual bursting of hose which has characterised almost
all the fires, sinee the introduetion of the eotton article,
was witnessed on Sunday. Will no amount of warnings
suflice to stir up the City Council to take some action f
the matter?

In St. John, on Tuesday, a house in Portland, adjoining
the coach factory, and owned by Mr. John Farmer, was
considerably injured by fire, and on Thursday, two houses
on the Straight Shore—near Esley’s Mills——were destroyed
by the same enemy. ‘They were owned respecti by a
Mr. Forrest, and a Mr. McCarthy, the former no, Ae
to the amount of $300.—J1x. Col. of Feb. 25,

Mr, Howe, in a speech at a meeting of his constitu:
ents lately held, said :—

“You will remember that when the British North
American Act was before the House of Lorde, and re-
ference was made to the addresses and petitions from
Nova Scotia, Lord Monck and the Marquis of Norman-
dy assumed that I was to blame for all opposition to the
measure, because I had gone into some oT the counties
and addressed. the people. I am determined, when
the question comes before the Imperial Parliament again,
that this shall not be said. Since my return from Otta-
wa I have remained at = own fireside. I attended
the two meetinge held at the county where I live, and,
asin duty bound, came to attend this in the county
which I represent. Though iavited to Cumberland, to
Pictou, and other counties, I have declined all invita-
tions, and bave left the people to their own independent
action. Yet, what have we seen? In every county
they have risen, and with onc voioe have demanded the
repeal of this hated Act of Union. Dr, Tupper ven-
tured to assert, at Ottawa, that the September elections
were not run upon this issue, He has now got his ang-
wer, and if Her Majesty's Government shall not think
it sufficiently emphatic we are ready toran them over
again. The people must bear their own sins this time,
or noble lords must find some other scapegoat when tho
question comes to be re-argued.

Metancnoty Occurrence av Sea.—On tho 8th of
January last, at 930. p.m., while Mr. Neil eo
Campbell, son of Mr. John Campbell Mason, Little
Sands, P, E. Island—be:ng an able seaman on board
the brigantine ‘‘ Express,” Capt. Young—on a voyago
from Swansea to Cuba, West Indies and when along
with two of the seamen, engaged in furling the fore top-
— Lecreyed gave a vst roll, carried away

fore-mast with three men, two of whom were rescued ;
but sad to relate, Mr. Campbell slipped his hold and
was lost, The deceased was 22 years and 5 months of
age. Being a sober and industrious young man, he was
much esteemed and respected by all who had the plea-
sure of his acquaintance, By this accident, his parents
have been deprived of that comfort and endearment

which his untimely death has occasioned; but the
mourn not as those without hope. Mr. Ca 1 left
this leland last fall, on a voyage to Bristol, England.

We are glad to learn from the Progress that an Agri-
cultnral Society for Prince Gaany bas lately =
organized at Summerside. The officers aro :—

President —James G. Wiggins, Beg, é79 ey os

Vice President—Cornelius Howat, eq. Aes

Committee—Hon. Alex, Lard, M. P. P., Lage oe
Daniel Green, Esq, M. P. P., Stephen MoNeill,
George Compton, Thos, H, Schurman, -, and
Messrs. hore M, Price, Wm. Taylor, A. well,
and Robert Glover,

The Committee have not yet appointed a Secretary
and Treasurer,

It was decided that meetings be held in Summerside
on the evening of every alternate Tuesday, at 7 c’elock,
until April 1st, and then once a month during the
summer,—Jat, ;

: 4
‘i

Rirtx Comprrrrioy.—The members of Dundas
Rifle Corps” mustered at Sou on Wednesday,
dae see for weal . petition for Prizes,

ng Very , the average was not as

as in al probability would have been, had the i
been warmer, but cold as it was, the Shooting, on the
whole, was very fair, There were 5 rounds fired at
200 yards, and 5 at 400 yards, making an average of
23 points per man. There were 39 bulls’ ey cen:
tres, and 73 outers made, The following is a
successful competitors:

Donald McLeod. 19.
Alex. McLellan, 4
Matthew Jardine, 4
Arch. Stewart, 16 1
Seumpen ee: 21, 1868,—2s?,
On Friday last, Mr, John MoCallum, B
to 9 whioh

F

ooocoo

Poin
r
1
which
the

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rey “Walley, 7
eee