pan vith Col.
oy 7D

ee

iniles ‘
might. Mr, Lambert.with seven of hie children and a
wan servant were burned to dvath.—Gold 138}

THE HERALD, WE

DNESDAY,

*

APRIL 8, 1868. _

wt
thr ama 0

News by Tclegraph.

Loxnom, Mavvh 25.—Whe Thouse of Commons ‘tast

the bal tor the abslition of church rates,

March 25.-—The aew Free ia an,

editorial wn the recent visit of Prince IN ‘te’

Genmany, asserts that Lits objvet in going to was

Sebuld a conference with siguers of trvatics of 1815,
arging them to mike a

coca com sat ame Raper tho Uingdon ol Poland,

the vight of aati caret swans passed, ‘T.
Gorge Legishnlf aijurmet antl the 36th of April.

Biswsx, March 26.-—Wertembarg tas just chosen
to we ener Nias of Wolleverein who are op-

fading nag 26 ee Deaey, who in eo
Ss came . ȴ Was in m-
Burke when he si reseued from the
auchester, en the eccasivu of the riots in
that city, has been arrested at Salford and ledged in

strong opp troduced hy Mr.
Gladstone, looking ¢o the Charck Reform in Ireland,
are je croulation and receiving many signatures... . Tt

is ted (hat the Praseiaa Government has addressed
ac -nete to all its diplomatic repreecutatives
abroad, hatically that the recent vieit of

denying em
Prince Wapoleas to Bertin and Gennany lind any po-
grb pga .--ltis offidially announced Goveroment
will a ship of warto Japan, to protect the trade of
Ttaly ia hose waters.

Loxpow. March 27.—Thomson and Maloney, the
Fenians who were convicted of the wareer of Police-
man Brett, have doen sentenced ta jmprisonment for
life at the Coal Mines at Charleraie.

Bevowa, Mareh 27.—A riot took place recently,
which was by the troops, many of the oper-
atives being killed and wounded,

Fronrnce, March 27,—‘Troops have been sent to the
Province of Naples, to suppress brigaudage. Gen.
Pallaviciai commands the forces.

I + March 27th.—In the House of Lorda, this
evening. the question of the Alabama claims came up,
and gave rise to some debate. Earl Russell made a
8 sth which he reviewed the relations of Great
Hritain and the United States during the war of the re-
Dellion, and defended the policy puarsuet! by him in tite
ease of the Alabama and oer Confederate cruisers.
Lord Cairns sustained the course of the Secretary of
State for foreign affairs, Lord Stauley, in the contro-
Verey with the American Government on the Alabama
claims. Lord Westbury defined the laws ot England
bearing at the question ‘at issue, and dened the
= the-claiins tor indemnity arged by Mr. Seward

the Hoase of ‘Commans.....This evening Lord

gave notice that on Monday next he should offer

w resolution tlat the consideration ot the question of

Reform in the lvish Church Establishment, be left to the
next Parliament.

Lonvon, Mareti 28.—Despatches from the’ British
Military Expedition in Abyssinia, report that entire force,
with the exeeption: of the mountain battery and four
oe of the 45th Regt. of Infantry, had just left
Zoule, and commenced the march for the highlanda of
the*country. The army was in good health and the
wager Sanitary report was favorable. ‘The ascent to

e@ highlands of Abyasinia is regarded here as a very
difficult undertaking, but it is understood that General
Napier’s advance is by the safest and most travelled!
route, that of the East by Senafe and Dogatiatn. The
‘country is represented as variable in ay pearances, fertile
and extremely barren alternately, and ‘some of the
mountain passes very formidable, ‘Phe report tele-
oo from Vienna a day ortwo ago, that the Civil

arriage Bill had finally passed ‘both Houses of the
Reichrath, wae premaiure, as some amendments were
tmade in the Upper House, andthe Bill was sent to the
Lower House for'its concurrente. These amendments
were agreed to to-day by ‘the lower branch, and the
Bill as amended tow stantte paned by both beaches,
and only awaits'the assetit of the Emperor to become

Ww.

Loxpox, March 29.~The case of G. F. Train came
Vefore the Court of Rankraptey at Dablin a day or two
since. Mr. Train presented the Court a schedule of bis
assests and Labilities, which the Court rejected as a com-
plete farce, and announced it as worthless, and as 80
much blank paper.....Anti-Prussian riots have taken
place in Northern parts of Bavaria. Crowds gathered
at several places and made violent demonstyntions
ngainet Proseian influence in the Union with Northern

many.....lt is understood that the Emperor Na-

‘polvon was engaged in preparing an important manifesto
with regard to the Foreign Policy of his Government,

‘the documents to appear about the Lith prox... Buds

westimated by the French Minister of War, Marehal

‘Neil, that since the new army law had been brought tn-

‘to operation, the Guard Mobile of France was increased
to five hundred thoueand men.

Maprip, March 29—Government is vigorously @x-
eluding all American newspapers, seizing them in the
wails or wherever found. Pven those addressed to Mr,
Hale, American Minister, have been seized. Mr Hale
‘has protested to the Spmuich ‘Government against the
voutrage,

‘Lonvon, March 30th —The WerOflice has despatches
‘from Gen. Napier's bead ‘quarters in Alvyesinia to the
‘Mth inst. The General expected the firet brigade to ar-
wive at Lake ew on the 16th March. The de
spatches report King Theadore posted with heavy guns
aud mortars defending Li®*position on the table land
near Salanto, in the neighborhood of Magdala. ‘The
British captives-held by the King were safe ind in good
health on the 17th of February. Tho baggage of che
Britieh army of every description has been reduced
two-thirds by orders. Forage for cattle is scarce, the
roads pag Dot bad and difficult to travel, the country
being for the most part dry ard of volcanic formation,
The soldiers are suffering from dysentry and fever,

‘New Yorx, March 26,7. m.—The schr. MP. from.
St. Jobn, N. B., for Boston, was wrecked at the mouth
of the Penobscott Bay ou the 2istinst ‘The captain

and erew were savediafter being 48 hours on an unin-
habited island.

‘New Yourx, Marely 96.—The Legislature of British
‘Columbia ont e Qist inst. The Governor in
his favored Victoria for the sent of Government.

New York, March 27.—The Senate yesterdny rati-
‘fied the Treaty between tho United States and the North
German Contederntion, providing for free emigration,
und that naturalization changes ‘nationality. The vote
was 29 againet 8. The tretity was slightly amended,
(but not in any important particultty.-Gold 138 38.
New Yorx, March 81 —The trial of President
‘Johnson, on the Impeachment charges, began yesterday
afternoon, before the United States Senate, Chief
Justice Chase presiding. Gen. Benj. . Butler opened
thecase againel the President, in,an argument presenting
all the facts, ing four hours. The President =
‘ by counsel.......Mr. Perry, late Consul to Tunis,

od aletter from thatsplace dated Feb. 29, an-
the death of Gen. Otsman Hashem, who, in
1865, was Ambaeeador from Tonis to this counmny. The;
also spouks of a trightful dis‘ress tn Tunis and)
» In the latter place haman beings
by the eon ge
Lam

ie... eee ‘
am, 25
Canada, took fire on Wednesday

povteniog lately in an English town on
“queetion, s**t is asked, are the trish
lomen, L think they are even more loyal

y , were the Queen to become |

‘

: An ogo that {t wished, if it were at all posstble, to
con

The Herald. vas!

Wednesday, Apri? 8, 1808.
See ee ea . ”

ir ts a very difficult thing to please one’s political op-
Ppoments. Let the party in power parsue what course it
may, the party in opposition Is sure to declare it to be
the wrong one, If the Government is cautious and
conservative, it is loudly denounced as old-fory and
uaprogressive; [fit attempts to change, in the slightest
degree, the existing onler of things, it is elthe: ridi-
cntlod as hélug visionary, or thundered against as p ropa-
gating doctrines dangerous to the peace and welfare of
society, and subversive of the most sacred rights of the
subject. If its press is moderately reticent ona given

subject, its silence is ingeniously construed into a proof
ofits weakness or ofits insincerity. fit advocates liberal
measures and the popular cause, its utterances are iin-
mediately stigmatized as clap-trap, bunkam. bosh, or
whatever cant term may at the mement be in fashion to
express high-soundin, talk which is intended to supply
the place of pre-mpt and effective action. ‘The atmos-
Phere of oriposition is not exactly the proper medium
througb which to get a true and just view ofthe acts of
the Government. Like some bad kinds of glass, it
tvists and deforms the object looked at In the most sin-
gular and grotesque manner. Everything seen through
it Is distorted. The straight it makes to appear crook-
ed, the curved angalar, the distant near, and the near
distant. ‘The Jslander has lately been looking very hard
at the Government through a very bad pair of opposi-
tion spectacles, and it is not at all surprising to find
that he sees things badly arranged and out of propor-
tion. So fur are his glasses out of focus, that twelve
short months are made to appear a much greater
period of time than eight long years—longer, indeed, wher.
we come to think of it, than fifty long years. The
present Government have been in power, says he,
twelve whole months, and they have not settled the
Tand Question!!! The settlement of the Land Ques-
tion has been the main object of every Government
that the Island has hai for the last fifty years, at least,
and yet we see that that question still remains to be
settled. Tis party was in power for cight years, ‘to say
nothing of the odd months, and, though its members
talked, and wrote, and boasted more, perhaps, than was
becoming, what did they do, in all that time, towards the
settlement of the Land Question? ‘They loft that ques-
tion just where they found it, barring the Tenant League
complication, That difficulty was one of their making.
The present Government, at the hustings, did not promise
to settle the Land Question in one, oy two, or even in
ten, years, Its supporters promised to do what they
could towards settling this vexed question. They
simply promised to be in earnest, and to do their best,
This, we contend, they have done. The Loan Bill was
intended to facilitate the setement of the Land Ques-
tion. It is quite true that the Attorney General did not
negotiate a loan while he was in London last year; but,
as he could not induce any of the proprictors to sell,
there was no necessity for raising the money. ‘That
same Loan Bill may stand the Island inwzood stead one
of these days. There have been tithes when a foreign
loan would have been of incalculable benelit to the Go-
vernment and people of the Island, and such a time is
likely to oceur again. We should not at all wonder to
see the Tories, when théy come again into power, har-
ing recourse to this law, tnd making it their boast
that they have cone an immense amotmt of good vy
making a timely use of the powers which it gives the
Government of the Island. ‘They doused the Land Pur- |
chase Bill much more violently than they did the Loan.)
Bill, yet they claim credit to themselves that, by having |
carried out the provisions of that law. they have done a
great deal of good to the rural population of the Island.
We are far from denying this. Who knows but that
they will have the same stery to tell about the Loan
Bill, if they get another term of power before the whole
of the land held under lease in the Colony has been
change® to freehold.

The editor of the Jelander finds fault with the policy
of the Government with regard to the projected com-
pulsory law. He has not a word to say against the
principle of compulsion. but he thinks it improper and
bencath its dignity for the Government of this Colony
to ask the Approval of Her Majesty's Goternment for
the introduction into the Legislature of Prince Edward
Island of a measure compelling Proprictors to sell their
interests in their estates. Had the local Government
pursued the opposite course, and passed a compulsory
Dill without first acquainting the Home Government of
its intention, he Would htve found still stronger reasons
for'censure. ‘The Governthent would then be accused
of trying to unsettle the minds of the people; of making
them discontented and disloyal by attempting legislation
which they well knew, whatever hopes it might raise in
the breasts of the tenant farmers of the Colony, would
never meet with the approbation of the Colonial Minis-
ter, and would be sure to end in disappointment. ‘The
course pursued by the Government in this matter, re-
fleeting and impartial men will, we are confident, pro-
nounce to be much the wiser, though, perhaps, not the
most popular. It would have been very easy for the
Government, if popularity were its only aim, to have:
framed a compulsory bill to and have carried {t through
the Legislature. he people, no doubt, would have |
been deeply interested in the measure. ‘The discussions |
upon it, in Parliament and elsewhere, would have been
heard with interest and read with avidity. The whole
question of the Land Tenure of the Island would have
been agitated anew. The hard feelings of tenants
against proprietors would have been greatly Intensified.
The people would have time and opportunity afforded
them of pondering upon their grievances, both real and
imaginary. They would be made to consider themselves
4 Neglected and an fll-used people. It would be shewn
to their satisfaction, at any rate, that the Mother Coun-
try could not—withont exercising the most flagrant tn-
justice—the most glaring partiality—refase What ap-
peared to them their most just and reasonable demand
By a skilful use of the press and the platform, the people
could be raised to the highest pitch of excitement.
They could be very easily made to expect what their in-
terest induced them to wish for. By their zeal in the cause
of the tenantry, the Government would greatly increase
their popularity. When the measure failed, as fail it
surely would, the majority would loudly express their
indignation at the injustice with which the country had
been treated. ‘They had done everything that lay in
their power to chsure the passage of the law, and its
failure was owing to no fault of theirs, Of their sin-
cerity there could be no doubt. If populatity were the
sole aim of the Government; if {t wished rherely to
raise a cry, it would have pursued the wery ‘course
which the Islander blames it for not taking. @ agree
with the Hon. Mr. Beer. A compulsory law would be
very popular in this Island, Both the tenants and the
frecholders would heartily approve of it. The whole
ple are sick and tired of the Land Grievance. They
‘® very little sympathy with the proprietors. If
they refuse what t! ends of the tenant consider a
fair price for their lands, ninety-nine out of ng
hundred of the Inhabitants of the-Island consider ‘it

rfectly reasonable and perfectly just that bg Bog: cao
be competed to sell at that fair price. That the Gov-
ernment has pursued a different and less notsy course,

amon

‘

‘& sebstantial benefit upon the Without
any needless ayitation. We believe that the
SS our Government in favor of a com-
pulsory law, have met with a more careful constdera-

from the Colorial carehaon eve og od
would have teeeived, thou, t pass rough the
Legislature by the most sweeping majorities, ‘To

i

sereennnosutnasennnsasiatataoas

‘Tue following important correspondiente was, ujfon.
the requestef the Hoa. T. J. Haviland, lald before te
Honse of Assembly on Saturday last. We offer no
comment upon the Meniorial of His Lordship Bishop
! MeIntyre, nor yet upow’the Minute of Couneil in reply
thereto. Both documents speak for themselves, ‘The
Bishop thinks it a hardship, as it doubtless 1s, to be
compelled to pay for the Education of some two or
three hundred childrea, whom the State ought to edu-
eate; and the Government thank His Lordship for his
humane and disinterested labors, bat iaform him they
can do nothing for kim. Here the matter rests for the
present. We now give the correspondence, reserving
to ourselves the right, at any future time, to offer such
remarks thereon as may seem to us required ;—~

(cory.)
To His Evceilency George Dundas Esquire, Lientenant
Governor, §c., §e.y in Council,

The humble Memorial of the undersigned, the Roman
Catholic Bishop of Charlottetown,

RESPECTFULLY SUEWETH,

That, in the year 1833, the late Right Reverend Aineas
Bernard McEachern, Roman Catholic Bishop of ¢ har-
lottetown, did Establish a College, or Institution of
learning, at St. Andrew's, in King’s County, which he en-'
dowed with certain Lands and Property, which were in-
vested In Trustees, by an Act of the Legislature, the
same year, for the support of suid College.

That, with the aid ofa grant fromthe Legislature every
year, up to 1544, the ( ollege was kept inactive operation,
when it was dvemed advisable by the late Right Reverend
Bernard Donald McDonald, then Roman Catholic Bishop
of Charlottetown, to erect a College on a larger scale,
near Charlottetown, new called St. Dunstan’s College,
and which heendowed with certath Lands, in the Royalty
of Charlottetown, and in ald of which, the income arising’
from the property of St Andrew's College, has been ap-
prepriated, since it was opened in the year 18d5,

That, in the year 1857, a Female Boarding and Day
School was opened in Charlottetown, conducted by the
Ladies’ of the Congregation of Notre Dame, ia whith
most of the higher branches of a female Education are
taught, while a larger number ‘of the poor children of
the city, have been, and are still taught, free of any ex-
pense whatever.

That, in the year 1862, another School was opened on
Pownal Street, known as St. Joseph's Schools, conducted
also by some of the Ladies from the Convent of Notre

them pay any fees wliatever:

That, another Femaély boarding and day school was
opened in Miscouche, in Prince County, in 1864, in which
the usual higher branches of Female Education are taught,
awl at which adarge number of pupils attend daily,

That, between the four Educational Institutions Just
named, there are upward of five hundred pupilsdn atten-
dance, three fourths of whom, being of the poorer classvs,
pay nothing whatever,

That, while your memoralist feels convineed that the
Education imparted In those Institations Just named, is
superior to any that can be had in the district Schools,
he feels It a grievance that he gets no aid from'the Public
School fund of the coteny, not even as much for the
namber of children taught free, as should be paid for
them if they attended district schools.

That, In-seoking for a redvess of this grievance, Memo-
rialist disclaims all idea of any exclusive privilege—
nothing mare thean-even-handed justice is desired, and
that he has for some years, with no little sacrifice and In-
convenience, cideavoured to establish and maintain those
institutions which he considered essentini to a sound
Catholic Education, in the earnest hope, that, oue day,
simple justice would be reevived at the hands of the
genulcinen composing the Legislature.

Your memorialist t# refore earnestly entreats your
Excellency in Council to consider impartially hts case,
and ask the Legislature to alter the present school Law,
80 as to permit his schools to participate in a falr pro-
pertion of the school fund, according to their numbers
and effic'teney, or a special grant to answer the same
purpose, and your memorialist
Will ever pray,

t PETER McINTS\ RE,
R. C, Bishop ot Ch’town.
Charlottctown, March 3rd 1868,

[Signed]

(cory)
Councu. Orrier,

My Lord, 20th March, 1868,
‘His Exce'lency the bieutenant Governor in Conncil,
having had under consideration your Lordship's Memo-
rial, praying that your Schools in this Island may par.
ticipate ina fair proportion of the school fund of the
Colony; Tam instructed to nequaint your Lordship that
whilst the Council fredly acknowledge the great and
meritorious exertions tiade by your Lordship in the
cause of Education, they ‘regret that they do not feel
themselves in a position to submit the proposed grant to
the consideration of the Legislature,
T have, 8e.,/ 0

CHARLES DESBIUMSAY, C. E. C.
The Right Reverend Peter McIntyre,
Lord Bishop, &c., &c.

Far Carrty,—A+ the Queen's County Easter Show,
of Fat Cattle, held in Charlottetown yesterday, the |
principal exhibitors were Messra, Blake and Brydges.
The cattle of the former, especially, excited universal

‘admiration; but it will be difficult to say who really

deserves the palm of ‘merit until the Beef ‘be @xhibited
in the Market-house on Saturday next. The Show has
never been excelled in this Colony—the motto of
Messrs. Blake and Brydges being excelsior. The ful-
lowing is the live weight of the cattle exhibited ;—

"3. Oike's Gx, 1790
do do 1690

do Cow 4510

do do 1305

do do fed by Holman, 1190

to io do pel), 1262

do Ox do B. Johnston, 1260

do Cow 1200
Bridges’ do 1400
do bo 1440
do do . 1170
do do fed by Wright, 1280
do do do 12
do Ox do 3410
McKinnally’s Ox 1140
do do 1180

do do 1350

Ix order to make way for the papers ordered by the
louse of Assembly to be published in our present No.,
we are forced to cartail our summary of Legislative
proceedings, telegraphic news, and other matter. The
Legislative summary would embrace the Report on
Roads and tho Despatches on the Land Question, which
we give to-day; also the outlines of the Education and
Bankruptey Laws before the House. Upon these mea-
sures We Will have somo obsorvations to offer at an
early day. The most important of tho telegrams re-
ceived during the
sent No. Our readers will, therefore, have to excase
us for the want of variety in our columns during the
sitting of the Legislature, upon the
which, (about this day week), we hope to make auiple
amends for oar present defecta,

.

.

A young man named Stewart, of Brackley Point, lost
4 very fino mare in the ico at
days ago. He drove
sleigh went right under.

Fray next being Good
be held on the following day. All public

be saspended fur the day,

Dame, which, although nilinerously attended, very few of

pastwedle will be found in our pro- by

prorogation of | nigh

Biackwoon's Magazins.—The March No. contains

lowing articles, namely:—The Choreh in the
1 ph cme Hog Linda Tressel—Part VI.; The Tem-

poral Power Of the Papacy; A Fenian Alarm; The
Natiopal Character of the Old Englieh Universities;
Letters from a Staff-Officer with the Abyssinian Expe-
dition; Opposition Tacties,

A horae was lost off Heard’s Breastwork, Charlotte-
town, on Monday last, by breaking through the ice aud
drowning before assistance could be rendered.

Danna Rospeny.—We learn that James Beasirsto,
Esq., of Malpeque, had about 500 bushels of oats stol-
en out of a granary near the shore, where he bad them
stored. Thisis certahily one of the most daring robber-
ies we have ever heard tell of. As there if no doubt
but that there were several persons engaged iu this bnei-
ness, the ‘parties will yet be found out, When
rogovs fall out honest people get their own."—

S. Jour.

Cuancorrerowy Denatina Cius.—On Friday even-
ing last, Mr. A. MeNvill opened the sahjeot * Shonlt
the Legislative Council of this Island be abolished?”
which, after a very interesting diseussion, was decided
in the negative. Ou Friday evening next, Me, Wiliam
Crabb will open the question... Should capital punish-
ment be abvlished in Ms Island ?”*

W. D. Haszann, See. pro tem.

Rerer Fonn.— The subseriber begs to acknowledge
per Ilon, G. W. Howlan, the sum of five pounds, as a
donution from the Hon. Robert P. Haythorne, in uid
of the fends subseribed for the relief of the destitute, in
the Second Road District ot Prince County.

* Jas Forsyrn, Sen.

In Tut House of Assematy,
Mareh 4, 1868,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Govern-
ment to cause the following Report to be printed once

in the several newspapers of this Colony; and that its
farther consideration be deferred anti! next Session,

JOUN MeNEILL, C. M.A.

REPORT
Of the Joint Committee of the Legislative
Council and House of Assembly, ap-
pointed to enquire into the best means
of improving the Highways of the
Colony.

To His Excellency Gronan Dunxvas, Esquire, Lien-
tenant Governor and Commander-in Chief in and
over Her Majesty's Island, Prince Edward, and the
Territories thereunto belonging,. Chanvelior, Vice
Admiral an& Ordinary of the same, §, S31, Sie. in
Council.

MAY rr PLease your EXcen.ency :

1. The Joint Committee of the Legislative Council
and House of Assembly, appotated ‘to enquire into the
best means of improving the Highways of the Colony,
have the honor to report that they have met several
times, have received communications in answer to en-
quirles inade by them, have examined witnesses, and
after matare consideration, they are of opinion, that the
roads of the Colony ave not worse than might be exp: ol-
ed from vhe nature of the material used in their con-
struction, and the small amount of money and labour ex-
pended on them; and-that in certain cases, where more
expense lias be enincurred and better materials employed,
the want of practical skill in their application has caused
the result to diseppoint public expectation.

2. Tt is also their opinion, that the radical defect
which pervades the present system, is the absence of
competent superiutendance; and they advise that it
should be remedied, in the tirst instance, by placing the
management of The highways under the control of a
Board of Works, which might consist of five persons
appoluted by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, three
of whom should be a quoram;—at least three members
of the Board should be Members of the Executive Council,
and the Chairman should be appointed by the Lic utenant
Governor if Council,

8. The Committee-are of opinion that the principal
thoroughfares leading: through Charlottetown Royalty,
and i other localities where much traffic concentrates,
cannot be successfully dealt with except by macadam.
izing with hard stone; and one of the chief obstacles
hitherto experienced seems to have been the scareity of
labor,—the impossibility of procuring men to break stone,
except at rates which would render its use too costly for
general application. Ata very early stage of their en-
quiries, the Committee ascertained that a machine styled
“Bllke's Stone Breaker,” has been invented, and is
coming into general use in Britain, and elsewhere, which,
driven by steam power, equal to eight horses, breaks the
hardest materials ever used for roads, at the rate of six
tons per hour, and ata cost of three pence sterling per
ton. Though the price of these machines is considerable,
yet the Committee do not hesitate to recommend the
immediate purchase of one on wheels, calculated to oper-
ate on stones 20 inches by 9 in diameter; also, of a port-
able eight horse power Steam Engine to work it. The
price of a machine of this size is £254 sterling, atid of an
tight horse power portable Steam Engine, about £225
sterling. Large as this outlay is, the Committee do not
hesitate to recommend it, as they feel assured that with-
out the assistance of ove or more of these machines, no
considerable improvemeuts can be effected in those lo-
ealities Where the concentration of traffic renders it es-
sential that transit should be at all times safe, easy, aud
uuobstracted,

4. The Committee believe that good hard Nova Scotia
stone may be procured at from two shillings to four shil-
lings per ton. They have ascertained by actual weighing
and measuring, that a cubic yard of broken stoue weighs
a little more than a ton, consequent!y, one ton may be
made to cover a space of road eighicen fect by thres,
and six inches deep; 1760 tons would be required to co-
ver a mile in this manner, which, allowing five shillings
per ton for stone broken and delivered in carts, would
amount to nearly £450, The cost of conveyance to the
spot required, spreading and superintendance, would
probably not much exceed the amount at present ex.
pended annually, to so little purpose, These calculations
are offered as approximations only; the cost of stone
varies; a thickness of six Inches may prove insufilcient ;
the estimate is for a width of road sullicient for two ve-
hicles to pass; a more than half that width may suffice
for the present want, of many localities—though the out-
Jay is large, yet the results would be immediate and per-
manent. ‘The stone breaking machine, kept at constant
work, would supply the material for making sixty yards
of road per day; the work might proceed daring several
months; and, it is possible, the stone breaking might
continue during winter, oxcept perhaps afew weeks of
the coldest weather. The Committee cannot, however,
recommend that an experiment of this extent should be
attempted, except under the management of a skilled
superintendant, 80 as to ensure proper economy of labor
and a judicious use of materials. It is, therefore, ex-
pedient in thelr optuion, if the question of improving
our highways is to be fairly arappl with, that a pérson
possessing the necessary qual ons should be per-
manently engaged, and all future operations of the kind
referred to, should be conducted by him under the di:
rections of the Board of Works,

:

g

E
Ei
|

if

the Committee advise, should be placed under the im-
mediate management of three superintendants, who should
be paid safictent salaries, aud should devote theiy whole
time to the care of one hundred miles of main post road,
eras much more as it is considered they can well look
after. They should be in commuuication with, and be
instracted as to the fulfilment of thelr duties, by the
Board of Works ‘They should control the execution of
statute labor in the precluets bordering on the highways
under their charge, and from them the overseers of ea kt
precincts should receive directions as to the time, the
place, and manner of performing statute labor, They
should also control the expenditure of grants from the
Legislature, subject to the direction of the Board of
Works; It should be their duty, on appointment, at the
opening of Spring, to travel over the road committed to
their care, and note such particulars as requite most
ressing attention, and also give directions, viva voce, or
n writing, relative to the performance of statute labor;
and having made their observations as to the condition
of thelr roads, report to the Board of works the nature,
extent and probable cost of the repalrs and improvements,
in their judgment advisab'e or necessary, and the Board
thereupon shall order or rejeet them, in whole or in part,
for reasons assigned, which shall be entered on their
minutes, ‘The superintendants should travel at frequent
intervals over the roads under their management, order
such repalrs as appear immediately necessary, and,
subject to the approval of the Board of Works, make
purchases of stone or other materials required for roads
or small bridges, or make contracts for delivery of the
same at certain places, or for laying on stone or other
matertals; or if contracts cannot be advantageously en,
tered into, they shall either personally superintend
labourefs, or employ overseers of preciuets or others for
that purpose, who shall receive for that service a sum
not exeeceding five shillings per diem: they should also
be in frequent communication with the Board of Works
and keep a daily register of their proceediags, wh'ch, to-
gether with accounts of their expenditure, should be laid
before the Board — As the sucecss of the plan suggested,
largely depends on the abliity, the activity and discretion
of the superintendants, the Committee recommend that
they should be carefully selected by the Board of Works,
and paid a salary sufficient to enable them to devote their
whole time to the road service, and to cover travelling
and all other personal expenses,

7. With reference to all ether highways, the Committee
recommend that they should be lett for the present, under
the management of the existing Commissioners ¢ who, how-
ever, being relieved of the care of the main post ro.ds,
might be expected to devote more time and attention to the
inspection of the different precincts. ‘The Committce also *
suggest that much might be effeeted by the performance of
Statute Labor at an earlier period of the season than is now
customary, by paying more attention to drainage, by the
useof hard matenals where sueh can be readily proeured, and
by the use of a substratum of earefully laid brash ia wet
situations

8 Whitha view, however, to the fature and permanent
improvement of the highways referred to in the receding
paragraph, the Committce suggest that it is desirable to
avold centrahzation, and if possible to raise up a system of
local management, and in due time, perhaps, of loca! tax-
ation, The radical fault of the present system. as already
obse, ved, seems to be the want of responsible permanent
management, The commissioners are charged with the per.
formance of certain definity duties for which they receive
very inadequate remuneration. The overseers appointed
for the current year direct the statute labor of their preeinets
and expend the commutation money, but the duties of these
olfivers do not seem to extend to the daily charge of the
roads nominally committed to their care. ‘The Committee,
therefore, suggest the enactment of a permissive measure,
embracing such features of the English and Irish systems, as
appear suitable to the circumstances of this Island, Such
& measure might be put in operation by order of the Lieu-
tenant Governor in Council, on the petition of not less than
fifty householders residing in any two er more adjoining
fownships or parts of Townships. desiring to be eanstitu'ed
a tlighway District. Such Petition should set forth that
the said District would contain, at the least, ons hundred
miles of highways, and that it would conduce greatly to
their better managoment if a Highway Distriet were formed
in the manner contemplated by the Act. The ‘Townships
mentioned in the Petition should thereupon, if no sufficient
objection apneared, be consticuted a Ilighway District by
orcer of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the existing
Commisstoners superseded, anda highway Bourd formed,
which should consist of seven persons, who should be eloct-
ed by the people resident within sald district. ‘Tho
district Board should then appoint a superintendant or
general overseer of roads, whose duties should be nearly the
same as the superi.tendants of main post roads, already des-
cribet in the sixth paragraph of this str but he should
be under the immediate direction of the local Board, which
should control the expenditure of all grunts of public money
for highways within their District, and the commutation
money, and also direct their overscer concerning tha per-
formance of statute labor; and when funds are required for
further repairs or improvements, they may make known the

| same by mernorial to the Lieutenant Governor in Council,

setting forth thata sum of £ is needed for the service of
highways in district, and recommend that an assessment
should be levied on all lands, not exceeding three shillings
per one hundred acres, or an assessment of three shillings on
all persons liable to sta'ute labor, and ono shilling and six.
nee on every working horse; andif it shall appear to the
deutenant Governor in Council that no sufficient objection
exists to the levy of said assesament, he shall thereupon. sig-
nity his approval, and the district Board may then order
the assessment to be collecied by their overseer, or other
persons duly authoized by them. Such a measure, suggex-
ted partly by the Imperial Statute, 25th and 26th Victoria,
Cap. 61—which is also permisssive—and partly by the Trish
practice of local assessments, would possess many advan-
tages; it would combine the best local ability and ex.
perience for the management of the roads; the proceedings
of the Board and their offisers would ba shurply criticized,
and thiaat is presumed, would prove a stimulus to exertion,
while the small amount of taxes to ba levied would not
meet with much serious opposition,

9 The management of winter roads should remain with
the overseers of precineta ¢ but they should be directed, on
the approach of Spring, aud at othey times if necessary, to
cause cart tracks to be opened throuzh the remains of snow-
banks, which would otherwise cause serious obstruction,
They should also be required toattend more particularly to
bushing the ico on the rivers and bays, where persons liable
to stature labor are employed. ‘Che bushes used are generally
too slight, and are ofen set too far aport. the distance bot ween
them should in no case exceed fifty yards. With reterence
to this csp of the subject, the following sugyestions are
offered by a member of the Committee having a large per-
sonal experience. Ilo advises that in certain parta, near
towns, & double track should be broken with a snuw plough,
and that more strict attention should be paid to the roads
in winter, in tho way of levelling pitches, &¢. When the
track leads over any part of the ice where mud-diggers are
are at work, a double line of bushes should be set, with a
space between the lines not exceeding ten yards, and the
distance between the bushes not to excsed twenty yards,

Medical nen should not be called on to turn out to break
roads, but allowed to pay a commutation—the amount to
be fixed by statute.

Referring to the subject of macadamizing, the same gentic-
man adheres to his opinion that a width of twelve feet would
be ample for the present traffic : persons driving light vehi.
cles prefer the soft track at the side, as has been wo proved.
on the piece of ground near the Honorable John Longworth’s

10, The Committee, aware of the objections which have
been entertained against the employment of statute labor,
and of the opinions expressed in favor of its commutation
for a fixed money
erreful consideration, It is their opinion that so long as
the roads of the one | Temain as they are at present—more
earthen tracks—requiring every year the same sort of re
pairs to be made at once, that statute labor affords the only
means ef combining the requisite amount of labor, ‘Tho
permanent employment of a few workmen, paid out of the
commutation money, would not uffice to accomplish the re-
pairs of the winter damages, and put the highways in an
efficient state until a late period of summer.

Statute labor, however, ought to be rendered more effi-

eient by the exercise of more judgment in the Intment
'v pot Penne Rend po S a pwn em them

more minute inst: to ite
previous performance,

completed,

of the work while in progress, and when

re si