Che |

VOL. 1V.

CHARLOTTELOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, APRIL 15, 1863,

evald.

a

“THR MERALD

18 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY WEONE*OAY MORNING

nY
EDWARD REILLY,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR,

at his Office, Queen Street.

TERMS FOR THE “‘HRRALD.”
For 1 year, paid in advance, £0 9 0
«6 "ee 8+ hhal-yearl) inadvance,0 10 0
Advertisements inserted at the usual rates.
JOB PRINTING

Of every description, pexformed with neatness and despatet
aid on moderate terms, at the Henan Office.

ALMANACK FOR APRIL.
MOON 8 PHASES.
Full Moon, 7th day, 3h. 4m., morn., 8. W.
Last Quarter, 14th day, Gh, 22m., even., 8.
New Moon, 22d day, 4h, 7m., even., 8. W.
First Quarter, 29th day, 2h. 5m. even., n.G.

3 E DAY WEEK, SUN | High |Moon ¥ %
aS rises |sets |Water| sets.| © 5
; hmkhmbh mh mh m
1 Weduesday [5 41,6 24, 4 49) 2 812 48
2 | Thursday 40, 25, 656257 45
3 |Friday 38) 26,7 6341) 48
4 {Saturday 36 97 814 418 Sl
5 |Sunday 35; 28 9 14 4 54, 3
6 |Monday 1 $4 2910 8 rises.) 55
7 |Tuesday 32! 81/10 67) 7 9 59
& | Wednesday 30, 3211 41} 8 1618 2
9 Thursday 28) 33, even) 9 21]
10 (Friday ' 26 35,1 610 22, 9
i1 [Saturday 25, 36, 1.5031 20, 11
12 |Sunday 23) +37, 2-34 morn. 14
13 Monday ' 91, 89, 8 21:0: 6 18
14 [Tuesday —.| 19} 40,4 9) 0 58) 2h
15 | Wednesday 17, 41) 5 8 1 40 24
16 |Thursday 16, 43, 5 58: 217; 26
17 |Friday 14) 44) 5 56, 2 51) 30
18 Saturday 12, 46] 7 48) 3 17| 34
~ Sunday w 10; 47 8 41) 350, 39
v0 |Monday 8 49) 9 26,418) 41
21 |Tnesday 7 50,10 12; 449} 43
22 |Wednesday 5; 52,10 56) sets 47
23 |Thursday 8) 6311 56) 7 52) 50
24 |Vriday 1] 55.morn.| 8 51) 54
25 |Saturday— 0 56, 0 1810 6} 56
26 |Suaday 4 59} 57/1 gill 9] 58
27 Monday 57| 58] 1 Sill S914 1
v8 |Tuesday 56| 59) 2 44 morn. 3
29 [Wednesday | 55,7 a3 38, 0 si 5
j ~me

Prices Current,

PA LSA AA

Cnanrorrerown, April 11, 1868.
Provisions,

6d to 1s
6d to 10d
5d to Gd

Beef, (small) per Ib.
Do by the quarter,
Pork, (carcass)

Do (small) dd to 7d
Ba per lb., Gd to le
isamb per |b, 4d to bd
Veal, per lb., dd to dd
lam, per 1b., _, bul to wd
Butter, (fresh) Is 3d to Js Cd

Do by the tub, Is iv 1s 2d
Cheese, per lb. ‘ ia to Sd

4 » perl, 4
Lard, per oo ee

Flour, per lb.,
Oatmeal, per 100 Ibs.,
Eggs, per doztn,

21s to 23s
Ydto 1s 24

Grain,
Barley, per bushel, is to 4s 6d
Vats per do., Fto 8 2d
‘ Vegetables.
Peas, per quar
Ser saa bushel, 25 10d to 3s
Poultry.

yoese, 23 6d to 3s 6d
Turkeys, each, 4s to 7s Gd
Fowls, each, | is to Is 8d
Jhickens per pair

Ducks, rey 18 3d to Ie Cd

Fish.
Codfish, per qtl., 20s to 30s
Ilerrings, per barrel, 253 to 40s
Mackerel, per dozen,
‘ Lumber.
Boards (TMemlock) ds
“Yo (Spruce) 4s ‘vo ds
é oO Tine) : : 7s ~
pgles, per M ‘ ‘ Oo t. 188

ile hg Sundries. :
May, per ton, ° 708 tu 80s
Straw, per cwt Ys
Timothy Seed, ' 15s to 188
Clover Sued, per Ib., 1y 3s to 2s dd
Homespun, per yard, 4s to 6s
Calfsking, per 1b., Gd to Od
Hiides, per Ib., pod
Wool, 1s to 19 4d
Sheepskins, 8s to bs.
Apples, per doz,

Partridges,

GEORGE LEWIS, Market Clerk.

————— = — pretension Tad

A. HERMANS,
GUN:‘SMITE,
BELL-HANGER AND TIN-SMITH.

EGS to inform his feiends, and the public genorally,
that he has agdin commenced Busines on Dorches-
ter Street, next door to the Reading Room Building,
where he i prepared to execute all orders in his line
with neatness and despatch,
ON HAND,

A neat assortment of Tinware,
Kitchen Utensils, &c. &c.

including the patem Boy Tox Corrrn Por, which re-
at the Paris Exposition

veld Mestal Princ,
gulvei the Gold KON TON LANTERNS, which will

hing in the bn ny and suitable for either
n board Vessels. ”

Liew pod Coors on hand, which opener with

a large variety of other Stock will be sol heap for

Cash.
br, HERMANSis Agent for SAWYET'S CRYSTAL
ALUE. a new, economical and superior article used in
washing, whereby a saving of fifty np tengan is guaran-
teod, and for which he begs to,sol-cit
e

ty Maids, &e.
Ch’towe, July 24, 1867.

surpass everyt

the patronage of Fee

LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY,
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

Mospat, March 36.

Hon Co! Seeretary presented a number of petitions re ating
songs: A to roads, bridges and wharves, ai-
vers In fants of various sections of the country, the
prayer of which had not been entertained by His Exeoleney
in Couneil,

Ordered that said petitions be laid on the table,

Hon Col Secretary also presented to the House Copy of
Despatch from the Lieutenant Governor to the Seeretary of
State for the Colonies, dated 11th January, 1868, with min.
utes of the Executive Council of this Island, contaming their
views on the Land Tenures, and urging certain considor-
ations on which they seek the sanction of the Imperial Go-
vernment to the introduction fa the loval Legislature of
4 measure compelling proprietors to scll their interests in
their Estates on the Island. Also copy of Despatch from said
Seer tary of State to the Licutenant Governor, aated Down.

~|ing Street, 24 March, 1868, in reply to said Despatch, and

minutes of Council,

Ordered that said papers do lie on the table, and 150
copies be printed for information,

Said minutes seek the approval of Hor Maj vaty’s Govern-
meat fur the introduction into the Legislature «f P. BE. Is-
land, of a measure compelling Proprietors to sell their in-
terests in the Estates. ‘The question submitted by Mis Ex- |
of the Land Question? Said minutes of Council expressly
disclaim any intention to cispossess Proprictors of their
Lands wa, unjust or unreasonable means; they would |
regard the rights of Property with zealous care, but they
believe, at the same time, that those rights should never, for
any lengh of time, be allowed to come into collision with |
public interests; and that the case now under review should
be conceded, on the principle that those rights militate
against the general welfare. Acting in accordance with the
views they entertain on the subject, and believing that the |
Colony will never be preaperous and happy so longas the |
leasehold tenure ¢xists in it, to any great extent, they have
endeavored to induce the remaing Proprictors to tender their
lands to the Government for sale, and ther proposals not
having been sustained, they ave of opinion that the question
cannot now be finally or satisfictorily settled except by the
passing ofa measure which would, under certain conditions,
and in respect of certain compensations or valuations, to be
carefully and equitably defined and settled, render the sale
of large Estates of Township lands compulsory, unless
some such course be adopted, the Council believes the ques-
tion will long yet continue to retard the progress of the Co-
lony ; and they thus express their convictions with the ob-
ject of ascertaining the views of Tfer Majesty's Imperial
Government on the point, and whether its sanction would
be given to the introduction of such a measure as that al-
iuded to,

In said minutes of Council the whole question of land
tenures in the Colony was reviewrd, the general discontent
which the leasehold system has entailed on the Colony, and
the various cfforts which have been at different periods put
forth for the abolishment of that baneful system, It sets
forth that a partial remedy had been applied since the year
1862, by the purchase of several estates, which tended to
oggravate the evils complained of by tenants residing on
lands whose owners refuse to sell their properties; that it
was deeply te be deplored that the interests of 400 families
in different parts of the Island should depend, to a consicer-
able extent, upon the will ef a single individual residing

|

celleney’s Despatch was whether His Grace would sanction |
the introduction of a compulsory Act for the final settlement |

|
|

DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS
ov THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
( Continued.)
Hon. Mr, MacDonaup: I think the
Land Purchase Act clearly points out
that each Estate purchased by the Govern-

meut, is to be considered tely, and
‘the accounts made up for that estate
alone, without sapplementing one estate
on which a deficiency may occur, by an
‘everphis from another. The ninth sec-

tion of that act is as follows:

* After each purchase of lands, effected
\under this act, and conve taken, it
shall be the duty of the Commissioner of
| public lands, within three monthe, to make
a report and return of the lands purchased,

j

| (for each township a separate report aud

return) ; designating particularly the qual-
ity, nature, description and position there-
of, and arrangmg 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 Exeeu-
tive Couseil thereupon, to fix upon and de-
termine the price to be charged for the sale
of each class and description of land; the
same to be regulated so that a sufficient
price be charged in the aggregate to cover
all costs, charges and expenses of the par-
chase, transfer, suevey and management of
the lands—the parchage money aud interest
thereon, loss to the general revenue from
decrease in the land tax, on account of lands
purchased under this act, the salary of the
Commissioner of public landa, and all other
expenses attendant upon the working of
this act—it being intended thet this act
shall, if possible, be self-sustaining, and
that all expenses and ontlays shall he paid
out of moneys arising from the sales and
rents of lands purchased hereunder, and
that the purchase monivs and interest should
aleo be repaid out of the same fund without
any resort to the general revenue, if it can
— be avoided ; but that this objeet
wing attained, the lands shall be disposed
of to the tenants and other persons desirous
of becoming parchasers, at as low a rate as
possible.”

Now, that clause, ia my opivion,
points out clearly that each estate is to
be considered upon its own merits, ‘That
was the original intention of ‘the Land
Purchase Act; and this bill is merely for
the purpose of setting that matter at rest.

Hon. Mr. Divawent: 1-4

across the Atlante ; that the saving of all future contingen-

JL think.dt-de
very liberal cf the Govseagg er Ristrs
eos Bt forwards and a A

ch the prospect of possessing free lands
would apply to the energies of the poople, the results of the
liberal application of capital and labor to the soil which had
hitherto been withheld or grudgingly applied, aye all urged
as reasons why the question should be finally and forever
settled, ‘The fact that the proprietory system, which had
paralyzed the energies, and oppressed the industry of the
people, had no longer any existence across the narrow strait
which separates the Island from the Dominion of Canada ;
and that before thus secking a compulsory measure for the
settlement of the momentuous question, every effort had been
exhausted to obtain the desired end by voluntary agreement
with the remaining Proprietors, are adduced to show that
the only alternative left was the adoption of a measure of
the kind indicated, and thereby obliterate the last traces: of
the leasehold tenure ix British North America Wiihout such
a measure, the rising generation of the Colony, with the ex-
perience of their fathers before their eyes, would not go up to
possess that land to which they clearly had the best natural
right, but would emigrate, as many had already done, to
the neighboring Republic, and there devote their youthful
energies to entich a rival nation, and thus deprive the Colo-
ny which had nurturea and educated them of their services
in the flower of their age.
In the reply to suid minutes of Council, I's Grace the
Seeretary of State fully recognizes the propriety of the
course taken to obtain the sanction of the Secretary of stave
before introducing a measure which would naturally tend to
raise in the minds of the people expectations with which, in
the result it might be deemed inexpedient to comply, and
states that after a careful consideration of the whole case,
and of the grounds put forward by the Executive Council
in support ofa law for the compulsory sule of the lund of
those Proprietors who were not parties to the Act of 1864,
His Grace wes not prepared to advise [ler Mejesty to sanc-
tion such a measure, ‘The views of to.mer Secretaries of
State upon the subject, and grounds upon which such views
were based, had been to clearly explained in prior corre-
pondence thatit appeared to His Grace unnecessary to do
more than to siate that he found no special reason assigned
in the minutes of the Council referred to, which, in his opin-
ior, would justify, on the groundof public policy, the pro-
posed direct appropriation of private property. The Secre-
tary of State concludes in his reply to His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor, by expressing his desire to learn the
extent of land actually purchased by the local Government,
and how much remained in the hands of the original gran-
tees, or their representatives, and also whether any tenants
have availed themselves of the provisions of the Act of 1564,
and if so, to what extent.
Mr MeNeill presented a petition from inhabitants of
Wheatly River and vicinity, relating to the gathering of
seaweed. Icferred to the committee already appointed,
and to whom were referred other petitions relative to same
subject during the Session,
Ou motion of the Hon Atty General, it was ordered that
no petition of a local or private nature, on which a bill cat:
be introduced, during the Session, be reccived by the Llouse
after Tuesday, the 7th April next,
Hon Atty General presented a petition from —— Taylor,
of New Brunswick, asking to obtain a patent fer an im-
proved Spinning Wheel. Owing to informality relative to
the manner in which said petition had been introduced, it
waa, on motion, ordered to be withcrawn.
House in Committee on Supply.
Mr Reilly in the Chair,
Hion Atty General submitted several resolutions, in ac-
cordance with the supplimentary estimates for the eurrent
year, ‘Ihe vote granting £1000 to purchase stone to mac-
adamize the public roads, as follows:
Charlottetown & Sg
Georgetown & Royalty 200 6 «0
Summerside and Royalty 300 0 0
called forth some discussion, Ton Mossrs MeAtilay and
Haviland, Representatives for Georgetown, and other hon
membors representing different sectiona of King’s County,
complained that the sams voted for Georgetown afd Sum-
merside were not equally divided. ‘They contended that at
late shipping seasons, prodace was exported from. and goods
imported to Georgetown for parties residing in different parts
of the country, which it were impossible to receive in other
arta of the Island. ‘The inereased traffic at Montague
Bridge and Cardigan, was also urged as reason why the appro-
priations for the two votes should be equal to the Summer-
sidegrant. The distinction made between those places in
the Resolution in question, was therefore invidious.

Ton Mr Laird and other hon members representing Prince
County, contended that the division was a just one, that
the shipping at Summerside had to be attended to during
the muddy seasons, that the peculiar nature of the Soil, es-
inlly in rainy seasons, rendered the roars in the vicini
of that town almost impassable, and that the rapid growt

£500 0 0

jection to seeing the people on that estate
indulged in any reasonable bie At the
same time, I cannot think that it was

should be self-sustaining, neither do I
think it should be, for some proprietors
sell their estates upou reasonable terms,
while others ask extravagant prices. If
it was intended that each estate should
be self-sustaining, it is strauge that none
of the lawyers in the city had mooted
this question sooner. However, if the
act can be made to apply to each estate,
I shall not object to it, and T suppose no
injustice can be done to the people, by
putting that coastruction upon it,

on. Mr. Anperson: As far as the
Selkirk Estate ia concerned, I am satis-
fied with this bill, but in future, I thiuk
any land purchased by the Government,
should be considered as one estate, for
it looks like class legislation to give lund
cheaper to the people on one esiate than
to those on another. The wilderness
land should alsu, goto the eredit of the
Government. Jt appears that there are
50,000 acres owned by the Government
which are nearly valueless, so that it is
uot likely that those estates taken col-
lectively will be self-sustaining, :

Hon. Mr. Lorn: I do uot think it was
the intention of the Legislature, in pass-
ing the Land Purchase Act, that if ove
estate was purchased at a less price than
another, the tenants should not pay as
much, and I stated at a public meeting
that it-was not expected to have any
mouey refunded till the last estate was
purchased ; for I did not think a settle-
ment should be made for one estate
soparately. {If the Government should
gain wpon one estate, the overplus should.
go to make up the loss upon another.
In my opinioa, the act carries out that
view; it says: ‘all expenses aud out-
lays shall be paid out of moneys arising
from the sales and rents of lands, pur-
chased hereunder.” It says ‘* lauds,”
not one towaship or one estate, and I
understand it as meaning all lands pur-
chased by the Goveromeat. I thik it
clearly carries out the idea, that before
any money is refunded, the amount re-
ceived from all the lands purchased by
the Government, should be takew into
account, aud then, if there is'‘any balance
over the cost and working experises, it
should be refunded. However, this is a
Government measure, and, of course, 1
am not going to oppose it. ;

Iloo. Mr. Gorpon: I think it is a
matter of very. general regret that this
bill was deemed, necessary. Had the
Land. Purchase Act, been clear and ex-
plicit, this trouble would have been
saved, but I think it bears two construe-
tions ‘The people of the Belfast estate
having paid their instalments so hand:
somely, I think they are entitled to the
benefit which thia bill will confer upon
them, but, at the same time, it is a great
misfortune that anything has ocourred
to render such a Dill necessary.

Guat ie het,

ehair.

Hon, the Parapent: I think it is
generally understood through the country,
that the Land Purchase Act was to be
self-sustaining—that all estates pur-
chased Ly the Government were to be
so priced that ro loss would accrue to
the country. I! the Government suc-
ceeded in getting ¢.¢ estate at a cheaper
rate than another, 1 do uot see why the
people on both should not pay the same
price for their laud, | Look for a moment
at the Cunard Estate ; the townships io
Queen's. County are all good land aud
well settled, and it is just as hard that
the peop'e on these towuships should be
charged a high price for their farms to
make up for the large quautities of bad
land in the other Counties, as that the
setilers on the Selkirk Estate should pay
a litile more than woyld make that pro-
perty self-sustaining. Ov the Cuvard
Kstate I think some of the settlers ure
paying as high as 15s. an acre for their
taud, while, on the Selkirk Estate, I be-
lieve the highest price is only 10s. an
acre, and some ouly pay 63; therefore, I
do not think they had any need to com-
plain. For these reasous 1 think it is a
pity that this bill was iutroduced. That
Estate will probably be the ouly one ‘in
the Colony; of any magnitude, which will
be self-sustaining, and eventually the
country will be called upou to pay a large
amount for the lands purchased by the
Governm ut.

Mov. Mr. Harrionxe: I cannot co-
incide with the remarks of his hovor the
President, for I do not think there is any
particular hardship in the best towaships
on the Cunard estate paying a little

their land aud their tavorable situation.
These cireumstances should govern the
price of their land, We know there was
comparatively little variation in the
amount of rent which the tenavts ou the
various townships on that estate were
bound to pay, but there was a very great
difference iu the amount the proprietor
received from the different townships.
The settlers on those townships of the
Cunard Estate, which his honor the Pre-
sident refers to, are’ better able to pay
15s. an acre for their land than some
: half that amount. © dn-
ably more than some of
(hem wiil ever be able to pay, Neither
can [coincide with those who consider
that the various estates should be thrown
into ono’ lot, for it would prevent the

the intention of the act that each estate| price of the land on any estate being |

modified according te circumstan-
ces, The Sclkirk estate had a heavy
amount,of arrears of reut, and yet
the proprietor received only a small
amount from it. That shows that the
tenants were pot in very good circum:
stances. aud to put that estate ou a par
with some of the townships on the Cun
ard estate, would be a hardship. Only
4318 acres un the Selkirk Estate were
priced at 10s. an acre; 4767 at 9s.; 7451
at 8a, ; 10,571 at 7s, 64. ; 505 at Gs. Gd.;
while there were 12,440 at 63. Now,
these figures show that there must have
been a large proportion of inferior land
upon that estate, and, of course, it was
considered that the prices should be varied
according to the quality. It has been
said that the land purchase act will not
be self-sustaining, but I would rather see
the geueral revenue charged with the ex-
pense of working it, to a certain extent,
than that the settlers on any estate should
continue to languish as teuaats avy lon-
er.

oS

Hon. Mr. Been: It is entirely out of
the question to suppose that the difficulty
about our land tenures can be settled
without the revenue of the Colony being
charged with a cousiderable amount.
It has been so in all cases where such
questions have arisen. In Canada, for
instance, they had a Jand question of ten
times the magnitude of ours. The land
belonged to the old seigniors, and if aman
took a farm, perliaps not worth £10, and
improved it so as to make it worth
£1,000, every time it was sold the
seignior received a per centage on the
amount realized. The rent they had to
pay Was not quite so large as what is
aid by the tenants on this Island, but
they (the tenants), bad certain restrictions
imposed upoo them, such as being com-
pelled to have their grain ground at the
sciguior'’s mill. It was thought desirable

higher price, owing to the excellence of |

House—Ilon. Mr. MacDonald in the purchased at a low figure, and sold to the | received,

settlers at reasonable prices, should be
jsingled out. I think the Goveroweut
\should be allowed to make the best bar-
gain they could, and not consider each
estate separately, but let the agt be work-
ed upon a general priaciple.

Ifon. Mr. Batpensroxy: I cannot
agree with oue remark made by his hon-
or from the second district Queen's
County, (Mr, Haythorne), that it would
/be uoreasouable to establish a uniform
‘price for the land, for, if the Govern-
‘meut is to lose, I think those who enjoy
| the benefit of the act should bear a pro-
portion of the loss,

| Hoo. Mr. Havrnorne: If the propo-
| sition of the two last speakers were cur-
/ vied out, it would be better for the people
‘to be still under the Vroprietors, for
| many of them were then iu easy circum-
| stances, but since the Estates were pur-
chased by, the Goverument, they have
| paid more than they ever paid as tenants.
| I betieve very few of the settlers on the
| Selkirk Estate bave yet paid up the full
amount of their instalments, but it will
require a comparatively small sum to
make up, in the aggregate, what the Go-
vernment eovceive they should pay for
their land,

Mon, Mr, Dixawrii: I have no ob-
jection to the people on the Selkirk. Es-
tate obtaiving the advantage which this
bill will confer ppon them, if the Law

‘icers can be borne out in their opiuion,
which, no doubt, they have given honest-
ly and fairly ; but whether it is the best!’
method to be pursued with other estates
which have been purchased, or may be
purchased hereafter, is doubtful to my
mind. 1 think it will be likely to em-
| barrass the Government in many cases, if
leach estate is to be considered separately,
I think the Act should be made as gen-
‘eral as possible, so that nove of the ten-
ants would be injured by the unreason-
‘able terms of the proprietors, who might
jask very high prices for their Estates,
' fall the estates purchased by the Go-
| vernmeut were considered es one proper-
ty, the operation of the Act would
not be so difficult, and the tenants
| would participate more equally in the ben-

|
|

'

‘and ag soon as these

themselves ip a position whieh willeve
tually cost them a great deal of troubl

isi ¢ ' Ly ‘

and the total amount of t)

cost and working expenses of the €

tate; thev the w land will —

valued, so that the eetate may have crev

tor it, or, which is the same thing, th
the tesants may have credit. ae

Therefore, whatever
cess land is valued at, will: be
ed as so much to the credit of
tlers, and will go towards
price of their farms, As the
meut have settled upon the

do not know of any mode by w
mee pad fi out i La ¥ do a
thiuk it will be preductive.  litigatio
tt will all rest with the Commissioner —
Public Lands, who will have the aeeoun
of the estate made ont, and the costs a
portioned amongst the tenabts. The
those who Lave paid more t

vidual shares, will be ent :
the overplus returned, I do mot #
that it can be productive of embarras
ment, either to the Government, the te
ants, or the Public Lands Officer. Tt
whole ting is a mere matter of account

z

proportions at

worked out, each map will know wh:
he will have to pay, aad what ut
will be returned to him if there is, p su
plus i 0) dpal at j
Hon, the Puxsipext: 1 am ‘Ingling
to think the Goverament are pattir

i.

We know the first estate pu
the Government-~the Worrell ‘Estate-
was priced with a view ot miaking tl
property self-sustaining, but it hes
turned out to be so, aud the ge

to whom the duty of valuing those w
oss lauds will be entrusted, may be «
far mistaken as they were. Till the pr
perty is all disposed of, it can scare
ly be known what reduction isto t
made, or what amount will stiate |
to make the property self-sustaining. —

Ilon. Mr. Dinawett: Ido nad ty
it is at all surprising that ¢
Estate did not prove self-sustaining. —
was a new scheme, and was.an exper
ment ‘to some extent, requiring) mer
new offices to be created, ‘Matty uo

:

efits to be derived from it, However os
the bilb meine to the Selbkisk
Piatt 1 fave bo objection foi
Mon. Mr. MacDonarp: This bill is
not confined to the Selkirk Fstate, but
will apply to any other where the prices
charged to the settlers will amount to
more, in the aggregrate, than will reim-
burse the Government for its eost and
working expenses,

Ilon, the Presipenr: The act does
not say, as far as I can understand it,
that each estate is to be self-sustaining,
It says: ** this Act shall, if possible, be
self-sustaining.”

4

Ilon. Mr. Hayrruornr: I eannot see
how there can be any doubt about the
construction of the Act, or any reason
why we should not concur in the opinion
of the law officors. "The 9th section of the
Act commences with the words—** After
each purchase,” and that idea is carried
out through the whole section. Now,
when a section of an act commences in
that way, I do not think there is any
reason to doubt what its intention is.

ffon, Mr. Lonp: I was not aware that
there was anything ia the bill respecting
the Wilderness Lands. I thought. they
would be thrown in for the benefit of the
Government. It is not intended, I sup-
pose, that anything should be refanded
to the tenants (ill the last farthing is paid’
up, aud I apprehend a great deal of
difficulty in settling up that account. 1
have conversed with numbers of thu set-
tlers on that Hstate, and none of them
expect to have anything refunded. There
are a great many poor settlers on the es-
tate who have not paid anything, aod
one class should be made to balance the
other, The settlers on that estate ob-
tained their lands at a very cheap rate,
and I wish the last township was pur-
chased on as favorable terms. T do not
think it 18 necessary to restrict the Go-
vernment to’ any price in purchasing
Jand, but leave it to their discretion to
make the best bargain they can, and let
the country bear the loss, for I presume
that there will be a loss. It caanot be
expected that the Government can pur-
chase estates which are all settled, and

foreseen expenses had also to

to abolish the seigniorial titles, aud a
large portion of their public debt was in-
curred by the purchase of lands in
Lower Canada, We cannot, therefore,
expect to have this question settled with-
out something being taken out of the
general revenue, aud I would vot object
to having the debt of the Qolony in¢reas-
ed to £50,000 to get this. difficulty ter-
minated.

Ilon. the Presipent: I cannot agree
with hig honor when he says that a large
proportion of the public debt of Canada
was incurred by the purchase of lands,
for I do not think it was the case, But
when ‘thé Government of this Island
purchase land, it is their duty to let it
out to the tenants at such arate as would
revder the act self-sustaining ; therefore,
Ido not sce why the different proporties
purchased should be considered as separ-
ate estates. The properties purchased by
the late Government, with the exception,

6d.

acre.

amounting,

{he bill was then read a second timé

(Continued on fourth page.)

aud referred to a commilteo of the whole

i

perhaps, of the Cunaré estate, will, I
think, bo self-sustaining; but I do not
_ see why the Selkirk estate, which was

leased, perhaps, at 1s. 6d, an aere, for 7s.
T would, therefore, be in favor of
altering that act, and let the Government
purchase land at 103, 12s, or 15s, an
I know something about paying
ront, for I was once arent payer myself,
and my father used to pay £10 ‘a year,
but he did not allow £30 or £40 of ar-
rears (o accumulate,

Hon. Mr. Axperson: It appears to
me that there
the Wilderness Lands.
done with them ? Ifthe estate is paid
for, and if the Government will not take
avy thiog more than will render the pro-
perty self-sustaining, will those Jands,
perhaps, to 15,000 or 20,000
acre’, be divided among those who have
purchased their farms ? ;

Hon. Mr. Patwer: I apprehend, your
honors, that the wilderness land is to be
taken into account as so moch,—what-
ever it may be valued at,—to the credit
ofthe estate.
make up the total amount which he has

is a difficulty about
What is to be

The commissioner will

anticipated. a

Hon. Mr. Hayruorne: At the
the Selkirk Estate was pure! + the’
were about 20,000 acres of wildern

land upon it, but by far the largdst po
tion of it has been di of, ‘and
great deal of what remains js of very i
terior quality, Yrobably no more w
be realized fr 1 what remains than w
be required «© opeuing up new roac
Now, to keep the question open ‘till t
whole of the land is disposed of, aud t
whole amounts paid up by the purchase
would be almost eqnivalent to telli
them that the question would | never

settled. Ido not anticipate Ba he
this b
y
by

difficulty io the. workiag,
With respect to what was said
honor from the first district of Prir
County, (Mr. Lord), I may remark th
desirous as 1 am to see this question ¢
tled, 1 yct do not consider it advisable
raise tha prico which the Governm
are authorized to give, as it would
bably cause the proprietors to raise th
pretensions. Ido not see why the £
livan property should be more valua
than the Cunard property, No dot
there is some pod land on both esta
and some most profound swamps, “
Cunard Estate was purchased at
6d. an acre, and J presume’ the Sulli
Lstate is not worth anything more.
suppose your honors are aware that 3
Sullivan was offered the extreme limi
the Land Purchase Act, which she
fused to accept. In my opinion, it wi
be unwise and jmpolitic to authorize
Government to give a higher price,
if they were offered an estate at a |
higher price, they woald not hesitat
accept it, if they considered that the
cumstances would warrant ther
doing so, Lord Melville was off
£4,000, ora little more than 10s.
acre for his estate, which he refuse
accept; though, at five per cent
would have returned him more thar
has received annually from it daring
last seven years. ’

t

lion. the Presroent: In my opit
the Sullivan Estate is not as good &
Cunard Estate. Que of the town:

ood, but the other three are very
rior. f
House resifmed and progress

Hon, Mr. Beer presented a pe
of certain inhabitauts of Lote 83 an
praying that au Act may: not be p
to give the public the right to collec
Gog the shores’ pill hia
The petition was read and referr

Committee, to whom a petiti
some salject, prentrallh aPh

referred, . '

A. ill wes broagbt, sht.up from the |
of Assembl v4 r Me ;
corporate the St. Reter’s Bay A_
tural Society. Read « first tithe,
dered to be rend a second time t
row. ' a ei ie

? ; eis ® 261

Adjourped till eleven 0’

(Continued on fourth