62

————

————

such circumstances as are contemplated by the Bill, every pro-

tection which we have it in our power to extend to her.

Lam

reall) surprised that my honorabie and gallant friend should be

so upgallant a8 to be willing to consign to

rison far debt any

poor woman yo unfortunately “iteaceeced. The Bull say i@ good, just, and humane; and | would wish to urge upou your Honors the propriety of agreeing to it a8 it now stands.

and giving u one year's trial. meet again, if it shall have been found to have operated un-

When the Legislature shal!

justly, t may easily be repealed.

Hoa, Col, Swapey—l agree with bis Honor, Mr. Walker, in

hie opinion phat if the Bill pags sa ite present form, it will act: lly exclude from credit, in an especial manner, the very

indiv:dwals for whose protection and relief the Lill has been

dev.sed.

Tie Chairman then put the question on the proposed amend-

meo!, and the Gommittee divided :]

Cosxraxre—The Honbies. Measre. Bagnall, Walker, Cras-

well, Swabey, and Palmer.-—5.

Nox-Cowrenes —[ls fLonor the President, Honbles. Messrs.

Fargan, Simpson, Melatyre, Hatehiason.—5.

The House was resumed, and the ton, Mr. Johnson re-

ported that the Comauttee had gone through the Bill, and had agreed to the sane wuihout sny amendmen’.

Town; that the Act,

Ordered, That the report of the Commitiee be received.

‘The following Billa weve eeveral!y read & second time, viz : |

The Bill intituled “ An Act to amend the Act for the pur-

chase of dands og dehalf of the Government of Prince Edward Jelerd, and to regulate the sale and management thereof, and fer other

therein mentioned.” The B: wtituled “‘ Ao Act to alter and anend the Act

relasiag to the establishment of Township Beundary Lines.”

PETITIONS.

The fallowing petition was preseated to the House by the Hoa. Mr. Palger, and the came was received and read, viz:

A petition of divers inhabitants of Prince Couuty, setting forth that although nearly a century has elapsed since Hrince- town was originally laid off as the County Town, only one or two buildings have hitherto been erected on the site of said ch Vie., cey. 21, virtually disfranchised Princetown by adding Towaship No. 18 thereto, thereby con- ferring upoa that portion of the County a represeatation of two members inthe House of Assembly, a >rividege to which, from ite naturel position yn relative resources, it has no just or equitoble claim , and praying the House te eanction such an alteration in the present Election Law as will transfer the right of returning two representat:ves tc the House of Assem- bly bitherto enjoyed by the district aforesaid, to the inhabitants of Township No. 17, embracing Summerside and S:. Eleanor's, and to make auch other provisions in the premises as the House, in tte wisdom, may deem meet.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie on the table.

Hon. Mr. Palmer alse presented to the House the following petitions; and the same were severally received and read, viz :

A vetition of Patrick Hickey of Caarlottetown, and of Emery Besa’! of the State of Maine, Assignee of the Patent of Hall’s Siumping Machine, praying the House so to amend the Acts relating to Patents as to enable the petitioners to obtain from the Government a patent to secure the manufacture of the said machiae in thig (sland.

A petition of James Douglas Haszird, Esqr., praying com

pensation for york performed by him as Queen's Priater for

the Government of this Island. Ordered, That the last two preceding petitions be referred to

the special committee appointed to report on all! petitions re-

lating to mis¢cllaneous subjects. DESPATCH. Hon. Me. Patwea. a member of Her Majesty's Executive

Counc |, by command of His Excellency the Lieut. Governor, jaid & fore the Howse copy of a despatch from the Duke of Neweoatle to Lieut. Governor Dundas, dated Downing Street, 17th September, 1859, transmitting copy of an Act passed in the last Session of the Imperial Parliament, as regards the Colony of Victoria, and to enabie other Colomal Legislatures

to repeal certain provisions of the Imperial Acts of the 54th George Tinrd, cap. 19, and of the Sth and Gch William Fourth, cap. &

Ordered, That the said despatch and enclosure do lie on the

table.

* @ partioulag nei

In the cose of Queen Square, ‘the fact pada ig loge: _ bat no portion of ix

R. B. Irvine, Reporter.

TlOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

Tuavrspay, March 22. AFTERNOON SITTING.

CUARLOTFETOWN MARKET HOUSE. Continued.

Mr MACNEILL—I am opposed to the market being held on Queen's Square, which is at present quite swall enough fer ttre health and general convenience of the inhabitants. Any building in additivn to thoee already erected on it would seriously detgact from the appearance and character, not-ovly of the particular square, but of the City generally, of which it formg one of the most attractive features. While U say this, [ must add that [ am by no means dispo- eed to purchase qnother site from the public Treasury. The City bus three equares.besides Queen’s,still vacant, and one wf them, the Hilisboroagh, isin a more central situation than Queen’s. It is conveniently sitaated with reference to the Malpeque and St. Peter’s Roads, and in the vicinity of the Ferry Wharf While King's and Hilisborough S.jaares ate dnoccupied, it is anvecesgary to call apon the Treasury ,ia the preseut depres- sed state of the Revenue, fur the cost of a site.

Mc, (}OLM.—The principal objection to locating the Market House oa Queen's Square is, that such erection would injure it as a pleasure ground, aad it iv asserted that sume of the other

ie eg are more suitable for the purpose. I presume that argument might apply as strongly to their appropriation lor purpose» of recreaijon. Qyeen's Square offers but timited accom. modation for gach parpose, wailc it is an eligible site for a mar- ket. In the present fiaancral condition of the country | am decided!y opposed to the purchase of a site, which might cost between £2000 and £3000.

Hon. Mr LONGWORTH,—I is natural that parties resident in Chat! ottetewn should have their several preferences asto the site to be selected; but it mast be remembered that a Market 1s intended for the mateal accommodation of convamers and pro- ducere—-of buyers and sellers, and itis our duty to legislate in such mu auer as ww promote the interests of all. When the town wae origmally jaid oat, certain squares were reserved for the public bualth and convenience, Sach reservations are deemed of great importance in all towns, and nothing should be satfered to d.vert them from the parposes for which they had been set apart. an argument had been based on occupied by a Market House already ; ever been coca set apart for sach porpose At first, a mere temporary shed was ran up, and the site had beeq remoyed from one part of the square to anether. When toe present Market Mouse was ezected, it was generally gaderstoog that it was to be only a temporary encambsance of the re, and ao written sathority sanctioned its location. In an clits Ctmaitane be found a Market Hoase placed on one of the public squares. On market days Queen Square is monope! wd hy the freqaenters uf the market, and the accamu- lution of decaying and utherwise offensive maiter, must neces- sarily teod to engender and perpetuate diseas. If we allow the new baiiding to be erected on che square, oa which it is sought to place +t, so far from being an ocnament, it will be found to be a» disgrace and deformity. As the City increases, in equal pro-

ion will bo the increase of the nuisances aiready experienced ratag-h matket being held on the square. As tothe market being si) uate oo any of either of the public squares, I do not feel it necessury to enter into any discassiwn as to their comparative aligshility. ‘The City Corporation applied w the Government for authority to butld a Market House on Queen Square, to which applicat on it was replied, that the Executive had no such power. "Phat weat opens surre to the other squares equally with the one teferred to, and if the Government had possessed the autho- rity, the exercise of which was requested, they would not have cémplie! with the request. The question is, whether the site shall be on Queen Square or not; and it appears to me that every sound argament is agsinet placing it there; and even if it were formally and aathorwatively placed there in the early seitlement vf the town, yet the subsequent increase of the place woald jus- tify ite cemoval, (rous a segard to the denger tu ihe public health, whieh w ogid scerue from us continuance i its original situation,

Hon. Mr. THORNTON.—I have always been opposed 10 plac'ng se Market Louse on the pri square ef the town, and Gut is aliaady encumbered to a considerable extent; and we are now askad to vcenpy the reasmining portion by « market, In dealing with « mative of this nature, we should be wihlaenced by considerations not of present Convenience, bat of future queessity. Aste the couvenieuce and advantage of haying the qarket in the egutre of the population, | would change its felative position, as J believe such sugation conducive to disease. ‘The bute De. Consuy stated thyi the water used by tue bulk of the ahs eols was ly Contaminated, and frou the elevated position of Queen Sqyire, the contingsece of a market there wet adil to thie evil. fh is now to take from the general pablie their to the free gee of t be ge As last year we were req to give to the Ciyie y certain Water jote, which aplication was properly refused, | give the Government ofadt for ing the epptiatiqn of the Cuy Cognsil. Some

» Hillaboroagh and King Squares were talked of as situ- ra market; bet because in parties earrying on bysi- Qlueen Sireet were interested in keeping it in its wld siteation, afl change was declined. I have no personal interest in the an ter myself, but 1 wish to act with regard to the perma- wept jniereste of Charlottetown, the extension of which ean only take glue in oo easterly direction. It would, therefore, be ad-

to a byilg a market to the eastward of Queen Square. [t bas neon asked, why should we contribute towards the parchase of a sme, whes one aon be obtained ot atiingas Reset Syneee) J agewer we ogght iv, decwnse ce should lucaie the market where the greatest saaumyjodstion will be » forded to the greatest pomber, «pd nut meruly gratify the desives of those interested wu

neightggrhuod. A —- consideration should be to select « site, ihe ageupation of which, as a market, will not be prejudicia! to the health of the City.

Hon. 8PLAKER.—The of the hon. member, Mr, Thuruton, 9 somewhat sient for, while hg objects to Quven

| square.

<<

—— a een

Square being occupied ag a market, On the ground that its situa- tion would endanger the health of the Inhabitants, be yet advo- - eates a more central situation, where, of course, the danger would be greater. It seems that some hon, members do not wish lo see the market placed on any of the squares, ‘Their objection sug- gests the question, are they prepared to expend £2000 or £3000 for the purchase of a site? We know they are not, aad I for one am disposed to support the prayer of the petition for the west side of Queen Square, in preference to the outlay necessary for the purchase of a site. ‘There will Le no necessity for the occu- pation of a very large portion of the square, All that will be required will be adequate accommodation for market prodace, and the parties who frequent it. ‘The other squares being totally unoccupied by buildings, are more adapted than Queen's for purposes of recreation. Of course, no objection can be urged against the people of Charlottctown putting the market in any other situation, if they choose to purchase iu thenselves.

Mr. OWEN.—Woald the Charlottetown peorle he wiliing to bay an adequate site at an expense, perhaps, of £3000 or £4000? Application having been made for the west side of Queen Square, it was the duty of the louse to give it, as it will render unneces- sary the parchase of ground elsewhere; and there is reom suflici- ent. 1 would prefer, if we could purchase, a situation near the harbor, as that would greatly accommodate parties who have to cross the Ferries, and woald not sabject to any inconvenience the farmers coming from theCharlottetown side of the harbor,with their carts and waggons, ‘The other squares are not large enough, and are liatle to the additional objection, that the country people would be taken to a distance from the business portion of the City.

Hon. Col. GRAY.—Hillsborough and King Squares are sever- ally larger than the ground asked on the west side of Queen Square. Lagree with the hou. member, Mr. Owen, as to the desirableness that a situation near the water should be procured, if our means enabled us to obtain one.

Mr. MONTGOMERY.—When the people of Charlottetown have petitioned for the Market [louse to be placed in a particular situation, | see uo reason why their wishes should not be com- plied with, more especially when I consider that there are no funds wherewith to purchase another site.

Hon. Mr. POPE.—It has been said that the appearance of Queen Square would be damaged by the erection of a Market House on the western side. On the contrary, | maintain that a proper building -vould improve its aspect. ‘I'he present state of the market is disgraceful, and the comfort and convenience of a properly built and well managed Market Louse on the square admit of no question. I admit that it would have been better had the square been kept unvecupied by buildings, as originally intended ; but if the petitioners in favor of having it there, choose to deprive themselves of the benefits of air and recreation, it is their business, not ours. If it be, as asserted by the hon. mem- ber, Mr. Thornton, that a market on Queen Square would poisoa the water of the neighbourhvod, surely it is better to let the peti- tioners enjoy the fatal privilege they have asked, than by chang-

ing the site confer the deadly gift on those who have aot solicited | ie lt would be preferable to have the market on or near Mr. \ Reddin’s Wharf, on account of the superior facilities for drainage | which that situation affords; bat the finances are inadequate. A | great injustice would be done by the removal from Queen Squar JO Hon. Mr, COLES.—The market should not be so immediately ‘” contiguous to the Colvnial Building. kt was disgraceful to the ; City that a stranger wishing to visit the building should have to _ wade to it through the accumulated mud and filth of a public

market. In Halifax, Albany and other places, the Hall of Le- gislation and Governmental! Offices are surrounded by iron railings and kept in an ornamental! condition; and the same should be the ' case with Queen Square. Unless some protection be extended now, in a few years access to the Building will be matter of diffi- euity. The Cuy Coancil do not ask for thoasands for the par- chase of a site. A few hundreds would be sufficient, and the people would not comp!sin of a small appropriation for such an object. I am wiiling to appropriate a moderate sum for a market; but I wil) not cunsent to perpetuate a nuisance on Queen Square. ' In other cuties ovr market would be indicated asa nuisance. ‘The memorial of the City Coancil for the parchase of a site should meet the favorable consideration of the House, for that body re- presents some 1,200 voters, while the contra petition bears but some 400 signatures. The purchase of a site would not cost £3000. A suitable piece of ground could be procured for abvut a third of that sam,

Hon. Mr. POPE.—It has been said that the petition in favor of placing the market on Queen Square was not to be put into comparison with the memorial of the City Council, which should be regarded as the expression of the general opinion of the citi- zens in faver of purchasing a site. But that memorial actually sirengthened the case of the petitioners, for the Council stated that they had applied for the western side of the square, and that the Government had decided that they could not grant the appli- cation. This proved the general desire-of the inhabitants as to the locality; and he hoped other country members wou'd not aid in placing a Market House in Charlottetown ia a situation which was not approved of by the people.

Mr. COOPER.—The objection that the erection of the Market flouse on the site asked, would leave too limited a space around the Building, is of no force, when it is con- sidered that there would still remain a greater open area than is found sufficient in other places. The Colonial Building in Lielifyx has not sv much, and many squares in London are of Jess dimensions. As far as the question of health is concerned, I believe a mure open City than Char- lottetowo cannot be found.

Hon. Mr. HAVILAND.—The hon. member should re- collect that the squares in London are private property, and are built round the open spaces in the centre. ‘I'nere is, therefore, no analogy between the two cases, It ap- pears that members from the Country are afraid of putting their hands into the public purse to prevent the misappro- priation of public ground. There is a little manifestation of selfishness in such «a course ‘The hon. member, Mr. llowat would locate the market on the square, because he was afraid that the louse would have to pass a grant for the purchase of a site, if any other locality were selected. That hon. member said the other evening that the people of Egmont Bay, and its vicinity, did not come to Charlotte- town to market, and that consequently they should not be required to contribute ‘owards it, as they would if a grant outof the general Revenue was voted for the purpose. That declaration disclused a narrow policy, the prototype of which was to be found ia one of Msop's fables. The in- terests of Charlottetown and the country parts of the Island were not antagonistic, but identical, and could aad ought to be fostered tur their mutual interests. If the principle involved in the statement to which I allude were recognized and carried into practice, where, L ask, would now be the wharves, public buildings, and other improvements in Prince County, which have been built and made from the general Revenue cf the Culuny? Such an argument is nun- sensical—it is were clap trap, as the hon. member himself would be the first to admit, if it were applied to his own District. ‘Tv retura to the subject before the Committee, I am decidedly opposed to the contemplated market being established on Hillsborough, or any of the other squares, which should be preserved intact fur the purposes for which they were originally intended 1 should prefer a site near the water side, which would accommodate parties living on the East and West Rivers, and on the opposite side of the Ferry. ‘The people in Queen-street and vicinity _ indulged in doleful antieipations uf impending ruin when _ the Perry Wharf was erected at the foot of Prince street.

How have they these anticipations been realized! Have they not the same amount of custom as they enjoyed when the Ferry was ut the fuot of Queen-street? But were the ‘ease otherwise, I ask, are we tu sucrifice the general geod to the private interests, real or supposed, of some 400 indi- viduals! ‘This building is already too swajl, and in a few years will require additions; and as the property of the of the people of the whole Island, it should be guarded by all against the inconvenience which would result from tio limited a space surrounding it, and should be preserved in a cond:tion adapted to convience of the people.

lon. Mr. YEO.—The building we are ia is an ornament to the square, en which no one can say that it has stopped the circulation of plenty of pure air. The town and the country are very healthy. ‘Tbe fact is, to one man dying on this Island, three or four ran away. Laughter.

, Hon Mr. LAIRD.—I have heard nothing to satisfy my

mind that the Market Huuse should not be placed upon the I consider it the most proper situation, and my opinion on the subject is eniertammed by my constituents. A good deal has been said about rubbish accumulating on the square from the market. That may and does arise from the want of room in the old Market Muuse; but cer- ptainly aff rds no argument against the new one proposed. If it shall be properly conducted, aud sufficient room be pro- vided, there is ov danger of refuse matter accumulating.

Mr. OWEN.—If hon. members cunsider a Market [House such a ae on the square, let them build a wall ten feet high, if they thiuk fit, and k the counctr e on the market side of it. ve oo

Mr. SINCLAIR.—Queen Square is the most suitable place for the market; aud su far am I frum considering it a nuisance, that I regard a market day as one of the must in- teresting in Chariuttetown. There is always business in the neiguburhoud uf a market. As interested for the coun- try people, | stall support that situation which offers most rvom, and where is that advantage to be found, if it be not on the squares,and which ul them is so cunvenient in point of local situation as Queen's! We have the pusitive state- meat that the Civic authorities ure unable to purchase a site. A small plot of ground would nos be sullicient, con- sequently a large amount would be required to buy as adequate to the requirements of the people, both of the town and country, the latter of whom will not support an spproprixtivn fur sugh object, while ground can be obtained on 4 public square, The buildings aiready erected on this

aare prevent its being used ay a mere pleasure ground, while the other squares being altogether unencumbered can a to a purpose a objection from any.

D olwer towns the uruamental parks and squares foynd in the centres of ran gag % ar

Hon. Mr. MACAULAY.—I am in favor of postponin this debate duriug the absence of one of the oe tives of the City—Mr. Davies. If we are to give effect to the wishes of any portion of the of the Island who

may feel themeclves particularly interested in the subject

—

The Graminer.

= ee ee — se —

before us, it is desirable that their Representatives should be here, in order that they may give their opinions on a matter, in the discussion of which, it is only reasonable to suppose that they would reflect the sentiments of the gen- eral body whom they represent, in a more reliable degree than other hon. members ean be supposed tu do. Both the petition and the memorial before us are in favor of having the Market [House on Queen Square, and that being the ease, I, as a Representative of the people ander the system

_ Responsible Government, am willing to aid in giving effect

to the opinion thus expressed. ‘That the present Market House can be allowed longer to camber the ground, no ‘one will be hardy enough to affirm. Sach a specimen of public architecture is, I believe, peculiar to Charlottetown, and future generations, should they see a representation of it, will suppose that their ancestors had some long forgotten necessity for a gigantic extinguisher. In times past it might have answered the purposes for which it was intend- ed, but now it is a timeworn relic of by-gone days. But I must say that I think ita humiliating reflection that the City of Charlottetown—the Capital of the Island-—of the great wealth of which we are so constantly reminded—ean- not build a Market House without coming to the Treasury and asking for aid. But it is our duty, before we appro- priate money for ornamental pleasure grounds, to provide fur objects of utility. Asacomparatively poor community, we should first secure the useful, and afterwards, when our means enable us, we might indulge our taste fur the orna- mental. The hon. leader of the opposition desires to re- verse this order. As the people wish to locate the market on the west side uf Queea Square, we shal! be remiss in our duty as Representatives, if we do not give effect to their wishes. My own individual opinion would led me to pre- fer that all the public squares should be kept clear of ob- structions. The free circulation of pure air is an object of primary importance; but I will not set up my personal views in opposition to those of the people who are to be principally affected by our action in the matter. It has been said that the petition being signed by but four hun- dred must not be supposed to represent the views of the majority; but I have been credibly intormed that of all those to whom it was submitted for signature bat two declined to affix their names, and their only objection was, that they believed that the House would take action in accordance with the requst of the Common Council.

Mr. BEER.—The hon. member may ridicule as much as he pleases the idea of Charlottetown asking for money with which to build a Market louse. A compliance with that request is no more than what it has aright to expect. It is net a tithe of what it is entitled to.

lion Mr. PERRY.—I see no necessity for voting money to purchase land fora public purpose of acknowledged utility, when we already have other land adapted for it, which we are asked to reserve as pleasure grounds for the

ple of Charlottetown. Queen Square is probably the driest part of Charlottetown, and there is nothing to pre- vent any one passing from Stamper's Corner to this biald- ing, with as little inconvenience as he would experience in going the same distance in any other part of the City. I move that the Speaker take the chair.

Hon. Mr. POPE submitted a regolution, in lieu of one previously submitted by Mr. Beer, who now withdrew his.

Hon. Mr. PERRY would press his motion as an amend- ment. { Mr. CONROY.—I see no necessity for the Speaker tak- ‘ing the Chair. The site asked for is in close proximity to that of the present Market House. I consider that the larger attendance of country and town’s people at market is one of the greatest ornaments to “harlottetewn. The names signed to the petition afford the most reliable proof of the opinion of the City; but IT hope that when they get | the groand, the citizens will build the Market Hvuuse themselves. Mr. PERRY'S motion was put and lost. lion. Mr. POPE'S resulution was then put and carried without division.

W M. Hows, Reporter.

Fripay, March 23. HiGHWAY ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The Ilouse in Committee on the amended Statute Labor Act—Mr. Sutherland in the Chair.

The first clause havirg been read—

lion. Mr. LONGWORTU explained its object. At pre- sent no Commissioner of [Highways had authority to let any of the roads within his jurisdiction to contract. Under the present system it was a subject of complaint that the main roads were in a bad condition. The law, as it now stuod, specified the period within which Statute Labor must be performed, and parties had the option of commuting that labor for money, or of performing it. This system had not worked satisfactorily. The clause authorized the letting of the main Post Roads by contract, and by it the contractor would have the benefit’both of the labor aud the money ia cases of commutation. AMstatement of the persons liable, and the respective amounts of their liabilities, would be prepared, so that any party contracting would know what amount be was to receive from this suvurce. .As to the period of time over which the contracts were to extead, it would be fur the louse determine that puint.

Hon. Mr. THORNTON would prefer that the contractor should be the overseer of the road as well as receiver of the commutation money, and that he should receive a small sam in lieu of the daily labor. The sooner Statute Labor was abolished the better. No man could reasonably refuse to pay the price of a tsshel of oats, rather than perform Statute Lrbor on the roads. Le was in favor of letting the main Post Roads by auction. A question of so general of a nature as this should be decided un its merits, jndependently of local feelings or pers »al interests.

Mr. COOPER agreed that the contrictor should receive the commutation money. He thougt.. some inconvenience might arise fiom the abolition of Siaiute Labor—the com- mutation rate of which should not be made too jow. The main roads should be let fur a perivd of not less thau five years.

Mr. OWEN did not approve of the clause. Uatil cash payments should be, by law, substituted for the pe: formance of Siatete Labor, a contractor would not take it inte his con- sideration in teatering for the road. The clause excepted from its operation the 12th District of Queen's County. In that District the system of eavploving parties and paying them by the day, was fuand to work satisfactorily, and he would ask, why could not the same priacip!e be adopted on the main Post Roa:ds generally! The contractor would not, in tender- ing fur the contract, consider the Statute Labor as of any value; but if it were once placed at his disposal, as contem- plated by the Bill, he would enforce the pertormance of i 10 the utmost extent to which the law allowed himta ge. The late Guvernmeat kad suld the winter roads, and found the system both expensive and troublesome. And the operation of the clause under consideration would be found equally in- convenient. Ile opposed any alreration in the present system, until maney payments were substituted for the Statute Labor in every District,and that change he was nut prepared to adyo- cate.

Mr. BEER would support the clause, to which he had given mature consideration,

Hon. Mr. COLES said, that if Statute Labor was to be re- tained, it should be performed at those seasens of the year in which it could be most usefully applied. But litile benefit was experienced from the present system of ploughing up sods, acd putting them on the reads in the wonth of July. When he was a member of the Government, he had ulways depre- cated the practice. If the Government let the road, sthe con- tracts should be for tour years. Le would, rather than re- tain the system of Statute Labor, reduce the commutation money to Is. 6J. If the Government, however, decided on retaining the labor, the contractor should have nothing wo du with it. He might obj et to the sufficiency of any parties appearing in order tu perform it, and the Government would be continusily annoyed with complaints on the sabjeet. Besides, parties might materially affect his ability tu pertorm his contract, by assiguing a variety of excuses on grounds personal to themselves, of the truth or falsity of which the contractor coald not judge. He did nat think it advisable to Jet all the main roads by coniraci; bat if it were dove, it sheald be for a term of years, and all hallows in the roads, within ten miles from Charlottetown, should be levelled by macadamzation, avd the contractors would find it to be tu their own advantage to de so. This, of course, could nat be dove over the whole extent of the readsin the Island. Uader the preseot system the roads were frequently in their best con- dition when the labor was pat upon them.

Mr. BEER.—The contractor should take his chance of the proceeds of the Statute Labor, which might be performed ur commuted,

Mr. OWEN did not approve of the total abolition of Statute Labor. People worked tard on the bye-roads, if hey did not oo the main. A contractor would merely take care that the roads were passable during the period of his contract. If

parties were employed vu the maia roads by the day, it would give satisfacyion.

Hon. SPEAKER —If the course recommended by the hon. member were adwupied, ii would he necessary to increase the salaries of the [toad Commissioners, for it would be absurd to suppose that a Commissioner would devote such portion of time as would be requisite, for the sum of £10 a year. He approved of the mam roads being let by contract, and the only difficulty appeared to be the application of the Stature Laber. It would not do to allow the contractor to be the oversee: of the Statute Labor, fur the reasons assigned by hon. members; aud, ow that 1 was intended to reduce the commutation, he

saw no reason why the people should object iy pay, in prefer: ence to wo. hing on the main roads, r

dignity having been receiv:

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.—The reason why the 12h District of Queen's County was excepied, was because it was placed under syecial authority. {t was advisable to let the maint roads 40 contract, and while it was deemed best to leave it optional with parties to perform their Statate Labor or com- mute it, the rate of commutation had been reduced express- ly with the object of rendering it more advantageous to a party to pay the money than to perform the labor. If a party pre- ferred w perform his labor, it would manifestly be wrong to give the cuntractor the coutrol over him. If such power were given, it might be abused, therefure the overseer who had ro direct personal interest should direet him, The principle of letting the public roads by contract was a sound ove.

Ion. Mr. YEO thought difficulty would be experienced with reference to the optional performance of Statute Labor.

Mr. DOYLE was in favour of Statute Labor being retained on the bye-reads. ‘The contractor on the main Post Roads should have the whole management of the whole distance covered by his contract, of which he should receive the full amount from Government. But the whole of the Statute Labor should be expended on the bye-roads.

Mr. HOWAT agreed thatthe contractor should have no control over the performance of Statute Labor. Perhaps it would be better to employ all the Statute Labor or commuta- tion under the overseer at one end of a line of road, and let the remainder by contract. For instance, if in a distance of six miles the Statute Labor would be safficient to keep ia order two miles, the contract would only be for the remainder, and the Commissioner might not be under the necessity of drawing anv money irom the Treasury. The idea of com- pulsory commutation for Statute Labor he repediated. It was put forward as a feeler, and if now approved, in a few years tie people would find themselves subject to a monry tax to the full value of the Statute Labor w which they are vow liable. 11 would be mpossible for them to pay ali their taxes in money.

Hen. Mc. COLES.—The hon. member paid bat’ a poor compliment to bis constituents, when he said that they would rather work on the roads than pay the small amount of com- mutz*ion money. Perhaps the people of Tryon might agree to perform their Stature Labor this year,te serve the Govern: ment, and keep up its character foreconomy. The system of S'atute Labor was degrading, and he would rather exact Is. 64. a day as commutation than continue the practice. Very litle benefit resulted w the roads from it.. ‘The people, gen- erally, made it the occasion of a frolic. Inthe early settle- ment of the Colony it was requisite to have Statute Labor on the main roads; but such necessity no longer existed, ard he trusted that the people of the flourishing district of Crapaud would have too much self respect to work on the roads, whea airifling cash payment would be taken in liea. The con- tractor shoud have nothing todo with Statute Labor, for if he knew that a man was liable to four day’s work, he would exact it to the utmost.

Mr. BEER moved that the clause, as read, be agreed to.

Mr. SINCLAIR, while giving credit for good motives to the introducer of the Bill, nevertheless thought that it would not remedy the evils complained of. There were defects in the present system which called for redress. As the hon. member, Mr. Coles, tad stated, the work was done on the roadsat the wrong time. ‘The roads at present were too narrow, and before jetting them w contract, grants should be applied to widenthem, The Statute Labor and commutation money might te applied to keep them in repair, while they were being widened. ‘The mouey proposed to be granted for those roads would have a more beneficial effect if it were offered to competition, in small jobs, which would enable many to buy seed fur their farms, and by the work being per- formed early in the season, the people would make the money immediately available fur the supply of tieir necessities. If

the commutation were reduced, the people would soon per- cvive the advantage of paying it, and more work would be performed. The privilege of performing Statute Labor would interfere with any contractor’s arrangemeuts, who, in making his calculations, would not regard it as of any appreciable importance. Ifthe contractor had the direct control of the parties performing Statute Labor, he would have a direct in- terest in exacting it to the last minute that the law allowed. If the roads were let in their present stzte, no permanent im- provemeut would result,they would be merely kept in repair. They must be widened before any lasting improvement could be expected.

Hon. Col. GRAY.—The system of Statute Labor on the Highways was a relic of barbarism, unworthy of the present time, and should, wherever practicable, be abolished. The season in which, under the present system, the roads are repaired, was altogether inappropriate. Instead of July and August, the roads should be repaired in the Spring, when the ground could be easily turned up. The plan of letting the main roads by contract was introduced merely as: an experiment, and should havea fairtrial. It was pro- posed to let them merely for three years,

Mr. COOPER considered commutation preferable to Statute Labor; but the only course would be to leave it at the disposal of the contractor, who could allow for it at the rate of his contract. It would be impossible to make com- mutation compulsory immediately.

Hon. Mr. PERRY.—Difficulty might ensue if the con- tractor and the overseer should not work harmoniously. More had been said about the principles, than of the prac- tical effects of the details of the Bill. The commutation at 2s. per man would not suffice to keep the roads in repair. In x few years people would be called upon to pay 10s. In his District, the inhabitants found it no easy matter to pay their School and Land Taxes, and if that was the case, how were they to raise this additional tax for reads. Although he had no doubt that the clause had been introduced with @ sincere conviction that it would be conducive to the pub- lie advantage, he thought it would not be right to deprive a poor man of his chance of working on the roada.

Hon. Mr. THORNTON was surprised at what had fallen from the hon. member, who represented his constituents as too poor to pay 2s. or 3s. a day, while they could build a place of worship which would cost some £2000; and as preferring to work on the roads to commuting a day’s labor for 9d. He had always advocated the ebvlition of Statate Labor, as being a disgrace to the country, and sooner than retain it he would fix the commutation at 2s., and he was satisfied that at that rate a greater amount of work would be applied to the roads than under the present system. The statutable age for liability to road work was from 16 to 60 years. He was willing that 50 should be the maxi- mum, and that the commutation should be reduced.

Mr. CONROY was opposed to the compulsory commuta- tion. fo his District many would rather work on the roads than pay money, which their circumstances rendered difli- cult—others would, of course, prefer to pay the commuta- tion. As to the reference made by the iast speaker to the new Chapel at Tignish, as indicating the means of the peo- ple, he could say that the comparative scarcity of money among them arose from the fact, that they spared no exer- tion to pay their debts. In no part of the Island were the Rents better paid, and in wany instances this honest dispo- sition left the parties with little or no money. The com- pulgory commutation of Statuce Labor was, therefure, nat adapted to his District.