& Weekly Sour

He BAERS a

wal of Lolitics, Literature, and Mews,

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*“Phis is true Liberty, when Freeborn Men, having to advise the Public, may speak tree.’---Euripides.

Vol. XV. Charlottetown

SE SE ENE

Prince Edward Island, Monday, April 3, 1865.

it | |

SSeceneaeean ae at: we saa ——S——=

New Neries.---No. 18,

It was thought better, for these reasons, to| beds, and why then should they be grant- defer the bill till this session, and [ voted|ed? The ground in Bedeque will include accordingly. I do not think, however, that the principal part of the old oyster beds,

it is intended to monopolize any old oyster’ Hon. the Prestpent: I suppose the object beds, though I would vot be against grant- ing a portion of the old beds for the purpose of taking oyster brood from to plant new) beds, 1 think it would be well to try the experiment, and will therefore snpport the bill.

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: L do not object at allto the vrineiple of the bill: the only question on my mind is respecting the ground proposed to be granted. His honor | from the first District of Prince County (Mr. Lord) said that the portion of Scheme- die River proposed to be granted would ex- ‘tend over 200 or 300 acres, but I do not think there are more than 15 or 20 acres ‘included in the boundaries described, and | iew individuals. that would be sufficient to try the experi: | How. Mr. McDonatp: I do not see that ment. }it makes any difference whether it is grant- Hon. Mr. Gore: The public must have! ed to one man or to fifty if there are no

been awere that this bill was before the Le-| oysters on the ground now, as I believe gislature last year, and if they considered | there are not. No man would take the it au encroachment upon their privileges’ ground unless he intended to plant oysters they should have petitioned against it; but| upon it; and if he took a large piece of there js nothing before us to show that they ground he would have to lay out a large

COLONIAL LEGISLATURE,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Satrunpay, March 18,

OYSTER FISHERY BILL, Committee resumed, third clauses agreed to.

is that, as it is near Summerside, the capial of the County, and not far from Shediac, parties might be induced to attempt the cultivation of oysters there. Perhaps 100 men might apply for a piece of ground there, and this bill merely gives the Go- vernment power to lease the ground des- cribed,

Hon Mr. Lorn: We are not to know what the Government intend to do. We have a bill before us, and we must take it asitis. There has been nothing said to convince me that it is not the intention to give a monopoly of the oyster trade to a

First, second and

The fourth clause, authorising the Go- vernment to grant a pertion of Schemedie River, Richmond Bay, which would be boanded by a live drawn from Cameron's island to Heury Compton's Creek, and from Ramsay's Creek on the North to John Ramsay's Point, for the parpose of planting and cultivating oysters, was then read,

Hon. Mr. Kamaay: That clause is simi- far to ove ia the bill which was before your honors last year, and | objected to it on the ground that there were already some oyster beds within the bounds described, aud to which exclusive right is proposed to be granted. However, the boo. member who sntroduced the bill says that he consulted the member for that district (Mr. Green), who toid bim there were no oysters there at

present. | Koow there were oysters there

at Oae time, though there may be none now. L do not think it would be any great trouble to renew those old beds ; if they were even Jett alone, L am of opinion tbat oysters would grow upon them again. I would ra- ther see new ground takeo up than old oyster

beds granted to which the public consider

that they bave a right,

Hon, the Paesipenr: [ do not know much about cultivatiog oysters, but I have been told that old oyster beds are not adapted to their cultivation; and if there are vo oysters On those old beds, | do not see any objection to granting them. ‘There is a clause in the bill which permits farmers to take up mud for manure wherever they thiuk proper, even from the portioas of the Ktivers wach will have been granted to pri- vate parties, and ae person would go to the trouble and expense ef planting oysters where they would be likely to be taken up by farmers lifting mud. And if a persou wishes to embark in the cultivation of oys- ters, 1 do not see why he should not obtain a grant of suitable ground for that purpose. It is @ souree of wealth ia other countries, not only to the persons who eater into the speculation, but to the communi'y at large; and why should it not be so here? We

should not throw any obstacle in the way;

bat should afford every facility ia oar power

to these whe desired to engage in the en-|

terprise.

ion. Atrorney Generac: [ am not suf- fisently acquatuted with the k ality 1b question to enable me to speak on that

ciause. | cannot say whether or not there

aie oysters existing there at preseut to any |

exteut. If there are, We may presume that they would increase if they were ivft alone; but unless there is some certain'y that oys- ters do exist there, and in considerable quantities, | do not know that it would be worth our while to oppose the bill. I ap- prove of the principie of the bill I think we sbould try tne experiment of cultivating those shell-fish ; aud aaless we afford some privilege or advantage to the parties who are willing to engage in the business, it will not be done. At the same time, we shoud be very careful to guard agaiast throwing uny obstacle in the way of persons taking up mussel or oyster mud, as people are be- giuning to find out the value of that species of manure, aad if they continue taking it up we wil! soon see our exports swelled io a great extent. I hope vo impediment will be thrown in their wag by this or any other bill. However, the locality is best known to your honors who reside iu that part of the eountry, and if you are satisfied that there are no oysters there at preseat to any material extent, [ would sot be very seru- pu'ous about acceding to the proposition. Hoa. Mr. Been: 1 do not thivk we need object to that clause, for L find that it pass- ed in the House of Assembly by a large majority. The members who represent that disirict—one of whom lives pear the place

proposed to be granted—supported the bill, | and if they considered that it would conflict |

with the interests of their constituencies, they would Lave given it their most strenu- ous Opposition.

Hon. Mr. Lorn: We have an opinion of our own, and we bave a right to express it. I fer one feel bound to oppose that clause on account of what has been siid by his honor from the second district of Prince County (Mr. Ramsay). L believe it is the inieution of a certain party to get a mono- poly of the oyster trade ot the Island. If vet, what do they want of such a large ex- tent of grouod ic Richmond Bay—2U0 or 300 acres? 1 do not think they have any right to interfere with old oyster beds. | have heard something about the cultivation of oysters ‘a the United Sates. They du not plant oysters ou the old beds, as they are not suitable. At the sametime [ would

viewed it in that light.

Hon. Mr. Bern: The bill passed the other Heuse by a majority of from }4 to 5. Messrs. McLennan and Green, the repre- sentatives of that district, voted for it.

| Hon. Mr. McDonatp: | do not see any

serious objection to passing a bill of this! granted for so Jong a time, 20 years with a| good order ; and if others, who are engaged

kind. The ground whick is proposed to be ‘granted is not, | understand, of any value at present for oyster fishing. all been taken away or have died out. I am only sorry that the bill did not go fur-

ther and appropriate a portion of ground iv | have a lease extending over that period of| Fish Lnspector in the United States; that

King’s County as well as in the other two, )L believe there are no oysters there at pre- ‘sent, but there were large beds in several parts of the County at one time. This bas ‘heen proved by parties who have been taking up mad this year. At Bradenel! River Bridge, after going down two feet,they came to a solid bed of oyster shells, so thick and ‘solid that they cou!d not get their shovel ithrough them. It must have been a long time ago for [ believe no person living can remember when there were oysters there. | | believe they have been killed by the mud jbeing brought down the river by the cur- jrent and deposited on the bed. At Pan- mure Island there was also an oyster bed, but the mussels grew over it and the oysters died out. | Hon. Mr. Hewverson : In addition to the provisions contained in the bill to eacourage ihe cultivation of oysters, with due security to the public iaterests, in regard to the dredging of channels, taking up mud, &e., | think there shoula be something to prevent our neighbours from the United States and other places from taking ap oysters in the Bays and Rivers of this [sland, as | under- stand they sre in the habit of doing every ‘summer. We derive more or Jess revenue from the oyster fisheries every year, and | itherefure think they should be protected as well as other fisheries. Lam willing to let ithe bill go into operation, though | would }not support it if L thought it would have the effeet of giving a mouopoly of our oyster fisheries to any person or company. Lf the

bill is found defeetive, it can be amended at

some future time by rescinding portions of it, or adding other clauses as circumstauces

may demand. i

Hon. Mr. Lonp: As to preventing per- sons from other countries from coming here | for oysters, L wou'd rather encourage them. | Hon. Mr. Bezr:z I called attention to ithe eircuwstance, a few days ago whea the 'House was in committee on this bill, that [parties were in the habit ef coming here from other countries and taking away oys- ters in large quantities from our Bays and

Rivers without pa ing-a shilling for them, and [ think we should have some ¢lause in this bill to prevent them from deing so. | Hon. Mr. Yeo: I never heard of people | from other countries coming bere and fishing jegsters themselves, but they o'ten eome and purehase their cargoes, and I would not preveut them from doing that.

Hon. Mr. McLagen: | cannot see any ‘injury that can be done by the bill, as it will pot prevent persons from taking up mud |whenever they please Old beds are not

‘suitable for planting oysters upon, as the; water is in general too shallow upon them; | but alter it is deepened by the mad being |

Deep |

taken up they may become suitable. water ty required, Decause when It 1s too

; eC w shallow the oysters are killed by the ice. | person could surely get through 100 barrels |

The mud from these old beds is being ex- |tensively taken up for manure, and it isa ‘very prcfirable employment. IL | would be well to try the experiment of cul- tivating oysters, and [ would be willing to adopt the suygestion of his honor from George'own (Mr. McDonald) to extend the provisious of the bill to King’s County.

| Ulause agreed to—vext clause read.

Hon. Mr. Lonp: Tuat clause includes

The oysters have |

think it]

| amount of eapital.

| Hon, Mr. Watxer: I am not acquaint- ‘ed with the other localities, but 1 know (there are no oysters in the places in the | Hillsborough which are proposed to be let. | | Some of your honors object to leases being |

/renewable term of 40 years. No doubt| | the idea is that before a man could make it | a profitable speculation he would have to lay out a large amount of capital, and therefore it is considered that he should

| time.

Hon. Mr. Henperson: T see his honor ‘from Prince County (Mr. Lord) is not in- clined to take the Governmeut for mere ‘than tbey are worth, and [ agree with him that our enactments should be made as clear and explicit as possible—made so that they would be clear and intelligible twenty years hence; and if L thought it was intended to give a monopoly, [ would wish to see the clause amended or modified, so as fuly to secure the interests of the people.

Clause agreed to.

A clause authorizing the Government to grant certain portions of the Hillsborough Kiver was then read, and, after a few re- marks, it was agreed to,

On motion oi the Hon. Mr. McDonald a! clause was added to the bill authorizing the Government to grant certain portions of Ri- vers in King’s County.

The House was then resumed and pro- gress reported.

Hoa. Mr. Yeo, a member of the Execu- tive Council, by command of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, laid before the House the Accounts of the Colleccor of Im- port and Excise for Charlottetown, the Ac- counts of [mports and Excise for the seve- ral Qutports of this Island. Light Duty Accounts &e., for the year ending 3)2t De- eember, 1864. Also, the Publie Accounts as arranged and classified by the Auditors for the year ending 31st January, 1865.

All the above documents were ordered to be laid on the table.

Adjourned till Monday next at eleven o'clock.

Monpay, Mareh 20. FISH INSPECTION BILL.

A Bill to regulate the inspection of Pick- led Fish was read a second time, and com- mitted to 2 Committee of the whole House —Hon. Mr. Walker in the Chair.

Hon. Mr. Loep said oe thought the in- spectors should be allowed salaries.

Hon. the Prestpenr: J think it would be difficult to get a person to accept the office, as there are no emoluments attached to it except a very sma}l fee for inspecting | each barrel of fish. Uowever, 1 will not} offer any opposition to the Bill, though [| think there will be some difficulty experienc- | ed in the working of it.

Hon. Mr. McDonaup: I think the por-! tion of fees allowed to the chief inspectors is | very small. They are entitled to a &ifth | part of the fees received by the deputy in- | spectors; but still, it is as large, L believe’ \a little larger, than what is allowed by the | | Nowa Scotia Act, and they find pleuty of |

'

‘persons who are willing to accept the office. '{ think it would pay very well where there | are large quantities of fish to inspect. The | amount allowed is 4d. per barrel, which | ould be £1 13s 4d. for 100 barrels. A

lin two days. 1 dovot think there can be} ‘any doubt about the necessity for am Act of | Persons engaged in the busi-|

| ness see the necessity for it more and more | ‘every year. It is very expensive to have)

fish inspected in the Nova Scotian or Ame- | rican market, when they have to employ

| laborers there, while it would only cost four |

j

pence per barrel to have them tnepeetots ‘here. It is the same as the Nova Scotia!

| this kind.

nut oppose the bill if L thought it would be | the whole space from Heard’s Point wharf} Act, with only some slight alterations to |

a benefit to the Colony, particularly as it|to Indian Point, and from McDonald's Po‘nt | make it suitable to our local wants

provides that the right of the grantees shal!

sto Wilmot Creek Point. It seems there is

Those ‘who are largely engaged in the business are

| without further exam nation.

| be our duty to see that no just right of the |

| packed in rock salt, which, it is we!] known, could nct be obtained in many parts of the country without great inconvenience ; but | have no objection to this Bill, as L under-

of granting such a large space in Bedeque stand that the clauses to which I allude have! would go and borrow a few old ones from

been greatly modified,

Hou. Mr. Ramsay: I have no particular | with the intention of sending them to Mira-

| objection to this Bill. I suppose it is en- _cessary to have a law of this kind, as large quantities of fish are now exported; but I |do not understand how it is that, when we. already haye a law on our Statute Book for | the inspection of fish, this Bill should be re- quired. It appears that the Act in oper- ation does not answer the purpose. If fish’ which are inspected under the present Act, | by a properly qualified and sworn inspector, | _have to be turned out and inspected again 'when they are sent to a foreign market, What is the use to pass another law to pro- vide for their inspection ? | Hon. Mr. Lorn: They might be taken uoder our brand in flalifax, or any of the ' Colonial markets, but not iv a foreign mar- ‘ket, ualess the person who shipped them wos well known, and his fish had a good | character,

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: Then, I cannot see the use of the Bill, if fish will not be taken under our brand. I know a gentleman who’ brands his fish and exports them to the American market,where they are taken with- out any further inspection. No doubt be has got the name of putting up his fish in

in the business, could raise their name in the same way, there would be no need for this Bill.

Hon. the Presrpent: That person is an American, and holds an appointment as a

fifteen barrels, he might not have the des- | orion of barrels required by the Act, perhaps he would have none at ali, and

his neighbors. He would put up his fish michi or Shediac, but a man comes along and tells him he must have bis fish inspect- ed, and that he could not get them inspect- ed unless they were put in a certain des- cription of barrels. What would the man do with his fish? Therefore, IL think the tendency of the Act will be to drive the fish trade all into the bands of a few indivi- duals, and it is for us to see that there is co infringement upon the rights of the fisher- men.

Hon. Mr. Yeo: There might not be an inspector within twenty miles; and small fishermen might have great difficulty in ob- taining suitable barrels. When fish are sent to the United States they will be in-

eerted. Vessels cou!d go to Shediac aud | toad with oysters without any permission ‘from the authorities, It was well to pro- tect private rights, but the oyster beds were public property. In Richmond Bay, three or four vessels bad loaded with oysters last year, but they were purchased from the in- habitante.

Hon. Arrorney Geyrrat said he agreed with his bouor who had introduced the clause. While Se would leave the oyster beds open to the inhabitants of the Island, he thought, at the same time, that strangers should not be allowed to come and take away those valuable shell fish without paying anything for them. He did wot think it was right to allow a schooner to pop into one of our harbors and take away a load of oysters without contributing anything to the country but harbor dues. He did not sup- pose that we could send our vessels to the other side of the Strait and take away a

spected again, and the person who exports_ them will have to pay the expense. But, still, if the Bill is any benefit, it will be in’ favor cf the large exporter, and I do not | see why a small fisherman shou!d be prohi- | bited from sending twenty barrels to Mira- michi or Shediac, without inspection, if he, thought proper to do so. tion. the Presipenr: The object of the’ Bill is to improve the character of our fish, and if a man were allowed to export twenty barrels, without iuspection, that object | would be frustrated; for one man might. have twenty barrels in a vessel, and another | fifteen or twenty, and so on, till they would | make up a whole cargo. I would leave the’ clause as it is. A vessel ean run to Mira-| michi, Pictou, the Gut of Canso, or any!

is the reason bis fish pass without any more inspection; but this Bill weuld be a benefit to others who are largely engaged in the fish trade. We cannot compel purchasers in the United States to take fish under our inspection,

Hon. Mr. Dixewett: If the inspector is not capable of inspecting fish properly, the Act will be very little use; but if they are properly branded, according to the quality, it may be some use after a time, when the character of the fish is well established.

Hon. Mr. Anpverson: If a lot of fish | were sent to a foreign market, all branded alike, and as the Act requires; if the pur- chaser would open a few barrels, and find them to correspord with the brand, he would sure.y take them without opening them all. That would save a great deal of trouble,

Hon. Mr. Henperson : | presume it will

port round these Colonies, and dispose of | her fisb ander her fishing pass. It is only when the fish are landed that they will re- quire to be inspected,

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: If we are to have fish inspected at all, I would not let a man export more than ten barrels without inspec- tion, and even then, the Act maybe evaded, for a man may have a number of sons, and might export ten barrels ia the name of each, without inspection,

Hon. Mr. McLaren: T do not see any danger in passing the Biil as it is. L would like to raise the character of our fish. The Bill is for the benefit of the merchants, and if they get a better price for their fish, the country at large will participate in the ad- vantages.

Hon. Mr. Henperson: The stringent character of the Bill, which was before us

be just like other branches of trade, when the name of the manufacturer is attached to. the article. When it is found that a man's name is a guarantee that the article is what | it ig represented to be, it will be taken | If we get our name up for exporting good fish, they will be taken under our brand as long as we keep up our credit,

lion. Mr. Lorn: Before we got our name up. our fish will have to be inspected by a different class of men than those at present employed for that purpose. I would sooner take fish from Nova Scotia without a brand, than take the brand of inspectors here. Last year, L bought some fish inspected on the wharf here, aud I never was more de- ceived in my life. A few on the tops of the barrels were good, aud all the rest were bad. I have purchased Nova Scotia fish without inspection, and found them good. I[t is no use to appoint inspectors. unless they do their duty. However, as| the Bill is to provide for the inspection of | fish for exportation, [ will not oppose it.

Hon. Mr. McDonatp: If the law, at the time bis honor tought those fish, had been similar to the Bill now before us, he would have his redress against the inspector, whe would forfeit bis bonds. His bonor from Prince County (Mr. Ramsay) says, what is the use to have an inspector here when the fish will not be bought under our inspec- tion in other markets. Well, it would only make a difference ot 44. per barrel to have them inspected, and if our brands were found to be a true index to the quality of the fish they might be taken after a time | without any further inspectiou. On the | other hand, if they did not turn out to be what they were branded for, we would have our remedy against the inspector.

Hon. Mr. GorF: L have not much confi- denee in the inspection of fish, and when I puy any for my own use, | set no value upon it. Z believe the inspectors do not slways see the fish when they brand them {a fact, some of the barrels might contain codfish in plaee of herring, for all they know. However, £ dare say the principle of the Bill is good, and as they have a law) of this kind in all the neighboring Colonies, L suppose there eanget be any great objec- tion to it here. At the same time it will!

eople is infringed upon. Notwitistamding

this Bill, the eharaeter of our &sh will etill | mainly depend upon the person who puts: them up. 1 bave bought fish from Nova Scotia, and found those which were branded worse than those which were not.

fet jaterfere with tarmers taking up mud | an inclination on the part of the Llouse to) the only persons who can be affected by the for manere wherever they think proper. 1 pass this bill, and I au satisfied that giving | Act, as a man can export 10 barrels where believe the bill will lead to great deal of |ownersbip to private parties over such a | he pleases without inspection, litigation; but, et the same time, as it was|large space of water will lead to @ great | Hon. Mr. Loep: | think it wil] be some- passed ia the House of Assembly without | deal of litigation { will move at a fature| thing like the Act which was passed last opposition, or by a very large majority, as|time that the bill be read this day three) year for the inspection of flour, which re- ove of your hoaors has said, L do uot kaow | months. mains a dead leiter. However, I dare say that we should oppose it here. IL would | Hoa. the Prestpert: It is aot supposed an Act of this kind is nece:sary now, as we like to hear my hon. colleague express bis! that the Government will grant a lease of are exportiug considerable quantities of opinion upon it, as be is weil acquaivted | the whole of that ground to one man. No fish. thai te with those places. ‘one man would apply for the whole of it,} Hon. Mr. Gorr: This is similar to the Hon. the Prestpent: [ do not think | when he could not hold it uvless be planted | Bill which was betore the House last year, that any injury can be done to the inhabi-| oysters upon it. ‘and [ objected to it because it would pre- tants of the Island by this bill. The object) Hon. Mr. Lonp: I do not feel inclined to | vent small fishermen from taking four or

Hon. the Prestpent: L bad ebout one handred barrels of mackerel inspected last year. They were turned out upon a table, and every fish handied by the inspector. I think they were inspected ia just the same way as this Bill proposes to carry out.

Clause agreed to—fourth clause read.

Hon. Mr. Dinawett: That clause allows a man to ship ten barrels without inspection. Now, while I would give large dealers the ‘benefit of the Act, L would not put the smal! fishermen to any unnecessary trouble or inconvenience. A man might have more than ten barrels to ship, but the barrels

last year, made the majority of us pretty sensitive, and I think some of that feeling remains with us still. To aliow ten barrels to be exported without inspection, was thought last year to be quite jiberal. This Bill, however, is stringent in regard to the size and quality of the barrels, but still I think the permission to export ten barrels, without inspection, will be sufficient to pro- tect the small fishermen.

Hon. Mr. Anperson: [ was of opinion, last year, that we should allow ten barrels to be exported without inspection, and, as L am of the same opinion still, L will sup- port that clause as it is,

Clause agreed to.

After some desultory debate, relative to the size and quality of fish barrels, the House was resumed and progress reported.

Hon. Mr. Yeo, a member of the Execu- tive Council, by command of His Excel- leney, presented to the House the Accounts of the Volunteer Force for the past year. Ordered to be laid on the table.

Adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Turspav, March 21,

A Bill to regulate the inspection of) pickled fish was again committed to a Vom- mittee of the whole House, and reported | agreed to without any amendment.

PETITIONS PRESENTED,

By Hon. Mr. MeDonald—A petition of certain inhabitants of Ceorgetowu und Roy alty, praying for an Act to enable them to lease certain portions of Georgetowa Com- mon, and to apply the money arising there- trom to the purposes of local improvement.

By Hoo. Mr. Beer—A petition of certain inhabitants of Charlottetown, praying for an alteration in the duties on confectionary.

Both petitions were ordered to be laid on the table.

OYSTER FISHERY BILL.

Committee resumed.

Hor. Mr. Anperson moved that the clause | authorizing the Government to lease certain | portions of the Bays and Rivers for a period of twenty years, with a renewable term of | forty years, at the option of the grantee, | be reconsidered for the purpose of reducing that tera.

Hon, the Prestpenr said that if a man should go to the trouble and expense of planting oysters, and bad a bed in a flourish- ing condition at the end of twenty years, it would be very unfair to deprive him of it, and allow another to step in and receive the benefit of bis Jabor and outlay. It was only a smell portion that was proposed to be granted, aud no man would engage in the business unless he were afforded some en- couragement and protection.

tlou. Mr. Beer thought it was something like leasing wilderness land. Lt would take a number of years before wilderness land would be made productive, and it would be the same with the oyster beds. He thought the man who went to the trouble and ex- pense of muking them productive should receive the benefit.

load of stone from their shores without per- mission. Lt wis merely legislating against a trespass. The oysters belonged either to the public or to private individuals, there- fore it was a trespass against either one or the other fur strangers to take them away. it is quite open to them to engage persons belonging to the Island to supply them with oysiers.

Hon. Mr. Lorp did not think it conld be exactly called free trade,but he supposed that when the Union of the Colonies would be consummated, a clause of this kiud would not be required,

Hon. Mr. Dinawett said it would be something new to prevent parties from other countries from taking away fish of any kind, The neighbouring Colovies might have some- thing which we required, and would be dis- posed to retaliate.

The question of concurrence was then put on the clause proposed by the Llon, Mr. Keer, and the Committee divided :—

Contents—Hons. Messrs. Beer, Ramsay, McLaren, Anderson, Lord, Attorney Gene- ral, McDonald and Walker—3.

Non-Contents—Hon, the President and Hen Mr. Dingwell—2.

So it was passed in the affirmative.

Hon Mr. McLaren, a member of the Go- vernment, by command of His Excellency the Lieut. Governor, presented a copy of the Warrant Book for the year ending 31st January, 1865.

Adjonrued o'clock.

till to-morrow at eleven Wepnespay, March 22.

A message was brought from the House of Assembly, by Mr. McLeonan, with a Bill to incorporate Summerside Bank,

By the Hon. Mr. Davies, with a Bill to make provision for the regulation of Seameu on board of any ship or vessel owned in, or belonging to, Prince Edward Ish nd, when such ship or vessel shall be within the pre- civets of the said Island,

By the Hon. Mr. Haviland, with a Bil! to regulate the salaries of the Collec‘ors of Impost and Excise for the Districts of Be- deque and Georgetown. Also, with a Bill to amend the Act to promote Vaccination,

Toe said Bills were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.

Hon. Mr. Beer moved, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Henderson, that a Bill to repeal the Act relating to the Oyster Fishery, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof, be now read a third time.

Hon. Mr. Loro moved an amendment that the said Bili be read a third time that day three months ; and on doing so, said: I stated the grounds of my opposition to this Bill when the House was in Committee. I believe it will be an injury rather than a benefit to the country. The principal ob- jection which | bave to the Bill is, that ir will deprive the people of the privilege of taking oysters from beds already in existence —a privilege which they have hitherto en- joyed. If the Bill guesinto operation, it will soon be seen whether it will be a bencfit or not.

ment was not seconded. The question of

concurrence was then put on the original

motion, and it passed in the affirmative. The Bill was then read a third time and assed, Adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’clock.

ee

TOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

Sarurpay, March 18.

On motion of Hon. Mr. Davies, the House went into Committee on Ways and Means— Mr. McLennan in the Chair.

Hon. Mr. Pore said he was happy to be enabled to inform the House that no import- ant changes were deemed necessary in the

| Tariff as imposed under the Act of last Sea-

sion. The Island was in a very prosperous condition, and the people appeared contented, so much so that not the slightest complaint had been made, to his knowledge, with regard to the taxes or burthens to which they were subject. Our Tariff was much lower than that of any other part of Her Majesty-s pos- sessions ; and were it not that large amounts were required, this year, for Roads and Bridges, for the Militia, for the establish- ment of a Stock Farm, a Light House at the North Cape, and other important objects, he would be disposed to make the tariff still lower. Taking, however, into consideration ihe necessary expenditure of the Colony, and being of opinion that we could not reason- ably expect as large a revenue during the present year as we had last, owing to the fact that our exports during the lust -autumo were very much less, and the prices of our agricultural produce far below those of the previous year, it was considered advisable to wake no material alteration. It was pro-

Hon. Mr. McVonatp said he felt it to be his duty to oppose the motion for the recon- sideration of the clause. been agreed to by the whole House, with

The clause had |

posed, however, to admit Salt duty free, pow subject to 6d. per ton; and owirg to an omission in the Act of last year, under which Port, Sherry, and all other Wines costing | 620 atg. per Pipe, were admitted on pay-

The tion. Mr. Lord’s motion ot amend- |

nate than he expected; suppose he cavght| the clause which had been read being in-| Hon. Mr. Cores approved of the mode re-

commended by the hon. Leader of the Go- | vernment for the paymen: of the Collectors of Customs at Summerside and Georgetown. | He was also glad that the Government had ‘admitted the principle that salaried officials Should be on the fluor of the House. He likewise perceived that ore gentleman had | charged for the preparation of certain statis. tics—which might and should have been got up by the Government—3is per day for 20 | days’ work of 7 hours each, making a bill of | £30 against the Government. If this prac- tice were continued, it would be better for the Government to appoint a Financial Secre- tary at ones. It was necessary to haye a So- licitor General in the Government, since the | Attorney General had been snubbed by his friends, and tiey required the professional ae- sistance of an official legal adviser. But he observed that they had raised the salary jof the Solicitor General to £200, which |they perbaps thought better than pay- ing Queen’s Counsel fees. Formerly the Colomial Secretary and Treasurer received, respectively, £400 per annam, and paid their own Deputies, who left their offices with their principals. His party hed introduced the ‘system of appointment of dr puties wao should retain their offices irrespectively of changes of Governmevi, unless they should actively interfere in politics against those in whose service they were engaged, Some were dis- missed in consequence of having opposed the Government, and the excitement got up on their behalf was equal to that caased by the rocession of yesterday (the Tenant League.) netead of gettiug the additional £50 for the Deputies in the Treasury and Secretary's offives by @ side wind, it would be better for the Government to deal openly with the Act authorising the apy ointmest and fixing the salaries of the Deputies in the public offices.

Hos. Mr. Davies.—The salaries attached to the public offices were small comparatively to those paid in the other Colonies. £200 per annum could not be considered an ex- travagent allowance for tle Solicitor Gene- ral, when it was borne in mind that more than the additional £1(0 had been annually paid im fees to Queen's Counsel while the vilice was in abeyance.

Mr. Conroy was not surprised to find mem- bers of the Government stuting that the sal- aries of the officials were too smail, but ié seemed not a little strange to find gentlemen of the Opposition deing the same thing, and he was induced to infer from their so doing that they were under the «mpression that the good time was coming wh+n the reins of Go- vernment would pass to his side of the House, and that the increase of tlie salaries was de- sirable to be effected ere his friends came into power. It was easy to tell thedirection of the wind by the passage of straws, and the present indications of the political at- mosphere did not seem favourable to the Gu- vernment. With respect to giving £100 ad- ditional to the Solicitor General, he was of opinion that the salary provided by statute was sufficient for the duties which that officcr had to perform, and he believed ‘that the party now in »ower found fauls | with the Liberal Government for giving even that amount.