owe ta an

——t advertisements—when ordered out.

. i. '

- a good deal of success. _ ———~—

~-~ Vides a double set of Trustees , permitting | feature in United States polities,

|

~~ @lasses. The other pian would, no doubt, Laird—irrespective of the date of his ap-

pine Renamer Boo Si i +e eof ay

SESE, Oe ST ARR OR NET ET UCP he A EO THE BRXAMINER

IS PUBLISUED EVERY WONDAY, FORENOOY, rnY THE

Exawiner Printing & Publishing Co, OFFICE:

Corner Queen and King Streets.

TE RMS--Per Annum, 61.62, if paid within the year—$1.82, postage paid; $9 it not paid within the year.

CLUB RATES.

Tas Kxawixer will be forwarded to Clubs at the fo\lowing rates per year—pay- meut strictly in advance -—

spectively, Roman Catholic or Presbyteri- In short, wherever a good school was established it would be sided,

and all would be treated alike. Certain

an schools

provisions would have to be made to pro- tect the rights of those unable to provide ot done by allowing parents, who might de

schools their own; but this is easily sire to do so, to withdraw their children at

the hour when religious instruction was

‘being given

it is most desirable to avoid unything that may have the least appearance of par- | tiality ; and the rights of the smallest | minority should be guaranteed as com i pletely, and guarded as jealously as those

5 coples one address - 8 7.00/of the largest majority And in the 7 ciate 12) | discussion of the question, it is well 20 20.00 | to bear in mind that there are thousands |

iwho will gladly welcome a_ reasonable ’ . *

Clubs may be but who

bet

made up at any time, but for a shorter period than one vear

ADVERTISEMENTS — | opposition were they to suspect au attempt

Until further notice, Advertisements will at dictation from any quarter whatever. ve inserted at the following rates :—

settlement of the question ;

would be ut once aroused toa determined

The question as to the degree of control

1 square, one insertion, - - - $1.00) . . Each Continuation, ‘ 00.25 | that the Government should exercise over Special Notices, ‘: per ine,” 00.12 those schools to the support of which it

ACCOUNTS RENDERED : one, We are not fond of Government inter- think that "where Government money is granted, the Government must have such rights of in- spection us will assure it that the money As to the examination

for subseriptions, Ist December, in each | year; for standing advertisements etc.,1st | June, and lst December, in each year; for

ference; but certainly we

ALL LETTERS sent by mail should be addressed *‘ Examiner Printing and Pub. lishing Company.” Lock Drawer, 72. POST OFFICE, Char ottetown.

Che Examiner.

Ch’town, February 2, 1874. THE EDUCATION QUESTION

| is rightly applied. of teachers, a license from any recoguized

insisting upon an examination before a | loeal board ; especially as in the right of " inspection the Government would have | the surest means of testing the efficiency | of the teacher, as, ufter all, the best way | to examine a teacher is to examine his | scholars. We were much struck with

We need mike no apology for again reeurring to this very important subject. Apart from the interest which the ques. tion must at any time excite, itis, just now

| the very practical remarks made on this | subject, ashort time ago, by the Rey. 1G. M. Grant at Halifax,

| been published in the EXAMINER.

which have attracting speci.l attention from the pro- minent position which it must soon occu- py in our local politics,

| The text books to be used is another The

which we insist upon the need of religious

We desire to dis— Our object in writing is, not to support nor at- tack any politics! party for its own sake, but to endeavor to do what we can towards assisting our readers to take a reasonable and impartial view of the matter.

important matter. reasons for

suss the question on its own merits. | schools are equally valid for all text books being, where it is possible, such as are sunctioned by the religious authorities of the denomination to which the school belongs.

‘sent. that probably it would be better to

We only say about this at pre- We have strongly expressed our opin- ion as to the positive necessity for some | decide upon each case, according to cir- change being made in our present system ; | cumstances, than to lay down an unbend- and we may ax well say, at the outset, | ing rule which, in many cases, might work that we should welcome almost any change | very badly. : as the better. Various | plans have in other countries been tried to reconcile the two principles of the State being neutral in religion, and yet in no way hurting the rights of conscience. It may be well to bear in mind that

leing for

We have endeavored to discuss this | question solely on its own merits, aud t |

with that moderation that it specially re

quires. In the conflict which, it is easy ; to see, is approaching, we trust it will not

; a | be forgotten that there are deep religious questions of this sort are geverally settled ;

convictions on both sides; and that angry by a compromise. ole

A majority cannot | . ; : ay *y ee" | and violent words, always unbecoming always continue to force its views upon | en Sail Best

: Se |are most painfully so when this subject is « determined minority however small! ; | : -

under consideration.

and they, on the other hand, may have to | forego some of what they wish for, and be content with something short of what

they muy consider absolutely the best.

RECENT DISMISSALNS.

ee

THE

Ir there were one principle which the

To speak generally, there are two sys- | Canadian Government hitherto held to tems of cducation which endeavor to| it was that, uoder no circumstances acknowledge the just rights of religion. | should Government officials be removed

Firss there is the plan which is beiug tried in England, apparently with It= main features are—that the Government decides upon a standard of efficiency for schools and mas- ters; and providesa staff of competent In- spectors to see that this standard is reached in any school applying for Government aid. Where schools exist which have the requisite qualifications, and impart

| as each new Administration was formed, | The evil effects resulting from the fre- | quent removal of officials are clearly ap- | parent in the neighboring Republic. In ithe United States, neither ability nor | honesty are indispensable to the aspirant | for office. | tizanship overrides every other consider

}ation. Immediately after each Presiden- ' tial Election, there is a complete ~“ turn efficient instruction, a Government grant | is given proportionate to the work done

out” from the Secretary of State to the “help”

throughout the whole country— |

—the amount of work accomplished being | who sweeps out the village post office ascertained by the Inspectors. The fact! And the consequences of -this have been of religious instruction being given in a!

so apparent that hitherto the Dominion school, does not disqualify it for receiving publie money and the distribution is perfectly impartial, no denomination be-| main, even althongh they had been ap- | ing excluded, and none having any ad-/| pointed by their opponents. This course vantage over another. In fet, the State | has been continued until the present year ; recognizes no denominational differences, |

| Statesmen preferred to diminish their pat- | ronage by allowing efficient officers to re— |

' i i ' i

and in every Province except Prince Ed- treats all its subjects alike, and pays for | ward Island.

work wherever it is done. Only where The last (anadian mail brought down there is no accommodation, or insufficient, does the State step in, and build schools of its own. Whether shall be wholly secular, or shall in any degree recognize religion, depends upon the School Board of the particular loeality— an eleetive body.

‘notice of the dismissal of nearly every | | public officer whom the late Administra-

these ‘tion had appointed,

Those who knew

of his vindictive hatred towards | those who dared to oppoxe him—knew | full well that there was little to hope from |

his forbearance ; but they did think this

| euce

The otBer p'an, which is in force in Ontario and Quebec, divides the people into Catholic and Protestant, and pro-

| Island should not have been singled out for | the introduction of the most objectionable Those « certain number of inhabitants in any | who thovglt so were mistaken. They | district to establish 2 Catholic or a Pro- | had little idea of the length Mr. Laird testant school, as the case may be. They | elect their own trustees; but in every-

was prepared to go.

At first it was announced that an ex- ception would be made on'y so far as those | were concerned who had been appointed after the introduction of Mr. MecKenzie’s motion of want of confidence. In t e} other Provinces even this was not done. But it was understood that Mr. Laird had stipulated for so much as part of the | price of his treachery. Events have

Of these two systems, the former ap-| shown that he is more grasping and vin- | pears to us to hive many advantages. both | dictive than even those who thought they | positive and nevative. Under it, no de—| knew him best gave him credit for. The nomination has any advantage whatever | dismissal of officials was not confined to | over another, but all are on equal ground ; | those who were appointed within the last | and the State is saved the invidious task | few weeks of Sir John’s Administration. | of portioning off its members into two| But everyone who is obnoxious to Mr.

thing conecerniny the secular education given, are subject to the general school law and regulations, These schools re- ceive a pro rata vrant from the Treasury ; and their supporters are exempt from paying any other school rate, so long as they pay an equivalent rate or subserip— | tion to their own schools.

give sid to Roman Catholic religious | pointment, and notwithstanding his effi- | schools, (and so far would be a great im- cieney — has been summarily dismissed, | provement on our present law, which gives! The ton. Joseph Pope received his ap- pointment as Manager of the Savings Bank and Auditor immediately after last Dominion Day. ability or fituess for his office. his public services been forgotten.

to none) ; but neve others could obtain any a lvant.ge from it, Practically, to illustrate | the mutter, let u< consider theworking of beth ie Charlottetown. Here we have schools, (we name them in the orler in whieh they have | been established :—The Colonial Church Society’s (the Bog School), the Convent, Se. Joseph's, St. Patrick’s, the Wesleyan | crush the former proprietor of this paper Academy, ond St. Feter’s Boys School. | —the Hon. KE. Whelan—and procure his Some time ago, on effort was, we believe , conviction for perjury—then it was that made to establis: a Presbyterian school ; the Hon. Joseph Pope stood in the fore- and, no denbt, this will one day be ac- front of the battle for the people’s rights complished. Now, under the English | and won for us what we sow enjoy. Al- law, each of these schools would be recog- | though we know how Mr Laird hates nized just as it i, aud receive a fair share | him, still it was not thought that the of Government assistance. Under the | policy of the Dominion Government would Ontario law, the Roman Catholic schools | be changed and the efficiency of the pub- alone could be organized and receive lie service endangered to gratify feelings Government aid So, under the English | which Mr. Laird, in his present position, law, such Settlements as Rustico, Tignish, | should be heartily ashamed to exhibit. Belfast, Murray Harbor, could have, re~

No one questions his Nor have When | the country was in the hands of an ir- responsible Government, Mr. E. Palmer was moving heaven and earth to

six denominational

and

vernment has dismissed a publig office

whose only fault is that he is

With a population divided as is ours, }

contributes, is an important and delicate |

The bitterness of political par |

| who will carefully perform his official

| commercial

| shoulders over every other man in ‘Wr,

the father of the Hon. J. ©.

Mr. Laird does not stop here. Vain and empty headed men often become dazed

Pope.

when placed in positions of importance which they end Mr. Laird is no exception In the pride of his new position, he is de Feel the lash

for ure pre -emipently un- qualific a>

to other yain and empty-head d men

termined that every one shall

of his resentment who can de brought within its reach The chief clerk tn the Savings Bank, Mr. W. C. DesBrisay, is lone of the most efficient officers in the

} publie service. He received his uppoint- }

}ment in July last. From that time he has worked unremittingly, night and day, | to bring up the erresrs of the office, ne- | cessarily arising from the change in the

Department For seven years prey iously, Mr. DesBrisay had been Assistant Clerk of the

| Executive Couneil ; and we have publicly bear willing testimony to his ability and efficiency.

| that he has voted | nor intermeddled in polities in any way But he had friends who did, | He was distantly related to a gentleman Mr. Laird disliked. That was | quite sufficient. Like a bloodhound, Mr. Laird was upon the scent und would be

never at an election,

whatever.

' whom

| | | | extinction, so far as he was able to com- |

satisfied with nothing less than official |

pass it. No considerations which would

{weigh with other men, less blinded by |

board of examiners or training institu | Pesemtine nt than he is, t mpted him to | steamer. tion, might surely be accepted without Wever for one moment in that bitter, un-| enterprise, the wonder is that a steamer

dying vindictiveness with which he has |

so unhappiy inaugurated his official | cureer.

We understand that he boasts that, | although he all but failed in the removal ,of Mr. Des Brisay, yet that he remained | two days in Ottawa lounger than he could |

It

and the hungry swarm

well spare to carry out this purpose.

is 3 grand victory ; of office-seekers who press around him now, cheer him

on; for they all have

expectations—from some would-be ‘lock- er-up’ to the ornate individual who ‘ratted’ from his party, snd publicly

Market Hall, in

the vain h ype of the County Judgeship, i

praised Mr. Laird in the

which, notwithstanding all his unctious.

though val id ( logue nce, he is going QO re eive. ‘ We were led to believe that, under

Confederation, there would be less politi- cal bitterness; that our statesmen, avoid

ing the American system of turning every

offieial out of office. wou'd consider the eflciency of the public service rather than the necessities of their polities! fol- lowers. It has been reserved for Mr. Laird to dispel the illusion, and most | thoroughly has he done so.

It may be suid that we attribute to

Mr. Laird more influence in the Cabinet The dwellers by the sea ’’—of

than he possesses truth is that the affairs of the * us, poor Islanders—are so utter'y beneath | the dignity of Mr. MeKenzie or MV. M Dorion and Lettellier De St. Just, that to Mr. Laird | He possesses

but it is only 80 far

we have been handed to do what he likes with us. influence,

over

it is true; as the dismissal and appointment of petty officials is concerned, und is wholly dis. proportion e.. te the Cabinet. So little do they trouble their understand, the Department of State will not teke the |

his position in

heads about us that, we

trouble even barely to acknowledge the | Hodeson’s de |

spatches. j

receipt of Sir Robert With regard to the appointments which have been made, we have just this to say:

that with the exception of Mr. Robios

duties —they are just what might have been expects d. The internal revenue has placed under the control of Mr

John Andrew MePonald ; and when we |

been

| remember that for ability, integrity and |

standing, he is head and}

Laird’s party, we ure constrained to ad- |

| mit that they have no better man for the

office. The brilliant individunl who lost |

| $25,600 of debentures has not been fore!

gotten. It is said that an office is to be

| specially created for him on his return to |

the Island in the spring, as his friends | isting office would prove too great a strain | ‘mental capacity.”

One thing does surprise us, and that is this: that remembering who was Sergeant- |

suits of clothes were obtained, during the memorabh e session of 1872, and knowing | Laird full particulars of scandal

—as Mr: does know — the the disgracefu connected with procuring the timber for | the new Post Office and Law Courts— remembering all this, it is a matter of no | ordinary wonder that no office has yet | been found for Mr. Albert H. Yates.

_—om

LISSOLUTION OF PARTIAMENT.

The Parliament of Great Britain is dissolva | ed. According to late dispatches Premier Gladstone has issued an address to his con- stituents at (ireewich, asking for a re elee- tion, and announcing that the Queen has

|

| been pleased to dissolve the present Parlia |

ment immediately, and to summon a new one to meet on the fifth of March, 1874. In

| his address Mr. Gladstone gives,as his reason |

t heard members of successive Governments |

We understand |

| her trips quickly and regularly.

| and regularly

| place in June last.

STEAM ON WEST RIVER.

A glance at Baker's map of Prince Ed- | ward Island, is sufficient to suggest the | resign

idea of a steamer for West River. The river is lined on each side by the homes

steads of rich farmers; and away to the | sons are perspicuously set forth in the | Epwarp IsLanp.

|

Te ws ini a da

THE SPEAKERS’ RESIGNATION.

Can a Speaker ot the House of Assembly his seat during a recess of Parlia~ ment? No! Is the answer of twoof the ablest Lawyers in this Island, Their rea~

rear of its source stretch several of the | following “Legal Opinion ?__ Read it :— most thriving and most thickly populated

settlements in the Island.

From Charlotte- |

CHARLOTTETOWN. 17th September, 1873.

town, it is in a direct—or only slightly dis | Hon. T. Usarn Havitann, verging—line with Bonshaw, Strath Gartney, |

Glentinglas, Hampton, Victoria, Crapaud, Tryon, Searltown and Central Bedeque.

_Ifa suitable steamer were placed upon the

river, there can be no doubt but she would carry a large proportion of the surplus produce of these settlements to the com- mercial centre of this Island , and every farmer on its banks would be glad to avail himself of the facilities she would offer to get his crops to market. Besides, the pas- senger traffic on the river would (if a steamer were ‘put on’) be very considers able. In the large numbers who every winter come to and go from Charlottetown, on the West River ice, we have a very fair illustration of the numbers who would come and go in summer by steamer. it is a well established fact that steamboats and railways create a traffic for themselves. Prince Edwara Island may—if her people

| are only ‘up to the times ’—in a few years

be a fashionable watering place; and many persons will, doubtless, be attracted by the beautiful scenery, to take trips up and down West River—if they have only a steamer to carry them quickly, at a moderate fare. The pic-nics, too, and the sleasure parties ef the Charlottetonians, would add materially to the revenue of a With all these incentives to

has not long since been placed on the West River. The subject has, we know, engaged the attention of several gentle- men of means; but hitherto the people most interested have not agitated for a steamer; no subsidy has been offered by the Government, and therefore they did not consider the inducements sufticiently great. agitated by the people themselves, and petitions to the Legislature for a subsidy are being circulated, we have little doubt but these gentlemen will seriously take the matter in hand and provide a steamer. suitable boat would, we think, have to be built specially for the purpose; for it is

|

| j

But, now that the subject is being |

| ' i |

A |

doubtful if one could be purchased abroad. | She would need to be light of draft, so that |

she could go to Bonshaw Bridge at half |

j

tide ; and yet she should be sufficiently | large to adequately accommodate the pube |

lic A flat- bottomed paddle wheel boat, aoout ninety

feet keel, seventeen feet beam, and furs |

sufliciently swift and powerful to make |

|} petween a

|

nished with a forty horse power engine, |

tical man who has thought over the mat- ter, be just such a boat as is required.

| would, we have been informed by a pracs |

|

' She would, when loaded, draw only about |

three feet of water; so that she could the river; she would be swifter than any of the small steamers which in summer ply on our harbor and about our coasts, so that she could make her trips quickly

and she would carry a large

| amountof freight,and accommodate a large } number of passengers. at Rocky Point, at MeEwen's wharf, at Mc.

She might touch

Eachern’s wharf, at McPhail’s wharf, at McPhee's wharf and at Bonshaw Bridge , there many Other points on both sides of the river, where she might call when going from and returning to Charlottetown.

We throw out these suggestions in the hope that they may lead to a deeper study of the subject than we have been able to give it; and,in the end, to steam communis cation on West River.

+: er ++]

LIVINGSTONE.

and as trade increased, are

DR,

from Africa. stone is dead.

It is reported that Dr. Living-

His death, it is said, took He had been travelling over a partly submerged country. After wading through water for four days, he was taken ill and—died. Such is the brief, sad story. In some quarters its truth is ques~ tioned ; and many of his friends hope that the great explorer is still alive. should their hopes be realized, a short re~

| view of the early career of this indefatigable

man wil! not be out of place—will not be use less to our readers, for it is full of practical life-lessons.

The ancestors of Dr. Livingstone were poor, honest Highlanders At the age of ten, Livingstone was sent to work as a “ piecer ’’ in a cotton factory near Glasgow. With part of his first week's wages he

‘imxiously fear that the duties of any ex- bought a Latin grammar, and immediately

began to learn the Latin language. He

| Mr. Laird—who have had some experi-} ypon what they wre pleased to call his | Pursued the study for several years at a ; | night school » and would often sit up, learn-

ing his lessons, till twelve or later, and be

| at his work in the factory every morning at

six. In this way he plodded through Vir.

| at-Arms, when the gold spectacles and gil and Horace. He also read all books

(except novels) which came in his way. He even carried on his reading amid the roar of the machinery in the mill while at work, placing the book upon his spinning jenny and catching sentence after sentence as he passed. In this way, young Living- stone acquired much useful knowledge. As he grew older, the desire to be a miss sionary to the heathen seized upon him ; and with this object in view, he set himself to obtain a medical education, sc that he might the better be qualified for the ens terprize. He accordingly economized his earnings, and sayed enough money to sup- port himself during winter, while attending the medical and Greek classes. In summer he returned to his work as a cotton-spinner. Thus the poor lad entirely supported him- self throughout his college career. “ Look- ing back now,”’ he says in a sketch of his life, which he afterwards wrote, ‘‘at that

But it is otherwise ; and the Dominion Go-

for the measure, that since the defeat of | life of toil, | cannot but feel thankful that

Government upon the Irish Higher Educa- | it formed such a material part in my early | At length, he finished his |

tion question, by concurrent efforts of the. education.” Leader of the Opposition and the Catholic Pr- medical curriculum, and was admitted a lacy in Ireland, Government has not been | licientiate of the Faculty of Physicians and possessed of sufficient strength to carry out Surgeons. Itis said that he at first thought great Legislative measures. Its experience | « going, te aes, Ee ne ae poms during the recess of Parliament has not ins | hina | Fong carrying the dec inte practice. dicated that any improvement in its posis; Having offered his services to the London tion was probable, the chief of the Opposi- | Missionary Society, he was, under its aus-

: Coe a _| picies, sent out to Africa. He says the ae eee See ee _ only pang he had in going to Africa, at the feat of the Government ; and the Cabine;

feeling that they have not the support not quite agreeable to one accustomed to which every Ministry ought to enjoy, an | — his way, to eee = aoe eo “ti a t upon others.” ter his arriva

appeal to the people is the proper remedy | er oe 4 sds uadeieliay Widen 40 oA for such a state of things. The advantage ! aaa eins ign Pea es of a dissolution at the present time is that brook the idea of only entering upon the the Estimates are so far advanced that Gov- ne of oe preteens, > lai ah in ‘ernment is able to promise a surplus of 4S own mind, a large sphere Of work inde~ as ee ia eel a pendently of a‘l others ; and prepared him» £500,000 sterling, with which it intends to “or to properly discharge his duties by abolish the income tax, to relieve local and anual labor in building and other handi- taxation. Among matters likely to come be- craft. He also taught school. While la.

fore Parliament and the readjustment of the boring among the Behuanas, he dug canals, education aci, improvementof local Govern- | tilt houses, cultivated fields, raised cattle, ’ jand taught the natives What he after-

ment and of land,game,and liquor laws. The wards did in Africa ; how he travelled about, address promises large measures of relier making discoveries ; how he returned to from duties on articles entering into general | his — sone and ert ~~ erg count of his missionary 3 how

engin) 9 or. ae | went back tohis work in Africa, and be- ~peedy assimilation of the County with the came celebrated for his discoveries and Borough franchise. _ writings ; how he was for a long time lost

The utmost interest is manifested through- | 0; the civilized world ; and how a corres: out the kingdom over the elections, and | pondent of the New York Herald found

for them, more space then we can now afford.

|

i. . : : | touch almost anywhere on either side of |

| be extended by construction.

|

| resignation of the Speaker.

Colonial Secretary.

sth.

We beg to acknowledge your letter of yesterday's date, wherein you state that you are instructed by His Honor the Adminis- trator to request our Jegal opinion as to the

power of the Speaker of the Honse of As- |

sembly, under the Laws of this Island, to resign his seat as member of the said House during the recess, by notification to His Honor, in the manner contained in the doca- ment enclosed in your letter.

The notification in question is signed by the Hon. Mr. Perry, and it is to the effect that he tenders to the Administrator the re- signation of his seat as member of the House of Assembly for the first Electoral District of Prince County. His signature is authen- ticated by a Notarial Certificate.

Unless power to resign in the manner set out in Mr. Perry’s papers is given by the Island Statute 19th Vic., Cap 21, we take it that no such pewer exists ix the Colony. for itis laid down as a settled principle of Parliamentary Law that a member, after he is duly chosen, cannot relinquish his seat. (May’s Parliamentary Prac., p. 596, Cox's Institute, p. 127).

Assuming these to be settled principles of law as to the resignation of members gen- erally, the enquiry necessary to the answer- ing of your letter is: In what manner and to what extent have these principles been altered by our Statute?

By the 76th Sec. of the Island Statute. 19 Vic., Cap 21, it is provided that ‘* any mem- **ber of the House of Assembly may resign ‘his seat therein, on giving information of ** such resignation to the Speaker by letter ‘*‘under his hand, the signature to which ** shall be duly certified and authenticated ** by a Notary Public.”

Had the provisions of that section stopped here, it is evident that no mode is provided by it for the resignation of the Speaker.

The expression ** Members of the House of |

Assembly,”’ in this section, is a term evi- cently exeluding the Speaker; for the power of resignation is conferred on a de- signated person, viz: ‘‘ any Member” of the House, on giving information of such re-

signation to another and different person, |

viz: the ‘* Speaker.”— Heuce, it seems to us that bw this Section, the * Member of the House” upon whom the power ©. resigna- tion is expressly contra-distinguished from the ‘* Speaker,” who by the same section is

constituted a functionary to receive inform- |

ation of the resignation of members for the purposes of the Act.

The subsequent clause of this section

does not at all confer power of resignation } upou any other than persons embraced by |

the term ** Members”; in the first part of the section it merely makes provision for giving the informaticn of resignation of a a member to the Lieutenant Governor or the Administrator, during the absence from the Island, or on the occasion of the death of the Speaker.

We therefore think that this section of the Act clearly and expressly distinguishes ** Member” of the House and the ** Speaker,” aud provides for the resigna tion of the former but hot for the latter.

If it be contended that this section should be construed equitably and liberally so as to confer on the Speaker, as a member of the House,

ing provided—for the provision made far giving information of resignation to any other than the Speaker ff, (1,) during the absence of the Speaker from the Island, or (2,) on the occasion eof the death of the Speaker, neither of which events occur here.

This 79th Seetion affects a privilege of the House as to ordering Writs to fill up vacancies occurring during recess, and is therefore, we think, not to Besides, it isa rule ofinterpretaticn that *‘ ifthe words ‘of the Statute do not reach to an incon- ‘ venience rarely happening, they shall not ‘“ be extended to it by an equitable con- | struction,” Dwarris 627. The inability of | a Speaker to resign during recess, if an | inconvenience,is certainly one of rare occur- | rence, for we are informed the present is the first attempt by any Speaker in this C®&- ony to resign during the recess of Parlia- ment.

We may mention that, in Nova Scotia | where the Legislature intended the Speaker should be able to resignirg the Parliament of that Colony, after provided for she resign- ation of ** any member of the house,” made express provision by the same Act, for the | (N.S. revised |

| Statutes. p. 16.)

| Sap xews—to the civilized world — comes

Even |

charge of the Society, was, *‘ because it was |

| * an argument drawn from inconvenience is

much activity is displayed in preparations him out ;—a review of these would take |

He could not.

We are inclined to the opinion that the power of resignation during recess was, by | our Legislature intentionally withheld from the Speaker, and reference to the 78th Sec- tion of the same Act, confirms this view. |

This Section prevides that whenever any vacancy shall happen in the House of As sembly, ** it shall be the duty of the Speak- | er to notify the Lieutenant Governor there- of.” This Section further provides that any | two members may notify the Lientenant Governor of such vacancy.

1. In case of the death of the Speaker; or

2». Incase of his absence from the Island;

or

3. When such vacancy shall cecur before

a Speaker shall have been chosen by a new House, after a General Election.

But no provision is made for notifying | the Liettenant Governor, (7 case the Speak- | er should have vesiqned. Hence if such | liberal Construction is given to the Statute as will permit the Speaker to resign during the recess, and vavancies thereafter and be- fore the meeting of Parliament, occur in the House, either by the death of members or by their accepting offices, no provision is found in our Statute for notifying the Lieutenant Governor of such vacancies.

It is laid down that for all species of vacaucies except those provided for by Act | of Parliament, no Writ can issue during the | recess, (Chrisiian’s Noles B. C..) see also May on Parliament, p. 57, The incon- | veniencies that would result from inability | to fill vacancies in the House, before the | meeting of Parliament, are obvious and af- ford a reason why the Legislature should withold the power of resignation from the Speaker, while conferring it on memlers.

It is a well known maxim of law, that

forceable in Parliament.

It is difficult to believe. if the Legislature intended to confer the power of resignation during recess on the Speaker, that’ no pro-

Law,” in construing an Act of

vision would be made to meet the incon- venience, which wou'd otherwise result from a vacancy in the Speakership. A va-

cancy rendered possible by that very Sta- tuteand at a time when Parliament had un- der consideration the very task of making provisions for notifying the Lieutenant Gov- ernor in case the Speaker should be absent or dead.

From the best consideration we have | been able to give this subject, since receipt | of your letter.we have arrived at the con- | clusion that the resignation of the Speaker | during recess of Parliament, in the manner | set oul in Mr. Perry’s notification, is not authorized by our Island Statute.

We have the honor to be, Your Obedient Servants , ¢M. McLerop, § Epwarv J. HopGeon.

Signed,

the power of resigning, a dif- | ficulty arises from no mode of resigning be- |

the issuing of |

| the Leader of the Government of the Do- | minion has recently informed him that the |

MR. YOUNG'S LECTURE. | — | livered a lecture in the Athenmum, Char- | lottetown, on Tuesday evening last — subs ject, “Tur Mixerat Resovrces or Prixce ’ The chair was filled by | Robert \.ay, Esq.; who made a few intro~ | duetory remarks concerning the great ' importance of the subject.

The lecturer opened his address by say-

j

| ing that it was his first appearance in public, |

/and he trusted the ahdience would excuse any consequent imperfections on his part. His attention having been di- rected to P. E. Island by a gentleman in Canada, He visited it about three months ago; and having read Professor Dawson’s report, proceeded to Mr. George Tweedy’s estate at Gallas Point. He did not find the coal indications mentioned in the re- port; but he found indications of iron, specimens of which he had laid before the Government. | they were of extraordinary richness, ~ con- | taining from fifty to eighty per cent of iron. Mr. Young disclaimed all preten- sions to being a geologist. He depended

perience had him familiar. He gave several instances, where scientific geologists had in various parts of the world, been cons tradicted and proved wrong by practical miners, He also drew attention to locali- ties, where, according to his views, coal was to be found, viz., along the south coast

Murray River, and about New London, where he was confident coal could be found ata depth not exceeding two hundred or three hundred feet. He also stated that copper and limestone, of excellent quality, particularly the latter, were to be found in the same tract of country; and strongly urged the necessity of the people of this Island making an effort to develope the resources of the country. He maintained his conviction that the greater part of the | Island was a vast mineral deposit. Well knowing that deference to Dr. Dawson’s