an”

Vol. XU.

; Colonial Parliament,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuvrspay, February 20th, 1862.

Resolved, That 2» Committee be appointed to prepare the draft of an Address of Condolence with her most gracious Majesty oa the death of His Royal Highness the Prince

’

a That Hon. Mr. Palmer, Hon. Mr. Johnson, and Hon. Mr. Simpson do compose the said Committee,

The following Comaiittees were appointed :— oc

Committee to prepare an A idress in answer to his Excel- lency'’s Speech—Hous. Messrs. Aaderson, Johnson and Forgan.

Committee for revisiug the Jousnols—Hon. Mr. Palmer and Hon. Mr. Walker.

Committee ou expiriog laws—Hon. Mr. Simpson and Hoo. Mr. Forgan.

Committee for engrossing Bills—Hon. Mr. Simpson and Hon. Mr. Gardiner.

Committee to regulate the expenditure of this House during the Sessiona—Hoa. Mr. Palmer and Hoa. Mr. Hut- chinson.

Committee to receive tenders for printing the Journal of this House for the preseat Sessioa—Hon. Mr. Ramsay and Hon. Mr. Palmer.

Resolved, That Mr. James Ramsay be appointed Reporter to this house for the present Session.

Adjourned until to-morrow at eleven o'clock.

Furpay, Feb, 21st, 1862.

Hon. Dr. JOHNSON, from the Committee appointed to prepare ao Address in answer to his Exceiiency’s Speech, reported the draft of an Addres., which he read ia his place.

Ordered, That the said draft Address be committed to a Committee of the whole House on Monday next.

His Honor the PRESIDENT ealled the attention of the House to the necessity of appoiating a Comittee to make arrangements for the pub.ication of the Debates of this House for the present Sessioa.

Hoo. Mr. PALMER—I understand that there has been some discussion in the other branch of the Legislature, on

i iL a

Weekly Hournal of Politics,

Lit

erature,

"This is true Liberty, when Freeborn Men, having to advise the Public, may speak free.’---Euripides.

=x

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, March 3, i862.

Colonies is not convened till January or February, when the prised at this omission on the part of the Government. Then, « We thank your Excellency for having directed the pub-

| members of the Cabinet return from # tour on the continent;

and about that time the death of his Royal Highness the | Prince Consort took place, which, no doubt, prevented Her Majesty's Ministers from holding Cabinet Councils. It is not then very surprising that we have not received the Award. It is only, I think, because it is of such importance to the inhabitants of this Colony, that the time appears so ‘Jong. When the land tax Act was passed, I believe it was seven years before it received the royal assent. I have ex- pressed my regret that the Award bas not been received on various occasions, and I again do so now ; but when the rea- sons are fully known, I think our minds wili be fully satis- fied that the delay was unavoidable.

Hon. the PRESIDENT. The arguments of my hon. and learned friend are good with regard to the sanction of Her Majesty not been given to the Award ; but [ cannot consider his arguments satisfactory why a copy of the Award has not been received, for they might have sent a copy of the Award

and yet have witbheld their decision. It certainly does ap- |

pear that in the peeuliar circumstances in which Her Ma- |jesty’s ministers were placed, that they could not give due | consideration to this question ; but I do not see why a copy of the Award could not have been sent to this Colony. Tue ‘circumstances to which my hon. and learned friend has alladed occurred but recently. The death of His Royal Highness took place, if I remember right, about the 15th of

December ; and the disturbance with the United States is

also of recent occurrence; and, therefore, from July till last year by about £10,000. Now, Sir, as it is hinted in- lency’s Speech; the International Exhibition, Prince of Wales December the Cabinet was not so much occupied. I know) the Address that this excess of exphoditure over the receipts College, Agriculture, &e., &c., he says were unnoticed. |

that there are very important questions involved in that

Award, and that Her Majesty's Minister would not give a| ment sbould have been os that _ was some way of lat the opening of Parliament to all the great events ssanee | hasty decision ; but still I think a copy of it might have been | meeting the expense of Education when they added to that! niring in the kingdom, her speech would be of such a length |

sent to this Colony. It does appear that a document of }such importance to this Coiony should not have been for- warded.

| Hon, Dr. JOHNSON. If a copy of the Award had been received, could His Excellency lay it before this House ? | Hon. the PRESIDENT. There could at least be no im- propriety in his Grace the Secevetary of State for the Colo- nies intimating that the Award was under consideration |The country has been placed in a state of agitation by the ‘exposition of the Award given by one of the Commissioners |—some say that it is untrue, others that it is partial —and

again, there is nothing in the Speech on the principal re- source of this Island—agriculture ; there is not a word to ishow whether the different societies for the encouragement of ‘this branch of industry are prospering or not. Again, the Volunteer force is unnoticed ; no information is afforded as to its efficiency or increase, notwithstanding the grant which was given last Session to encourage the movement. | This silence, too, is the more remarkable, when so near a time in which it was thought highly probable that an oat- break of hostilities with the neighboring States might render lit necessary to call this force into active service. Nor is | there any reference in His Excellency’s Speech to a question | i respecting which I believe the Government are feeling some ‘embarrassment. I allude to Education. Even the new College lof Prince of Wales, which has cost the Colony no inconsider- jable amount, is unmentioned, Now, Sir, in wy opinion Education, which is such a heavy annual expense to the | Colony, should not have been passed over in this manner. Tbe paragraph under consideration says that the Estimates for the current year have been framed with a due regard to. economy. This 1am happy to heav, because, Sir, at the’ rate matters have been going on of late years, if continued, the Colony will soon become bankrupt. If the expenditure | every year is to exceed the revenue by some £10,000, it should be provided for by an increase of taxation. Though | |we have not the public accounts before us, it is generally | believed that the debt of the Colony has been increased |

is caused by the large sams voted for Education, the Govern- i

jexpense. They may say that the step which they took was| ‘necessary to raise the standing of teachers. But they should | | have first ascertained whether the country was not satisfied | , with the teachers as they were,and whether it was justifiable |

lic accounts for the past year and the Estimates for the cur- rent one to be laid before us. When the latter will be sub- mitted to us, we will be pleased to find that due economy has been observed in so regulating the Expenditure as to meet the resources of the Colony.

“ Although the disturbed condition of a neighboring peo- ple has occasioned some embarrassment to our foreign trade, it will afford us pleasure to observe that there has been no remarkable decrease in the revenue of the past year ; but we

regret to be informed that the expenditure for the same |

period has exceeded the revenue.” Hon. the SPEAKER.—There is one statement made by

the hon. member, in reference to the boat’s crew at Mal-|

peque, which 1 wish to correct. These men were not, as he said, under the direction of the Collector of Excise at that port. The boat’s crew were employed to collect Light and Anchorage dues, and not to look after Custom House duties. The Revenue Officer, therefore,had nothing to do with those inen te whom the hon. member referred.

Hon. Col. GRAY.—I am somewhat surprised at the hon. member, the Leader of the Opposition, for, Mr. Chairman, of all the attempts to raise a discussion which 1 have ever witnessed, his this morning has most signally faiied. The

whole front of his argament was that the present Government ||. . . ’ . | to initiate all money votes. It is almost impossible to keep

have run the country into debt, and the late Administration

| |

Now, suppose that Her Majesty the Queen were to advert |

as to take ber weeksto read it. It is unreasonable to think |

that His Excellency’s speech should allude to all the opera- | tions that may be in progress in the country. Now, to

the other charge that the present Government have run the |

snend s« e £300 ‘ 2 are . 2p * pele) " if : ‘ 2 ‘ to spend som £3000 for the alleged purpose of raising the | country in debt, while the late Government ran it out of | ‘standard of education. ‘This, with the increase of schools, | geht

bas added much to the expenses of the Colony. It was}

2 , » > PARE sy arer f i ° 2, © 1 - ° . understood, when the present system was introduced, that! ment ran the country out of debt; I said they only increased

Hon. Mr. COLES.—I did not say that the late Govern- |

») 7a) le sit * * rore >» at 2 ¢ . ; ae . . 2 ' . . ad 200 schools, with an average attendance in each of 30 | the debt about £10,000, and that this was owing to a failure

\scholars, would be sufficient for the wants of the Island.!in the crops.

| But what was done by the opposite party in 1854? They |

} }

Hon. Col. GRAY.—OfF all the subjects respecting which

kept it out of such a difficulty. (?) L shall, in the first place, answer his objecti sity of matter in His Excel- | answer his objections to the paucity of matter in His Exce best, and thet how. member 2900 tei MannaEE aan

the score of economy, in regard to the mode of publishing [ cannot see that there would be any impropriety in setting

their Debates. und that they have resolved to dispense with | this egitation at rest by forwarding a copy of the Award to

one of their Reporters; and intend to give merely a summary | this Island.

oi the proceedings. 1 think, then, that it would be advisable |

for us to pursue @ similar course with regard to the debates

of this House, for it is quite impossible for one Reporter, | HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

however talented and efbcient he may be, to give a tull re-| ;

port of the debates, and have them published within a reason- | Monpay, Feb, 24.

able time, ard it is quite absurd to have the debates coming | peBaTe ON THE ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO THE LIEUTENANT

out in the papers three or four mouths after the Legislature | GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

is prorozued. It would an ae both to the! Oy motion of Mr. Davies the House went into the order douse and to the gem, te neve me pee condensed 60 | 4F the day, viz., that the House resolve itself into a Com-

that they might be publisoed in proper time. :

G A Message trom the House of Assewbly by Hon. Cal. | 3 overnor's Speech. Mr. Holm in the Chair. tay.

( To be continued.)

- ‘ oe 7 Yha} ¢ ex he —< “ House of Assembly, Feb. 20th, [862. The Chairman read the Address as follows :

i mittee of the whole on the Address in answer to the Lieut. | ae b , 1 b s hould Py 'e 2 2e = > ! . . a’ | mers were stlent on the point, ese, Whose wishes should] s.cecsment for its support only amounted to about £4000 ;

‘lowered the average attendance from 30 down to 20, and | the hon, member should twit the Government, vertainly that | | added £5 to the sulary of teachers. Lowering the average, | of Hducation is the most surprising. He has charged the | | immediately caused an agitation to change the boundaries of | present Government with having increased the expenses of | districts, and increased the number of schools by some 60, | Pducation £6000. " | which added about £3000 more to the expenses of the system.| — fJon, Mr. COLES.—I did not say the present Govern- | |'This, with the addition to the teachers’ salaries brought the! ment; [ said the present Government and their supporters | amount up to about £6000 above what was originally intend- | jn 1854. ed. True, the teachers complained that their salaries were} fon. Col. GRAY.—The expense of Education, when | | too low,and I suppose to gain their support at election times, | the present Government took the reins of power, was | | the increase was made ; but by putting them to the extra ex-| £14000, and now it is only about £17,000; so I have | | pense and trouble of re-passing the Board of Education, the swept away half of bis amount, The system of Education |

Government did not much rise in their favor. Lf, however, | introduced by the hon. member and his party was one of the |

j q ree y ‘ i ereas ." 7 Te . * s ‘ | the teachers were clamorous for an increase o: pay, the far | greatest schemes for deceiving the people ever devised. The |

» heen consulte i ( lv care whet he ache | ; | have a cons ulted, did n greatly ir Po the teach and they gave the people to understand that this sum wouid ers’ salarics were increased or not; bat had they been re- | wover the expenses of the system.

ce E'rre/ a) Toorge ‘, re , Ted . . . Piya . | To His Excellency Goorge Dundus. Esquire, Lieutenant | quired to bear the burden of the increase by an additional

and dlews,

armen == — = acerca eee ae cee aS

New Series.---No, 8,

of tae Government, and particularly by the Jeader in the other end of the building and myself, that no money should be unnecessarily expended on the premises.and that the work performed should be ofa substantial description. My opinion is that the public will not bear of Government House again ‘forthe next ten years, except on account of incidental ex- penses. Had these repairs not been made, no doubt His Excellency would have represented to the Home Government that the house was unfit to be tenanted, and the result aight have been a refusal to support a Governor any longer in this Colony. With the knowledge which I now possess of Go- \vernment House, and the perishable material of which it is constructed, 1 am not surprised that the late Govern. ment expended £1800 in 1856 without effecting much im- provement on the building. I acquit the hon. member of

| that expense, for I believe he could scarcely have spent less ; /all that I contend is, that what the present Government have | expended has been laid out to greater advantage. I think

|it will be well henceforth for both parties in the Legislature |to let Government House alone. I am inclined, though I

}

should go into opposition to-morrow, never to say another | word in objection to the expenses of that building. There is no denying that the finances of the Colony are not in a very floarishing state; but in my opinion there will be very little improvement until the Government is allowed the right

the expenditure within the receipts, while this hon. member is permitted to move a resolution granting £100 for a steam-

Hon. Mr. COLES—The hon. member for Belfast has scarcely done me justice. I did not complain of tae expense incurred in repairing Government House ; I only mentioned that the Government befure they expended so much should have provided the means. At the last election the ex of Government House were prominently brought forward ; and I have been informed that the hon. member then stated that as the new Governor was a Scotchman, and would not be an extravagant man, £50 a-year would be sufficient te keep up the house. The late Government had to provide for various expenses in connection with it. They purchased

'a piece of land, and had to build a pew coach-house. The

hon. the Speaker has stated that the boat’s erew at Malpeque were not under the direction of the Collector of Excise for that port. Ifthey were not they ought to have been; and, if this is the manner in which they were appointed, I con- sider the Government has been very remiss in its daty. I did not seek the information respecting these men; one of the supporters of the present Administration communicated with me on the subject. The hon. member for Belfast says that it wes the late Governmeut which caused the present debt, by setting on foot the present system of Education. The £6000 which the system costs now more than it did under the late Administration is the result of the alterations made in the Act by the present party in power. I never for a moment thought, or Jed the country to believe that the amount raised by land assessment would be sufficient to

meet the expenses of the system. It was always under. ‘stood that the greater part was to be taken out of the gene- ‘ral revenue. ‘The increased expenditure for Kducation is, ‘however, chargeable upon the present Governmeot. They ] may say that they have been endeavouring to perfect the

« Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to join a| Committee of the Legislative Council, to prepare an Address | of Condulence with her most gracious Majesty the Queen, | on the irreparable loss which her Majesty aud the Natiou |

have sustamed in the death of his Royal Highuess the Prince Cousoat.

“Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Gray,the Hen. Mr. Coles, the Hoa. Mr, Longworth, the lou. Mr. Heusley, the Hon. Dir. Pope, and the Hon. Mr. Wightman be a Committee to prepare the said Address.

« Ordered, That the said Resolution be communicated by message to the Legislative Council.—Joba Maeneiil, C.H.A.”

A Message from the House of Assembly by Hon. Mr. Longworth.

“House of Assembly, Feb. 21st, 1862. “ Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to keep up

Governor and Commander-in Chief in and over Her

Ordinary of the same, &c., §c., Xe. May it Purase Your Excetrency ; | 1. We, Her Majesty’s faithful subjects, the Howse of, ‘Assembly of Prince Edward Isiand, respectfully offer our thanks for the Speech with which your Ixcelleacy was pleased to open the present Session.

2. We deeply sympathise with our beloved Queen in the irreparable loss Her Majesty has sustained by the devth of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort,—a loss which we, in common with all Her Majesty’s subjects, most sincerely

| regret.

| 3. Wethank your Excellency for having directed the

‘Public Accounts for the past, and the Estimates for the

Majesty's Island Prince Edward and the Territories | iments Bis , . . leone i ad | eames : ; : thereunto belonging, Chancellor, Vice Admiral, and | Vigiter, or some other reason, the average of some schools, L

assessment on land, they would soon have declared their sen- | Now either through the ineflivieucy of the School

am eredigly informed, is only about 10 scholars. If this be | the case, paying a teacher a full salary to instruct such a small number,.is a waste ot.the public mouvey, Howerer | this may be, the Goveroment should have provided some | means to meet the extra expenditure which they have incur- red, and not be continuing to run the country in debt. ‘The odalance against the Colony now must be between £70,000 aud £80,000. The debt has increased year by year under the present Government, notwithstanding they have not ex- pended much on many public works. Butit may be said by | the members of the Government that they have undertaken larger works. This is questionable. Tue late Govern neat | husbanded the funds of the Colony in other respects, and

Hon. Mr. COLES.—I did not tell the people this ; burs t said the system would cost some £8000 or £10,000 more system ; but I have yet to learn that it gives more satisfac- shan the aniouon veleell 4h qouaeieindd. ition than it did before they amended the Act. The School

en Gl Bae oer ne ‘4 _| Visitor, it is known, is an inefficient officer. Complaints

on, Col. GRAY.—I did not allirm that he sald £03) o,inst him sre made by parties on both sides of politics. what | said was that he gave the people to understand this. | With respect to the Prince of Wales College, I believe the L have already stated that when the present Government | resent Professor of that institution is as eompetent » person came into power the annual expense of Education was £14,- (5+ the situation as could be found ; but, Sir, when he came 000, and the amount raised for its support by Assessment ‘to this Colony, he did not expect that he was to perform the was not £4000; and its present cost ts about £17,000. All | duties of a common teacher. In fact, notwithstanding ail this was brought upon the country by the system introduced the expense of the establishment, it is very little more effi- under the late Government. The hon, member says the|oiont than the old Academy. ‘The expense of the Normal

present Goverument increased the salaries of teachers to g2i0 | School has also been increased by the appointment of an as- »} Su! i een} > a sj °# " ah : a “ei

their support in keeping themselves in power ; and afterwards jsistant master ; but that this additional outlay has resulted

tells us that they punished these same teachers by requiring | j, any practical benefit yet remains to be seen.

them to uadergo a new examination before the Board of | i:ducation. (?) How ungrateful the members of the Govern- |

Mr. HOWAT—The hon. leader of the Opposition has

|stated that the requisite average attendance in the schools

good correspondense between the two branches of the Legis- | current year, to be laid before us. It is satisfactory to learn latare, and to report their proceedings from time to time, | that the latter have been framed with a due regard to eco- with power to seud-for persons, papers and records. inomy. Although the disturbed conditioa of a neighbouring

“ Ordered, Tuat the Hoa. Mr. Loagworth, the Hon. Mr. | people has occasioned serious embarrassments to the trade Yeo. Mr. Douse, the Hon. Mr. Perry, the Hon. Mr. Coles, | of this Colony, we are glad to find that there has beea no the Hon. Mr. Hensley, aod Slr. Howat do compose tie said | remarkable decrease in the Revenue of the past year.

Cowmittee. | 4. We regret to be informed that the Expenditureffor

!

messave to the Legislati¢e Council.—Jobhn Macneill,C.H.A.” | the large sums annually voted for Education—with a due | Which caused a deficiency in the revenue of nearly £10,000, be refused, simply on the score of economy. The hon. men |

Resolved, That « Comuitiee be appoinied to join the Com- regard for the other branches of the public service—it is mittee appointed by - House . ne to prepare a| difficult to confine the Expenditure within the Receipts. joint Address of Condolence with Her Majesty the Queen. 5. We are pleased to |

. pleased to learn that so many of the Acts

Ordered, ae the sen Palmer, the ee Mr. Jobn- | passed duriog the last Session have received the Royal allow- son, aud the Hoa. Mr. Walker do compose the said Com- |ance; and when the Despatches referred to by your Excel- — |lency containing suggestions in reference to those which have

n ore of ant + ig Se Mr. Simpson, jnot yet received the Royal assent are laid bofore us, they on. Mr. Forgan, aod Hon. Mr. Palmer. |Shall receive our best cousideration.

fis Honor the PRESIDENT read a communication from) g¢ wh otis 2 : : : | ©. en the unhappy differences existing in the United = President of the Ubarlottetowa Debating Society and | states, wihch seriously disturb our trade, shall have been : me wt eee en wes use of the said Room to adjusted, we trust the Act authorising the issue of Fishery . ‘ie Wades . . “PRESIDENT a te gg session. Licences to citizens of that country for vessels built in this oe SSIDENT also laid on the table 4 [.Jand will be acted upon, and tend to advance the trade of

communication from the Coleuial Secretary of New Zealand, | the Colony

accompanied with a copy of the statistical returas of that | 7 This gratifying to hear that the Commissioners ap- Culony fur the year 1860. ‘pointed to inquire ioto the Land Question have ecmpleted Mownpay, Feb. 24th, 1862.

House in Committee on the Address in answer to his Ex- ¢ellency’s Speech. His Hooor Mr. Walker in the Uhair.

Un tho fifth clause, in which reference is made to the Award of the Commissioaers on the Land Question not deing reeeived, the Hoa Mr. Bagnall proposed the following amendment : —

We must, however, express our regret that the Award | has not been received by your Excellency, trom his Grace | the Secretary of State tor the Colonies.”

Hon. Mr. SIMPSON. I cannot support the amendment | proposed by his Honor Mr. Baguall, because it appears to | me to reflect upon his Exvellency for not using his iwfluence | ‘procure a copy cf the Award.

Hou. Dr. JUHNSON. | cannot see that the amendmont teflecis upon his Excellency.

How. Mr. BAGNAL. I did not intend, by this amend- Ment, to cast any reflection upon his Kxceilency, for L think his Excellency regrets as wuch—probably more than we do—that the Award hes not been received.

Hon. Mr. PALMER. I regret very much, Mr. Chair- Man, that we have not received that document, but [ am Willing to exercise @ little more patience. I have always

of Opinion that the sooner the Land Question is brougtt toa clese the better. Whatever way the Award is to be, the soouer it comes to hund the better. It is certainly « Matter for regret that such a length of time has elapsed Without receiving the Award. But while L “ regret,” I am tot at a loss to know why it has got been received. The subject matter of the Award is one to which Her Majesty’s

‘misters will give the most mature consideration. During ™Y experience in the Legislature, J bave observed that when aay Acts were scat howe from the Colonies, involving a con- ae Of the land tenures, they received very mature de- — a Whea the land tax Act was passed it was a long y a \t received the royal allowance. Aud when the iat a =_— Imposing an additioual tax oe wilderness ane con na dp before it received Her Majesty’s as- the ha ond om upon the character of tke Award, aad mind we + Wega! questions which it will present to the it oem the Colonial Minister, I feel at no loss to know why it a yet received the royal allowance. I believe that nodal ta very late period that kis Exceliency received a tnbihe aeere from the proprietors, etating that they bad not

any latimation of the aeceptance of the Award at

’ . the Colouial Office. And when we look at the important gubject was brought befote this House, by a despatch from

stions which have lately engaged the avteation of Her isis Goreme, it as ees that the affairs of might deci, have not received that attention which we See The state of relations between her Majesty's srament aud the United States of America has given on Majesty's Ministers a good deal to do. Often a Uabi- Council to comsider the affairs of the North American

stood that they bave spent seme £400 or £Lov0 in regard to

their laborious tas<, and forwarded their Report to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

8. We regret to leara that your Excellency has not yet received any communication from His Grace on the subject of their award—a matter in which the people of the Colony feel so deep an interest; but we are pleased to hear that your Excellency is confident that Her Majesty's instructions on this most important question may be expected during the present Session of the Legislature.

9. When the proposal of the Governor General of Cana- da for the establishment ef Reciprocal Free trade among the North American Colonies shal! have been submitted to us, it shall receive all the consideration which a subject of such paramount importance demands.

10. We join your Excellency in the hope that our delibe- rations may, under the Divine blessing, tend to the advance- ment and prosperity of the people of the Colony.

The first paragraph was agreed to. When the second was read,Mr. Ramsay moved that it be agreed to, and

Hon. Mr. COLES said—I would be sorry to allow such & paragraph to pass without a comment. If words could be found to express our sympathy for Her Majesty more strongly than those contained in the Address, I would be pleased to have them inserted. Though this is a small Colony | believe the people here sympathize as deeply with Her Majesty in her bereavement as those in any other part of her dominions. I have much pleasure in seconding the motion fur the adoption of the paragraph.

The motion was agreed to.

The third paragraph was then read.

Hoa. Mr. COLES.—Before the question is put on this paragraph—which is perhaps the most important in the whole Address—I wish to make a few remarks. In the first place, I would observe that there is scarcely a paregraph in the whole Address which calls for much consideration,though the matter to which each refers bas an important bearing on the interests of the people of this Islacd. But there are other subjects which L think ovght te have had a place in His Excellency’s Speech. It is true that this isa small Volony, and that there are not so many matters kere which call for leyislative action as in the other Provinces ; still several subjects which may be expected to eome before us, have been ueuoticed in the Speech. There is, Mr. Chair- man, the matter of the great International Exhibition, in reference to which His Excellency is silent. Now, this

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, on the 6th of March last. This despatek, however, was passed over unnoticed by the majority last Session ; and here, now, the Goverament which are supposed to p His Excellency’s Speech, have made no mention of the Exhibition, though it is generally under-

it without the consent of this House. J am somewhat sur-

Oe

‘built several large bridges, which cost from £900 to £1100,

‘and the whole amount voted fur the road service was then |

‘from £6000 to £9000 a year. On account of this and the purchase of two estates, the country was somewhat in debt /when the late Governmeut weut cut of power, but only to ‘the amount of £39,000. The debt, however, would not have | increased under the late Governwent bad it not been for the

about the amount which the debt exceeded what it was when the Liberals came into office. Now it is evident, from the | increase in the debt for the last few years, that there is mis- ‘management somewhere. ‘There has been no failure in the | crops to cause any material decrease in the receipts. True, ithe Government have tried to raise a revenue in the besi way they could; but if they have failed in their financial ar-

rangements ihey have to louk to themselves for this; it could

not be expected that they would receive aid from the Opposi- |

tion. In respect to one matter, however, I would offer a re- mark, and that is regarding the collection of the revenue. The late Government, to obtain properly qualified persons, | frequently appointed men belonging to the opposite party for | Preventive Officers; but the present Administration, when they came into power, turned all out of office who were op- | posed to them, and the consequence has been that throagh the inefficiency of the officers at several ports, the duties bave not been all collected. 1 hear a posse of men dressed | up very finely have been seen around Ps incetown during the past summer, under the directicn of the Cusiom House officer at that port, who, it is said has grown a very fine field of | turnips. The boat's crew, it appears, were not always over | plenty of work in boarding vessels, and were sometimes seen | with their fine coats off, employed in this officer's field of tur- | nips. his I have heard, but [ am not certain as to its cor- |

7 rectness. The Governwent may say that they have expended |

a large amount on Government House, and also on Prince of | Wales’ College, which I suppose we shall see when the ac- | counts are laid before us. It was all very well to spend. these sums, but the Government should have seen that they | had something to meet them. They have laid out consider- | able to make a cellar under Government House, which I can-| not say was much required. I, at least, have yet to learn | that it has made the house more comfortable—the argument | employed in favor of the outlay. With respect to the sum | expended on Prince of Wales’ College, I cannot see that the Government was warranted in the alteration which it effect- ed in that institution. ‘The cld Academy served a very good purpose, and, with a few repairs on the building, I think the country might have worked along with it very well fora few years. ‘The Government, after expending money as they have done, should not come here in a whining manner and introduce matters into the Address to which no allu- sion was made in His Excellency’s speech. I suppose, Sir, that they thought if these subjects were not adverted to in the speech, the Opposition would have nothing with which to find fault. It is all very well to spend sums like that laid out on the International Exhibition, without the authority of this house, and thusran the country in debt some £5000 or £6000 a year. This is a course pursued in noue ef the other colonies; and if the Government intend to continue acting in this manner, expending as they please, they may as well dispense with this House altogether, for what is the use of keeping us here? ‘I'he Address before you, Sir, goes on to say: “ In view of the large sums an- oually voted for Hducation—with a due regard for the other | branches of the public service—it is diflicult to confive the expenditure within the receipts.” Now, | do not consider that it was proper to drag Education into the address, which should be but an echo of the speech. Had his Excellency alluded to the expense of Education, there would have been some excuse for this part of the answer, I shall move an amendment to this and the following paragraph—as they are connected—but it will be short. These paragraphs, L think, might have been betfer worded. (Laughter). Pesides, the increased expeaditure should not be attributed to Education. They cavnot lay the blame on the late Government, for we provided means to meet what we expended on that branch of

“Ordered That the said resolation be commnnicated by | the same period has exceeded the Revenue. In view of | failure in the crops the last year or two they were in power, |

|ment must have been! Evidently it is the large sums re- quired for the support of the present system of Education | ‘which have caused an increase of the public debt. It is well ‘known not to be on account of large salaries given to public ‘officers. he civil list of this Island is such as should make ‘us ashamed, ‘The Colonial Treasurer, for example, receives | ‘only £230, and the Colonial Secretary very little more. | ‘The Government is continually receiving applications for

‘higher remuneration for services performed, which have to

‘ber has referred to acertain boat's crew, with five coats, | ‘which they cceasionally threw off to work in a field of tur-| ‘nips. I cannot see what this has to do with the paragraph | ‘under consideration. If I, as an officer in the Militia,choose |

‘to dress myself in a fine coat, and shortly afierwards throw |

it off, and put on a homespun one, with much greater com: | fort, to go and cultivate turnips, what difference does it make ‘to any person? It was decided in this House last Session, | ‘that persons were to be ewployed to collect light dues, and | that they should wear a suitable dress ; and if they did oe- ‘casionally lay aside their coats to weed turnips, this only 'shows that they were careful, and that the pay of the Go-

| vernment was not sufficient to support them without having ‘recourse to other employments. Sir, | should have supposed that the proper time to discuss the operations of this boat's ‘crew, would be when the expenditure in reference thereto Is ‘aid before the House; then will be the time to consider whether the action taken by this House last session on this matter has or has not met the expectations of hon. members. It perhaps will be seen that the boat’s crew have not col- lected a sufficient sum to remuuerate them ; but even if so, why charge the Government in the case, since they were em- ployed by the direction of this House, and I see hon. mem- bers present on the opposite side who supported the measure. I was also surprised to hear the hon. Leader of the Opposi- tion object to the expenses ieurred in improving Government House. If hon. members complain of the expeuse of keeping up that house why do they not grapple with the difficulty, and petition the British Government to do away with it, and dispense with the services of a Governor in this Colony. But, as [ said last year, the salary of the Lieut. Governor, amounting to £2000, is paid by the Home Go- vernment, on the understanding that the Colony should pro- vide a suitable house fur his residence. I do not care what party is in power, that house must be a matter of expense— even though it be the third party, which, we are informed, is to be got up by an hon. membar for King’s County. It seems strange that the hon. Leader of the Opposition should twit us respecting the sum expended on Government House, when in 1856 he and his friends voted £800 for repairs thereon, and instead of that amoont spent the sum of £1800. It will be seen that the present Government have not ex- pended near that amount last year. The hon. member says the cellar was not required. All I know is that successive Lieut. Governor’s complained of the want of such a conve- nience. When the present Government came into power, I once remarked to the hon. Leader of the Opposition that since they had so lately expended £1800 on Government House, it would require no more outlay for sowie time. But what was my astonishment when L ascertained shortly after that it was still in need of repairs. In the summer foliow- ing the farm house, which was of brick, tumbled down.

Hon, Mr, COLES.—Who built it #

Hon. Col. GRAY.—Well, I suppose the hon. member or his party did not build it, nor did they build Government House; but certainly whoever it was, the building does no credit to their architectural sill. The farm house lay ina mass of debris all summer; and so much had the whole affair

‘eost a short time previousiy that the Government were

ashamed to ask anything on the following session for repairs. But when the Prince of Wales was expected, I, in company with the hon. member for New Glasgow, who were seut to examine the building, found it in a wretched condition ; and consequently patching up bad to be resorted to, Lasi spring the stable appeared as if about to follow suit with the farm house ; and His Excellency stated to us that his horses were