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be £600 per annum; and the question ' being put thereon, it was carried, % SALARY OF THE SuccessOn OF THE present Master or tan Roiis.—On ‘coming to consider the salary of the suc- Bessor in office of the present Master of The Lolls, whose salury is fixed by Sta- tate at £500 per annum, the hon. Solici- tor General rose and said he would move that the part of the clause, relating to the reduction of, the salary of that function- acy’s Official successor be struck out. Tladid..so,.becausea salary of £500. a year was, he thought,fthe very lowest whith this colony, or any other, having a Legislature, could, with any regard te propriety, off¢r that functionary, The idéa of precuring a competent, indepen- dent, impartial, Equity Judge fora less annual salary than £500, was excessively. preposterous. £600 a year forthe Chief Justice and £500 a year foran Agsistant Judge, being together £1100 per annum, was an exceedingly low estimate for the maintenance of the Judicatnre of the co- lony. In other colonies, the revenues of * hich as compared with their expenditure, did. not greatly exceed those ¢ f this Islan’. A Master of the Rolls was allowed as much as £500 per annum, an Assistant Judge £500 or £600, and the Chief Justice £800. The question ought not to be regarded as a party one; for the pro- per, the independent, the impartial adinin. istration of justice. was of equal import- ance toall. And he would remind the House, that His Excellency, in hie Mes- sage, does not admit of any interference with the salaries permanently fixed by Statute, and makes non-interference with euch sa’ames necessary to his passiag the Bul. if, the efur, they desired to see the sill becoming law, it behoved them to

yay proper deference to that intimation of },

idis Excellency. But independently of all consideration of His Excelleney’s in- structions on that. head, he was at a Joss ro understand, how any reasonable man could expect that a lawyer of sufficient experience and capacity, combined with sufficient respectability of prof-ssional aad private character, could be found willing to ebandoa his practice and emoluments nt the bar, and accept of the office of Master of the Rolls, conjoined wih that of Assistant Judge, for a less salary than £500 a year. Me was ‘but a man of low professional character and limited: prac- t.¢¢, whose professional inoome fell much enort of £L400°a vear; and’should the an- nual salary of Master of the Rolls and Agsistant Judge be-reduced to £400, the appointmert tnight go a-begging, or the e@at upon the bench be oecupied by some. Minny, too deficient in abilities to earn a heslihood by his profession. Our prac- hee, lives and properties aught he depen- dént upon hie decisions, and asa Ohan— cery Jndye, his judgments might involve tae seeurity or loss of property to the value of theusunds and thoasands of ponnds.. fe heaped there would be feund aniiicient sense in the committee, \o de- eérmine the propriety of appomting such a salary to the offiee, as wight afford a reasonable hope of its ‘being filled by a mah ot integrity and aufficient capacity; tur all were eqnaily concerned in the qualification of such a fanctionary. | Mr. Cotxs replhed that, should the ma- jority ofthe Howse consent tovallow the odditional £100, 86 earnestly sought for hy the Hon. Solietor General, he was. ufraid, that # wuald not’ be long betore ie honorable and learned meraber him. velfend his parry, were found plaeing at on the Dr. side of the majorily’s account: with the country sand quutiwg it against then rea proof af their want ef erouo- ny. Abhougn the Hon. Solicitor Gene- ral seemed then to make very tight of a salary of £400 a year; yet he (Mr. ©) would not be surarised: should. it some day appenr that. the non. member wes well disposed to give the preference to | zuch a certainty rather than contunue de- pendent upon his cianee practice at the Rar. OP haty however, mattered hittle to ine peoples their concern was--and the daty of their representatives was tu see ut—that-no official sulury should bear an undue proportion, either tq the daries of the office, or to the public means. £400 was, in his opinion, gilte sufficient, both as regarded the amount of official duty, and the publiéabihty todetray the salary. ‘Tne duties of the Muster of the Rolls and

of the Supreme Court, and oceasionally ‘to | the court of Chancery, ; and yet higsalary was to be equal to that of other officials, whose duties required their daily attention and whose responsibilities were quite as great ag those of that legal functionary. As to the fear expressed by the Hon. Sol, General, that no respectable member of the Prince Edward Island Bar would ac- cept the appointment for so trifling a Sa- lury as £400 a year; yet itmight,perhaps, relieve the hon, and learned member from his anxieiy and dread on that score, to be informed that there was no scarcity of lawyers in the neighbouring Provinces; and that should this Colony be at a loss for a Master of the Rolls, we might very

were the List of the members of the legal profession extends to between [50 and 200.

Mr, Loncworrs said the Salary of a Judge should be such as to place him above the suspicion of being undaly in- fluenced in his decisions; and for a less salary than £509 per, annum, he did net think that any fully competent lawyer would consent. to, relinquish the emolu- ments of his. professional practice, Sure he was that a less salary could not be re- | garded as any guarantee for integrity | and. independence in the exercise of ju- dicial fuactions. It was indeed strange conduct for wen to propose a reduction of a Judge’s. salary, so moderate as £500 _currency,.or £350 sterling per annuin, and that when they must be very well aware, that his duties and responsibilities must be on. the increase; but, the wisdem or propriety, of such a step was. what they

little regarded, so longas it would look _well.vpon psper.and help them to gull . the people,

Mr. Lasap.thought the proposed salary of £400 was aa ample remuneration.for the services to.be performed far it ; aud he would vote for no more.

Mr. Fraser said the extinction of the Court of Chancery was already contem-, plated in Nova Scotia, and he hoped the day was not far distant when it would be found advisable, and for the general good, to dispense with its existence in this Co- ‘Jony.. Courts.of chancery had long been “proverbial fur the evils of delay, and they ought rather to be named Courts of Pro- crastination, than Courts of Equity.

The queatwn being then put, by the ‘Chairman, on the motion, of the Hon, Sol, Genera), ** Yhat relating to a reduction of Salary, as respects the offfcia) success- ‘or of the present Master of Rolls be struck out.” jt wae jast; Messrs Douse, Long- worth and Haviland, omy voting with the Hon. Solicitor Generalvin favour of it.

“Mr. Corns then moved, * That the blank jeft tor the amount of anneal’ salary be filled up with £400;" and the motion being carried, the blank was filled up ac- cordingly. : |

Coronal Secretary, AND CLERK OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

Mr. Lonewontu moved that the Offi- ces ef? Colonial Secretary and Clerk of) ‘the Executive Council be combined,as.in Nova Neotia, which, with respect ta poli- tical movements, appeared to be the guid- ing Star of the Majocity.

Mr. Corrs replied that the duties of the two offices were incompativle.. The Colonial Secretary was, if uot of necess- itv, at Jeast very properly, a Member of the Executive Council; whilst the clerk. was ike servant of that bedy. It was, iherefare, very clear that the same indivi~. dual could net, with propriety, acti both capacities, “Phe comdinauon proposed by the majority was that of the clerkship» of the Executive.and Legisiative Coun- cil,

Mr. Pers said.it would not be pradent | to Goubme the Offees.of Calonial Secre- tary and Clerk of the Executive Council. The Colonial Secretary. would have a seat at the ixecative Board, and it would also be requisite that tashould be a mem- ber af the Legislature: wnd his) freedom ‘of actian in ember capaeity, ought not: te be impeded by the obligations alservitude. thad always appeared to him very im- ‘proper, that an Adviser of the Governor ‘should be the Clerk of ins Counenl, ond; have an individual interest. in proceed- ings of that Body. But, independently of the consideration of that impropriety, |

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easly procure one from New Brunswick, |

he thought that it would be found the Co-

Assistant Judge extended to the sittings.

lonial Secretary had quite evough to do, |

the

without having imposed upon him the discharge of the dutieg of Clerk of the Executive Council,

‘Thesquestion being then put on Mr. Longworth’s motion, it wes lost; there being only six in favour of it; viz: Mr. Longworth, Mr. Douse, Mr. Haviland, Mr. Yeo, Mr. Montgomery, and the [on. Sol. General.

Satarr or THE Coronmat Secretary Amp Roap CoORRESPONDES'.

Mr. Lorp said, that if the duties of Road Correspondent were to be discharged by the Colonial Secretary, and for the one salary, he would not think £450 too much, if not, he would not go for a larger salary

than £400. Mr. Cones explained that when Mr.

ord, in a former Session, expressed his determination to vote for mo more than, £400, he was no! aware of the contempla— ted union of the two offices; not having been in his place when that intention was stated; but whenhe (Mr. Lord) agreed that £450 would not, in such a case, be too large a salary.

Hon. Mr. Thorson thought,that if the duties of Road correspondent were to be combined with, those of the Colonia) Se- cretary, a salary of £450 a year would not be too muck. ‘Phe union of the two Offices would.no doubt, occasion 4 conei- derable increase in the amount of public duties, to the Colonial Secretary ; but it would-be a great: saving of time and trouble to persuns from the country,when they shouldbe able to transact their road business in one office, withont having to run backwards and forwards. bet ween two; and it'would be nothing mere than fair that the officer discharging the duties of

| the two departments, for the convenience

ofthe public, should be adequately remu- nerated for the additiona) amount ofspub- lic service performed by hin, in conse- qitence of the union of duties.

Mr. Lorn. sai, that having thought over the questien spt rm taken imto consideration, that ike House had been forced to grant the pensions against. their will, he would move that the dnties of Road Correspondent should be perferm- ed by the Colonial Secretary; and that his salary for discharging the duties of both offices be £400.

Mr. CLan& was not prepared to vote for more than £400, which be understood to be the salary previous!y agreed to by the majority.

Mr. Coces was eurprised that the hon. member (Mr. Clark) could have so under-

stood the intentions of the majority ; for

be (Mr. Ccles) was sure, that ithad been distinctly stated taat the oflice of Road Correspondent should be connected with that-of the Colonial Seeretary, and that the salary for the performance of the united duties shouldbe £450)

Mr. Porr ironically observed, that per- haps the best way would be to par the office vp’ to tender; and givesit tothe lowest bidder. Surely hen, members were very well aware that the Colonial Secretary would have to employ a com- petent Clerk, to whony be would have to pay £100, £120 or £150 a year; for no curmpetent and otherwise eligible indi- vidual could be expected tod ischarge the duties. which would devolve uponshim, as a Clerk of the Colonial Secretary, for less) Under the Responsiv!> system, the the Colonial Secretary would berequired to have a seatin the Legislature peand>as during its sittings be would be almost wiollyocenpied with his legislative duties, it was very clear, thatthe services ofa Clerk, and averv. competent ne» tea, would be reqnized in his Office.» What» eben, should the Colostal Secretery’s.sa- jary be fixed at 8400, would be lett him, asa remuneration tor his services, and.an income whereby to eupport hunself an | that degree of naquestian: ¥ erespectubili- ry which ought to be inseparable from an offiee so immediately. connectedowih Her. M ajestys Ceprese ptative in the Oulowy ¢

Sach mistaken econouical reductions .or |

cutiing dawn. of salaries were actually

degrading, ands calculated te. bring dis- |

creas: on the Colony, . it ought to be re- membered thatdn, fixing the salaries to Pablic Officers, hon. members were not voting fora party; for. under the oner- ation of the Responsible System, offices would not be patented either to individ-. uals or party; but the holders of them would change with every great change of

attach to any office, ought to be taken as a guide in determining the amount ef ga lary.

Mr. Davies moved that, to Colonia! Secretary, the words , “and. Road Cor respondent” be added; that there tight be no room for misapprehension, 4% to the nature or extent of the duties to be per- formed for the salary to be attached to the Office of Colonia) Secretary.

The question was then puton Mr. Lord’s motion that the salary be £400 pes annum, which was carried, 12 voting for it.

Savaxy of Resrstaan and Kexeren of Prans. On motion by Mr. Cones, the annual salary of this Officer was fixed at £200.

Savary of the Cuerg of the Couxcis. On motion by Mr. Coxgs, it was agreed that to any person who shall hereafter be appointed Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils, there shall be paid the annual salary of £120, | The House then resumed.

TOs sramnea. Tuesday, May 13, IS51.

(i Mr. Waexan’s second Letter to his constituents will appear in our next issue.

(C7" We trust our readers wil) excuse the little delay which.occurs in the neue. of © The Examiner.” We shal] make amends for all this so soon ag the Legis- lature be prorogued.

("The Legislature wil] be prorogued by His Excellency the Lieut, Governor on Thursday next.

—o-—

The steamer Rose brought the usua! Mails from the colonies and the United States, on Sunday evening last. The papers furnished contain little or no it. telligence.

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THE LAND QUESTION,

Wr cive below the Despatch from the Colonial Office, laid before the House of Assembly, during the past week, in an ference to the “Land question,” ont of which the Obstructives have been bney in endeavouring to create for themsely: s. a stock of political capital. It-is 2 com-, plete demolition of the monstrously absurd” } fabrication, that the House of Assemfly. are obliged to abandon the question of the Land tenure, in order to proearethe ines }trodvetion of Responsible Government. In this Despatch the Colonial Minister. | has-certaimly issued bis fiat against Es. cheac; bat upon that subject public opin }ton, in this Taland, has long been at re&t.” Earl Grey does not, however, seek to prevent the Legislature or Government. from entertaining any other question ia” reference to the Land. Qn the contrary, his kordship invites our attention to they | necessity of effecting some amicarb'e are } rangement between Landlord and ‘fe nant, and recounueads the Liewtenant Governor: to give lis “best assistance with a view lo passing any legislative mesaures which

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many. be required to coinplete such are fanvenent.”

The Brill to lessen the expenses in cases» f Distraint, and the Bill (commoniy” called the One-ninth Bill.) to Ox the rate of Rents reseived in sterling, both of, hich have passed the two Branches of: the Legislature, and will, we presume, receive His. xcellency’s assent,—are sti!] stronger refutations of the si'ly false.