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Ghe Examiner,

A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF POLITICS, LITERATURE

This is true Liberty, when Free-born HMlen, having to advise the Public, man speak free.——EURIPIDES.

weer. sa

EDWARD WHELAN]

CHARLOTTETOWN,

oer rena

Vou. VI. “ PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, MONDAY, JUNE 1,

Society was refunded. ‘The prayer of the petition was peey According to order, the House went into committee on the | rejected. second reading of the Bill to prevent swine from running at / ilon. Col. Secretary, from the committee to whom was | large in certmin parts of St. Eleanor’s. After some time spent TTOUSE OF ASSEMBLY referred the petition of Henry Bessemer, presented tothe House | in committee, progress was reported, in order to afford an a SiG ASS. . )a@ Bill in accordance with the prayer of the petition ; which was | opportunity for inserting an amendment extending the provisions | Turspar, March 24, | referred to a special committee to report thereon, of the Bill to Summerside as well as St. Eleanor’s. House

AFTERNOON SITTING. ST. PETER’S HARBOR. hsarane >

On — re ; ae the — yenolns itself mene Hon. Mr. Whelan, from the committee appointed last session | Tuuncpay, March 26.

a commitiee of the whole, to take into further consideration the to inquire into the expediency of improving this Harbor . x0 ; ; ill- Bill to provide for the better internal government of this Island, lostmand to the House : sapens-of the said committee which Pa eta i. Parente, Sees ree natives gy ee pages pees or Municipal Authorities therein | was received and read, and is as follows :— seocabian ddendee Souris Bridge &c.; referred to the members

r. onald in the chair. , : ; : 28 .

After the Bill wae read, Mr. McIntosh moved a resolution ot Your Committee appointed last Session to visit the harbor We the aeioagee era ica cals ud slag the effect that the further consideration of the Bill be deferred Of St. Peter's, and enquire into the expediency of expending | 79 moles ys aa ' re ad ane . z oe dnt Ot tie till next session, and that it be printed in two of the newspapers | a sum of money in deepening the entrance to that harbor, so oat tae 7 ¢ oo = ‘a ae ahaa o an Pee sae cs published in Charlottetown, whereupon a short discussion | that vessels of various tonnage might secure at any time a phat b » teehee te it rd > spenataneaenels echilishiod a eusued during which it seemed to be the wish of most of the | safe anchorage in a spacious harbor, and afford very great ioe Macdonald's Grand Tracadie which however, was hon. members present, as the object of publishing the Bild was facilities to a large portion of the inhabitants of this Island, | nevatived Severs! amendments were made to the report, and to make it generally known, to have it printed in all the) in extending their commercial transactions—bave to report— considerable discussion ensued relating to the increase of the newspapere publishrd in Charlottetown, which feature having | salary of the present Deputy Postmaster General, and to the

Colonial Legislature,

AAA AAA ALL ALL AL ALL A ll lll lt lll

1857, No. 48.

view to the greater efficiency and durability of public works, and to greater economy in the expenditure of the public money. ‘There isa great deal of money to be expended every year, and it is well know that the strictest economy is not observed in regard to its proper. distribution—there is at the present time, a bridge to be built at Cascumpeo, another to be built at Rustico, and a building to be erected

‘at the opposite side of the River, and repairs to be done this

building, to cost £300. Now, if a Board of Works was in operation, we would not undertake works of any public character, without knowing exactly what they ae cost us, aud we could then make appropriations with our eyes open. If such a board, I repeat, with a competent person at its head, were in operation, it would not only be a great saving to the country, but it would be the meaus of prevent- ing much confusion in public undertakings, and command @ greater confidence in the efficient management of our affairs.

Mr. PERRY.—I cannot, I must confess, see any neces- sity for a Board of Works at the present time; it would

been added, the resolution was agreed to by the committee. The House resumed ; the chairman reported that the com- mittee nad come to the following resolution: Resolved, That the further consideration of the Bill to provide for the better internal government of this Island, by the

| That in the month of October last your Committee visited the harbor of St. Peter's, and attended by a considerable |number of the most intelligent and experienced inhabitants living in that part of the country, repaired to the entrance ‘of the harbor, and the weather being favorable, were enabled |

‘appointment of an Assistant in the Post Office in Charlottetown,

Finally it was agreed that an amendment be made to the report, recommending that both those objects be carried into effect, and progress was reported. '

A message was received from the Legislative Council in-

establishment of local or Municipal Authorities therein, be | to make full enquiries into the subject, the result of which) forming the Mouse that they had passed a Bil! to alter the

deferred until the next session, and that the Bill be printed in al! the weekly newspapers in Charlottetown, and that three hundred copies thereof be also printed for the use of the Legislature.

Hon. Mr. Wightman, from the Special Committee to whom was referred the message and correspondence transmitted by his Excellency the Lieut. Governor, on the 16th of the present month (March), on the subject of Lighthouses, together with several petitions presented to the House this session, to examine the same and report thereon, presented the report of the said committee, which report was again read. and com- mitted to a committee of the whole house. Mr. McDonald in the chair.

The first clause of the report which was to the effect, that the committee recommended the conveyance of a mail sem- weekly to Orwell, Pinette, and Bulfast, provided the expense do not exceed the sum fifteen pounds, was read and agreed to.

On the second ciause of the report being read, which was to the effect that it was inexpedientto gramt the prayer of the petition of inhabitants of Crapaud praying for the establishment of a Post®Oifice in that place. [An animated discussion ensued, in the course of which Hons. Messrs. Lord, Longworth, Mooney and Montgomery, waru:lvy advocated the necessity of a Post Office being established in Crapaud, as it was a flourish- ing settlement, and in close proximity to the back-woods settlements. The report was supported by Hons. Co!. Secretary, Speaker and Mr. Wightman and Mr. Dingwell, who argued thot there was no necessity for going on from year to year increasing the expenses of the Past Office department, especially in this instance, where they held euch an outlay uncalled for on account of the nearness of the Post Office at De Sable.)

Hon. Mr. Mooney moved as an amendment, that Crapaud be included in the report for the opening of new Post Offices, which was agreed to without division.

On the third clause of the report being read, which was to the offect that committee deemed it inexpedient to grant the prayer of the petition of John McDonald post master at Soums, praying for an addition to his present salary, Mr. McIntosh moved an amendment that the prayer of the petition be granted.

Mr. PERRY said, before the question be put, he would remind the heuse that there was another petition of the same nature presented, from Josiah Grant, of Cascumpec, and he would move an amendment to add it to the report.

Hon. Mr. MONTGOMERY said if the house entertain the prayer of these petitions, it would have others of the same nature, tono end. It was true the amounts asked for was small; but still if there were any number of such petitions they would, if granted, amount to a considerable suin.

The question on Mr. Meintosh’s amendment was then put, and lost on a division of 6 to 9.

On the fourth clause of the report being read, which was to the effect that the committee could not reco:nmend a further consideration for the services of Josiah Grant, Post Master at Cascumpec, Mr. Perry moved as an amendment that the prayer of the petiuon be granted, which was lost, the mover alone voting fur his motion.

The fifth clause, which was-to the effect that a Post Office be established at or near Egmont Bay Chape!, was read and agreed to.

The sia th clause, recommending the establishment of a Post Office at or near Sturgeon Bridge, Lot 61, providing no additional expense be incurred, was read and agreed to.

The seventh clause, did not recommend the conveyanee of a semi-week)y mail to Bedeque, via Tryon, as the additional expense of a courier, would amount to at least 20 shillings per week ; to which after a short, but animated discussion, Hon. Mr. Lord, who supported the petition for a semi-weekly mail on the above route, submitted an amendment that the prayer of the petition be granted, which was lost on a division of 4 to 11. The clause aa reported was then agreed to.

The House resumed, ‘he chairman reported progress, and asked leave to sit again, which was granied. Then the House adjourned.

oe ~-/- ~

Wenpnespay, March 25, 1857.

On motion of Hon. Col. Treasurer, the Bi!! intituled, “ An Act for the naturalization of Lawrence Warren,” as engrossed, was read a third time,sand passed. Hon. Co). Secretary was ordered to carry the said Bill to the Council and desire their concurrence.

Mr. DINGWELL moved that the order limiting the time for the reception of private petitions be suspended to enable him to present a petition of Hugh McVarish, Township No. 44, which

was granted, and the said petition was received and read, setting |

forth that the petitioner did, in the month of Jannary, 1849, lend his House at Big Cape, to the Board of Health, for the benefit of parties infected with small-pox ; after which cccupa-

| they respectfully submit. | The bar which stretches across the harbor of St. Peter's, |

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‘at the entrance to it, in nearly a direct line, shifts and | | changes its position with violent storms, it being much exposed | to the action of the sea. At low tide the depth of water on, this bar is about seven feet,—at high tide about ten, shewing | a rise of only three feet. To increase the body of water on | this bar, so as to afford an easy egress and ingress to vessels | vat all seasons, would be a work of great importance. not only | to the inhabitants of St. Peter's Bay, but to the people of the | Colony generally, and to those of King's County particularly, | as vessels from other ports would then more frequently resort | ‘there than they can at present. The only method for effecting | ‘this desfrable end, which appears practicable to your Com= mittee, and which meets with the approbation of experienced | _persons residing in that part of the country, is to construct | ‘a breastwork or embankment on the eastern side of the har- ‘bor’s mouth. A breastwork that would withstand storms, | ‘and secure a sufficient depth of water at all times, would, it is supposed, cost about a thousand pounds. The people who| ‘are immediately interested in this undertaking are willing to | ‘subscribe liberally towards the cost of it; and your Committee | are of opinion that the project is such as to warrant the) expenditure of a considerable grant of the public money, in | 'order to test the practicability of removing the impediment | | which now exists to the entrance of large vessels. Tue har- | ‘bor is a magnificent and capacious one, averagipg about one | \ mile in breadth, and being nine miles in length, affording in | almost every part, excellent anchorage ; and if its wide expanse | | of water could be rendered a secure and easy haven, subser- | | vient to the purposes of au extended trade, no portion of the | |public money could be more profitably applied than that | | which would be expended on the object in view.

Your Committee have therefore to recommend, that there | be granted and placed at the disposal of the Government the Pe of four hundred pounds, to be expended on the following conditions: —That the inhabitants residing in the vicinity of St. Peter's Bay shall subseribe the sum of two hundred | |pounds, and that the Government, before expending any | portion of the money, shall cause a survey of the intended work to be made by a competent engineer, part of whose duty

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it will be, to give an estimate of the probable cost of com-} appointed to draw up bills in conformity therewith, consisting |

pleting the work ; and should that cost be fuund not to exceed ove thousond pounds, or thereabouts, that the work be given

out to competition, as soon as convenient after the receipt of | sala

the engineer's report—the said work to be under the super-! jntendence of a competent person to be appointed for that! purpose, Hon. Mr. WEHLELAN said, hon. members might smile at the recommendation contained in the report; but he thought ita very reasonable one. ‘The facts set forth in the report were | such as to require no further remarks from him on the subject. 'The committee had given their careful attention to the matter contained in the report ; and he had no hesitation in saying, if the work could be accomplished, that it would be of vast advantage to the people in that part of the country. The report did not contemplate the outlay of a single shilimg uoul 4 competent person examined the place ; and unless the report of such a person were favorable to the work, no money would be expended upon it. ‘There would be no objection, on tae part of the House, he presumed, to agree to the motion which he was about to make, which was that the report be adopted and referred to Committee of Supply.

Hlon. Mr. MONTGOMERY would like to ask the hon.) member, how far the bar extended out; because if the harbor was the satne as some others on the north side of the Island, £40,000 would not make a safe harbor at St. Peters.

Mr. T. HEATH HAVILAND thought it wou]d be altogether premature to refer the report to Supply. No doubt, if possible, \the work would be an advantage ; but he thought the first ‘thing would be to specify a sum for a survey.

Mr. COOPER said he would be very far wrong in not supporting (he report, if he could see a possibility of making a good harbor at St. Peter’s ; but they knew that the bar was composed of shifting sand, afid it was impossible for any ‘engineer to make a safe hiarbor in such a place. It was as much as to say thatthe committee doubted the sanity of the ‘House, when they made such a proposal. | Mr. DINGWELL had been one of the committee, and it was ‘right for him to state that it was very unfair that some hon.

in this Colony.

pee na — House was burnt by some person or persons | members had made such assertions respecting the committee as oidenahle die praying for compensation for such loss. [A con-| they had listened to. Tue commiitee had gone to the mouth of ideradie discussion ensued during which the prayer of the | the harbor and obtained all the information they could get on the petition was supporied Messrs. Mcintosh, Couper, Dingwell| subject. The ber alluded to was on the inside of the harbor, and Laird and opposed by Mr. Perry, who moved that the | and not on the outside, as some supposed. — prayer of the eee be rejected, to which Mr. Cooper moved} Hon. Mr. WIGHTMAN thought a report so ably drawn up Sa oe - petition do lie on the table, which was as the one before the House should receive due consideration. poe rb vs aan ve. The main motion was then put, as | He had been one of the committee ; and the day on which they 45, Vedbobee er é ential ‘ _ | visited the place was fine, and they had a number of respectable Nos i a 16. whi bh aes on inhabitants of Townships | people with them, some of whom, as fishermen, were well dchabtieke one of p ‘ Dihee in and read, praying for the | aequainted with the harbor; and thus they enjoyed a good ai mann $ . “A pe. ip the vicinity of Ellis River opportunity for making inquiries respecting the proposed Adic Shy to the committee on New Post Offices. undertaking. He had also been in conversation with a person sourned for ane hows. I. Kirwan, Rep. lately, who, he considered, was well acquainted with such matters ; and he said that he would throw up an embankment AFTERNOON SITTING. at the place in question for £1,200 to remain for forty years. PETITIONS DISPOSED OF. Vessels could lie in perfect safety in the harbor, provided there The Petition of H B was such an embankment ; and should it be built, he believed special committee oe essemer, London, was referred toa | ina very few years the number of American vessels that would Temuateined aie ‘aoe of Hons. Col. Secretary, Col.| frequent the place, would asaist to pay for the embankment. estharseiak - Muirhead, to report thereon by Bill or) It would be a benefit to all vessels frequenting the coast: The. petitioa of Pete A ' | therefore, he thought the House should be liberal enough to BNE drecussio’ refe rd ndereon, Master Mariner, was mm vote £400 towards the object ; and the inhabitants of the place Phe petitinn ot : Ofe to Supply. would contribute the half of the sum expended. Agricultural 2 ve Office bearers of the Prince County Central) Messrs. Macintosh and Yeo, Hons. Col. Secretary and J Seciety was sgein taken up, when several hon. Moonev, and Mr. Clark, then made a few remarks on the subject,

ter ber : j . pe j . s : . prenatal Caaaen d their opinions on the subject; but the all agreeing that the proposed undertaking was wholly impracti-

coil onion appeared to be that the Society could not cable; after which Hon. Mr. Whelan’s motion was negatived, | y ©Xpeet.to obtain any grant from the Legislature in| Hons. Messrs, Whelan and Wightman, Messrs. Dingwell an |

aid of its funds, unti) the amount due to the Royal Agricultural Munro voting in favor of it.

practice of the Supreme Court, to which they desired the con- currence of the House. iJ] read a first time.

Hon. Col. Secretary laid before the Honse an extract from Minutes of Council, which having been read was referred to a committee of the whole House to-morfow, and is as follows :—

‘* Councin CuampBer, 15th Jan., 1857.

‘The Honorable Colonial Secretary laid before the Board the following communication received by Telegraph from Saint. John New Brunswick addressed to the Colontal Secretary, viz:—

‘The New York, Newfoundland, and.London, Telegraph Company being desirous of meeting the washes of the Inhabitants of Prince Edward Island, are willing to establish for business during the winter months, the otherwise unremunerative offices at Cape Traverse, and Cape Tormentine, provided your Govern- meat grant to them the sum of three hundred pounds sterling per annum for fifty years, the Company undertaking to keep the Cable across the Straits of Northumberland in effective working order during that period.”

“His Excellency and the Board having given the subject matter of the foregoing communication due consideration, the Colonial Secretary was directed to state in reply, that the Government will agree to remunerate the operators for any incidental expense that may be incurred, in fitting up the two offices for this winter, provided they are established forthwith ; but as regards the grant required for fifty years, that proposal must be submitted to the Legislature, which shall receive the recommendation of the Government,—and further it is expected, that all commun cation between the two offices, will be forwarded free of any charge.” ‘

Hon. Col. Secretary also laid before the House an abstract of the sales and returns of Crown Lands, Laid on the table.

Adjourned for one hour, R. Laixp, Rep.

—

AFTERNOON SITTING.

Honse in committee of the whole, on the further consideration of the Report of the Special Committee, to whom were referred petitions fur opening new Post Offices, &c, Mr. McDonald in the chair,

Mr. Yeo submitted a resolution, moving that the sum of seven pounds be paid John Mcintosh, Western Mail Carrier, for additiona) expense and Jabor in carrying said Mails during the past year.

House resumed. Chairman reported that the report of the committee had been agreed to with certain amendments. which was received by the House, and a committee was

of Hons. Messrs. Wightman, Lord and Haviland.

Hon. Mr. LORD stated that he was opposed to raising the ries of the Assistant in the Post Office, and begyed to decline the appointment on the committee.

Hon. T. H. HAVILAND agreed in the propriety of the course taken by the Hon. Mr. Lord, and thought it was bad policy to put an hon, member on a committee who was opposed to the objects they were to carry out.

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH was then appointed on the com- inittee in the place of the Hon. Mr. Lord.

BOARD OF WORKS.

Hon. Col. SECRETARY moved that the House proceed to take into consideration the Bill to provide for tae establishment ofa Board of Works in this Island, and in doing so he took occasion to remark as follows : The Bill before you now, Mr. Speaker, is one sisntlar in many respects to Acts, having for their object a better system of expending the public money, now in force in many of the neighboring Provinces ; and | think it is high time such 4 system were brought into operation Every public undertaking demands it, and when we come to consider what an advantage it will be to the Colony, not only in insuring the better performance of public contracts, but in expediting and lessening the expense of such works. Our Court Houses sre illy constructed and incomplete. Then if there are new buoys to be constructed they will have to pass a rigid inspection before they will be received, whereas under the present system, a Harbor Master may give notice that such and such a quantity of buoys are wanting, and give the making of them out on contract ; and ten chances to one if he is not imposed upon by worthless articles. In fact, Bridges, wharves, and every other species of public Work could be done with promptitude, and in a proper manner under the superin- tendance of a Board of Works. Under the present system such an end cannot be insured, for it is not to be supposed with any show of reason that the Colouial Secretary can be a competent judge of all such matters. We must place a competent engineer at the head of this department, at astated salary per year. It may be objected to paying the members of the board, but it is only contemplated to pay them if they should be required to go into the country, and then give them so much per day for travelling expenses. If this Bill be passed, after the House rises, the Board of Works, having the consent of Government, will carry out the projects of the Legislature. It is, however, thought by some hon. members that it would be better if the Bill would not go into effect before the Municipality Bill ; but I think it may serve to pave the way for the introduction of that Bill. I therefore move the House go into committee of the W hole, with a view to the further consideretion of this Bill.

Mr. COOPER.—I certainly do not think a Board of Works is required at présent, especially as the whole of the Revenue for the public works is already placed at the disposal of the members for the various districts. However, it might be better to give it to the country, along with the Municipality Bill, and the people would then have an op- portunity of examining its various features, and the changes it is to introduce. But I am of opinion, that, as the Reve- nue has fallen short of what it was last year, we have no encouragement, at least from that quarter, to create new

only be the means of increasing the expenses of the Govern- ment, without materially adding to its efficiency. As there are no new wharfs or bridges to construct, in what respect would such a Board be of any service? I must confess, L cannot see in what shape or manner such an _ institution is called for; but it may be as well to let it go with the Mu- ‘nicipality Bill, and be printed, and distributed throughout | the zountry.

Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—It is true, there are no ex- tensive public buildings to be erected now; butstill there are other minor works, but of as great importance to the country as if they were twice as exteusive. ‘To such works, a board of this kind would be necessary; and under its superintendence they would be well finished. If a Board of Works were in existence at the time this Building was undertaken and completed, it would not be in such a bad state as it is at present. It was found when repairs were being done to the building, that there was no wall built uader the steps, but that beneath them was filled up with rabbish. If the then Superintendant was bound to see the work properly done, as he would under the regulations of this Bill, it would be performed in a more efficient manner. The Government House was built in the same careless manner —the pillars were left in an insecure state, the foundation on which they rested being incapable of sustaining their weight. There was only one person then, to oversee and superintend the work, and he was generally an interestd party; but now, he would be under a stated salary, and could possibly have no interest in slighting the work. In Nova Scotia, the Superintendent of the Board of Works has a salary which places him above, and keeps him aloof from meddling or having any interest in the affairs of public contractors, and which requires him to deyofe all his time to his office. We want such a man here, and until such a system be adopted, the country will be at a great yearly ' loss. | Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.—I do not see the justice of reflecting upon the persons who had the superintendence of this building ; but the idea that this Act will do away with all the abuses said to have existed, is, I think, umsouud. Kven under the restrictions of this Act, the Superintendent can have an indirect interest in all public undertakings, and it is impossible to prevent him. As to the Bill itself, I agree with its principle, but whether it shall go into opera- tion immediately or not, is a question I will not pretend to decide. If it is to lay over, how is any defect that may be

to go into the matter now, but leave it over till another session.

Hon. T. H. HAVILAND.—As regards the observations made by the Hon, Col. Secretary, about the Province Build- ing, reflecting upon the Superintendent of that work, I would acquit that gentleman of any lack of duty in the mattor. The stone work was contracted for by Messrs. Watts and Bane, and the Carpenter work by Messrs. Wright and Smith, and if they did not fulfil their contracts to the letter, it was not the fault of the Superintendent or Directors, of which latter, I was one myself.

Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—I did not intend to imply censure upon the Directors of the construction of this Building.

Hon. T. H. HAVILAND.—As far as the Bill before the House is concerned, I agree with the Hon. Col. Secretary, that a measure of this kind is called for. It is admitted that there is a waste of the public money under the present system, and Commissioners often spend more money than they ought. Why? Because there is no one to look after them, to see that they are judicious in the expenditure of their share of the public money.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, on the Bill to establish a Board of Works. Mr. Muirhead in the cheir.

Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—If any suggestions could be made, that mignt render the Act more complete and comprehensive, 1 would be thankful for them. No doubt, there may be some hon, members acquainted with many things which it would be well to embody in the Act.

The first clause of the Act was then read, when

Hon. Mr. LORD said—I do not see, Mr. Chairman, how the adoption of this Act would place us, in regard to the efficiency of carrying out public works, any better than we are at present. Wehave now a Superintendent of Public Works, and [ cannot see why any other board should be wanting for the amount of public works that is to be per- formed. In my opinion, it will only entail an additional expense upon the couutry, and leave us with no better system than we had before.

Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—No money will be required to pay the members of the Board, except in case of their being required to travel, or accompany the engineer, and then they are allowed mileage. It is only the officers of the Board who will be on a salary. It might as well be objected that the Education system of the Colony can be

‘carried out by the School Visitor, and dispense altogether

with a Board of Education, It is objected that such a board will find nothing to do, but this is a mistake; there are, besides bridges and wharfs, lighthouses and buoys, and public buildings to inspect, And in case of any departmental officer being on the Board, he will receive no pay for his

services. _ ; Hon. COL. TREASURER.—Another thing I will bring

offices and new salaries. It is trae, that the Postmaster General has been provided with an additional assistant, and | and the salary of the present assistant is increased ; but he, is worthy of it, and it is nothing but justice to increase the heip and salaries of such public officers, when their business’ is continually on the increase. ,

Hon. COL. TREASURER.—The object of this reform | is todo good to the country — to make experiments with a

‘jail in St. Eleanor’s.

to your notice, they can at least inapect the works performed and see that they are properly done. Some time ago, there was a sum of money appropriated to build the wall of the Wheu I was Sheriff of Prince County, a few years ago, I had occasion to examine these walls, and found them so poorly done, and. badly put to ether, that a prisoner might easily escape, aud that line of wall, aloue,

in it to be corrected ; still there may be no absolute necessity —

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