‘3 \ ‘N

\ Ta 4

‘ r

public money ‘being voted forthis

orgctown, as an inducement to t profitable undertaking ; a loss on the shares, 9. Cooper) could not. tell ; Very much doubted the good a thing,why do no of the advantage and b boat, he thought,

Purpose ; it was held out in ake shares, that it would be a but how had it turned out? there must be ad who is to sustain that loss be (Mr. he would oppose it if he stood alone ; he approval of the constituency; if it was so t the public men generally availlthctnselvcs uy up the shares yet remaining ; a. second mightde:~troy the whole concern. It. SraAKsa hoped the hon. member would stand alone, but he: knew ctoakers would continue to croalr; the probabilities of what the Steamer might pty had not been represented in that light the hon. member would have it believed; on the contrary, the Opinion entertained at the onse't was that she would not pay the first year; he (the Speaker) did not think the majority of those who took shares in the Company did it solely for the sake of lucre, but with a more noble spirit, that of benefit to the Colony, and to prove to the neighbouring Provinces that their taunts were groundless; that We could have a boat ofour own; yes, and he did not doubt we could support that and number too; let not hurt. membch look at it so narrowtnindedly; let them look at the advantages to the Colony (here the hon. Speaker went into a lengthened statement at the advantages to the Colon" ‘11?“ had and Would stiil further increase) ; it had been said our con- stituents might not approve of the contemplated measure; he lclt bound to say he knew their sentiments to be quite the reverse; ‘hey had before recommended it, and would be pleased if we had gonc much further, even it it had extended to the purchase of the whole of the shares: we have no cause for regret, Viewing the matter as it ought to be; the Company is in a better sttuatton thrtn 'was anticipated; it had been said by the hon. member for King's County, how wal it that the public tlltl not more freely take shares? lie (the Speaker) would answer, it was often seen that those who possessed the. greatest means, did not possess another essential quality, that ofpublic spirit; in so important an un- dertaking it is proper to resort to the public purse, even if we “had determined on going to the full extent oftuking the whole of the shares; he frilly opined another Steamer of about 40 horse power would add to the profits, and be fotind a great convenience; vessels in distress might be relieved, profitable trips might be made at certain seasons to Halifax and other places, and un- foreseen advantages might arise, as had happened to the St. George; many benefits rutist be consequent on putting on an other bout ; he thought we should have a daily communication with Pictou, or at least three times each week; a divrdcndof five per cent. should be paid to lhg private SlinféhUltlde, and if there . was any loss, it should fall oti the Government; hrs constituents: , Woul I support him in those views; ifthe profits exceed this suit), it should be an accumulating fund; from the opinion entertained by those who are better qualified to judge ol'the matter than he (the Speaker) was, two boats would pay better than one; it may be said Government shoufd not take up those 48 shares; but such was not his opinion; there was sufficient capital in the Colony, and our credit was unshaken, nnl whatever public money be voted to Ihts undertaking, it would be well employed, and of the greatest advantage and convenience to the Colony at large.

Mr. Wtuttrnrtrt informed the Committee of the whole circum- stances underwhich the shareholders of Three Rivers had been induced to stand in that situation; expecting, from the represen- tations made to them, that great advantages Would arise. they had cheerfully subscribed to so laudable an undertaking. The prin- cipal inducement was, that of the convenience to that part ofthe Island expected frotn the regular trips of the steamer to George. town, which they had a right to expect; but how miserably this expectation had been frustrated was so well known, that be, Mr Whightmnn, need not repeat it! This disappointment was the sole cause ol'the shareholders now demanding the money ad; vanced, in order to invest it in a sailing packet, from which they expected greater facilities and less disappointments than had been the case with the steamer: he thought the public would have no reasonable grounds of complaint' in government taking up lli0se shares, as faras Georgetown and that part of the Island was concerned. She would be dispensed with, which would give an opportunity for her to ply to other places where greater profits accrued, and more lrcquent communication was desirable. The boat lie cotild not find fault with: he thought she was good and cheaply purchased, and he yet thought she would be found to pay built the private and public shareholders.

Mr RAE confessed he could not understand this system of pro- ceeding; lie was not surprised at what had fallen from the hon. member for King‘s County, as to his being disappointed. He (Mr Rue) thought Georgetown shareholders required consideration; yet, if so great advantages existed, he was at a less to under.

stand why parties seemed so anxious to withdraw from the

.Company: he would not wish to see the thing pttt an _end to now. We have embarked in the undertaking; but he felt bound to oppose a seermd steamer: he would wishtocail attention to the manner of ensuring the steamer St. George: in his opinion it was not a real insurance. _ ,

The Seaman—The hon. member is correct. Great difficulty exisred in this respect, and it was a question if it would not be politic to do away with the insurance in future: at the time of year when the greatest risk oucurs, we were unable to effect insurance. unless at a high premium; and it was much to be regretted that the Pocahontas steam-boat had been sold: she was now lost to us,antl another is become requisite, indrspcnsably so. As to a second bout destroying the company altogether, as allii. (led to by the hon. member for King’s County, (Mr. Cooper,) in his (the Speaker's) opinion, it would have quite an opposite ten. dency. He felt bound to be pleased with the public support re- ceived; and another boat may enable us to ply to Georgetown and Other places; and if this can be effected, he had no doubt the present shareholders would be glad to encourage it by taking shares in the concern, ‘or more properly, if their present shares are taken off their hands by this Bill,they will again reinvest their property. The returns of the Company have exceeded the returns of steamers in England. This has been found to be an ttndouhtel fact; with so much matterthat can be easily adtluccd in faVorofthis Bill, he hoped to see it pass by a large majority.

Mr. D. .lllACDONAIJ) considered one Steamer quite enough ; he should oppose a second being put on; he could not understand the policy ofsucli a measure.

Mr. Cones could not see how hon. members could justify their opposition to Government advancing capital in this undertaking; let them look to the sums advanced for Daruiey Bridge—did any returns come frotu such votes ? no; for the capital itself was stink; but it was not at all probable that any would be sunk in the Steam Company, but that great benefit would be derived indirectly, if not directly, to Government: the public had come forward “‘llll as great an amount as the Government, and now that5 per cent. is secured to the private shareholderfiwell may it be called narrow mindedness ifit is not well suppb-r‘ted. as capi- tal can be found; he did not doubt but the Committee 'will view it in the light he does, and empower the Government to take up the remaining shares tvrth those of the Georgetown shareholders

Mr. Loxowonrn very much questioned if any other boat could be found, that iii so short a space of time had performed so great a distance. as the St. George Steamer; the amount of interest for the shares held and to be held by Govern- ment is oflrifiingconseqttence;it will not exceed £180; how could it be employed in a better way? The risk rtrn by the Steamer is so trifling, that he could not see why the expense of insurance should not be dispensed with in future; it had been said she was not afast boat; what ifshe was not very fast, is there no set ofl?

‘ does she not possess equivalents 1 has she ever been known to

put back? is there a single instance since she commenced run-

ning of such a circumstance?

Mr. Cooren again ruse, and wished to know why dust is to be thrown upon those who do not agree with some hon. members; but such attempts and similar acts caused the country to become in debt. (Here the hon. member went into a statement of what had been paid by Government to several boats for the convey- ance of the mails heretofore.) He lhoughtthe country would be paying more for the benefit of a few than under the old system; and if the whole country are to suffer for the conve- nience ofa few, Roads and Bridges are of more advantage.— Herea conversation took place, and a calculation was gone into by Mr. D Maclean and Mr. Longworth, the result of which we could not gather.

Mr. MAcAoLAv: trappeared indispensany necessary that steam should be employed, and he thought no comparison could be made between paying to one ofa stranger and that of it belong-

~ing‘lo us; there must be more satisfaction in the latter case ; he

could not be otherwise than surprised; he could but marvel at 3 in. members; he. considered it a waste oftime in talking about :“e Steamer St. George not having paid more ; it seemed to be I taught she should work miracles, and all but that she has ac- 4'timpllslted; he Would like to know what speculation, or even what steadily con'lucletl business, had paid better in the last reunand what may not be expected when people again beam to 'lles‘llf themselves; give her number trial. and if she be then found wanting. change the routes and see What that will do.

Mr MACGIEGOR assured hon. members that steam communi- onllon was of great importance, and we ought not to look at it ,.,i.-tv as 3 Pounds. Shillings. and Pence question.

‘yll‘, Tnenwrox, on rising to state his views ofthe metsure now _ 3.,” me House, dwelt particularly upon the advantages derr-

mje «intents-t newton.

vezl, by the disadvantages it had sustained previous to the Pl"; chase of the St. George ; it was not, as had been observed, to be. looked at only iii a pecuniary point of view ;,dependetice cairnow be placed on communications almost to a certainty, and ifan}: thing now that requires investigation takes place, itcan be well“- red into and corrected at once; even ifthe country should have a trifling sum to pay, it must'be a great object to possess so great a convenience; in his (M r. Thornton’s) opinion we could not calcu- late on the benefit, it effected so many either directly or indirect- ly; he much regretted that‘ .she had discontinued running to Georgetown, but if it was for the good of the public, they must submit; he hoped when another boat was put on, it would the" be found convenient to, now and then, ply to Georgetown, which will be thought a great convenience; the hon. member concluded by expressing a wish to insert a clause to the effect that when another steamer was purchased, she or the present one should occasionally ply to Georgetown.

Mr. MACAur.Av reminded the Committee that King’s County had some claim tipon their consideration; in his opinion quite as great as some other ports he could name ; for which reas‘on, as well as others he could adduce, he fully agreed with his hon colleague. _

Hon. 1. S. MACDONALD supported the Bill of this year, as he did that of last Session ; he then wished the country could have con- yeuiently found the menus, and he would have voted for the Government purchasing the pre~ent Steamer altogether, so con- vrnced was he of the. benefits to be derived ; members who had spoken should think of the sums paid to other boa's pieyrous to our possessing one. but they lost sight oftiiis difference; they car- ried our money away front, and this keeps it in the Islaml. '

Mr. RAE again ruse ; he thought hon. members .were going ahead very fast; at present we can form but u very slight Opinion when a. second hour will be put on the station; we should be careful so far as not to make a laughing stock of ourselves; be (Mr. Ru.) imagined the act of legislating for that which does not exist is very likely to produce that effect; he should pretcr stretch- ing out a little for the present boat. than to countenance the pulling on of another; it was generally considered wise to l0')l\' forward, and no one could justly accuse the hon. members for Georgetown of being behind.

Mr. Sechcn—l feel pleased to find the Committee view .lhe question iti its proper light, and more so, that it “'1”, lpercerve, he supported; another boat wrll enable us to perform mtich that i need not now fully enter upon ; a little I will just allude to; in the first place, I hope we shall have no more complaints from Georgetown; secondly, one or the other can take a trip to any part ofthe Island that may require it; and thirdly, I hope all complaints Will be prevented; inconveniencics have been felt by many; in my own person a case of grievance happened. which, was I fond of such a subject, would be better founded than some of the grievances we hear so much about tipon other matters; as to Nova Scotin taking any shares appears to‘ me of very little consequence ; the means can he found, and the coun- try remain uuiujured ; it has been very justly observed that we prevent the Circulating medium to a certain extent from leaving our shores; it does more than this, we get some, and shall mate, of our neighbours, which make" it the more pleasant.

Mr. COLEs was fully persuaded an additional Boat would be at- tended with beneficial results; he was also in favor of a more fre qucnt communication with so important a place as l’ictou. llc hiid met individuals there who expressed a desire to see the Island, bui. the length of time it would takc arid the present uncertainty deterred them; when this was obviated we should soon be sensible of the good effect. of a frequent communication. He anticipated a great influx of visitors and mercantile men; we may expect to see many embrace the opportunity of taking this place in their way to Miramichi and New-Brunswick, be (Mr. Colcs) could advance many other argu- mcnts to shew the effect of a more certain and regular steam corn- munication; he would not detain the Committee, but from the good effects he anticipated to the colony, he should give the Bill his Sup- ort. ,

p Mr. D. IlIACLEAN could not help expressing his double. He had been listening to hon. members for sometime; but he must confess he could not as yet understand by what means ttvo boats were ex- pected to pay when one did not.

The SPEAKER—Wt: have good reasons in support of the proposi- tion; by extending the route, We shall establish a communication with many places, with which we do not now possess the means, even with the Canndas. This may be ofsomc Considerable importance: in fine weather, the small boat. could take the place oflhe large one,(tvh2c';i might go to Halifax, to convey goods from lhertcc to Charlottetown and other parts of the Island, anti also occasional trips to other parts, where benefit could' be effected.

Mr. DALZIEL was ofthe sninc opiniort he had been all alon‘ ' ‘He thought, ah the steamer did not perform the duty, the Gem: té‘un shareholders had a right to expect relief; it was otin justice to hear them harmless, and he would give his support to cfl'cct that object.

. Mr. .MACINTOSH—uon- members seemed inclined to be as free with prophecy us they would wish to be with the public money. Had the Committee forgotten the fine tales of last year, when we consented to vote for a. hundred shares, to get. the sleainerundcr weigh. We are now called upoti for another trifle of public money, only a trifle,just merely a few remaining shares, and other fine that the Gcorgetown people are tired of; merely some 48 shares or so, quitc insignificant to n Colony so prosperous and so full of money or it now appears to be. He (Mr. Macintosh) was very much pleased to hear such glorious news; he must acknowledge his ignorance, for, previous to this, he was of a very diffcrcnt opinion; but we had better be cor-cful..or we may resemble the ft‘t‘g‘ in the fable. The benefits to be derived in one way and the other, from this steaming, appear so numerous, that scarcely a single individual would escape from its advantages in one way or the other; he would nowjust take the pri-

is, that he thought we ha‘d bet-

vilege to put in his sentiment, which iv’: ter “ cry over the money than after it.”

Mr. D. MACDONALD complained of the East. Point being neglected. This company did not showcr down upon that part. of lhe Island an of those boasted advantages. He (Mr. D. 'llacdonald) considered this was acting partially, and he could not understand why it should be excluded. .

Mr. FRASER addressed the Committee on the part he took last session, when this matter was before the House; he then opposdd the grant to enable Government to take up a hundred shares. He at that time stood alone; he must confeSs, as it was gone into, he would not now wish to see this Bill thrown out altogether; but. he would not support it any further than taking up the shares of the Georgetowrr proprietors. The. SPEAKER—The situation in which the hon. member then stood, he had not forgotten, and something that had come to his knowledge since rcspccling the hon. member was quite as fresh in his memory. He (the Speaker) had becii told by undoubted authority, that. the hon. member had received a sound rating from his constith- cnts, solely on account of his not supporting the measure then passed by the House. Mr. Dousa, in his usual pointed and straight-forward mode of addressing the House, made some strong observations in favor of en- couraging the Steam Navigation Company, and contended that not- withstanding the lukcwarmricss of some hon. members regardinv it, he fell. assured, that its convenience could not be otherwise that? at- tcntled with a general good to the Colony. Ht: (Mr. Duttse)cxprcss- ed himself anxious to extend its convenience by additional steam, and hoped to see the day when a boat would ply regularly between the different parts of the Colony ; and he would not object, for his, part, that. the port near “ Sailor’s Hope” should be tiic clearing port from this colony to Van Diemaii’s Land, provided that those persons who were so anxious to leave the Colony should avail themselvest‘of so favorable an opportunity, if 3 Steam Company be established to keep up it direct litre of steam communication between those places.

The afternoon sitting ofthe Home. was chiefly occupied in debating on the Bill, which was again taken up; to insure or not to insure: the power of the second steamer, the per centagc to be paid to share- holders, the number of votes to be allowed consequent upon takino‘ up the extra.ehares by Government—were Severally dwelt upon by hon. members at considerable length. One hon. member again allu- ded to the impolicy of granting more public money to so indiscreet a purpose, as, in his opinion, the better regulation of the mails was the chief or only thing we should look to. These observations called forth a very energetic and spirited reply from the hon. speaker, who said he could but. marvel at. such narrow-mindedness; from one, too, who was not so particular about the appropriation of public money When he himself was tobe benefited ; and who could, said the hon. speaker. if he chose, tell us what had become of a certain sum of public mo. ney which. up to the present time, he had not accounted for. Seve- ral amendments to the Bill were moved by the hon. member for King’s County (Mr. COOper), which produced considerable animadyereion but which were severally negatived by large majorities. ’

THURSDAY, March 16. The House resolved itself'into it control on the Billto amend the Act relating to Licenses for the retail of Spirituous rind Fermented Liquors. The ortly amendments made. to the existing law were, that no licen- ses shall in future he issued for a shorter time than twelve months; and that all persons having a license shall in fu- ture be compelled to keep the some hung tip in some cori- spicuous place iti such tnvern or store. These were the only alterations that the friends of Temperance, n: Whose instance the bill was introduced. could suggest as necessary

ttee ofthe whole

amendments, and thereu

oftlin Stentn Navigation Cont

tipprolinlion oftlie Slirircltoltltern lightened regard to thc iinprtiveiimiit and of outniiitinicutiori \vi.li 959(‘Hlllill ll} [he gullerill priispn attention to the internals trftlte [perch-re request tlio Directors, signify the approbation and nonsc

».

Mr. A. Macleart, from the Committee to whom was refer- red the Petition ofAiigtiii M‘lsunc, the Contractor for hUIld‘ .ing a' Wharf at Miuchiti’s Potiit, .opposno Charlottetown; praying remuneration for two additional Blocks and Bridges made by him to the said \Vharf, presented the Report of the Committee, recommending, although the said addition to the wharf Wns made without the sanction of the proper authori- ties, yet as the same will ittld tiiatei'tally to the iisefiilness of the said whnrf, that he be allowed the sum of Ninety Pounds therefor.—Comiitleration of the Report deferred. _