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Weekly

Hournal of Politics, Literature,

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and slews.

“'This is tene Liberts, when Frecborn Men, having to advise the Public, may speak free.”---Euripides.

Vol. X.

Sti

x . . : . a . ’ 2 . Provincial Parliament, SoabiibhAN NE Ata hij i nbhiaadlimsidapanuliitanaant LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wepxespar. 2nd Feb., 1860. AND. MIS RXCELLENCY'S

THE aDPRESS, KEPLY.

PRESENTATION OF

The Address, which, as has been previcusly stated, was, sc: Ordog 'o parliamentary usage, a mere echo of the Speech, wes, this day, at twenty minutes before twe ve o'clock, presen'- edo lis Excellency, in the Library, by the whule House in a

body. LlLs Excellency was pleased to make the following REPLY: : Mr. President and Honorable Gentlemen ef the Legislative Cou neal .

I bey to express to you my sincere thanks for the liearty co- oreration your Address assures to me in such measures as | hive introdaced to your notice, and which, L trust, way con- duce to the welfare of this Colony.

or the generous sentiments of good will an! welcome that your Address conveys, | entertain a deep sense of gratification, wad a no less firm confidence in your just exertions and wel! directed efforts.

TuurspayY, 23rd Feb-, 1860. DESPATCHES.

Hiix Honor the Presipenr.—As His Honor Mr. Palmer is in his place, | should like to be informed, by him, when we may expect to have laid before us such Despatches as it ts proper sheuld be communicated to us.

Hon. Mr. Paumer.—No Despatches, | believe, will be sent | down to this Louse to-day ; but, | hak these with which it concerns the Legisistare to be made acquatnied forthwith, and such especially as it concerns this Connect! to have immediate knowledge of, will be sent down early next week,—probably | on Monday.

Farmar, 24th Feb., 1860.

P TIFTION FROM THE TRUSTEE! OF BRACKLEY POINT SENOOL

Ion. Mr. Jounson, by leave, presented a P. titica of the Teacher and T.usiees of the B ackley Point School, Township Nuwuder Thirty-three, praying that the Legislative Counc will concur with the [louse of Assembly, in granting the sum of £11173 Gi, bemg the balance dee the Teache-:, for his services, in the year 1859, the sane having been withheld in consequence of the average number of Scholars in attendance heving, owing to the prevaience of an epideme m the district, fallen below the average required by Law.

Ur dered, Viat the said Petition be referred to the Special Comtee appoimed to report on all Petitions relating to BRducation

Tvuespay, 2h Peb., 1860. PETITION FOR THF FESTABLISUMENT OF A SAILING PACKE! BET WHEN THE HARBOR OF CASCUMPKC AND MIRAMICHI! RIVER

Ilen. Col, Swapey, by leave presented a Petition of divers Inhabirants of Cascuimpee, Kildare, and neighbouring setile- ments, ia Prince County, praying that the Howse will concur wih the House of Assembly, in geeming a sum towards the est blishment of a Sailing Packet, fo- the conveyence of goods | and passengers between the Larvour of Cascuupee and Mira- michr K "wer, N ‘w Bronsweek.

Ordered, ‘Virat tie said Petition be referred to the Special Commitee appomted to repert on all Pettions relaung to tatscellaneous subjec |

Wepxespar, 20h Feb, 1860.

OF CLERK OF COUNCELS.

BILL FOR S#PARATI\G THR OFFICES

PXNGCUTIVe AND LEGISLATIVE

SUE

Hon. M-. Llavitano, at the Bar of tie Council, presented a Bll tur sepyrating the office of Clerk of the Executive Council trom that of C.erk of the Legiwlatwe Counc:!l, which, he stated, | had pas-ed the House of Assembly; and, on behalf of tha Kody, d-sired the coacurrenee of the Legislative Council in lhe measure.

Vhe said B:l] was reod the first time.

VOLUNTEER FORCES.

Hon. Col. Swasey.—Mr. President, I rise, ptrsuant to! notice, to ask leave ty introduce a Bill forthe regulation of the Volumeer Companies in the course of bemg raised in the This has become necessary from the absenee of any ling? now ae, attaching to that service, and ts desired by the officers of these Corps, And, although certain regulations are in the Royal Gazetle, «8 approved of by Hiis Excetleney, the Commande:-in-Cael ; yet to put those ve y regulations, »h.tever they may be, in force, the aid of an} rnectment is required. That which | have prepared is in| *t ict conformity with the tustructions of Ller Majesty's Secre- tary for the War Departisent, ane the Act of the 44th Geo. 3, | to which he refers, and, ow winch | fave acted fur several | years in England, wm the capsery of a Yeomanry Officer. 1) do not now enter the question of the raising of Volunteer Corps, my busiwess is to regulate them. The extraordinary and sublime epectacl. of a nation rising as one man in defence ef us howe, and in cefiance of threats of foreign aggression, cannot fail to extend its sprit to its dependencies ; and, if we are to have Volumtecrs, they should be made manageable, What was called the * war fever,’ in Eugiand, had, indeed, not long age, greatly abated ; but political affairs have again | changed thew aspect; and no one in England pow sees safe | grounds ‘or abat.ny wur defensive preparations. This is evi- denced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s moving for the i means of supplying naval forces to the amount of 85,000 eea- | inte and marines, whilst 560 Armstrong guns are embarked on* board the fleet; and | hove it fron no Jess authority thas that of the General Officer of Artillery in charge of this form | dab'e department, that they will bit, at S miles, any vessel, these times out of foor ; and each gun is fitted with a telescope to command the sigit of that distance ; whilst the light artillery oo land never fail to bit a single board ata mile; and Sir Wham Armstrong has undertaken to increase the range, from | siups, from 5 to 64 miles. There are now, in an effective state, | 85,000 wormed vo unteers, while in progress of arwament there | are thousands more. Besides providing for what may be termed the immed:ate military diseipline of the Volunteer Corps, there are many -U>sidiary arrangements to be male In the Bill, ali such regulations are, upon Britssh precedenis. duly provided tor. Among these, lL inay now pariicularize—for the purpose | of giving your Honors some idea of the general character of these needful subsidiary regulations,—one providing for the proper distribution, preservation, and recovery of the arms provided for our use, by the Home Government, and another | empowering [lis Excellency the Lieut. Governor to disiniss or dissclve any corps, » bes it shall appear to himto be expedient todo so. In having taken upon me to introduce this Bill, ir inty, perhaps, be said I have invaded the province of the | Government; but, even if Ihave dove so, I trust, in my lon | professions! experience, which ought to have fully qualified me to prepare such « meosure, there will be found a sufficient | apology for my seeming officiousness The necessity—the | absolute necessity-~which, at present exists for the adoption of such a measure, by the Leyislature, will not, | presume, be denied by any of your Honors; and |, at the least, hope for a | c ncurre. Ce in opinion with myself, as respects the p inc ple of ut, from his Honor the Leader of the Government 1 think | there never was a period, in the history of the empire of Great B:itain, when so strong, 80 urgent a neceseiy ex sted, for the | putung of the country in an imposing atiitude of defence, not | only at Llom*, but in all her Dependencies. Hence the great p opriety of the volusteer mabitary movement in this Island; and the necessity fur its being properly encouraged and rezu- lated, by the Legislature and the Government. As | have aitea’y observed, the * war fever,” in England, was repre-eut- ed 4 soort time age as having almost altogether subsided ; bur recent accounts shew that it now prevails to @ greater extent | and with @ deeper intensity of feeling thaneve’. The undue | concession which, i the Commercial Treaty, la'ely concluded | between the E nperor of France and the Government of Great | Britain, hae been invade by the British Ministry to France, | ging immediately, at once, to that ce untry, all the advantages which free trade wmiercourse, with Great B-uain, can bestow | upon it, whilst the concessions which. on the basis of recipro- | eal tree trade, shou'd, on the part of France, have, at the sam~ tine, been conceded tu Great Britain, are to be withheld from | Great Brita, for viree years, in cousequence of an engage- ment of the Emperor of Franee, with the manufscturers of that. country, to continue for a certain period of Years the unposition | of protective duties upon imports from Great Britain—to be. Withheld from Greet Britain for three years. ‘The unequal | terms upon which this Treaty has been concluded, and the | fan ish venerosity therein displayed towards France, by the Bri ish Government, is, by no means, to the taste, ether of the | p ople of Great Brnain at large, or of their represeutatives in Varhiament; and the mejority of the House of Commons have actua'ly ignored the principle upon which the unequal treasy | was concluded, and the geueral discontent which it has caused, | wud the outcry which has been raised against i', throughout |

Island. j

legal oblig s1OnS, as

Great Britain, are daily and rapidly increasing. ‘This being f \ 4

the case, the British Government will be compeiled, in obedi-| jence to the voice of the people, to recede from their over-indul-

gent and unequal engagement with the Emperor of France ; and stch a retrocession on the part of the British Ministry — and stich a retrocession appears inev table—it seems to be justly calculated, cannot fail to excite the indignation and arouse the warlike spirit of the French people. as with too much reasOn itis expected in Great Britain, there

Should things so fall out, |

will be a rupture ef thé good anderstanding which has now |

subsisted between Great Britain and France for some years ; and war between the two countries will, in all probability. directly ensue. Such, with respect to the unequal treaty of which | have spoken, and its seemingly ine itable infraction by the British Government, are the sentiments and anticipations

‘of the people of Great Britain; and, as a proof that they are

correctly stated by me, | need only refer to the inmmense, the

unparalleled military and naval preparattons which are now ‘beng umade in England for the defence of the count y, of which

I have already spoken T'hese vast warlike preparations on the part of the Government, and the people of Great Britain, most clearly indicate what they apprehend. There is no relax- a'ion of the volunteer system; but, on the contrary, it is daily extending and gaining ground throngh the patrictic feelings of all classes of the pecple, and their well-grounded apprehensions of a war with France ; and. as it is quite possible that cieum-

stances may arise here, which will render tt imperative wpon us

to turn ont for the defence of our libertv, properues and lives, the sooner we take steps te pul ourselves in a posture of defence he betier. without a system by which they are to be regulated and con- trollee, is quite ridiculous. | have often been told by youn farmers, who were abvut to join my Yeomanry Corps, that they would readily serve, provided discipline were kept up, and Tam convinced such is the desire amongst the volunteers here With these observations [ teg leave to introduce a Bill for the regulation of Volunteer Forces in this Island.

tlis Honor’s motion having been seconded by the TIon. Mr. Hutchinson, the question thereon was put by Us Lfonor the President, end the motion having been unanimous!y agreed to

i His toner Cologel Swabey, by permission, read the Bill in his place.

HOUSE

mem ~~ ——— OF ASSEMBLY. Wepyespsy, February 22. AETERNOON SITTING.

BILL TO SEPARATE TIE OFFICES OF CLERK OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

Hon. Mr. HAVILAND in moving the first reading of this Bill, explained its provisions, and the necessity which ex- isted for the changes it was designed to effect. The pre- sent Clerk of the Executiveand Legislative Councils, Chas DesBrisay, Esq , was greatly overworked. In the year 1851, the hon. member, the leader of the Government of that day, with tho desire of acquiring a reputation for eco- nowy, hada Bill passed uniting in one person the two offices, and fixing the salary at £125 a year. When it was found that the work was entirely too much to be per- formed by any one man, another Act was passed combining the offfees of Assistant Clerk of the Councils and Road Correspondent, the duties of the latter office having been previously attached to the Colonial Secretary's department The salary of the officer was fixed at £100 per annum.

Sut those salaries were increased by a side wind. The late Government had not the manliness to admit that the publie officers had not sufficient remuneration—that £1295 a year was an inadequate sum for the Clerk of both Councils, and then assume the responsibility of openly increasing the amount by amending the Bill, but the Legislative Council wus induced to come to their relief, and accordingly voted to Mr. DesBrisay £150 a year for preparing au Index to their Jvurnals—thus giving that gentheman,for a work which he evuld perform in ap hour or two, more than his year's sentatibls salary as Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils. Such conduct was perfectly ridiculous; the reason for it was, however, obvious enough. Besides, their newly appuinted Assistant Clerk whose salary as such and as Road Correspondent bad been fixed by law at £100 a year, re- ceived from the Council £50 fur assisting Mr. DesBrisay tu prepare the Iudes—so that the Journals shew that the preparation of a page or two of Index to the Journals of the Legislative Couneil was paid for atthe rate of £200 a year. The truth was, the late Government lacked the moral cour- age which would have induced them to act openly and above boar: inthis matter. What difference did this covert voting of his money wake to the pocket of the tax puyer! He would rather that the amount should be paid under Statate. In that case he would know what amounts these oficers were receivieg, and be would no longer be hood- winked as be had been. The Brill provided fur a separate Cierk for the Legislative Council, aud a Clerk and Assist- ant Clerk for the Executive Council, the duties of which office had of late become sv onerous that two eflicient per- suns were necessary to the proper discharge of them. It would be necessary that, in case a vacancy should occur in the office held by Mr DesBrisay, to whose efficiency, zeal and devotion to his duties, the hon. member bore most willing testimony, there should be some one to assume his post, cunversant with the business of the office, the intro- duction to which of any person unacquain ed with the routine and details, would lead to inextricable confusion. That was another reason, besides the amount of work to be verformed, whieh rendered the second officer necessary.

lion. Mr. COLES wight, perhaps, give the measure a helping hand, notwithstanding the references which had been made to the late Government. As to the * side wind’ by Which the hon. mewber had said that the salaries had been increased, the same system had been in practice for the last twenty years. Under the late Government two officers did the work of both Couneils and that of the Road Correepondent’s Oilice besides; but now the Government had taken the Assistant Clerk to work in the Seeretary’s Office. fle had been iuformed by Mr. DesBrisay that Mr. Morrison had not been at his seat in the Council Cuumber this Session. As to the Assistant Clerk of the Executive Council, the Governueut dismissed the former incumbent of that office, and when the Legislative Council employed him, as they had a perfect right to do, to perform certain necessary work, the Government refused tu pay him the sum voted tou him. ‘There was a great deal of work to Le done, and the Government would not aliow him to finish the Counei! Journals of last Session, which were not yet completed, and consequent'y not published. Tue Louse voted a sum sufficient tu pay the contingent expenses of the Legislative Council, which body was the sole judze of the amount of such expenses. ‘The refusal of the Government tu pay the amount was but a petty exhibition of political spleen, and was without a precedent in the annals of our legislation. ‘The Executive had paid the two otier Clerks who had done comparatively little work. As to the pro- posed inereage ju the nau ber o! ofBeers, he would ask, why,

if, under the late Government, two were found suflicient to perform the duties specified in the Bill, now increase the pumber? The idea of the late Government was tu have an Assistant Clerk, who should become vunversaus with all the business of the Councils, and thus be enabled to assist Mr. DesBrisay, who certainly was thoroughly conversant with the details of his office, and an able and worthy officer, but who was wiserably overworked, and cenfined tu his desk not only during oftee hours, but almost from daylight till he retired to bed. If the Colonial Secretary required an assistant, let him have one. There was work enough for an assistant in the Secretary's Oilice, without interf ing with the business of the Ruad Correspondent. The Secretary bad to communicate frequently with the Lieut. Goveraor, and with private individuals, on matters of business connected with bis department, and there must be sume one to attend to the work of the ollice—the issuing of licences, commissions, &c. ‘The priucipal difficulty he saw was, thateven ifthe Bill became law, there would be nuthing to prevent the Legislative Council voting their own Contingent expenses.

Hon. Cul. GRAY rose for the parpose of explaining the circumstances which induced the Executive to withheld the sum of £100. voted last Session by the Legislative Council to Mr John Ball as secoud Assistant Clerk. Ue had, us a member of the Government, garefully exumined the case, without reference to individual or party. lle rusted tre would in all cases du so. The Legisiature bad po power to vole anything tv such an ollicer, The Statute virtually deprived them of any such authority, and if they eould yore £100 iu this manner, they wight as well vote £1000.

IIon. Mr. COLES asked, how it was that the Council voted extra pay to Mr. DesBrisay and Mr. Morrison !

flon. Mr. LUNG WORLU.—Beeause they were recognized by Statute.

|

|

At any rate, the organising of Volunteer Corps, |

Hon. Mr. POPE said that the ire of the leader of the op- position was excited, as the matter concerned the peeuniary interests of his son-in-law. For that reason, imputations were thrown out against the Government. The Statute provided a Clerk and Assistant for the Legislative Council, but the latter officer did not suit them, although he was more efficient than the one they had appointed.

lon. Mr. COLES was not te be deterred from stating his views by any insinuations of the nature of that they just beard, As to the comparative efficiency of the gentlemen referred to, the late assistant would not suffer by compari- son with Mr. Morrison. ‘The present Government had not found fault with bim, as to the manner in which he had performed his duties. He bad been employed and had per- formed, as far as he was allowed, and was willing to com- plete, the duties of the situation to whieh he had been ap- pointed. The labourer was worthy of bis hire, and when the House voted the cuntingent expenses of the Council last Session, they were aware that Mr. Ball had been, and then was, employed as one of the Clerks. The duty of the Gov- ernment was to have paid Mr, Ball, and notified him that in future they would reeoguize no vote in his favor. Had the House, last Session, intended to restrict the Council in its expenditare, they should have accompanied the vote with an express exception of the party referred to

lion. Mr. UAVILAND said that independently of the Statute, the right of appointment of Clerks to the Council was in the Government. Under the Statute passed in 1851, the Government appointed a Clerk to both Councils, and when it was found that one officer was not sufficient to per- form the duties, an Act was passed in 1855, authorizing the appointment of an Assistant. Last Session the legally ap- pointed Assistant was not half am hour at the Clerk’s table before the third Clerk was introduced. That gentleman was not, and could not be, constitationally appointed. If, as had been said, the Government had acted in violation of law, the party aggrieved could appeal to the proper tribu- nal for redress, as had been done by Mr. Scott, a contrac- tor under the late Government, who had made good his claim before a Court and Jury, and if Mr “Ball could prove his case, he would earn the credit of having triumphed over the Government. The usual and constitutional mode in in such cases, was to vote a sum sufficient for the contin- gent expenses of the Council, and it would be most irregu- lar and improper to make an exception against any in- dividual.

lun. Mr. COLES.—Tt was eertainly very generous in the hon. member of the Guvernment to refer a party who bad performed his work, toa Court of Law, to get paid. He could only sue those who had employed him. In the year 1854 Mr. Morpeth was appointed Assistant Clerk to the Legislative Council, and when the liberals returned to power, they paid him £100, although he wasa_ political opponent. ‘Chey did not on that oceasion withhold his pay on the plea that there was no law authorizing his appoint- ment,

Lion. Mr. HAVILAND.—The Government in power when Mr. Morpeth aeted as Assistant Clerk made no epecias agree- ment with him, and they did not pay him, because there was no law which would justify them in doing so, bat were prepared to let bis claim come before the House at the then next Session. Ile thought that Mr. Ball should have adopted a similar course; bat 2s he bad placed his claim on presumed legal rights, he should enforce it before the legal tribunals of the Country.

The Bill was then read a first time, and the House ad- journed.

W M. Lowe, Reporter. Tuurspay,'’ February 23. BILL FOR SEPARATING THE OFFICES OF CLERK OF

THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

Ifon. Mr. HAVILAND moved the second order of the day, that the Ilouse go into Commiitee on the Bill for separating the vihices of Clerk of the Esceuuve and ikegtslutive Councils, and tor other purposes therein mentioned,

tion. Mr. COLES said that tus principal objection (o the Bill was, that provided for four salaried officials instead of two; it contemplated an juwerease of officials to do less work than was done before, as he would show. Formerly a copy of the minutes of the Executive Council had to be forwarded to the [lome Gov- ernment, but that was not required now; ut had been done away with by the late Government. ‘The basiness of the Executive Counc! was also less now than before, becuese there were fewer Council days. ‘The members of she Government eould not be called together on a short notice, as several of them resded at a considerable distance in the country, which circumstance he con- sidered a great inconvenience. Le then instaneed a case of a person coming to ‘Town all the way from Souris, on some business connected with ihe Council, which he was unable to get settled, as a meeting could not be called. Had the office of Depaty Colo- nial Secretary not been set aside, and the office of Road Corres- pondent not brought dowr” te the Colonial Secretary’s olfice, there would have been no necessity for the change comtemplated by the Billi. It would be better for the Government at once te admit that they were in error when they changed the offices last Session. For example, to-day he believed the Colonial Secretary was un- well, and the door cf the office was shut. A person should be appoited to the otlice as Assistant to do the business regularly. lie dod not knew if he would oppose the Bill; he was ouly ex~- pressing his opinions,

Ilon. Col. GRAY did not. think the Lon. member was very happy in his line of argument. Ele bad twitted them with the appolniment of officers, and again with their non-appointment. ‘They were here pledged to carry out the wishes of the country, and if they had done away with the deputies, it was because the people demanded that it should be done. At present, no doubt, the Colona! Secretary Jebored under many disadvantages; but they must do as the country required. Wah regard to the cbser- vation respecting the meetings of Coancil, he repudiated the hon. member’s objection. ‘The great beauty in all government is re- gularity, aud be saw no necessily for calling a meeting of Conneil whenever a man came ia from the country. ‘Phey had named the first and third ‘Tuesdays of each mombh, which he considered sutliciently frequent. [le comended that having a few more Council days scarcely gave the Clerk any more labour, because the work did not then accumalate in his hands so much as when there was considerable delay. Mr. DesBrisay bad frequently told him that he could not, unassisted, do the business of the ollice. And here the s)stem of the public oflices was wrong—they had tov many heads of departments, and too fuw Clerks.

Mr. HOWAT said that if they eoutewmplated change, by mak- ing more offices, and re quiring more money, it would be objec- tiouable. Efe thought the people did not care how many Clerks were employed, provided the principals paid them out of their own pockets. It was wrong to take the assistant out of another olice and pat him in the Colonial Seeretary’s office; but he con- tended any addition was required, the principals should get assistanis themselves.

Lon. Mr. COLES admitted that the Colonial Secretary hid done without an assisiant; but it was a great inconvenience im any ollice where papers bad to be compared. ‘The work was best done when best paid for, ‘The Goverament had committed an error when they departed from the departmental system, to which they would do wellto return, In the other Colonies the people were not opposed to nh; and in Nova Scotia at the present tune, the heads of departments lately appointed were going back lo their Comstiivents.

Hoa. Me. BAVILAND said there had been eoasiderable irre- gelarity this Session, for hon. members should enly speak ounce when the Speaker was in the chatr. With respect to the obser- vation about guug buck to the departmental system, they had heard it very often from the hou. member who had just sat down. It was well known that the country desired to test the present ‘Yo the people of this Islind it was immaterial what system the other Provinces might adopt; bet even in Nova Scotr the Leader of ile present Government teld no office of emolu- ment—he was vuly labouring for honor. In sp-aking to the Bill, however, hie would say that the work in the Road Correspond- eut’s Ollice altoyetier depended ov Ine manner in which the books were kept, entered, the labor was great, and nearly the same Whether the grants for the service were large or small. Frou Mr. Desblrisay he had received the mfor- mation that it Was no advantage to have the Road Correspondent Assistant Clerk of the Executive Counesl!, as the former vilice required lis undivided attention. Respectiag Ue offices in which a change was contemplated by the Bill, the expense would vuly be £55 more than under the Govervment of 1858,

Ilon, Mr. WIGU'PMAN had no of jection to the second reading of the Bill becuuse he belewed that ducteg the time he was ta the government, uo ofheer was more over-Worked than Mr. DesBrisay. ble was willng 10 take the pubhe money to pay an assistant io that gentleman, Notwithstanding all Gat had been said at the last Election respecting assistants oF deputies, he felt certain the Gov- went would have to go back to the eld system, Were the ‘l’rea- sures or Colonial Secretary to be paid at the same rate us com- mon servants? tle nsaintained that as the ‘Treasurer bad w take £150 out of bis salary for lis assistant, be was shamefully underpaid; and so also was the Colousal Seeretary. {t was disgraceluh that a Colony witha revense spwards of £30,000

could uot aflord to give wore respectab.e salaries lo is public

Systeu,

{fevery ilem was property

ollicers.

Hon. Mr. THORNTON concurred in the remarks of the hon. member for Murcay Uarbour, Por iis own part he had no objec tio to the Bell wuder considerauion. Que of its provisions was for the appointasent of au assistant to the Clerk ef the Executive

Ceuncil, therefyre it would have his support.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Tuesday, March 13, 1860.

lon. Mr. LONGWORTH had not mach to say on this subject. The Bill had been introduced for the parpose of facilitating the public business, or enabling the vfficers to do it with more satis- faction tothe country. The daties devolving upoo the Clerk of the Executive were every day becoming more arduous, ‘They had at present but one Clerk im the office, and he was advanced in years. Tt was unsafe to have only one person to look to, for should he be suddenly taken away, there would not be another qual.fied to step into his place, as it required a long training to render a person familiar with the peculiar natare of the duties to be performed. If Mr. DesBrisay was left whhout an assisiant, he would soon he broken down with the increasing busmess of the Co'ony. It was, therefore, the duty of the [louse to provide a remedy.

Iton. Mr. COLES.—The remedy was there.

Hon. Mr. LONGWOR'PH.—The remedy was not there, Trae, the Road Correspondent had been nominally assistant; bat he had very hitthe time to devote to the office. When the Com- mittee on pablic accounts came to examine the books, they would be able ta form an idea of the labour which the officers had to perform; and they would also see whether the accounts were not better kept now than they were ander the late Government. A good deal had been said m reference to the policy of the Govern- ment—that their object was to create offices. Bat m was well known that they had curtailed the expeaditure toa very consid- erable extent. They had. madea reduction of £100 a year in each of the principal offices of the Colony, and thoegh by this Bull £55 additional would be required, yet the expenditure would net be equal to that of last year. Mr DesBrisay would only have to do with one office; but one which required his undivided attention, as the Clerk of the Executive Couueil must be acquainted with all the books, and be able to give information respecting every grant when asked, ‘The Cletk of the Legislative Counei! was to receive £75, which would be quite seflicient. They had consid- ered it necessary to fix the sam which that officer should receive, to prevent misapplication of the public money. £150 had been granted by the Legislative Coenes for the important purpose of drawing up a few sheets of paper, or indexing the Journals. That an irresponsible body should vote whut money they pleased was not proper. ‘The Bill was a wholesome one. It was the duty of the Representatives of the people te take the responsibility of appoyriating the public money upon their own shoulders. Hon. “Mr. Coles’ argament respecting Council days was unsound. It w.s better to huye regalar day~; but extra meetings were some- times necessary. ‘lhe case winch had been referred to of the person who came in from a distant part of the country on bausi- ness with the Government, did not invalidate the argaments in favour of regalar days. Lie was acquainted with the case, and knew that the reason the individual had to return without accom- piishing the object of his journey, was not as had been stated by the leader of the opposition, for all the members of the Govern- ment were consulted; bat because they declined to pay him for the contract until the matter was laid before the House, which zone had the right of granting public money.

Mr. SINCLAIR wished to make a few remarks on the Bill. He thought if they on this side of the Llouse desired to injure the (ioverawent they would allow it te pass without opposition, Bat he came not there for the parpose of overthrowing the Govern- ment. Ile considered it to be his duty to oppose every increase of the expenditure of the public money- Le was inclined to give the Government a bit of advice. The country was very sensitive on the point of money; and if they continued going on year after year bringing in Bills to increase the expenses of the Colony ,they might know what to expect. It was well known that the people were opposed to deputies, because they thought these were doing the work while the principals were going about doing nothing. If Clerks were once appointed, they soon musi have higher salaries; thus the grants gradually crept ap. He theaght if the present Government carried on in this manner, they would not stand as ong as the last. He objected to the Dill,as it was only for increas- ing the number of Clerks.

Mr. DOUSE was surprised to bear the remarks of the gentle- man who had just sat@own, Mr, DesBrisay’s deties were very arduous, and instead of giving him an assistant, he thought that he should now receive a pension. ‘The most competent person in the Colony ought to be found to fill bis place, and he should now ‘Vo olject to the Bull beeause it would require the paltry sam of £50 additional—be was ashamed to hear it men- tioned. Lle would vote for the Bill though the sum were four timnesas much. With regard to the Registrar of Deeds, he did not know the person who held the office at present; but he deserved the greatest credit. Under the late Government, when the situation was filled by aa individual—a member of this House, too—who coeld seareely write Kis own name, he (Mr. Douse) could mot get amy work done in the office withoat waiting five or six weeks; but now he could get it whenever he pleased. The time might come when they would regret carelessness in that office, for by a slight change or omission ina deed, hundreds of pounds might be lust. Ue thought there ought to be an assistant in the office.

have ease.

Mr. DAVIES approved of the change contemplated by the Bill; indeed he considered it absolutely necessary, ‘The Bank could as well do witheut a Cashier as the Clerk of the Execative Coua- cil withoat an assistant. Mr. DesBrisay had, vo doubt, been overworked; and if he had received any little assistauce from the late Road Correspondent, be thought he had tendered quite as mach in retwrrn, Mz. Sinclair seemed ta be ef epinion that se many Clerks were not required; but an assistant was indispensi- ble when a number of vouchers had to be prepared, as Ht was highly important they should be made oui correctly, ‘T'o previde for an assistant to Mr, Desrisay would uot be an unnecessary expenditure,

On the question betng put that the Bill be now read a second time, it Was unanimously agreed to. The Bill was then read, and commiited to a Committee of the whole [ioase.

On the first clause being read—

fton. Mr. COLES rose and remarked, that notwithstanding all that had fallen from hon. members on the Government side of the Llouse, lie had heard nothing to convince him of the necessity of the Bill. Mr. Davies said that the late Road Correspondent had rendered very little assistance in the office; bat he (Mr. Coles) never heard any complaint at the time. ‘They were going to separate the office of assistant Clerk of the Council from that of Road Correspondent, and appoiut an additional officer. Bat the Road Correspondent, he presumed, was to receive £100, and be assisiant to the Colonial Secretary, which amounted to pretty mech the same as it was ender the late Government. Mr. Longworth had eommented ow the necessity of fixing the salary of the Cletk of the Legislative Council. It was all very weil to talk about the ndependence of the Representatives of Ure people, and their right to appropriate the public money; but when they went to the upper branch of the Legislatare, n might object to the mensure.

The Committee then rose, and the Chairman reported progress® louse adjourned for one hour.

D. Lainp, Reporter.

AFTERNOON SIFTING.

Committee on Bill to separate the Offices of Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils—resumed.

Mr. CONROY did not fully comprehend the whole scope of the Bill. Lf it were intended to inerease the salary and lessen the duties of Mr. DesBrisay, it should receive his hearty support. That gentleman was a most efficient pub- lie servant, and the manner in whieh the duties of his office were discharged, and the character of the documents which issued from it,were a credit to himself aod théColony which received the henelit of his services. He was an vid man now, and had long and faithtully served his country.

Hton Mr. COLES —The Bill would diminish his salary; it contemplated allowing him £2U0, while his salary bad been some years £275. Last year it -vas £240, un account of the employment of Mr. Ball.

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTHL.—By the Bill the principal duties and responsibilities of the Cierkship of the Execu- tive Council would still devolve upon Mr DesB-isay who, it was evident, could not discharze the multifarious duties of principal O.ficer to beth Councils. Hee wdially concurred in the tributes to his efficiency and devotion to the public service which had fallen from other hon. members, and the length of time he had spent in the publie serviee, and his advancing years, rendered it bat an act of justice that they should not overtax his energies of body and mind It was proposed to give him £200 a year as Assistant Clerk of the Executive, and to pay £75 toa Clerk of the Legislative Council. £200 a year was as littheas Mr. DeeBrisay could be expected to live on. [Lt wus considered expedient for the promotion of the public business that the Colonial S+ere- tary should be ex officiu Chief Clerk of the Exeeutive Coun- cil, without salary; and that Mr. DesBrisay should have an assistant under him.

Hon. Mr. THUORNTON.—Then I understand that Mr. DesBrisay, as Assistant Clerk, is to have £300 a year, out of which he is to provide for an assistant if he chooses.

Ilon. Mr. COLES said that in other Colonies, where the Departmental system obtained, the Culunial Secretary was a member of the Government, and se he should be here. The Government probably would wish his presence ia Counci! that he might assist in their deliberations, although not a sesponsible member of the Board. .

Loa. Col. GRAY supposed the bon. member was not aware of the advantages whieh would acerue to the public service from hasing the Secretary, ex office Cierk to the Council. It would tend gregtly to faugilacate all arrange- ments adopted in Council. At present the Cleik takes the

justructions of the Cuuncil,and has afterwards to refer to the

. _ tity San

Rew Series.---No., Secretary's Office. It was merely proposed to admit him, under oath. to the Couneil Chamber. to save unnecessary in> termediate communication. The Secretary could not be @ member of the Council. beeavse the people had willed other- wise. He admitted that the case was different in other Colonies ; but the question of his appointment as Chief Clerk of the Council rested with the Executive; the House could not interfere with it.

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.—The people had expressly declared their opinion against the Secretary being a mem- ber of the Couneil his admission to which,as a sworn Clerk, would tend to facilitate the public business.

Hon. Mr. COLES.—The Government were beginning to find themselves involved in differ}ties, as he had foreseen would be the result of the course they adopted, in exclud- ing Departmental Officers from the ffoors of the House. They had become a laughing stock te the other Colonies. liow was it possible that the Secretary eould be in his office while he was attending a sitting of the Executive Cowneil ! One deviation from correct principle leads to: others. This was the only Colony where offivials were ex- cluded from the Legislatare. The Government professed: great admiration of British institutions, and prided them selves on their attachment to the British Constitution; but they adopted the system which obtains inthe neighbouring Republic. Their ery for excluding Departmental Officers was a mere electioneering ruse, and they had better now face the difficulty of their position ina manly way, and confess that they had been deceived. Let them admit that they had been misled by a popular ery, and,acting on their convictions, put the Attorney General and Provincial Se- cretary in the flouse, As to the Bill, it was admitted by all that Mr. DesBrisay was overworked; but the Bill @id not specify that he was to have an assistant. ‘There was no reason for departing from the plan adopted by the late Government. The Road Correspondent and ‘Assistant Clerk of the Legislative Cownei} could also be Assistant Clerk of the Executi¢e, as, during the Session of the Legis- Jature, that officer bad nothing to do as Road Correspon- dent. Mr DesBrisay might attend to the Exeeutive Coun- cil alcne.