the creditors instead of deriving the benefit, found the estate absorbed between Sheriffs, Assignees, Inspectors, and other officials, called into existence by the law. The objection of the Solicitor General of Quebec, that there was no sufficient bunal for the trial of insolvent cases was well founded, and it was one of the practical difficulties met with in Western Canada. Viewing the matter from every standpoint and looking at its working in in the country, he was prepared to announce that the Bill was exceedingly derogatory to the commercial morality of the country. It was a scandal to the statute book, and he should vote for its repeal. If circumstances should arise and difficulties present themselves requiring a re-enactment of the law, the Legislature was always in existence to deal with the question. They heard on all sides that the country was prosperous, and such being the case, there was no present necessity for the law. He should vote against the motion of the hon. member for Peel, and would like a fair vote of the House on the question. If the House did not declare against the continuance of the law, he did not believe that many members who should vote in favour of its continuance would return after the elections.

Mr. ROSS (Dundas), said the effect of the Insolvency Law had been to demoralize an important class of the community-the retail dealer. He thought it had been the means of inducing many men who had good intentions to do business honestly, to involve themselves, and then take advantage of the Law. If any measure should be introduced to meet the circumstances he would support it, but should now support his hon. friend from Stanstead.

Hon. Mr. SMITH hoped a division would not be taken to-night, as many members were out of their seats. He therefore moved, seconded by Mr. YOUNG, that the debate be adjourned,-Carried.

The House adjourned at 10 o'clock.

SENATE.

THURSDAY, 25th April, 1872. The SPEAKER took the chair at 3 o'clock.

PETITIONS.

Hon. Mr, SANBORN favorably reported, from Committee on Standing Orders and Private Bills on following petitions :

Of W. H. Gault and others of the City of Montreal, praying to be incorporated as "The Exchange Bank."

Of H. S. Howland and others, of the City of Toronto, praying to be incorporated as the "Pacific Junction Bridge Company," for the purpose of constructing a Railway or other Bridge over the river Ste. Marie, near the Sault Ste. Marie.

Of the Caughnawaga Ship Canal Company, praying for the amendment of the Act of Incorporation.

BAY VERTE CANAL.

Hon. Mr. DICKEY asked the Govern ment whether the Report of the Survey of

a Canal to unite the waters of the Gulf of

Saint Lawrence with the Bay of Fundy wil be submitted to Parliament, and when?

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL replied that it would be presented during the present session. The Engineers, who had been directed to report on the Canal unfortunately fell ill and the report was consequently delayed. It was now under consideration of Mr. Page, and would be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

WELLAND CANAL.

Hon. Mr. BENSON said that since he had given notice of his enquiry with respect to the supply of water for the Welland Canal, he found there was an item

already in the Estimates. It was, how. ever, very desirable to know what action the government intended to take in connection with this matter, for the parties interested were very anxious on the subject. Two propositions for remedying existing difficulties were before the gov ernment, and he hoped they would soon be in a position to state their decision.

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL replied that his hon. friend had seen there was an item in the estimates, and consequently his enIt was the wish quiry was answered. of the government to expend the money so that the object desired might be accomplished this season. The two plans proposed for increasing the supply of water had been reported upon by the Engineers, and elaborate reports in c nnection there with were now before the Board of Works, but he did not know what

FISHERIES.

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD sub

mitted. He also stated that the Report on the Fisheries was of such a nature that it could not be submitted without preju dice to the public service. The Government extremely regretted that they could not bring down the papers; but in doing so there might be cause of embarrassment between the Imperial and Dominion Governments, which be (Sir John) should regret.

Hon. Dr. TUPPER submitted the report of the Department of Marine and Fisheries.

Hon. JOHN H. CAMERON moved that the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery be ordered to attend at the Bar of the House to make, in accordance with the sugges tion of the Committee, the election return of Marquette (Manitoba) a double return.

(Dr. Lynch momentarily took his seat and withdrew.)

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS.

Mr. RYAN, (Montreal West,)-Whether the Government has taken any steps to have the Imperial Copyright Act re pealed, if not, whether they intend to take such action as to have the same repealed, as it bears most unjustly upon the inhabitants of the Dominion?

Hon. Sir FRANCIS HINCKS-The Government had strongly remonstrated against the Imperial Copyright Act, but had not taken any steps to obtain its re

otherwise, had been taken to obtain a change. Lord Macaulay, sensible of the injustice of the act towards the colonies, had urged its repeal and there were hopes that we should ultimately succeed.

Hon. Mr. McKEAGNEY,- Whether it be the intention of Government to make provision in the Estimates for cutting a canal through the portage which sepa. rates the waters of the East Bay, Bras D'or Lake from those of Sydney Harbor, or to take any steps for the purpose of accomplishing said work, which taken in connection with St. Peter's Canal would be of vast importance to trade and navi. gation generally ?

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN said that the en. gineer appointed to examine the St. Peter's Canal would give his attention to this matter also.

Hon. Mr. McKEAGNEY,-Whether it is the intention of Government to make provision for the construction of a Marine Hospital at the port of Sydney, Cape Breton, now so urgently required by the increasing trade and shipping in that locality?

Hon. Dr. TUPPER-The Government a Marine Hos had provided for

pital at Sydney, Cape Breton.

Hon. Mr. McKEAGNEY,-Whether it be the intention of the Government to make provision in the Estimates for the construction of a Lighthouse at Gabrus Harbour, Cape Breton, now so much required for the purpose of protecting the large interest engaged in navigation and shipping along the Southern coast of Cape Breton ?

Hon. Dr. TUPPER-It is not the intention of the Government to do so.

Mr. FOURNIER,- Whether it is the intention of the Government to complete the lot of land necessary for the construction of the Post Office now in course of erection in Quebec, by purchasing from the Hon. Henry Black, his property which adjoins the said Post Office?

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN.-The matter is under the consideration of the Government.

Mr. STEPHENSON,-Whether it is the intention of the Government in view of the increased Revenue of the Dominion, to introduce a measure to totally abolish or further reduce the rates of postage on newspapers printed and circulated within the Dominion of Canada ?

Hon. Sir FRANCIS HINCKS.-It is not. The Post Office expenditure is largely in excess of the Revenue.

Mr. DELORME (St. Hyacinthe) Whether it is the intention of the Govern.

ment to bring down a measure to facilitate the incorporation of the different Boards of Trade of the Dominion, now applying, or which may hereafter apply for an Act of Incorporation?

Hon. Sir JOAN A. MACDONALD.-It is not. Any Board of Trade can obtain an Act of Incorporation without difficulty. Mr. THOMPSON, (Cariboo)-Whether it is the intention of the Government to assimilate, during the present year, the Postal arrangements in British Columbia to those in the other Provinces, by extending the Money Order System to that Province where Post Office Orders are now only issued on Great Britain?

Hon. Sir FRANCIS HINCKS said it was the intention of the Postmaster General to send a Post Office Inspector to British Columbia, and on his report action would be taken.

Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON, in moving for a Return of all officers pensioned since the 1st July last, complained of the man. ner in which the Act had been put in

force in New Brunswick. An old man who had been appointed to an office in his District had received a pension of $400 after four years service, and a brother of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries had been appointed in his place. He complained of the manner in which the patronage was dispensed in that Province. Nothing could be done without the intervention of the Minister of Marine, and whenever he sought information in any of the Departments he was always met with the answer, "Go to the Minister of Marine " (laughter.) As there was another motion on the paper with regard to the Superannuation Act he would allow his to drop, reserving further remarks until the other motion came up.

GRENVILLE CANAL.

moved for copies of Instructions, Correspondence, &c., respecting_certain divisions of the Canadian Pacific Railway Survey. He stated, with reference to the Divisions in his part of the country, that there had been great mismanagement and unnecessary expense, and thought that the country should know who had been the cause of such mismanagement. In the Ottawa Valley it was well known that the laboring men, axemen, &c., who had been engaged were unfit for the service and the Commissariat had been neglected. When the men had gone about 100 miles of their journey they had been obliged to wait for nearly a month so that they might get the provisions absolutely necessary for them, and when they did arrive it was found that a large amount was useless. For in. stance, three barrels of flour to 100 barof sticking plaster for forty men (laughrels of sugar had been sent, and 30 yards. ter). He alluded to the dismissal of the the result of the investigation into his Engineer on Division C, and thought that case should be laid before the country. other means of supporting himself except He presumed that that gentleman had no might now attach to him, it was only right by his professional labor, and as stains in order that he might be cleared, if not that the report should be before the douse, guilty of neglect.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN said there was no objection to the motion. In answer to the remarks of the honorable gentleman, he would say that in these surveys, as well as in all others of such an extent, some mis. management would occur; but taking the whole extent of the survey, everything had been done that could be done. A proper survey had been made within the time fixed by the Act. The honourable gentleman might have been wrongly inall events, the 30 yards of sticking formed as to the mismanagement; but, at plaster would not amount to much. The papers would be brought down.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE desired to ask the Minister of Public Works whether he intended to place any general report of the progress of this survey on the table before taking any action with regard to the Pacific Railway? He thought it im portant that the House should have the information before going into the discusof the subject.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN replied that it. was the intention of the Government to lay the report before the House as soon as possible.

Mr. BODWELL in moving that the House go into committee to consider a Resolution declaring it desirable to adopt the 4 feet 8 inch gauge in the construction of the Intercolonial Railway, said that he did not make the motion from any feel ing of hostility to the enterprise, but in the interests of the country. He did not propose to discuss the subject of the location of the road, or refer to the unsurpassed folly in selecting the North Shore route, but as the road was to be built, he thought it should be completed in the most satisfactory manner possible. It would be remembered that when the question of the gauge of the Intercolonial Railway was brought before the House on a former occasion, a large number of members were in favor of five feet six inches, in preference to four feet eight and a half inches, but he believed that after careful consideration a majority of the House would now come to the conclusion that in the interests of the country it would be better to adopt the narrow gauge. The Railways in the United States were nearly all built with a gauge of four feet eight and a half inches. The Great Western Railway, and many other Railways in Ca da, had seen fit to adopt a narrow gauge, and the Government had determined, as announced last Session, to construct the Pacific Railway on that principle. When Railways confined their rolling stock to their own roads as formerly, it did not matter so much, but now it was quite common to allow the rolling stock of one road to pass over another, in order to save the necessity of breaking bulk. He thought it desirable that our roads should be so constructed that we might take advantage of the connection which we expect to have with other Railways. If the dreams of some were ever to be realized, that not only local traffic, but the trade of China and other countries in the East with Europe, would follow our route from the Pacific to the Atlantic, it was most desirable that the Intercolonial road should be constructed, so that freight might go through without breaking bulk. The argument would be used that the Grand Trunk Railway was built on the five feet six inch gauge, and that that would be an obstruction. But at the last meeting of the Grand Trunk Shareholders the question was brought up, and the remarks of the President of that Railway went very strongly in favor of changing the gauge so as to correspond with other railways on this continent. The only

expense. It might be said that a changé on the Intercolonial Railway in the present state of the work would involve an increased expenditure, but he apprehended that the additional expense would be more than counterbalanced by the saving that would be effected in constructing the remainder of the road for a narrow gauge. Viewing the matter in this light he thought it desirable that a movement should be made now, in the infancy of the work, to build the railway on the proper gauge, He hoped that in considering this question the House would set aside every consideration except that of the best interests of the country.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN said that the honorable mover of the motion had not, in his opinion, stated any good reason why this change should take place. He con siders a change of gauge necessary because the general gauge of railways on this continent is 4 ft. 8 inches. If we had to build anew our railways he (Mr. Langevin could agree with him that we should adopt the general gauge of the continent. But the great railway of this country, the Grand Trunk Railway, has a gauge of 5 ft. 6 in., and the honorable gentleman has not shown us that that railway company is ready to change the gauge of that railway, or that they have the means of doing so. He knows that the expense involved in that change would be very great, and he knows fully, and the country knows. that the Grand Trunk are not disposed now to make the change, and have not the means at their disposal. If Parliament were to adopt the suggestion of the honorable member, what would be the consequence? We should have the Grand Trunk, the great highway of Canada, with a gauge of 5 feet 6, and the Intercolonial 4 feet 81. What advantage would be found in a change of that kind? It would cause great delay and endless trouble and annoyance at Riviere du Loup, where passengers would have to change, and freight to be transhipped. He (Mr. Langevin) did not see any advantage in such a change. The honorable gentleman had forgotten that all the railways in the Lower Provinces running in connection with the Intercolonial had the broad gauge, and that therefore the result of the change proposed would be to compel a change of passengers and freight at Moncton, Wind. sor, and Truro. The Windsor and Annapolis Railway, also 8 connection of the Intercolonial, had the broad gauge, and the members from the Lower Provinces knew that that railway was not