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read the first time: By Mr. Mowat--To provide for the voti by ballot on by--laws requiring the assent the electors. By Mr, Mowat--Respecting Voters' Lists. NEW COUNTIES, Mr, HARVY asked whether the Govern-- ment, during this Session, intend to introduce a general measure with respect to new county formations, or allow private legislation in re-- #pect thereto, or in respect to any particular Mr, MOWAT--It is not the intention of the Government during this session to intro-- duce any measure with respect to new caunty formations, and the Government will opposs any private legislation on the subject, Rockwood Asylum at Kingston from the Dominion Government, Mr, MOWAT --We are still negotiating with the Dominion Government with respect to that purchase, We have not been able to some to terms, but I hope we may be ablo unltimately to accomplish the object we have intention of the Government to purchase the 'TORONTO EYE AND EAR INFIRM. ARY. CORONERS' INQUESTS. Mr. McM AHON moved for a '"return of the number of inquests held by coroners through-- out the Province of Ontario dnrlnLthe gur 1874 ; how many of such inquests have bsen certified by the County Attorney in each county ip_vghlgh lu.oh Ifanu.tl were held, as Mr. BAXTER moved for a return of all correspondence between the Governament and the Board of Directors of the Eye and Ear Infirmary of Tgronto. He reminded the Hewe that that institution, which nad beca establizhed for a number of years, to the advantage not only of the citlzens but of the people of the Proviace, had reoelved Government aid during the past two years, The present building was found inadequate to meet the demands made upon it, a:x% the Boaid of Direotors had sent a communication to the Government asking for a sufficient amount of ald to enable them to increase the aize of the &remhel. He was not propared to say whether it would be pradent for the Government to grant that desired ald or not but the correspondence on the subject should be brought down to enable members to judge o' the merits of the application, The motion was carried, cases which in his opinion it was necessary | to hold such inquests ; and also, how mnoi | of such inquests the said officlal, in su ocunty, did not consider it neounr{':hat an | investigation should be held in." e hon. | | member read the law mpootindg the | holding of coroners' jurles, and also ' |\ a ciroular fssued by the (Covernment to | County Attorneys in 1873, instructing them to report whether there wore sufficient gronng: for holding the inqusests charged for under the meaning of the Aot. As coroner of the county of Wentworth, he complained. that this was a violation of the law, and that | with the coroners devolved the duty of de-- | ciding whether the cilrourastances war-- | ranted the holding of an inquest or not. ROCKWOOD ASYLUM, Mr. ROBINSON asked whother it is the | expenditure Mr. WIDDIFIELD said that he had pre-- pared a motion a short time ago, which cov-- ered almost the same ground, and was in-- tended to draw the attention of the Govern. ment to the whole question of coroners' in-- quests. _ He suggested that the question should be amended by tddlngtho !ouowln% words :--"Also showing the whole number 0 coroners in the Province at the present time, with theamountof fees paid during last year." Mr, McMAHON accepted the amond-- ment, Mr. CROOKS remarked that all the fc:su .fo: 'L'SFJSIu"EF}GE- in the Pro: vine were ultimately paid out l¢_b! the department. Jn oonlui:enco of abuses Ox-- isting in the holding of quests, either from the anxiety of coroners to make fees or from the ignorance of some of them as to their duties, the circular referred to had been issued. In many cases accounts were sent in for inquests which were held in direct vio-- Istion of the terms of the statute, The Act emphatically declared that inquests should be hald only when the cilroumstances attending e k _ 7 held onx when the circumstances attending tho death were suspicious and pointed to foul play; but in workinuhe Act an excossive * * ~Alture -- had n -- thrown _ uporn of abuses ox-- the public Treasury, The regulations undexjp_ which the County Attorneys reported upon the legality of inquests bein hel])d had hpn':l a wholesome effect in reduoizg the exrpenditure, 'The arrangement was one in the public interest, and was not intended to reflect on the body of coroners, who were composed of prominent medical men throughout the oountr{; They had found under the old system that there was a per-- feot rivalry between tha coroners as to who should get the work of holding inquest:, and their conduct was in many casc very un:-- seemly, Thepresent system w. , he be-- lieved, working well, Mr, CLARKE (Norfolk) said he had acted as coroner for more than 23 years and had beld more than 150 inquests, but had never held an inquest where he did not consider it necersary, but he knew that where he had refused other cororers had come in and held the inquest, He thought it was quite rlght for the Treasurer to prevent unnecessary in-- quests, He repudiated the statement that medical men would run after cases more than lawyers. Mtr, BETHUNE thought the Government ought to take this matter in hand. In his county there were more coroners when he was Clerk of the Peace than there had been inquests in ten years. He thought the whole business of the coroner would be well done by the sheriff, as the coroner did not make the post mortem examination and had to dis-- charge judicial functions. He understood that in }inhnd there was only ona coroner for a county, and the work was very well done, He contended that the Treasurer had perfect power to send out the circular he had sent out. Mr, McMAKON said the fees paid were not commensurate with the work done, It was placing the coroners in a degrading posi-- tion to ask the County Attorneys to ceriify to the correctness of the holding of inquests. He trusted the indignity which had been offered to the coroners would not be con-- Mr, WILSON said he had no doubt that a larger number of inquests had been held than were necessary, but he denied that it was owing to the desire of medical men to get the fees, _ Ho believed medical men were more competent to discharge the duties of coroners than sheriffs, Mr. BOULTER said no doubt the office" of coroner had been abused, but that was owing to go mux appointments b::i:& made. _ He opposed the suggestlion to e the sheriff Mr. ROSS considered it quite competent for the Treasurer to make regulations in re-- ference to this matter. There was no doubt that great evils had previously existed on the subject He urged that the medical evidence should be paild by the Government as well as the other expenses of inquests, While not agreeing that the sheriff should be made coroner, he was of opinion that others than doctors might be appointed to the cflice, Mr. CURRIE suggosted that affidavits -h?;.ldbe required before an inquest was he Mr. BARR did not believe any saving would reeult from reducing the number of coroners. _ He thought it degrading for the coroners to have to submit their ac:-- counts to the County Attorneys He thought medical men were the only compe: tent men to hold the office, Mr, HARD\ thought probably the medi-- cal men were the best to occupy the position of coroners, and did not agree with the sug-- estion that sheriffs should be the coroners. %Ie did not keow of any grievances which had arisen where medical nien were the coro-- Ders. The motion as amended was carried. e coroner.