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y" a 6. ( / Thureday, Fob, 13. _ /The Speaker toolk the chair at three _ ) o'clock . * . _ Prayers were read by Rer. Mr. Silcox, B'T. JAMES CHLURCH, With respect to the Bill to amend the Act to authorize the churchwardens of St. | Jumes' Church, 'Foronto, --to issue deben. | tures, the following report was read :-- ' Qsucop® HaLuL, l2th February, 1879. t in the matter of Bill (No. 72), ontitled "An Agfi 'go ;m':nd an Act to authorize the' Churchward-- ons of St. James' Church, Toronto, to issug deben-- tures. (37 vi0'| o. 12,)" 1% The proamble alleges that in carrying out the wilshgl gfr the vestry o§°sc. James' Cathedral, the Cbhurchwardens have been called upon to expend a greater sum than was contemplated when they applied for the Act 37 Vic., 0. 92, and that it is necossary to make provision for such expenditure, and that for that purpose they desire to consolidate the dobts of the vestry at a greater sum, and to be empowered to issue dobontures to a greater amount, than was by the said Act authorized ; and that the hoiders of the debentures already issued have con-- sented and agreed to purchase the further deben-- tures which it is proposed to issue under the author-- ity of the Act. This preamble appears fully to recite the substance of the petitioun. The first section of the Bill amends the first seo-- tion of the Act of 37 Vic., by substituting the in-- creaged amounts mentioned in the petitipa, for those in the original Aot. Presuming the allegations to be proved to the satisfaction of the House, particularly touching the consont of the present debenture holders to the new issue ranking upon the security of the property pari passu with the existing debentures, it seems to us | reasonable that the first soction should pass into a law. The second section is diferent in its character and scope. It rosts in the Churchwardens the soil and free-- ' hold, which by the Church Temporalitios Act (3rd Vic., 0. 74) are vested in the parson or incumbent for the time being, _ Ittransfers to the Churchwardons slone the pos-- session of the church and property, which under the (Church Temporalities Act is in the incumbent and the Churchwardens jointly. And it gires power to soll the property without the sanction required by the Act (41 Vic., c. 25) which extended to the Church of En%hnd the rights, powers, and privileges conferred by the Religious | Institution Aci (R, 5., o. 216). P i There is nothing alleged in ths preamble or the | | tition to indicate the necessity or the propriety of | pe | thus changing the legal ownorship aud tonor of this | whurch and property, or conferring powers of sale of | an exceptional charactor. \ | _ The first section of the Bill scoms to fully answer | the prayer of the petition. | We are, therefore, of opinion that it is not | I reasonable that the second section should pass into | | a law. ' ' Gro, H. Buzrrox, '. I 0. 8. Parresrsox.® | 1 I I The Bill was ordered to be amended ac-- | | cordingly. E | PETITIONS. 1 i 'The following petitions were pre.| sented ;:-- l By Mr. Detroche--From Philip Bender | and others, of Clifton ; also of John A. Or. chard and others, of Drummondville, seyv-- erally, that the Bill before the House seek-- ing incorporation of the village of Niagara , Fails may not pass. | _ Also from the Victoria Railway Co., that , the Bill befors the House relating to the , Snowdon gIron Mine Co, may not pass. | _ By Mr, Coutts--From the County Coun-- | cil of Kent for certain amendments to the | | Municipal Drainage Act. 1 * +435 | _ Also thirtecn Orange potitions by Messre, | Parkhill, Bell, and Creighton. | | REFORTS OF COMMITTEES, | Mr. FRASER presented the ninth report | of the Commiitee on FPrivate Bills, which was adopted. Mr. FRASER, in the absence of Mrc. Crooks, presented the seventh report of the Committee on Railways, which was adopted, ' INTRODUCTION OF BLLLS, An Act to give certain powoers to mortgagees,. --Mr, Mowat. To amend the Election Act of Ontario. ws, MORRIS explained thet it uns do. signed to overcomé &A di culty in the law. As for instance, in Toronto income voters pay their taxes in instaiments, and yet before voting were required to swear that they had paid all instalments due, when in point of fact they were not paid because of the timo allowed them, An Act to amend the Railway Act----Mr. Lauder. | An Act to amend the Municipal Act--Mr