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x s : 0A Fove e ol doro c ie iimapiin oi o. Lnce t n 1 es 1. 79 0800 a ho 0 0 on ty PR e | ONTARIO . LEGISLATURE. _ _. wnnrn~n~ n en mm ThHIRD PARLIAMENT--FOURTH SESSION. | wnmememnmmen@zecw mz ~ | Lxarsoativys Asssusuy, | Friday, Feb. 21. : Tho Speaket took the chair at three o'clock. " Prayers were read by Rov. J. C. Antliff, B.D. REPORTS BY CcoMMITTEES, $ Mr. CROOKS presenied the seventh re-- port of the Committee on Ruilways, which was adopted. Mr. FRASER presented the foutteenth report of the Committco on Private Bills, which was adopted. INTI DUCTION OF BILLS. To ameid the Municipal Act--Mr. Ferris. > To amend the Ontario Registry Act-- Mr. Clarke (Norfolk). Mr. CLARKE explained that the object of this Bill was to abolish the office of In-- spector of Rogistry Offices. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were referred to the Committee of the Whole House, reported | without amondments, and read & third | time :-- | Respecting the power of Mechanics' In-- | stitutes anda Library Associations -- Mr. Mowat. To legalize certain by.--laws of the city of St. Catharines, and to amend the several Aots relating to the Water--Works of said city--Mr. Meredith . To authorize the sale of certain lands in the village of London East, heretofore known as the Methodist Cemetery--Mr. Meredith, To author'zge certain variations in deeds to trustees of religious societies--AMr. Mowat. DaAMS ON THE TRENT. Mr. FERRIS asked whether it is the in-- tention of the Governinent to put a sum in the Supplementary Esiimates for the pur-- pose of removing such dams or works on the River Trent as may, on investigation, be found to be no longer ot public utility. Mr., FRASER said that the Government had the matter under consideration. FLOGGING IN THE CENTRAL PRISON. Mr. O' DONOGHUE moved for an order of the House for a return showing the number of prisoners flogged in the Central Prison during the years 1878 and 1879 up to the present date; by whom so seutenced, if any were, whether by the Judges, or by the | Warden of the Prison, and for what offence, | He said there were powers conferred upon the Warden of the Central Prison which no man in his position ought to possess, viz., the power to order a prisoner up to be flog-- ged for the most trivial offence, Any way, he believed the Warden was not the man | for the position he occupied. A case of | severe flogging tor an attempt to escape had come under his own observation, in which the prisoner, atter having been punished, while in a fainting condition, had been unattended by the surgeon,. If he had the power referred to it should be recalied, for if he had the power of whip-- ping why not give him the right of hanging ? He (Mr., Q'Donoghue) had nointerest in this maiter, for there was no personal friend of his in the gaol (loud and prolonged cheers and laughter), and ho trusted none of them would ever come under the : Warden's thumb. -- He was prepared to ! prove what he had said about the unfitness ot this official for his position . Mr. O'SULLIVAN thought the resolu-- R tion was a timely one, Me had seen some of the instruments ot torture in the Central Prison, and they presented a most uninvit-- ing appearance, It was right to make the discipline of the prison such that criminals would have a wholesome dread | of being sent there, but he thought it was not right to use such means as flogging to secure this end., _ HMe thought there was reason to belisye that flogging of prisouners bad been done by the Warden, and an in-- vestigation was necessary. Mr. WOOD had hoped that no unncces-- sary debate as to the Central Prison would bave taken place in the House, because he