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,?@TARIO LEGISLATURE, * $22~ ?HTRD PARLIAMENT--FOURTH SESSION, * wnmemnmmntn tmscc * c + /+3 :' --*~ Lsaistativs Astewsny, _ | * * Monday, Feb. 24. * g The Speaker took the chair at three W'clock. * ; Prayers were read by Rov, Dr. Topp. x\ PETiZTIONS. g ']'he following petition was presented :-- "By Mr. Bell--From the Toronto Board 8'{ Trade, for certain amendments to the ssdssment Act respecting the assessment t merchants' incomes. REPORTS BY COMMITTEES. Mr. FRASER presented the 15th report | i{ the Committee on Priyate Bills, which as adopted . MUNICIPAL ACT, . Mr. ROSS introduced a Bill to amoend the Municipal Act, which was read a first time. s RETURNS. ' itr. BELL called the attention of the' L'u\. vunment to the fact that returns were | pot . ing brought down with despatch . | N: "RASERsaidthey wore being brought | c~ +s fast as prepared. | THIRD READINGS. i '}'.+ following Bills wero read a thirdi tiin .1 passed ;-- | . ' mend the Act incorporating the ' 11. . a and Dundas Street Railway Com. | p« > Ir, Williams, i $ 'ilt respecting the Grand Junction | J:1.. . Company--Mr. Boulter, | t ing to the Hamilton and'N.orth.! XW -- > ..« Railway Company--Mr. Williams, | 1. ccting the Water--Works of the city | Qi «» .. wa--Mr, O'Donoghue. PssA > following Bills were then passed | ;l ;h Commuttee :-- 1: ~pecting the Whitby and Bobcaygeon "{;u. vay Extension Company--Mr, Paxton. ; l:especting the Whitby, Port Perry, and Lindsay Railway Company--Mr. Paxton, Respecting the Lake Simcoe Junction Railway Company--Mr. Lauder. On the Bill respecting the Georgian Bay And Wellington Railway Company, | + Mr, HUNTELR said that the question had been raised as to the legalization of a by. law of the township of Sullivan granting a bonus to the Railway Company, and he tished the question set at rest by having it {(;rmally legalized. i Mr,. SINCLAIR said that a rule nis? had tecn granted by the Courts to quash the Hy-law, and opposed its legalization by the ouse. Mr, CREIGHTON advocated the legali. tation of the by--law, and said that he had examined the affidavits upon which the rule had been granted, and they were made ;ng'fzr the most part of very frivolous ob-- ections. / Mr. CROOKS said that he had been pcting as Chairman of the Railway Com-- itteo, owing to the severe iliness of the on. Commissioner of Crown Lands, and he Committee had come to the conclusion hat the grounds on which the rule nisi had been granted were not very strong. It | was a customary practice to introduce into ; Bills a clause such as the one under con-- | wideration, that no by--law should be ' sonsidered logal when litigation had been I insiituted to bave it quashed until the judgment of the Court to that effect. , Aiter some further discussion, it was de-- :'d&? to report _progress and postpone ;xl;r r:; consideration of the Bill until to. The following Billls were al Ahrough Committes :-- bo, posted To amena the Act incorporatin i & g the St Toseph Union Sozicty of the city ot Ottawa y--Mr. O'Donoghue, * _: Respecting the propert e« y of the congrega. tlon of St. Mary's Romau Catholic Church, {Almoute---Mr. Fraser, To give further powers to the Petroli I 48 + " F;:g:e Oil and 'Tauking Company--Mr, To incorporate the Brantford Street Rail--