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I congratulate you on the revival of commercial prosperity, the resuit of the abundant harvest of the lp:m.' year, of the revival of trade abroad, and of the increased demand for lumber, the receipts from which source, I am kappy to say, have con-- siderabiy exceeded the estimate of last session. ~It is much to be regreited that the Dominion Goverament have taken no siep to obtain, and show no intention of sceking to obtain. from the Parliament of Canada legisiation contirming the award determining the northerly and westerly bouadaries of Oatario, made two years ufio by three most distinguished arbitrators chosen y the ! two Governments, and who had before them all | the evidence obtainable from the most diligent re-- searches both in America and Kurope, or brought to light during the many discussions bearing on the subject that have taken place during the past century, The result of the inaction of the Domin-- ion Government in this respect is to defer the settloment and organization of a large extent of cnuntry ; to deprive the inhabitants of that dis-- triect of those sateguards of Vouce and order which they, in common with all others, are entitled to en-- jJuy ; and to withhold from the peo[,le of Ontario the bencetits which the possession of that territory would attord. character and of much value. The evidence and report of the Com:missioners will be laid before you in the course of the session. I trust that the publication of these documents will stimulate enterprise and encourage a spirit of improvement among the farmers of the Province, and a.the same time produce a favourable impression else-- where of the openings which Ontario alfords to the capital and energy of the intelligent and ox-- perienced agriculiturist, _1 am gnre you will agree with me that the;Province is un der no small obli-- gation to those gentlemen who, as Commissioners, placed their services, without any pecuniary recompense, at the disposal of the Government, It is obvious that the eariiest possible construs tion of railway communication between the exist-- ing railway system of Ontario and the Canadian Pacitic road is of the very greatest importance to the interests of this Province. An appropriation having been made for this purpose by an Act of a former session of the Legislature, a measure will bo submitted to {ou for carrying out the object of the Act with tho least possible delay. hkE is The Commissioners appointed to enquire into matters connecied with the agricultural indusiry of OUntario have, by closc and unremitting atten-- tion to the duties assizgned to them, collected a large amount of information of a most interesting Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly : It aifords me much pleasure, on this the first oc-- ension since my appointment as Licutenant--Gov-- ernor, to meet the representatives of my native Province, and to welcome them to its capiltal in the discharge of their legislative dutics. His Honour, when the slight commotion caused by the entrance of himself and staff had subsided, read with due emphasis the fol-- lowing --: MeMurrich; J. G. Scott, Q.C.; Archbishop Lynch, Vicar--General Rooney; T. Hodgins, Q.C.; Mr. Williams, ex--M.PP.; Hon. Stephen Richards, Q.C.; ex--Mayor Morrison ; William Robinson, ex--M.PP.; Hon. R. M. Wells, Mr. Frank Draper ; Mr. P. J. Brown, of Ingersol! ; Aldermen MeMurrich, Darling, Close, and Hallam. Amongst those present on the floor of the House were Mrs. and the Misses Robinson, Mrs. Howland, Mrs. Alexander Mackenzie, Miss Morris, Mrs. Maclennan, Mrs. Sheriff Jarvis, Mrs. Kenneth Mackenzie, Mrs. C. 8. Patter-- son, Mrs. Thos. Hodgins, Mrs. A. J. Cattanach, Mrs. (i. W. Allan, Mrs. Burton, Miss Crooks, Mrs. W. 8. Lee, Mrs. John Strachan, Mrs. W. T. O'Reilly, Mrs. E. W, Spragge, Mrs. G, R. R. Cockhburn, Mrs. A. 8. Hardy, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Sydere, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Crerar, of Hamilton, Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Nnelling, and Mrs. B. Homer Dixon. was, on his arrival in front of the Par--| liament Buildings, received by a guard of ' honour commanded by Captain Baker and com-- posed of ten picked men from each company / with the regimental band of the Queen's Own | Rifles, his coming having first been announced | by a salvo of artillery, On the floor of the As-- | sembly chamber were collected a large number | of prominent citizens, including the usual quota of ladies, while the galleries were filled with "strangers," who never seem to tire of witness-- ing the annual repetition of this time--honoured performance. The second session of the fourth Parliament of the Province of Ontario was opened this afternoon at three o'clock with the usual im-- posing ceremonies. His Honour Licut.--Gover-- nor Robtnson was escorted by a detachment of the Governor--General's Body Guard, and FOURTH PARLIAMENT--SECOND SESSION . ONTARIO LEGISLATURE. sSPEECH FROM THE THROXE E GLOBE, TORONTO. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14. 1881-- L Li /7 mmoncin 4 Mb c + utsnnd 'The suvject of constructing the new Provincial j buildings. required for the safe--keeping of the Pu'olic records. the due performance of the ever | increasing business of the Departmments, and the proper accommodation of the Legislature, and of the Provincial Library, as woll as the safcty and hoalth of the meinbers and other persons engaged in the public service, has received the carnest attention of the Government. Competitive Plu.ns were invited, and sixteen different designs. by as many competitors, were submitied. None of these designs wore entirely satisfactory ; but three of those which were considered to have most nearly complied with the conditions of the competition | were, under the terms of those conditions, seeured for the Province ; subsequently it was deemed ad-- | visable to permit the authors of the best of the | three, and certain other competing archicects, on i whose plans experts had reported most favour-- : ably, to modify and alter their plans, with a view ! to a reconsideration of their merits by the Govern-- | ment when so altered. Time has not yet sufliced for this to be done; but 1 confidenily anticipate that the result wili be to secure the commence-- ment in the coming spring, and the early comple-- tion, of buildings worthy of the Province, aml at a cost not exceeding the amount already voted for that purpose by the Logislature. y _ The House adjourned at four o'clock till to-- day at three o'clock, when the Speech from the Throne will be taken into consideration. I commend the very important subject of the Administration of Justice to your continued and careful attention. Profiting by the example of Great Britsin and other States, in whic;l the anomaly of two systems of pleading and practice in the Civil Courts has been abolished, and by other reforms effected in their judicature, a Bill will again be laid before you for the purpose of consolidating the Superior Courts, establishing uniformity in pleading and practice, and making further provision for the due administration of justice. f * C e sn STANDING COMMITTEES. Mr. MOWAT gave notice of a motion to appoint a committee to strike the Standing Committee of the House. THE LIBRARYV. The SPEAKE® *presented the Librarian's report, which was laid on the table. . B _ Mr. MOWAT moved the adjournment of the House. es tif The Reports of the several Departments of the Public Service will be laid before you. Iamglad to find that the several Institutions under the management of the Government are in a state of satisfactory officiency ; and that others, to which Provincial aid is given, are respectively perform-- ing services to the community fully commensurate witch the aid afforded them. The report of the Minister of Education, as usual, possesses deep interest, showing, as it does, to what a high standard of excelience, as compar-- ed with other countries, the educational system of Ontario has attained : and I doubt not that you wili agree with me, that no effort should be spared to maintain it in the fullest state of efticiency. While marked improvement may be observed in clementary educaiion, the expense of that branch has been less in the last three years than previous-- ly. Gratifying progress, too, has been made in the department of higher education. |_______ _ Amongst the other measures to be submitted to you are, a Bill relating to railways, and making provision for the preater safety of railway em-- ployees and the public; a Bill for proteciing the ruhlicinusrcst in streaims and rivers within the egislative authority of the Province; a Bili giv-- ing increased stability to Mutual Insurance Com-- panies; and one dealiny with the question of market tees, which have long been a source of complaint by the farmers of the Province. In view of the many extensive and beneficial improvements in ourlaws cifected since the Pro-- vince obtained, thirteen years ago, control over its local affairs, and of the further legislation which wiil engaze your attention during the pre-- sent session, I commend to your serious considera-- tion the question whether the time has not come when the public interests may be sufliciently pro-- tected, u.m\ at the same time a considerable saving of expense be efected, by contining future legisla-- tion to every alternate annual session, except in cases of special urgency. _____ _ es e and will share the feeling of satisfaction with which I have observed in how cordial a spirit the proceedings of the Commissioners haye heen regarded by thepuablic, _ & Cr.uum ol i trust that the labours of the session now com-- mencing may, when brought to a close, reflect fresh honour on the wisdom and patriotism of our legislators, and prove permanently beneticial to all classes of our people. The Public Accounts of Receipts and Expendi-- ture for the past year and the Estimates of moneys re-.Huired for the services of the current year, will be laid before you. The Estimates have been pre-- pared with every regard for economy consistent with the public interest. _ _ _ _