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The Speaker took the chair at three o'clock. PETITIONS. The following petitions were presented :---- Mr. Patterson--Of the corporation of the county of York, for some protection from the danger of fire by sparks from locomotives on railroads; also from the same corporation, for some protection at the railway crossing on Queen--strect. REPORTsS OF COMMITTEES. Mr. Fraser presented tho thirteenth report of the Committee on Private Bills. _ e on FOURTH PARLIAMENT--THIRD SESSION. Mr. MOW A'T drew the hon. member's attention to the safeguard provided by the present law against irregularities in by--laws -- increasing the capital -- stock _ of _ companies--a _ safes guard which, in his opinion, was absolutely necessary. Regarding the delay, it was within the competence of the Governor--in--Council to act according as the equity of each case required. The motion was allowed to stand. A number of Bills were advanced a stage in Committee. _ Mr. Pardee presented the eleventh report of the Committee on Railways. The reports were received. FIRST READINGS, The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:-- (KA Bill to amend the Registry Aci--Mr. Robinson ent). A Bill to amend the Municipal Act--Mr. Me-- Craney. A Bill to amend the Public and Separa te School Acts--Mr, Bell. The following Bills were read a second time :-- 'To incorporate the London Junction Railway Company.--AMr. Meredith. . . _ |., . . . ; CZRTECPCERIT & ANCDW AIIPRAIICCCCY To consolidate the Toronto and Nipissing Rail-- way Company, the Whitby, Port Perry, and Lindsay Railway Company, the Victoria Railway Company, the Toronto and Ottawa Railway Com-- Danyv.'lhe Grand Junction Railway Company, and the Midland Railway of Canada --Mr. Ferris. _ EREtS AMRRCARERMEUE MeOtEd PCP C Li muls m l n 0 To enable the trustees of the Methodist Episconal conzrczl-tion of the 'town of Orangevile to sell certain lands.--Mr. Wood. h l f PRIVILEGN, Mr. ROSS rose to a question of privilege. In the discussion on the Agricultural and Arts Act he had been reported as saying that the Mechan-- ics' Institutes had never done any good, What he had intended to say was that the Association of Mechanics' Institutes had never done any good. He believed that the individual Mechanies' Insti-- tutes had done a great deal of good. _ 6 zT OERRRT PERRTNNAgW CAE CC CCC To amend the ;{rcuem Acts of Incorporation of the City Light and Heating Company of London.-- Mr, Meredith, Respecting the Midland Railway of Canada-- Mr. Ferris. To amend the Act incorporating the Toronto House Building Association.--Mr. Patterson, _ Mr. YOUNG wished also to make it clear that he was not opposed to the Provincial Exhibition gioing to a city that had established a local exhibi-- tion. THIRD READINGS. The following Bill was read a third time and passed :-- . Respecting the old burying--ground of the town h d (ur / mt ancoh JOINT STOCK COMPANIES, Mr. MEREDITH, in moving the second roading of the Bill amending the Joint stock ('omr:mim' Letters Patent Act, explained that under the pre-- sent law no company could increase its capital stock without supplementary legislation. 'The Bill proposed to dispense with this legislation, and also the one month's udvertisement in the Onfario Gazette, and provides for an authorized by--law be-- ing valid so long as certilied under the seal of the Provincial Secretary. _ o f To authorize the Gananogue Water -- power Company to issue debentures.--Mr. Nichardson, MECHANICS® INSTITUTES. The House in Committee concurred in the fol-- towing resolution, which was referred to the Com-- mitte on Bill 87 :--*'That the Association of Me-- chanics'Institates sha'll be entitled to receive from unappropriated moneys in the hands of the Trea-- surer of the Provinee, a sum of not less than iwelve hundred dollars in any one year." -- Mr. FRASER thought that. the hon. member behind the leader of the Opposition (Mr. Merrick) desired the Q;Flém with reference to another League of a ditteTent character. (Laughter.) RETURNS. Mr. MEREDITH said that perhaps the connec-- tion of the hon. Commissioner of Publiec Works with a certain League, which at one time de-- manded oftices for persons of a certain faith, explained his apathy in regard to expediting the return, lest it should show a less number of such appointments than the hon. gentleman had pro-- Mr. FRASER said thathis hon. friend overlooked the difficulties in the way. It was being prepared as mpldl; as possible, Mr. MERRICIs protested against what he term-- ed an unreasonable delay. ______ [ This wasincori)orated in Rill 87 amending the Agricultural and Arts Act--which was reported as amended. CIVIL SERVICE RELIGIOUS CENSC®S,. Mr. MERRICK again called attention to the delay regarding a return ordered by the House showing the religious faith of each member of the Civil Service. i menie i esn In the absonce of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Ontario Legislature. (By Our Own Reporters. ) SECOND READINGS. Frinay, Feb. 21. FRASKR presented aréeturn showing the mem-- bers of the Legislature who had been members at or priorto the time of their appointment to of-- fice ; also, the annual report of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts ; also, a return showing the quantity of butchers' meat supplied to public institutions. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES. The Grand Central Station Scheme Réjected. 'The Port Rowan and Lake Shore and St. Catharines and Niagara Central Bills Reported. , At the meeting of the Railway Commiitee yestor-- day morning the Grand Central Station Bill was again taken up. Mr. B. B. Osier urged the pas-- sage of the immeasure, and Mr. Bell, G. T. :. solipitor, apposed It. _ *"""""" Sm Son es Mr. Bzi1, M.PP., did not think that it would be i'iy:hlt to give theCompany power to expropriate ands. Mr. Ostrrn--Woehave withdrawn that. Mr. Brij. said that the promoters should have consulted the City Council, and thought that be-- fore a Bill of this kind was passed the matter should be more fully ventilated. Though favrour-- ing a Centrai Station under proper conditions, he abounld be compelled to oppose the Bill. Mr.Osi®En: said he was not surprised at the oppo-- sition of the Grand Trunk, as that road considered the front of the city virtually their own property, and wished to bave a monopoly of the railway facilities. -- It was impossible to present a more fully matured scheme until the company was organized. It was no meresprenlative enterprise,. There werse four railways interested, each of which had nominated one of the corporators, Mr. Towxnsix», Manager of the Northern, said that they were not opposed to the Bill, but they thought it premature, and that before anything was fione the various railways interesied should come to a common understanding, |___ _ Mr. NicoL KiNGSMILL urged that no charter should be granted unless the applicants showed a clear necessity for the line. The fact was however, that the people of the country through which it was proposed that the line should pass, were at present as well supplied with rail-- ways as an)y people in the world. _ They had not asked for the road, and would oppose it. It was a mere 'mpcr charter that was asked for, and he thought that before the promoters were granted their demands, they should be compelied to make a large cash payment to show that the enterprise was undertaken in good faith. NTIAGARA FALLS IMPROVEMENXT. The two Bills incorporating companies with the object of improving and preserving the seenery in the neighbourhood of Niagara Falls were with-- drawn, Mr. Pardes stating that the Government did not at preseni feel disposed to entrust these powers to private companies, and that in any event the time at the disposal of the Committee wns too short to enable the Bills to be fully con-- sidercd. XORTHERN AND NORTH--WESTRRXN JUXNCTION. 'The considqeration of the Northern and Norths Western Junction Bill was resumed, and the measure was reported with several amendments. ST. CATHARINES AND NJAGARA CENTRAL The consideration of the St. Catharines and Niagara Central Railway bill was resumed. Capt. NeEroXxn urged that the railway would give a conneciion with the American railway system that would considerably reduce freight rates to the seaboard. It would also atford additional facilities for forwarding coal from the mines. The road would certainly be built if the charter were The CuarrMaX said that after what had beon said on bebaif of the railways he was con-- firmed in the opinion he expressed yesterday that the scheme was not in such a shape as to justify the granting of a charter with expropriation powers. It was desirable that Toronto should nave a central station, but before any company of private individuais was chartered the principal roads interested should have the opportunity of fully considering the matter and baving their interests represented. f d frantod. St, Catharines had voted $80,000 as a onus, and the townships interested would «iso aid the road by bonuses. _ _ ____ _ e A petition from the Canada Southern Railway against the scheme, and {)cxixionu from the Coun-- cils of St. Catharines and Niagara in its favour were read. i -- On a vote being taken the preamble was lo a vote of 21 to 5. Suuy The limit for the commencement of the line was fixed at three years and for completion at five years from the passage of the Bill. The clause confirming bonus bydaws was struck out, and the Bill reported with amendments, PORT ROW AN AND LAKR SHORE RAILWAY. The iill authorizing the Port Rowan and Lake Shore Railway to extend their lino from Port Dover to Fort Erie, and also to construct a branch from Port Dover to Brantford, was taken un. ".A\Vl'l". 71%15" E. JacKsON, Reeve of Simeoe. and Mr. Nicon IKixosiin. opposed the Bill as a paper The section locating the road was amended by striking out the clause authorizing the extension of the line woesterly to Windsor, or some other point on the Detroit River. 'The CHanMaX said that he understood the pro-- moters were prepared to abandon thai portion of the road across the western Peninsula to the De-- troit River, and merely pressed fora charterfor the section between Hamilton and Toronto and to the Niagara River, T Mr, McCnmranEy said that the peopie of his see-- tion had no need for another road. The Peninsula was already cut up with railways, and he could assure the promoters that they would get no bon-- uses from his section. 9 Mr,. Neclon briefly replied to Mr. Kingsmill, after which the preamble was submittea, and carried by a vote of 19 to 3. 3 ks' The House adjourned at 4:30. RAILWAY COMMITTEE. B9 WBE is 0. se To w l'br 4&. \'@ @" wSll