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Mr J $ McMurray, Consul of Norway and Sweden ; Mr E Von Heimrod, Consul of Ger-- | many ; Mr Moward, Consul of the United States; Mr Bendelari, Consul of Italy ; J Meibert Mason, Lewis Moffatt, Col Miisom, Ur Oldright, Dr Leslie ; W G McWilliams, City Solicitor ; | Col G T Denison, Polhco Mazistrate ; J i3 Milter, 'Parry Sound,; W Buckingham, Winnipeg ; | Kivas Tully, C.E.; C P Clement, Berlin; Peter Ryan, P Hughes, J Gibson, P D Hughes ; HMugh McMahon, (4.C., London,. 'The following were among the ladies present :--Mrs Robinson, Miss lobinson, Mrs -- Gzowski ; Mrs M Mc Mahon, London ; Mis J B -- Miller, * Parry Sounmd; Mrs B B Hughes, Mrs P Hughes, Mrs J K Kerr, Mrs Herbert Mason, Mrs W . O'Comnmor, Miss O'Comnor, and Mrs Morris. Mis Honour the Licutenant--Governor arrived at ten minutes past three o'clock, attended by Col Gzowski, A.D.C., and Capt Gedaes, A.D.C., and on ascending th e throne THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legistative ] Assembly : It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to your legislative dutiecs as members otf a new Parliament convened for the first time since the general election of the past year. The occasion is rendered more auspicious by is advent of a new Governor--Genera!, who by hiis public appearances and addresses bas al-- ready created a most favouratle iinpression -- on the minds of all classes in the Dominion. Thoe fact that His Excellency is a trained and experi-- enced statesman is a guarantes that the hign and honourable position to which he his been called | by Her Majosty will be wisely filled. _ 1t is satistactory to know that during the past year the Bureau of Statistics has contmued to do good service by collecting and disseminating trustworthy intormation respecting the agricul-- tural and manufacturing industries of the Pro-- vince ; also that the highly practical experiments which have done so much to justify the establish-- ment of the Model Farm in connection with the Axricultural College have been continued with conspicuous advantage. _ The newly instituted ONTARIO LEGISLATURE The formal opening of the Ontario Legislature took place yesterday afternoon. At half--past two o'clock the Legislative Chamber was filled with ladies and gentlemen, among whom were noticed Lieut.--Governor Aikins (of Manitoba), Chief Justico Haparty, Justice (Gali, Justice Rose, Judge Boyd (of the county of York), Bishop Sweatman, Bishop O'Mahony, Vicar--General Laurent, Rev Johir Langtry, Rev Dr Dewart, J K Kerr, Q.C., Mr H W Darling (President of Board of Trade), F Wyld, Thos Hodgins,(Q).C. , J George Hodgins (Doputy Minister of ERducation), Capt Snider (Eglinton), Col Shaw, Sheriff Jarvis, FIFTH PARLIAMENT--FIRST SESSION. Formal Opening of the House by the Lieutenant--Governor. The PROVINCIAL sSECRETARY said:-- Mr Speaker, 1 am commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant--Governor to declare to you that he freely contfides in the duty and attachment of the Assembly to Her Majesiy's person and Gov-- erument, and, not doubt.ng that their procsed-- ings will be conducted with wisdom, temper, and prudence, he grauts, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow their constitutional privi-- leges. 1 am commuanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready accoss to the Lieutenant--Governor upon all seasonable occa-- sions, and that their procecdings, as well as your words and actions, will constautly receive from him the imost favourable construction. His Monour the LIEUTENANT--GOV. ERNOR was then pleased to open the session by tue following gracious Spsech :-- » The Legislative Assembly have elected me as their Speaker, though I ain but littie able to fuifil the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the periormance of those duties, I should at an{ time fall into ervor, i pray that the fault may be imputed to me and not to the Assembly whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to the Queen and country, herein humbly ciaim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especialiy that they may have freedoin of speech in their debates, access to your person at all seasonabvle times, and that their proceedings may receive from you the most favourabis consideration, The SPEAKEIR, addressing Mis HMonour, said :-- May it Please Your Honour ; Tuurspay, Jan. 24. bas 3 Afuidinaiaboinnchinhiliedbatin cutaint--45 "adatpna en nOR T ! ds F of much service. _ I have much pleasure im antici-- pating that the means adopted. for the diffusion of agricultural knowledgo will in & constantly in-- creasing degreo make the farmer's calling more intellectual, avtractive, and remunerative. _ It was my agreeable duty last year to con-- | gratulate your predecessors Ubol the work done | by the Provincial Board of Heaith. The report _ oi this body shows that time and further experi~ ence have produced increased efficiency. _ As well--directed efforts to improve the sanitary con-- dition of the people's homes promote longevity 'and incrémse the sum of general happiness, 1 | commend to your thoughttul consideration the ' subject of rendering the sorvices of the Board stili more effective and valuable. Tt is with especial satisfaction that I congratu-- late you on the early and success{ul applucation of the Free Libraries' Act. Foilowing the ex-- ample promptly set by the Provincial capital, other municipalitios have availed themselves of the pro-- visions of the Act, and taken steps to tax them-- selves for the establishment of free public libra-- ries, I hops that this is but the beginning of a | beneficent movement which will have far--reach-- ing effects. You will be pleased to know that by a recent docision of the Judicial Committee of Her Ma-- jesty's Privy Council the right of Provincial ; Legislatures to regulute the traflic in intoxtcat-- I ing drinks is placed beyond controversy, 'l'he, judgiments in this case and the insurance case, and the decision that lands escheated to the Ccown for want of heirs are the property of the Province, taken in counection with the ob-- servations _ made by the learned _ judges in disposing _ of these cases, have had a reassuring effoct on the public mind, by show-- ing that the federal principle emboded in the British North Amerca Act, and the autonomy ' it was intended to secure for the individual Pro-- | vinces, are like.y to be safe in the hands of the l i Court of final resort in constitutional questions. ! The Publis Acssov t ~ of the the receints and oxpenditure: and tho ostimated expenditu year, will be promptly laid estimates have been prepare keeping the expenditure as consistently with a regard terests, 1 irust that the legislative session of a new Parkhament m MFos C neece EECRETT TTEWELT tion, The reports of the various departments of the public service for the past year will be laid before you. Amopng these are, for the first time, re-- ports on thé important subject of forest preserva-- tion, and the report of the Inspector appointed under the Judicature Act to inspect the county offices connected with the Administration of Jus-- tice in the Province. The reports of the Inspectors of Asylums show that further accommodation is needed for idiots, and I commond the subject to yourlhumane atten-- tion. iD We Tssc isA iintnls s wandtatse ts wac it d 3 A d it ind The subject of protecting the public interest in streams used for the purpose of floating timber will no doubt again receive your earnest atten-- kesuee inations are ikely to prove zric inations are also likely ul "E"'Ull_t"l'fil exam ""-- _ _lwwah wlaa«snre in antici-- T am glad to have it in imy power to state, as the resuit of negotiations between my Govern-- ment and that of Manitoba, that a case has been agreed upon for a reference of the dispute re-- specting the inter--provincial boundary t()' tho J udicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council,. _ The first question to be _ decided under -- thas --reference is the validity of the Award made by the arbitrators in 1878; and a cun:,mllmg' condition of the reference is, that the hearing before the Privy Council shall take place at a fixed date in the present year. 'The agreement includes interim arrangements in regard to all matters of Provin-- cial jurisdiction, A bill will be submitted to you for the purpose of giving full effect to those parts of the agreement which require legislative sanction. Among the other measures to be submitted for your consideration will be a bill to render the services of the Board of Healith more efective and valuable; a bili to furtherimprove the liquor license laws ; s bill consolidating and moproving the laws for the destruction o# noxious weeds, and for the arrest of ~ diseuses affect: ing fruit trees; a bill to authorize second locations by settliers who have obtained free ' grants and have parted with them ; a bill to pro-- , vide voters' lists for the unorganized parts of the -- Province ; and a bill for the further improve-- ment of the Election Law, and for the preven-- tion and punishment of corrupt practices at elections,. | In this connection I invite your attention to | the expediency of further extending the already l lil:s'n;al fl'tlpcllise' which prevails in this Province. At the last session of the Federal Parliament an Act was passed declaring that the main lines of rail ways in the Province, and all railways now or hereatter connecting with thein or crossing theim, 'shali be subject to the legislative autho-- rity of the Parliament of Canada, It will be for you to consider to what extent this enactment removes from the control of the Provincial Legis-- lature -- roads -- which -- have been _ construct-- ed under its authority and subsidized out of the P:ovincial Treasury ; and aiso to consider whether the British North Amer-- ica Act was intended to enable the Federal Par-- liament to interfers in this manner with the legislative authority of the Provincss. important subject of forest preserva-- e report of the Inspector appointed wlicature Act to inspect the county cted with the Administration of Jus-- Acszsov it * of the Proving ad oxpenditures of the ated expenditure for t 6 legislative labours of this first Parliament may be characterized w regard for the "Cirdres of the past year, »enditure for the current y¥ laid before you. The prepared with a view to Province, showing m 0s low as possible, public in-- N Mr. HARDY --According to the usual w apprehend. The judges sent the certificat and the mere fact of an appeal being e does not affect the sending of returns t House, The certificates come in due cours party being unscated. Mr. MEREDITH--Take the Muskok& Mr. MARDY--I apprehend there wi found a return in the Cerk's hands. Mr. MEREDITH--Oh no. Mr. HARDY--Because it is an appeal. cases are entirely different. General can give us some information. It: strangs to me that the matter shouid cor this shape. I understand that there is an a pending by the netitioner. Mr, MOWAT--I don't think that any a was pending. There was no notice of a given, and no other proceedings taken t end. There was, indeed, a depssit of made as a preliminary, but that was withd Notice wasat one timegiven by Drs. Dowling intention to appexl, but that was withdraw? that cannot be taken advantage of by the side, Dr. Dowling chose to appeal and to draw the appeal, _ _ Mr. MEREDITH--I have not got an a to my question, by what hand the returns to the Clerk of the House. not answered my question as to how the caime into the hands of the clerk. Mr., MEREDITH--It seems to me that should be some official record as to how records came here. Mr. HARDY--Thev came from the judg Mr. MEREDITH--I understand the law that when the judgment is pronounced the: of the judges is delayed in the event of an a being entered until the appeal has been deci Mr. HARDY --Thas is the Dominion iav Mr. MEREDITH --It certainiy is so | Dominion Act, and I understand it is the | in the Provinctial. Mr. HARDY--No ; in the Provincial ia Act states that whether a member is unsea! not the judges' certificate shall issue. S{ 55 of the Controverted Kiections Act reads : The SPEAKER informed the House ths Clerk of the House had received from the j certificates and reports relating to the elc: for South Wentworth, West L inbton, York, Cornwail, Kingston, South Victoria, Nimeoe, Prescott, Halton, West Northut land, Muskoka and Parry Sound, Leed (Girenviile, lLennox, West York, Wess J East Eigin, East Northumberiand, North : Cardweii, West Middlesex, South Renfrew that new writs had been issued for West S. Carleton, West Middlesex, and South Rei and that elections had been held for those p report of the judge in the case of South Re reach the Clerk of the House?* I am inio that at the time the report of the judge w. ceived by the Clerk there was an appea) per before the Court of Appeal. It seems to m this is so, there was no authority for the iss the writ or the holding of any election. 1 a like to ask by what hand they were receive the Clerk ? The SPEAKER--They were received> or 20th of December, by mail, ' Mr, MEREDITH--\Was there no letter' The SPEAKER----It came juast in the ord way. _ Mr. MEREDITH--It would seem to me Mr. HARDY --There certain'ly can in the contention. As I understand be no question about the judge« having A QUESTION OF ORDER. Mr, MEREDITH--I want to ask where reports of the judges came from to the Cle: The SPEAKER--They came according : usual practice. ys Mr. MEREDITH--By what hard di and intelligence as those of any previous liament, | The Lieut.--Governor then retired. ' The usual salute was fired by the Ts Field Battery unrder command of Capt. J. » and the guard of honour was a detaciunent « Royal Grenadiers, Capt. P. Ball in comn The body--guard was a detachment of the ; nor--General's Body Guard in command of 3 there ought to be some letter accompanying reports, to show how they are sent. Wh they come from the rote judzes or the Re; of the Court otf Appeal does not apmest, : seems to me that there ought to be »me ki report accompanying them. As ~ unden the matter th-- rote judges delivered a w judgment, and as I understand the matt mdges disagreed and an appeal was en These judgments were not intended to be vrntil the appeal had been disposed of. 1 know how the report could have been sent the appeal had been disposed of. " Atthe conclusion of the trial the jud jndges who tried the petition shall dete whether the member whose election or reti by as high a degree of prudenre, moder De Mr, MOW AT--The hon. gentlieman is 1 mistake, What they differed about was question of disqualification ; that the e was void and the seat vacant they both a« Mr, MEREDITH--Perhaps the At The SPEAKER took the chair Mr. MEREDITH--The A hison VARIOUS REPORTS. attorney--Gene in be n« sent that Att It