The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

lands, which were referred to in the speech from the throne as among the important measures of the session. _ By %i:ing notice now time is saved, and it is to be presumed that shortly after the re--assembling of the House the Commissioner will be ready to announce in the form of bills the mining policy of the Goverment. _ There have been many matters to consider in the prepara-- tion of the new measures, but it is evident from what he has said in reply to questions and representations that he has mastered the (i)et.aih of the subject. For instance, when the Sudbury deputation waited upon the Government, the commis-- sioner discussed such matters as the loca-- tion, character and output of the mines of the district with precision and fulness of knowledge equal to that of the delegates themselves. At the same time he has the advantage of a thorough understanding of the mining lands of other countries. 'The new measures may be expected to em-- body some valuable ideas, and in the--dis-- cussion of them members will be given all the light that they can desire. Baster Recess. Mr. Meredith's uugE:st,ion that the Easter adjournment should from Thursday to Tuesday has been acted upon. The mem--. bers have nearly all left town already and most of them Xep&rted in time to reach their homes last evening. On the reassem-- bling of the House on 'FPuesday the budget debate will be resumed and probably tinished the same day. -- Everything will be in shape for work and the business of the session will probably be put through with good speed. Courts to Observe Holidays. \ _ Mr. Meredith yesterday brought before | the House a bill respecting the sittings of | the courts, which provides that Provincial | courts shall not sit on public holidays, and | that jurors shall not be required, uniess sworn upon & jury engaged in the trial of an action which is actually proceeding, to remain in attendance at the court after 6 o'clock in the evening. Respecting this latter clause Mr. Mere(Fith uinhat courts | often sat at unreasonable hours, and it was | not fair to the jurors, *'mor to anybody The New Mining Policy. 1t will be seen from the notices of motion that Hon. Mr. Hardy has given notice of the bills with respect to mining and mining M * o _ tafar Mr. Awrey has two bills before the House and they show the interest the member for South 'gentworth takes in all questions re-- lating to agricultUr® and the farmers. _ He hasnflwa s, since his advent to the House in 1879, zeen.n able an? ready champion of measures for the betterment of the posi-- tion of the farmets and _ his espousal of a bill means that there will be brought to its advocacy an ability in debate that goes far to insure its ad?tion. The billhe introduced yesterday provides that lands which are used as farm lands and lie within the cor-- poration limits of & villsie, town > or city shall be assessed for their value as farming lands only and not as village, town or city property-- Another bill of Mr. Awrey's before the house extends to other municipal corporations the power now possessed only by cities to buy land to be set aside for park purposes, read the first time. ' Private Bills Committee. \ The Private Bills Committee yesterday got through a good deal of work under the | guidance and leadership of their indefatig-- able chairman, Hon. j) M. Gibson. The Cornwall Debt (Consolidation Bill was sed. Mr. Mack, who was in charge, m summoned the assistance of Mayor James W. Liddell and the town treasurer, Mr. R. A. Pringle, both able lawyers, who explained matters to the satisfactionZof the committee. The bill to enable Joseph A. Brown to register as a member of the College of Pharmacy caused a great deal of discussion. Mr. E. T. Malons was present to oppose the bill on behalf of the college, and Mr. J. A. Proctor advocated the cese ot Mr. Brown. Evidence was taken on the | mesits of the case, which a shorthand re-- | porter was employed to tuke down. an not fair to the jurors, *'mor to anybody else," remarked Mr. Fraser. The bill was wroy's Bills. NMr. A ¥ 11. kafare the unusual thing before the Private Bills Com-- mittee. . After along discussion and when the fate of the bill seemed to be in dgra.vo : doubt Mr. Davis, the energetic and able member for North York, who was in charge of it, made a brief but effective speechs which manifestly won support. On a vote being taken the bill was sustained. _ The college will continue to oligotc the bill at every stage through the House,. The St. Thomas Debt Consolidation _ bill, St. Géorge's Society bill and the bill to incor-- gorate the Select Knights were passed after rief discussion. Among the private bills introduced yes-- terday were the following :--To incorporate the Fort William Water Company, Mr. Conmee ; to incorporate the Don & Scar-- boro' Railway Company, Mr. Gidmour ; to change the name of West Toronto Junction, Mr. CGiilmour; to consolidate the debt of the Town of Essex, Mr. Balfour ; to incorpor-- ate the Bracebridge & Trading Lake Rail-- way Company, Mr. Maiter ; bill respecting the Town of {iracebridge, Mr. Marter ; to enable the Diocese of Toronto to consolidate and manage its trust funds, Hon. Mr. Hardy ; respecting> by--law No. 1 of the Town of Gravenhurst, Mr. Marter. ' Mr. Stratton's Bills. A serious and growing evil is squarely | met by a bill proposed by Mr. Stratton. 1t |\ is often the case, articularly in small ' towns, that individuafis are nominated for the Council who have no intention of serv-- ing, and who on being elected simply hand in their resignations. This causes annoy-- ance, confusion and delay. Mr. Stratton proposes to so amend the Municipal Act as to prevent the nomination of persons for these offices without their written accept-- ance of the nomination and expression of willingness to act if elected. _ Mr. Stratton also proposes to amend the Public Parks Act so as to extend to villages the power possessed by more populous municipalities to buy land for park purposes. Mr. Sol. White's Race Horse Bill. Several days ago Mr. Sol. White intro-- duced a bill with the formidable title, * A bill to encourage the breeding and improve-- ment of trotting and pacing horses and for the prevention of fraudulent entries and practices in contests of speed." When the member for North Essex read the title of his bill a smile ran over the House and Mr. Meredith suggested that the Attorney-- General second the motion for the bill's in-- troduction. The Speaker seemed to have doubt about the regularity of the bill, and kept the House waiting a few mo-- ments while he perused a written draft of it. He put the motion and passed the bill to the clerk, who subse-- . quently returned it to Mr. White as being * irregular." The bill aims to prohibit the entry of a horse, colt or filly under an assumed name or pedigree in any contest for purse or prize which is to be decided by speed. It says that the name of a horse, colt or filly shall not be changed after it has once been entered for a contest unless as provided by the code of rules of the so-- ciety or association under which the con-- --| test is conducted. The public performance | of a horse in a previous contest or trial of speed shall determine the class to which it belongs. _ For offences under the act a fine | not less than $10 nor more than $100 is pro-- | vided, or in ~default imprisonment for six | months. The irregularity was that Mr. White had not given notice of the bill. He gave the notice and introduced the bill yesterday, when it was read the first time.