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he Editor of the Star has asked me 10 state briefly what chances have oubtful if We County Treasury iF instance billiard tables were s having two wheels, und kept having four 'wheels, kept for rate for gigs.and other vehicles ure were assessed at $75.00. those old-fashioned wagons g constitution to ride in one 1 8 at which the various roads ost authorities agree that there were ble. Large stumps were cut as low rod vg ol straddle thems, Perhaps it sounds al: The 'work as done by the neigh- engfinished form ) i : first surve 'that ay. 1t is said that quire Hurd, who refused; eter way "| been 'made with regard to banking matters by the néw Act which has just been passed by the Dominion Parlia- ment. The new Act is simply a revision of the old Act and the changes inthe | main have been for the protection and convenience of the public and for the purpose of getting fuller information for the Gegernment with regard to banking affairs: Tt will be found -for example, that the right of a 'barf to secure itself in certain cases by a first lien upon "the goods of its customer has been modified so that the lien can only become effective after the just claims of the customer's employes for wages and salaries have been satisfied, Certain clauses have also been insert. ed requiring banks once a year to re- port to the Minister of Finance the "Faniount of money put into bank build- ings, and. four times a year to report to the same authority the rates of in- terest and discount charged to the public, | Some" changes are of a nature in- teresting only to bankers. . One of these alters a little the amount of Do- 'minion government notes which banks must hold in their cash reserves, A new section permits banks to issue their own notes beyond the aniount of their paid-up capital Provided such J excess is covered by a deposit. of gold eoin or Dominion notes with trustees appointed: for the purpose. Some changes: have been made. to | strengthen the weak spots in the old Act which recent banking history bad revealed and other changes have been made in response to the vigorous criti- ¢ism which had been carried oa chief- ly through the press. These may be dealt with under the following heads: ORGANIZATIONS OF NEW BANKS The initial minimum capital is. left at $390,000 but the meaning of a bona fide subscription to the stock is {now defined and the necessity for a payment by the subscriber in 'money is clearly stated: Regulations are also ade to prevent unreasonable expen diture for such organising expenses as! to agents and: officials, ¥ oe i ment was that all banks should be subjected to inspection by if parties not connected with the banks. It was found both unwise and impos: sible to meet this demand in its most extreme form but a certain - degree of concession has been made. Every year the Banker's Association must arrange for the selection of at least forty persons regarded by the general managers of the banks 'as suitable auditors. The names on this. list must are be approved by the Minister of ' Finance. The shareholders of each bank at its annual meeting must select one or more of the approved persons as auditor or auditors, for the: ensuing year, but no person selected can be an officer of that particular bank. If the shareholders neglect to. perform this duty an' auditor will be appointed by the Minister of Finance. It remains for the future to show -- the value of these provisions, - The public, however, should keep, clearly in mind two points; (1) That the gov- ernment is assuming no responsibilty beyond seeing that the annual audit 1s made, and (2) that; at the best, such an. audit can only. certify 'as to the correctness of the figures. Fraudulent statements will 'probably be more difficult to make, but the presence of "dry rot" will not be detected, and errors of judgment in the making 'of loans and other investments will not be prevented. What has to be plain- ly stated, and frankly recognized is that the public must in the future as in the past place its main dependence not upon regulations, but upon' the character and ability of the bankers Better Farming Coaches The Can, Pac. Railway has placed at the disposal of the Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture, two cars to be used, giving agriculfural instruction, along their lines throughout Ontario, from Windsor to. Montreal. These coaches will stop at Burketon Jet. on Thurs. July 10th, and at Claremont, on Friday July rth. remaining all day at each place; which will give the pub- lic an opportunity of visiting them any time between 9'a'm. and §. 30.p m. The equipment will consist of two coaches, one for the transportation of typical animals of two various classes of livestock produced in Ontario, in- cluding heavy horses, beef and' 'dairy | cattle, poultry, swine and sheep. The other coach "will contain illustrative is fd demonstrative 'material, covering 5 improvement, identification of { weeds, 'testing of seed, drainage, soil 'moisture. alfalfig ensilage, insects, dairying, poultry raising, ete. © Throng aut he da instructors will be g charge of the Competent 1 of the lives! ithe 'charac