County of Perth Herald (Stratford), 9 Mar 1864, p. 6

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6 THE COUNTY OF - PERTH ES a ee eee Te ee See Te RS ay a ewe eg Sere eh nee, Se ee, Oe HERALD, STRATFORD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 1864. selves disgusted with his repeated attempts at bribe: y. The motion was carried and the debate on the address end. The House adjourned at 2 o'clock. QueEsEC, March 3. The Speaker intimated that he had re- ceived communications from the petitioners against the return respectively of M. Thi- baudeau, for Quebec centre, and of M. Pin- sonneault, for Laprairie, intimating that they did nef intend to prosecute their re spective petitions. : Mr. McKellar, from the general commit- tee on elections, reported that the Hoche- laga and Bellechasse election committees had been struck as follows :--Hochelaga-- Messrs. Abbott, chairman; Cartwright, Scoble, Conger and Somerville. Bel'echasse --Messrs. Morris, chairman; Burwell, Knight, Couper and Currier. Mr. Notman moved that the Vercheres election committee have leave to adjourn till the 14th ef March, to allow time to the parties to bring forward their witnesses.-- Carried. M. Dorion intimated that His Excellency had appointed to-morrow at 3 o'clock to re- ceive the answer of the House to His Ex- cellency's speech. Half-past 3 o'clock hav- ing been appointed for receiving the address of the Legislative Council. M. Cartier said he presumed that in order to show that spirit of deference to the Crown which was proper under our monarchical system the House would not proceed to business till the answer to His Excellency's speech had been presented. M. Dorion said he quite concurred in the view which had been expressed by M. Car- tier. On motion of Mr. J. Sandfield Macdonald the House then adjourned at a quarter to four o'clock. QueEBEC, March 4. Mr. Wallbridge from the Laprairie elec- tion committee reported that the petition against 'the return of Alfred Pinsonneault, Esq., for the County of Laprairie having been withdrawn with the consent of the sit- ting member, they had arrived at the follow- ing as-their final decision :-- First--That the said Alfred Pinson- neault, Esq., had been duly elected. Second--That neither the petition nor the opposition to the same was frivolous or vexatious, At four o'clock the members of the House, heidel ty the Speaker, proceeded to the Ex- ecutive Council Chamber to present to His Excellency their address in reply to the speech from the Throne. The Speaker, on again taking the chair, reported that His Excellency had graciously received the ad dress of the House, and had made the fol- lowing reply :-- "J thank you for your loyal address, and I feel assured the business of the session will receive at ycur hands the attention which it requires." On motion of M. Dorion the rules adopt ed, as to the bills which were before the House at the close of last session, were read. These bills, a hundred and ten in number, were then' severally restored to the places they occupied upon the orders last session. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :-- M. Joseph Dufresne--Bill to amend the act te establish a system of Landed Credit (Credit Foncier) in Lower Canada, Mr. Donkin--Bill to establish the vali- dity of acts performed in this Province by certain clergymen ordained in foreign parts, and for other purposes. M. Bellerose--Bill to amend chapter six of the consolidated statutes for Lower Ca- nada, entitled "' An act respeeting tavern- keepers and the sale of intoxicating liquors." M. Bourassa--Bill to amend chapter three of the.eonsolidated statutes of Canada, which contains special provisions-concerning both Houses of Pailiament. Mr. Mackenzie (Lambton)--Bill to amend the municipal corporation act of Up- per Canada. Mr. J. 8. Macdonald--Bill respecting registrars and revistry offices, and the regis- tration of instrume:ts relating to lands in Upper Canada. Mr. Foley introduced a bill to provide for the better representation of UpperCanada in Parliament. (Loud cries of "explain explain.") Mr. Foley said the object of the bill was to provide for the representation of those counties in Parliament which were not no represented. He was prepared to admit that in the present state of opinion in the country and in the House, any bill afarming the principle of representation by population would be unacceptable to a larze majority and could not be carried in Par- liament ; but to his mind the existing state of facts did not prevent the possibility of .a measure being brought in which would prove acceptable and which would remedy inequalities now existing in the represénta- tion of Upper Canada, which were greater even than the inequality that existed be- twéén the two sections of the Province. He alluded to the cases of Huron and Bruce and Niagara and Cornwall as affording glar- ing instances of this inequality, and said it was reasonable to conclude that as far as the people of Lower Canada were concerned they would have:no objection to remedy it, as it affected only Upper Canada. The general design of the bill was simply to remedy this gross wrong as between con- stituencies in that section of the Province, and in submitting it to the House he trust- - ed he yould have © apport of those gentle- men who had beca so clamorous--no doubt many of ther: honestly--for representation by population, and at the same time the support of gentlemen on the other side who were not Willing to proceed to the full length of demanding that measure. The fact that members of the Government had deemed it expedient to make reference to the subject in the speech from the Tarone last session and thereby acknowledge that the inequali- ties in the representation of Upper Canada ought to be remedicd, seemed to him a guarantee that he should have the assistance of the gentlemen on the Treasury benches in carrying his measure through the House. M. Dorion asked whether it was intended that the bill should propose any changes in the representation of Lower Canada? Mr. Foley said he would not presume to legislate for Lower Canada. Mr. Sandfield Macdonald ridiculed the bill, and said Mr. Foley had better intro- duce one doing away altogether with the town of Cornwall. He alluded to the de- monstration in Perth, where he said Mr. Foley, when a member of the Government, made the unauthorized statement that the Ministry would introduce some such bill as this. He expressed himself anxious to know the details of the bill. Mr. Foley replied that he had made no such statement as that alleged by the Premier. What he had said was merely a suggestion as to what might be done. He had made no statement, direct or indirect, as to what the scheme of the Government might be, for the good reason that, at the time, the matter had not been t&ken into consideration. Mr. Sandfield Macdonald introduced a bill respecting the registration of lands in Upper Canada, the provisions of which he explained. Read a first time. Mr. Sandfield Macdonald also introduced a bill to provide for the collection by stamps, of fees, or office fees, and duties payable to the Crown upon law proceedings and _regis- trations. He explained its provisions at some length. Read a first time. M. Dorion introduced a bill respecting juries. M. Dorion introduced a bill to provide that sums levied by sheriffs and deposited in court be paid into bank to the credit of the Receiver General and bear interest. Read a first time. The following bills were also introduced and read first times. Mr. Huntington--Respecting securities to be viven by public officers and contractors In certain cases. Mr. Huntington--Respecting bail in criminal cases. Mr. O'Halloran--To enable certain Building Societies to appoint successors to trustees of lands held by them. ef Mr Huntington-- Respecting insolvency. Mr. McGivern--To equalize the represen- tation of the County of Lincoln in Parlia- ment. Mr. Holten proposed the usual formal motions respecting supplies. Mr. McKellar introdue:d a bill abolish- ing wards in townships, and to provide four the election of Reeves and Deputy Reeves by the people. The bill was read a first time after considerable discussion. Mr. Brown moved for the appointment of a committee of eleven members to inquire and report as to what measures can be adopted for the advancement of agriculture in this Province, such committee to consist of Messrs. McKellar, Dunkin, Erie Dorion, Perrault, Pope, Stirton, Simpson, Wilson, Chapais, Brown and Dickson. After the motion was earried a long dis- cussion ensued, during which Mr. Me- Dougall's assertion that there was no good land remaining for sale in Canada, was shewn to be utterly false. The House adjourned to I. at a quarter > << oS Terrific Expiosion. ' QUEBEC SHAKEN TO ITS CENTRE. BLOWING UP OF THE ARTILLERY LABORA- TORY. WINDOWS SMASHED AND GOODS THROWN INTO THE STREETS. A LARGE FIRE ELEVEN PERSONS BURIED IN THE RUINS. QueBeEc, March 4, At twenty minutes to twelve this morning a fearful explosion took place in the labora- tory in the artillery yard near St. John's gate. "It was a wooden building, composed of heavy timber, and, at the time of the ex- plosion, twelvé privates, a corporal, and Cap- tain Mahon, of the Royal Artillery, were engaged in and': round 'it, preparing 'cart- ridges. é The building was campletely blown up and heavy fragments of wood were thrown an immense distance into the air, and fell all around in every direction on the ramparts and 'neighboring streets. The shock of the explosion was terrific, almost every house in the Upper town being shaken from top to bottom. All' the win- dows 'of the stores on John street from the gate to Palace street were smashed by the concussion, and in a number of 'eases the 'interior partitions were thrown down ; valu- able*goods were thrown into the street and ENSUES. otherwise injured. Immediately after the explosion a scene of great excitement ensued, the people rushing from the houses thinking there was an earth- quake, and for a while a pan:e prevailed throughout the neighborhood. The building destroyed was built with stone walls four feet thick, with strong heavy timbers forming the roof. Three escaped, more or less injured, Capt. Mahon, the officer in command, who was almost buried in the burning ruins, bur rescued with some bruises ; Corporal Brayshaw and gunner Rebt. Morunt who were burnt, but not dan- gerously. Eleven were killed, namely, Maj. J. Hawkins, foreman of ordnance ; James Doolan, ordanance laborer ; private Flapni- gan, 17th Regt; and eight gunuers of the Royal Artillery, namely, Russel, Bruce, Elmere, Finn, Lewis, Thompscn, Baxter, Birr. Allof the bodies have been recovered. Most of them are dreadfully mutilated. One head was found outside the walls and the trunk inside. A hand was found in St. John street, and other portions of human bodies were picked up in various places in the neighborhood of the laboratory. There were only seven barrels of powder in the laboratory, two of which were found in the ruins unexploded. In the magazine, about 50 feet distant, there were 600 barrels of powder, and 500 barrels of ball cartridges and other combus- tible material. Had the latter exploded nearly the whole of Upper Town would have been destroyed. There were great fears of such a castrophe before the fire among the ruins of the laboratory was extinguished, as a gate in the wall surrounding the magazine had been broken down by the explosion, and it was not known when the fire might reach inside, there was also danger apprehended from a number of live shells which were stored underneath the laboratory. The flames, however, were extinguished and all cause of further alarm removed. The police, who act-as a fire brigade, were soon at the spot and had their hose playing on the ruins. The building was totally de- stroyed. One of the men who escaped with his life says that on seeing the flash he rushed. to the docr. Just as he reached it the explos- ion occurred, and he became insensible. When he recovered consciousness he was lying 20 or 30 feet from: the site of the building. A large piece of wood had fallen across his legs, and his injuries were severe. Look to Your Title Deeds! The system, inaugurated by Mr. Sandfield Macdonald, of tampering with the Great Seal of the Province, and scattering to the winds witbout a moiment's notice and without a penny in their pockets men who had grown grey in the service of their country, is so subversive of all good government and the stability of our institutions, that it begornes more and more alarming the closer we scratin- ize it. Under the flippant manipula- tion of the Premier the sign manual of the Representative of Her mos' Gia- cious Majesty the Queen, becomes as common pl:ce and valueless as that of the colored functionary who sweeps the offices or lights the fires in any of the departments of the Gov- ernment. Regardless of the fact that this procedeur tends to lesson the security ofall landed property ceded by the Crown, this corrupt and incap- able politican pursues this dangerous and unconstitutional practice. Those who ere known tobe opposed 10 the party which he assumes to lead, but which secretly repudiate him, regard their official position, should they hold one, as scarcely worth an hour's purchase. Taught by the experience of others, they perceive that they may at any moment, falla victim to some of his vicious plots or corrupt -de- signs ; and are consequently apathetic as to the doties they bad previously performed wiih assiduety and pleas- ure. In this way the Province suffers severely and the fabric of the public service to!ters to tlie very base. Men in office may be said to be among the corner stones of the State. To tear them rudely then from the struc- lure, or menace their exislence. upon every trifling occasion is bul to sap the foundations of the Constitution. Ifthe Navy and the Army of England had been treated. inthe, manner, in which the. Civil Service bas been dealt with here we should have never witnessed the sublime spectacle of a Nelson or a Wellington; or have the pages of our history illumined so brilliantly as they noware But what cares Mr. Sandfield for history or ex- ampie. In the pettiness of his soul he thinks that the people of this. Pro- vince are to be bought into an endor- sation of his infamous ¢areer, through the empty display of a few dollars 'said. to be realized from his much vaunted retrenchment policy. Were this cunning little fiction of his a re- ality, and were the country ina fin- ancial point of view, improved in any degree since his advent to power, even then we say, the mischief he has done would more than counter- balance ten times the good said to be attained through this means. But when it isnow beyond all doubt that instead of bettering our condition by a wise an! prudent economy he has squandered our revenue in corrupt and useless Commissions--that he has destroyed our money credit with Engiand and our character for honor, and bonesty with the Lower Pro- vinces,--that he has introduced into the Legislative a sys'em of bribery and corruption without parallel in "the annals of the country, we can, to sone extent, fathom the infamy of the man and the damage he has done us. In this light of the case, then, it ought to become a paramount object witb all parties in the House to get rid at once of so vile a Minister ; and by so doing endeavor to re-es- tablish confidence in our midst, and the value which ought to attach to the solemn vignature of the Represen- tative of Royalty and the Great Seal of the Province.-- Freeman. Courtesies of Debate. TheHon Finance Minister enlivened the debate on Tuesday night by call- ing the Hon. Mr. Cartier a buffoon. Strange to say, the Speaker took no notice of the insult--an insult which affected the dignity of the House even far more than it could burt the feelings of the honorable member, so grossly alladed to. Mr. Holton, we presun e had been reading the Globe ere giving vent to bis playful fancy.---Protolype. Choice Humbugging. Mr. Brown has given notice of his old motion respecting Representation by Population. This is, we believe, the same motion that he kept idly on the motion paper throughout the whole of last session and the previous one.-- This is a novel way of securing rep. by pop., and saving one's character for consistency at the same time. Better for Mr. Brown to be honest, like his quondam friend Mr. McDougall, and openly kick the once-loved hobby straight out of the doors, as a bore and an impossipility.-- Prototype. BRetrenchment ! A Scoteh junior clerk, who has been but a comparatively short period in tte Custom House here, has just received an increase to his salary of $200 per annum. This is $200 a year more than is received by the Second Landing Waiter, who happens to be an Irishman, and who has been upwards of fourteen years in the service, keeping long office hours and performing duties the most important The clerks of the Custom House, have recen'ly veen all fairly remune rated, with the exception of Mr. Dou- glass and Mr. Ross--the former hold- ing by far the most difficult and im- portant position in 'the Long Room and the latter performing unquestion- ably the greatest a:mount of work. Well done, Jobn Sandtield & Cu.! What next ? No Irish need apply !-- Freeman. The Retrenchment Government, From the Leader. Ir has been remarked that though figures cannot lie men lie a good deal with them. The defenders of the Ministry are twisting the public accounts tor 1863 just laid before the House, into all sorts of shapes to suit their friends in the Government. The present Ministry unfurled igs flag, when it took possessioa of the treasury benches, with the word ' retrenchment' boldly em- blazoned on it. 'fo prove that they have fultiiled their mission in this respect, if in no other, is the priscipal endeavor of the organs... Therefore, from Dan.to Beersheba goeth up the ery that last year the Govern- ment wonderfully econowized the funds of the Province, and--coming to particulars retrenched to the amount of $228,873. 47. As retrenchment was the only platform--to use a Yankee phrase--on which they stood, it would not be too much to expect a sav- ing to this extent ; but we have yet to be convinced that it has been effected. It-can hardly be expected of us that we shovld go minutely into the financial state- ments of the, Province. This is a. task which will more properly fall upon Mr. Galt, and those in Parliament, who, with him, have paid particular attention to the public finances, A few salient facts, however, will be sufficient to show that the claims of re- trenchment set up for the Ministry have no foundation to rest upon: 'The * ordinary" expenditure, last year was $10,742,807.41, the receipts $9,760,316 34, leaving a defi- ciency of $982,491 07. Upon such a re- sult as this the organs grow eloquent. We shall allow a Hamilton paper to speak for its confreres--the langaage of them all is nearly the same :-- , 'hat there should be any deficiency is of course to be lamented ; but it is a matter of surprise and congratulation that in so short a time it has been reduced by the present government to an amount so com paratively small. When the Cartier goyv- ernment went out of power, it did so with the annual expenditure of the Province some five millions of dollars in advance of its income. 'There could, of course, be no ter- mination to such a system but Provincial bankruptcy, and there was every prospect -- that such bankruptey would ensue, should the trio, Cartier, Galt and John A., remain in power; for their efforts seemed to be rather to increase that to decrease this an- nual deficiency. It was to remedy this great evil that our Reform government was entrusted with power." This is certainly not a little startling ; but itso happens that it is not true, and shows, too, how dangerous it is for people to dabble in matters of which they know nothing. Will it be believed that in the statement for last year which shows a de- ciency of only $982,491, the amount paid towards the diminution of the public debt, (only the small sum of $4,166,000 !) is not included, whilst the statement which pro- fesses to give the 'result of Mr. Galt's finan- ciering in 1861 is made up by a very op- posite rule. In this case the amount of debt reduced is included. If it be a fact-- and we do not dispute it--that there was a deficiency of some five millions of dollars in 1861, there is no less than that amount in 1863. The Government organs may work hard to: produce a different result, but this is the naked fact, which no amount of so- phistry can get over. By a reference to the public accounts of 1861 we find that the total expendivure of that year, including the interest on the pub- lic debt, and the amount paid in redemption was $14,742,834. Last year the tota amount was $14,909,182; being an exeess of expenditure under the retrenchment gov- ernment of $166,348! The apparent ad- vantage which a comparison between the receipts and expenditure last year shows in favor of the government arises from an in- creased revenne. In 1861 the revenue amounted to. $12,655,581; last year it reached $14,382,508 ; being an increase of $1,726,927. This increase in revenue is due in no respect to the present Govern- ment but to the natural growth of the trade and commerce of the country. A compari-| son of the items of revenue in 1863 and 1861 shows how the excess of revenue has been obtained :-- 1863. 1861. Ouahomse. fey $5,170,009 $4,774,562 TERR Shs care teas 830,000 344,665 Post Office. ....00 34% 439,000 357,015 Public Works........ 540,000 324,619 Territorial :s.cc sar 682,000 678,922 Interest on Invest- ments & Advances 363,000 489,304 Sinking Fund, Im- perial Loan...... 2,920,000 gyi Municipal loan Fond Oe eee 184,000 186,309 do do do,L.C. 170,000 93.078 Quebec Fire Loan. 6,400 4,814 Municipalities fund W G8Gipevos.ues ..) 182,000 298,049 do do, Kast 39,000 26,976 Common School : Land Fund...... 128.000 111,594 Indian Fund........ 293,000 256,629 Total service $14,382,508 $12,655,581 This brief comparison between the years 1861 and 1863 will suffice to show bow hol- low is the pretence of retrenchment set up in favor of the Government. A. contrast between 1862 and 1863 wil. show how the " diminution". of $228,873 47 may be ac- counted for. But this will do for the pre- sent, re DINNA YE HeAK THE SLOGAN /----When' the last ° lingering ray of light seems gone, and some al- most impossible, though long wished, for event transpires that brings back both hope and_ life, it is a circumstance not easily forgotten. Not more joyful was the sound of the slogan-to the ears of the Scotch girl, Jessie at Lucknow than the assurance to a sick and dying man that you have a medicine that will cure him. Down's Elixir has caused many a heart to feel glad by restoring the sick to health when all other medicines had proved worthless. John F. Henry & Co, Proprietors, 303 St. Paul St. Mon- treal C. Ei. ; F gomimercial, Aran Stratford Markets. The rollowing Report is furnished by Messrs, : Hauson & Fairfield. ; Cues Wepyespay, March 9th, 1864. -- Fall Wheat # bush..........$0 90 @ $0 95 Spring Wheat # bush.... 7... 075° 0°79 Uats @ obnsh..tl.. URES Sf TOO. 0:38 Potatoes a busheyies wi. 040 0 60 Peas Y,, bush, «ssi. sihwiew . 040 0 50. Barley 4 -bush;..... gi aiee 0 Ghee seme Timothy Seed per bush, -.. 125 (2 30 Flour per bbl....... be Ts epee 60 Oatmeal persbbli. 0.0.06 600° 96 25 Butter peri 3) eva. vii ene O18 0.15» ' "Store Packed 'perdbs...+/ 0 123 0 14 Eggs per doz... c.hssee eres 014 0.16 Mutton per.100 Ibs..... 4.50 5 00 beef per (00 lb tan V4'50 3 00 Hay:per ton AGW. 00. AA. $6250 7 00 TeaHow perilbs -nss8s binews 06 2ff.0 O%ye4 Applesiper( Bag aes sej0:3> (ode FL MO; 1125 2 (pu Rp (nar ewan Neen ok 00 Lard per Ib.. ; teas 008 22,8 08 Sheepskins. eetrerbe yt 1 30 pal dest G. ents. 007. aghabrendo D1 car 60 BerOUNeN HOGS ey sce RTO 5 50 Geese. Wii i. Hina al NAARAR AAR AR A RADADADRARIAY

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