Rapa

ee nae ee eae a. eee

AU ee Senn

See ee am oe

nae pee ee

~~ li 0 an at

7

_awwmmes anninn pei ents

AN REE ty

—_e meer

Sal OE tana aa i lial

-s

-

Ey ge OE a I I ae tee ne ear mmm oe

“Bias,

eh ena

“

-

Sad ate Sere

Bind ts =

aware that they and this Parliament h vc exponided a largo sum = in rulatling the terms of Union with Prince I {ward Island; that Steamship has beon built specially for the purpose ot keeping open Winter Communication with Prince I lward Isiand ; that it has been t according to the best modern ideas ; and that large sums had been expended in repairing that vessel. I also say that,under the circumstances, the

Aue

} 23 ula

i

Government were, perhaps, justitied in making the experime

: . a . e f i ] between Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, and Pictou, Nova Scotia, inasm wh as those Georgetown,

ntof carrying the mails

two ports were safe harbors. at least. had the expectation of being open to a very late period every winter. They also had the further advantage, that eaca port was the terminus of a railway. ‘There- fore it was, perhaps, felt proper an 1 justi fiable that the Government should make a thorough experiment of the harbors of Georgetown and Pictou, in order to ascer- tain whether communication between the Province of Prince Edward Island and the mainland could be maintained there. We have now the experience of an entire winter, an art of another, and that experience certain i indicates very clearly that the position in which Northern Light 1s now not suitable for the purpose for w hich she

was built and employed. I shall endeavor to show that other localities between Princ Edward Island and the ruainland are better suited for this purpose than the place wiere may be necessary,

tse

I lacs i LS

she is now located. It perhaps, to give some person ul experience on tiuls polut, because I do not wish to dis-

° } Ay ! ips t parage the Capa sity Of the Jvoruhern Lijit for the work tor which she built. I

: : ; can say that I spent two or three days on oi } ‘ : me spk . 4

byard of her, ana had every reason lo be the

VAs

satisiied with her performance; but at commencement of this season the was so remarkably mild and open that she scarcely met with any greater ditliculty than

would be encountered in the summer; but

towards the end of last month on the first |

oczurrence of cold weather her course was beset with fields of gich a manner that able to continue her passages.

ice,

Was

T r t é me Nol.

} snc

gentlemen who will second this resolution | (ilon. Mr. Montgomery) had some practical}

exkpri lence on board the vessel this Ssenson. : - i .

{have had none. | think my

went oa board on the Jisi January.

lowed him two or three days later.

’ i @ 7 ? non. friend

After waiting a couple of days for the | that vessel, {£ was induced, hearing the| mails were to be sent another way, to go by | #12 old route between Cape Tormentine and | Cape Traverse. Now, if personal inconve-|

ience was the only ditlicalty im the case, | of course there would be very little to be} said about it, but I tell hon. gentlo-| men that the failure of that vessel to return} caused a delay in the transmission outward | of the mails, from Georgetown, and also of | the inward iails from Pictou to the Island. | The latter had to be sent, a distance of 80) miles, to Cape Traverse ; tho latter, by a| long circuitous route, to cape Tormeniine. Oa the occasion I refer to Charlottetown was without a mail for six days. Our mer-| cantile community experienced a diilizulty! which, i am sure, every hon. member of tlus| Houce will appreciate—the inconvenience of | being without any communication with the | main land, excep: by telegraph, for six days, | and { ses by despaches from tue Maritime | Provinces that the occurrence has been re-| peated since then, and the mails have been, ordered to be transferred to the old roate. There 1s so much to be said in favor of the} route between Cape ‘Tormentine and Cape | Traverse for mail purposes over the Georg 2 | town and Pictou route, that IThope 1 will be pardoned for presenting them in as few words as possible.

Between Pictou and Georgetown is a dis- tance of thirty-five to forty miles, and that apace, a3 the water advances—generally to- wards the end of January,sometines earlier —becomes closely packed with heavy fields of ice, and i leave hon. gentlemen to imna- gine for themselves what the wear and tear must be to any ship, however well and} strongly built, when driven stern on through such velds vi ice, for days perhaps. Allow that vessel any clear space of water, and she will break her way through formidable bar- riers of ice ; but when she is packed ia, as we have read of vessels being caught in the ice in Arctic regions, it becomes almost im- possille for her to extricate herself. She must await the action of the wind and waves,-and if we could be aware of the facts at the present moment, I believe that is the position in which the Northern Light is now —waiting for the action of the south-west wind to release her fromm her unpleasant predicament—surrounded by seven or eight feet of solid ice. ‘This wear and tear cannot be repaired, of course, for nothing. I make this 1uvtion, as L have stated, nut in a spirit of hostility to the Government, but to show, beyond doubt, that the vessel is placed in an unsuitable and inconvenient position. I have heard it said in many quarters—in fact, at one time ladvocated the same course myseli-—that the proper way to proceed would be to issue a commission of enquiry to asceriain the most suitable route. sour years ago that commission would have been exceedingly useful, but at the pre- sent day, when we have had the experience of two years, and when it has been demonstrated beyond question that there is but one route suitable, i think a counuission of enquiry would only cause un. necessary delay. One of the great recom- mendations in favor of the route between Capes Traverse and Tormentine is the fact thai the Straits there are only nine miles wide, and that distance is reduced in winter to seven miles by the ‘‘ board” ice, as it is

weather |

packed in|

un- |

tacit [ fol. |economized through this change would go ‘far to make up the cost of the required im- return of Provemonhts. : {some short brancnies of raliways

;SOMS

ho as oefsstually performed as, under cireumstances, it is possible for it to Sometimes it would be necessary to use the steamer, and sometimes iceboats. lh tho early part of the winter the heavy ti lds ot yet for.ne L or have not besolme 3 [t is then

y pe.

ice have no. DD weked as they do subs qu mtly. 3h the old icaboats experience the greatest dit ficulty, and in former tunes I have known three weeks to elapse without mails cross-

“

ine, This is due to the fact that the Straits are gorged with broken ico and half-melted snow, througn wiica no boat

can pass, and on which mo man can walk. But under such circumstances the ‘* North- ern Light” could run without difficulty and very little wear and tear. This renders the ‘situation I have referred to particularly eli The soft, half-melted ice, which is known in that locality as ‘ lolly,” is always liable to recur during the winter. You may sometimes find a mass of solid ice in the

gible.

straits, anda few days later it becomes a,

‘field of *‘lolly,” creating an impassible space. That is the time the ‘* Northern Light could perform her service admirably. I

must say the only valid objection I have |

heart urged against the between Capes Pormentine and Ve Verse 18, that the ‘

‘Northern Light” cannot’be placed there

route

without a conside! ing breakwaters. At the commencement of every winter it would be necessary, before the “‘beard” ice for.s, that she should have tion fromthe windand waves. Aiter-

4

cotection enough. One of those break-

1)

Ls ‘ waters would be a diffisult and expensive enzineering work. That I am free to ad

bat fe

mit, but { do say it is not expedient to ab-|

lon a situation possessing se many ot.er

am advantages, simply because such a diilisulty stands in the way. neering skill enough im this

> >

sountry water strony

to buid a bre rk 5 inst 10.

to resist the natural After building the Victoria 'treal and undertaking other

forces a:

‘in this Dominion, inc.ading a railway across

ithe Rocky Mountains, surely we are not srred by such a difficulty as lthe erection of a breakwater at Cape Lor- imentine. I think it would be a reflection on the Dominion tv say so. I think after a candid investigation of the subjec

amount witch could be

rons to be af yOing LO De let

' i

A .'s uri}

u it Witi be

od as ed that tne

i ¥ “, tar . . } . , as * {am aware, also, there are

‘equired

lthere, which would also involve some ex-

penditure; but all that is needed, in the tirst instance, is a breastwork on the naain- jand side. On the Island there is a break- water already ; bat, being a local work, it is no‘, perhaps, suiisientiy solid, and it would be necessary to extend and strengthen it what. Tho duliculty at Cape ormen- tine is by no means insuperable. I have en- deavored to take @ common sense view of this question. When the service between Georgetown and Pict u, after a remaraably open season, has ended in a failure, what is leftfor the members

rince Edward to do but to the matter before the ently course open to us. I do not blame the Government for this failure. {tnink they were justified in giving the Georgetown and Pictou route a fair trial, but that trial having resulted in a failure, other steps should be taken to keep commu- nication open in winter. I think we have hai suifizient experience now to enable us to decide, without a commission of inquiry, where we should establish our communica- tion with the mainiand. [an think that such a commission would only delay the change which we advocate. in bringing this matter before you, 1 have en- deavored to occupy as little of your time as possible. Lam quite aware it is a suject which does not possess interest to every- body, although I know it does for many gentlemen from adjoining counties, who azree with me that 1¢is not a question for Prince Edward Island alone, but for all the counties and countries having any connec- tion with the trade of the Proviuce. To say it is a local question isa futile argument. it is my duty, knowing well that a time is fast approacaing When public men will prob- ably ve brought face to face with whom ther represent in this Parliament in some shape or other (for this House has, to acertain degree, a representative charac- ter), to press the clainis of Prince Edward {sland upon the Government and upon Par- liament, and this is my apology for the course i have taken on tiis occasion,

Hon. Mr. Montgomery said he thought if the present route berween Georgetown and Pictou were continued the Government would find it necessary to put on a second steamer, because if anything was to happen the Northern Ligit—if she got stuck in the

froin

bring

those

He had crossed the Straits on the sist of January last. Upto that time there had been no ditliculiy; there had been little or no ice, and the steamer made one way trips daily. But in attempting to cross over that day she found heavy ice. She way through for along way, but was ulti- mately jammed into the ice so tightly that she could neither back out or go forwar.l, and had to remain there all night. Next morning they were three miles iroia land; the captain got a boat out and, after a great deal of difliculty, danger and hardship, they got ashore seven or eight miles from Pictou. cle feared there would always be extreme dificulty in crossing from Georgetown to Pictou in severe weather, and the only safe

course is frum Cape Tormentine to Cape ‘Traverse. The Northern Light

could work there in connection with the

called. That ice seldom or ever moves. At that point only can boats cross. LKvery-

where else any attempt of the kind that has been made has ended in disaster. 1 think the experience of two winters has demon- strated beyond a doubt that the Northern Light cannot, under all circumstances, con- tend against the ice. If she could, { say certainly retain her there, but I contend she cannot. Therefore, it becomes apparent the mail service of Prince Edward island should be concentrated at one point, be-

ice boats, because if she got stuck the ice poats would be on the spot to take her place. Under the existing arrangement this Island was without mails for a week at a time. ile was very sorry thatthe coal provided last season for the use of the steamer was not sent to Capes Tormentine and Traverse. The steamer would have been perfectly safe there, as a harbor could be cut for her in the board ice. They would never have regular mails by the steamer running be- tween Georgetown and Pictou. His opinicn

tween the two Capes, and I am sure it would

ice-—the passengers and crew might perish. ,

forced her |

cm a aetna ttt toil ot ode Natt an De cae

tho had last montioned, and that route coul L be

rable expenditare in build- |

? ' = Prete ' ee ward, that is not necessary, because the ice: a

| - ‘jas the hon, mover ot

Surely there is engl- |

CONSPICUOUS i

Parliament? It is]

inclined to}

for in the other Chamber.

kept open in the summer I proper pliers

were built, and a branch railway construct. ed. It would then be nothing more than a ferry in the summer season, and a round trip could be made in two hours.

Hon. Mr. Haviland said this was a qtes- tion in which the members from the Prov- inces of Ontario and Quebec would take very little interest ; but it was a matter of very great importance to the whole of the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island and the Maritime Provinces. T! a mat- ter of course, felt a deep

hey, as interest in the es-

‘tablishmont of regular winter mails. In the |

‘articles of Confederation they were guar- ‘anteed that that service would be efficiently ‘performed. There was no doubt that the steamer “Northern Light” had cost the ‘Government a large amount of money in the ‘first instance, and subsequently for very ‘extensive improvements and repairs made to her last summer. He cid not think there was so much to be found fault with in | the construction of the boat, but that she ‘had been put on the wrong reute. As long ‘as she was kept by the Government on the route between Georgetown and Pictou, they }would have very little satisfaction as regards regularity of mails or transit of passengers ‘daring the winter months: whereas, if she ‘were placed on the route between Cape ‘Traverse, Prince Edward Island, and [Cape ‘Tormentine, New — Brunswick, ‘he believed they would not have been 80 ‘often disappointed with the mails being de- \iayed in the Gulf, or troubled with the ne- cessity of having them transported from the steamer when she was blocked up in the ice, by sleighs, and landed at New Glasgow. | Of course the change would entail expense, the Address contem- plates, by the constructién of a breakwater The disburse- iments required on the Prince Edward island side would not be as great, as there was a wharf there which, by a reasonable expenditures could be utilized so as to be ready for the steamer next Autumn. There was no doabt that, in the winter season, it was impossible to carry on the mail service lin, the oid fashioned style with ice boats du- ring the formation of the ice early in the monih of January when the waters of the Gulf were one mass of ‘ lolly” through which it was impussible to pusa the boat with boat hooks,and whichwould not supporta |} VOSI being dragged om Tt They had two or three weeks without having commu-

ion the New Brunswick side.

\ \ |

Hhiers.

nication with the mainland, and their

only means of knowing what was 7

going on in the outer world was by the

electric telegraph. [t wi;sht weary hon.

members conscantly bringing tlis matter up before the House, as 1t had been up so often before, but the representatives of the istand had no other way of calling the attention of the House to this question in which the people of Prince Edward Island felt so intense an interest now, that they had ‘ino Minister to represent them in the Cabinet ; and those gentlemen who repre- sented the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Branswick, knew very little of the wants of Prince Hdward Island. ‘the wants of the people of Prince Edward Island could only be laid before the Government by means of motions of this kind, either here He believed that if a break-water were constructed at Cape formentine it would not merely be a place of transit between the main land and the Island proper, but it would be the proper route tor mail steamers to run on during the summer season, because there were only some nine muils between the two Capes. All that was necessary to have hourly communicat.on with the main- iand wouid be the construction of these two breakwaters, anda branch line of railway, either from the town of A:nherst, or from a place called Aulac down to the Gulf shore, and short railway of ten miles from the island railway to Cape ‘Traverse. It would not cost a very large sum of money, and it would render the mail service etlivient all the year round, making Prince Edward no lenger an Island, but virtuaily a part of the imainiand.

Lion. Mr. Botsford said this was a matter of considerable importance, not only tu Prince Edward Island, but to the main- land as well; and he congratulated the members from that Island on having ar. rived at the conclusion that the attempt to establish communication between George- town and Pictou was not practicable. There was no doubt whatever, from the experience they had had during the past two seasons— two of the most tavorable winters—not- withstanding the amount of money ex- pended on the steamer ‘‘Northern Light,” that she was not competent to perform re- gular mail service between the isiand and tue mainland. He had had an experience extending over some fifty years. Hon. gentlemen would, perhaps, smile when he said so, looking at his youthful appearance.

ton. gentlemen—Hear, hear, and laugh- ter.

Hon. Mr. Botsford continuing, said he had had an experience of the Straits of Northumberland of half a century, and he felt that the attempt to place a steamer be-

ordinary winter must be a failure. The} only practicable means of communication | 3 . ! petween the island and the mainland was! between Cape Traverse and Cape ‘lormen-! : tine. The seasons last year and this had! been very mild. He had known winters | when it would have been utterly impossible |

for the ‘‘Northern Light” to have passed | over the Straits with saiety. If comimunica- | tion were established between Cape ‘iaverse | and Cape Vormentine, and a short line of |

‘railway were construzted from Cape Traverse | held before Dr. Mutiart, Corone ing’ , Coroner tor King’s,

connecting with the Island railway, and | another short branch constructed to in-! tersect the Intercolonial Railway at Sack- ville. It would render communication with Charlottetown speedy and safe—a passage

of not more than four hours.

Hon. Mr. Scott.—What would be the railway distance from Cape Tormentine to | intersect with the Intercolonial Railway ? |

Hon. Mr. Botsford said it would be ‘thirty-two miles. He would state to the | honorable the Secretary of State that an

was that the only route was that which he/ instrumental survey had been made of the

Aiea a ‘ } ‘ neues » ae ‘ 7 ‘ ; : tween Pictou and Georgetown during any! went to the barn, to attend as it was thought,

+

proposed railway route, levels had been taken. and it was found that with the ex- ception of two or throe miles, it was almost a dead level; and the contractor or en- vineer who surveyed it for the persons in- terested in the project had tendered for the construction of the road-bed and stations for an extraordinary moderate sum, pro- vided the company went on with the work. The company was formed, but there was goiue difficulty in obtaining rails, which pre- vented the Company from accepting the tender. Under the circumstances, there

‘was no doubt but what that route wonld be |

' PRIDAY, the Ist

a favorable one, both winter and sumer, if it were adopted, as there would ‘not be half the danger of loss oi life or property that there was in the pres- ‘ent route. He fully concurred in the views ‘of the mover of this address, that it was un- “nscessary to form a commission of enquiry | to decide what was the best route. As one 'who knew the locality, he would be of opin- ion that the routes between Capes Tormen- ‘tine and Traverse was the only route that ‘was practicable. With the aid of the ‘‘Northern Light,” or even a less expensive ‘steamer, with small boats, something simi. ‘lar to those now used, it would be easy to keep up regular communication between the Island and the mainland, as there were very ‘few days in the winter when mails could not be passed across the straits. ‘the reasons given by the hon. members who moved and seconded this address scemed to him conclusive that the formation ef a com- mittee of enquiry would cause de- lay. The satisfactory establishment of regular communication across the straits would be a inutual benefit to the people of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as Prince Edward Island, and he trusted that the Government would adopt that course. It seemed to him so clear, so palpably,when the whole circumstances were taken into consideration, that measures should be ad- opted to place the mail on the route that nature intended it should be placed. Other Senators followed. <2.—>so— --

HZPORTS.

lor the following comparative statement we are indebted to Mr. H. McKenna, in the Cus

Loms .

COMPARALIVE STATEMENT, showing the value of goods exported from Priace Edward island during the years ending 31st De- cember, 1876 and 1577:

1576. 1877.

Te PiIeOTIOe ... . « cade ss 3176,455 $364, 162 Tae Pores’... . >. . 728 60,359 Animalsand their produce 86,645 102,737 Agricultural Products. . 1,057,321 1,090, 539 Manolavtures .. .....-. 11,683 11,521 Ships sold to other coun-

ee AAS Seal. 6 05 459,030 305, 860 Miscellaneous.......... $32 eta Goods not proclace of

eS 10,0236 9,799

wet a $1,884,894 $1,945,977

Potatoes and Eggs exported, 1876-7:

! 1S7v. 1s77.

‘Quantity | Value. | Quantity! Value. i | So caida: Magee es

Oats, bas! 1,980, 122|$847, 953! 1,558,782) 3691, 199 Potatoes, 739,303) 191,376) 1,057,906) 334,617 Eggs doz! 384,852] 33,432; 425,573] 59,115

Tine Bad of Ward Four.

Warp Four is incorigible. We have dis- missed the subject of his communication. We shall now dismiss himself, and we do do trust that before he again -rushes into print, he will spend some little time and practice in writing so as to make himself somewhat intelligible. ‘* Ward Four’ tells us that Mr. Hodgson ‘ is known te be one’ of the derdest opponents of our present School System.” The italics is ours, for we would humblyaskifthere are any degrees in death. Surely if a man be dead, then there is an end of him, nor can he be “ deader” than another man. But we assure ‘‘ Ward Four” that he is in error. We learn, upon excellent aathority, that Mr. Hodgson was alive and well yesterday evening, wnich was the latest time that ‘‘ Ward tour” could have written, even supposing him guilty of breaking the Sabbath day. When ** Ward Pour” ‘sighted hislast summer’s pilgri:aage totheseat of Government,” it is evident that his powers of vision are of no ordinary kind. Sam Weller’s suggested spectacles of double

million ‘** hextra power,” which could see through a deal door and

a stair-case were powerful in their way; but spectacles which will enable a man to ** sight” from Charlottetown to Ottawa, have never yet been dreamed of ever in the realms of fiction. ieionieienhaciietetie se-dillaictaie diecast shai

SUICIDE. —Cecil Webster, of Bay Fortune, committed suicide on Saturday last by hanging. The deceased had been in a soimewhat desponding state of mind for some time back, but no one suspected that he had any intention of taking away his life. On the morning on which the sad event occurred he appeared to be in his usual good health, took a hearty breakfast, after which he

the Stock. About half an hour after his son Wilham found him hanging by the neck in an unfrequented part of the barn. A small rope, which was used as a horse tie, was tied to a spike in one of the joists o: the loft, suspended by this in a kneeling posture, his knees within a few inches oj the floor, the body was discovered. The feelings of his son, on witnessing this terrible spectacle, may be more easily im- agined than described. An inquest was

and a verdict rendered in accordance with the facts. Deceased was 65 years of age was of a quiet industrious disposition was in comfortable circumstances ; and his un- timely end cannot be accounted for except under the head of temporary insanity.

THe jury in the case of the Queen gs, McCloskey, for riot, brought in a verdict of guilty after a stirring debate of thirty hours,

Ws have received a copy of ‘ Belford’ Magazine’ for March. It is, aa usual, wall

ms SD New Advertisements,

Mr, Barle’s Concert!

| A CONCERT of VOCAL & INSTRY Li. MUNTAL MUSIC will be aa | the

¥. M,C. ASSOCIATION HALL

;

Nn proxiMd,

Ticxars 50 cents each, to be had at Dr Dodd's Medical Hall, where a plan of the sit. tings can be seen ou Wednesday, the 27th instant,

Family tickets of six, 32.00; of four, 31,69,

rev. 40—-

Tenders for Poor House, of

7 ts, marked ‘ Tenders for Poor House,” will be received at the Poor House, until SATURDAY, 9th March, from persons willing to furnish the following sup- supplies :—

FISH,

KEROSENE OIL, SOAP,

HOMESPUN CLOTH,

i FLANNEL, UNBLEACHED CUOTrTros, WHITE ne WINCEY,

SHIRTS and DRAWERS, HATS and CAPS,

Also for performing the following services; TAILOR’S WORK, SHOEMAKER’S * UNDERTAKER ’S *

All necessary information can be obtained at

the Poor House from the master.

The Commissioners do not bind themselves

to accept the lowest or any tender. 4 GEORGE W. HODGSON, Sec’y Commissioners, th’town, Feb. 25—dy pat 3taw till 9th

| JAMES HOBBS,

CABINET MAKER,

Cor. Kent and Prince Sireets, Charlottetown.

FENHE SUBSCRIBER, in returning thanks te

his customers and the public generally,

for past favors, would take this method to so-

licit a further continuance of their patronage,

I am better prepared than ever to execute any orders that may be entrusted to me.

‘The latest styles of all kinds of Household, Office, Church and School Furniture, made from well selected and seasoned stock, at short notice.

Special attention paid to Cutting, Making and Laying Carpets.

£3” Kepairing neatly done, at short notice.

I would also invite the attention ot Trustees of City and Country Schools to A DESK, one of the Cheapest and Best ever offered here for School purposes. Please call and inspect it at my Show koom.

JAMES HOBBS.

Corner Kent and Prince Streets, } Ch’town, Feb. 23, 1878. j

Union Bank of P. &, ‘Island,

TEXHE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Shareholders of this Bank will be held at their Banking House, in Charlotte- town, on Wednesday, 6th March, at twelve o'clock, noon, to elect Directors for the ensuing year, and transact such other business as may be laid before the Meeting.

GEORGE MACLEOD,

Cashier. Ch’town, Feb. 23—lw cial

S. PETER’S SCHOOLROOM, Tuesday Evn'g, Feb. 26, 1878,

Doors open at 7.30. Admission 25 cents. Feb. 21—dy pat till 26th.

A GRAND FANCY DRESS —

CARNIVAL |

WILL BE HELD AT THE RINK,

On Thursday, Feb. 28th, 1878,

Commencing at 8 p.m. (Sharp.)

RULES:

_ No one will be allowed to skate unless in Costume.

Personation of Religious orders wil! not be permitted.

No gentleman will be allowed to personate ® female character.

Only those taking part in the Carnival will be allowed in the Dressing Rooms.

Strict order will be enforced in all parts of the building.

ADMISSION :- Gentlemen and Ladies in Costume will be admitted free.

Season ticket holders for promenade, 25 ets. Non-ticket holders for promenade, 50 cts.

The Rink will be suitably decorated for the occasion.

Galbraith’s Band will be in attendance, and will perform a select programme from 8 ti Il p. m.

All intending to take part in the Carnival must hand in their names to Dr. Strickland en

filled with choice literature.

or before Tuesday, 26th instant. Ch’town, Feb, 19, 1878,