IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I IIM 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ■^ 6" -— ► V] ^a A c? / Photographic Sdences Corporation ^.^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 <* # ' w o^ '^^ &?/ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic rjotes/Notes techniques et bihiiographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy whicEi may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checlted below. D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurte et/ou peiliculAe Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manqua Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or blacic)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ ReiiA avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intArieure Blanic leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se pcut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes iors d'une restauration apparaiss^nt dans le texte, mais. lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmAes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplAmentaires: L'Institut a microfilm6 le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a AtA possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. |~n Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/oi Pages restauries et/ou peiliculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxe* Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piquies Pagts detached/ Pages d6tach6es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality indgale de I'impression Includes supplementary matarii Comprend du materiel supplAmentaIre Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pagts detached/ |~~| Showthrough/ I ! Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ to Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuiiiet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont Ati filmAes A nouveau de fa^on A obtenir la meilleure image possible. T^ po of fill Or ba thi sic oti fir sic or Th sh Til wl Ml dif em bei rig rec mfl This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checlted below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X u 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X tails du adifier une Tiage Thii. copy filmad hara has baan raproducad thanks to vha ganarosity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Colitmbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and iagibiiity of tha original copy and in Itaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, or tha bac ; covar whan appropriata. All othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion. and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad imprassion. Tha last racordad frame on each microfiche shall contain tha symbol — ^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may bo filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method : L'axemplaira filmA fut raproduit grAce A la gAnArositA d9: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Las images suivantaa ont itA raproduites avac !e plus grand soin. compta tenu de la condition at da la nettetA de I'exemplaira filmA. at en conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmte en commen^ant par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la darniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaitra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »> signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de I'angle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrant la mAthode. rata »elure, I A J 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 -/(P J \xf\s>Jtk PDBUC WORKS POLICY Outlined by The Premier in His Speech on The Second Reading Of the Public Works Loan Act by Which $5,000,000 Will be Spent In Assisting Railway Development— The Mackenzie & Mann Contract. ADVANCE, BRITISH COLUMBIA. (The Colonist, May 7, 1898.) The cry of the people of British Colum- bia has been for a bold and aggressive policy, which would lead to the develop- ment of the great resources of the prov- ince, attract immigration nnd capital and generally contribute to its prosperity. This demand has been wholly reasonable. It: has found expression in the opposi- tion press. It has been urged by the op- position members of the legislature. The members of the house who usually vctp with the government have united in the demand. The press which sup- pi -rts the government has taken a strong attitude in favor of it. The Colonist can fairly claim to have occupied an advanced position in regard to such a policy. To meet this demand much fore- Right, faith and courage have been re- quired—foresight to discover not only what ought to be done, but what could bo done; faith in the extent and value of the resources of the province; courage to meet the criticism that will and ought to be directed to every proposition Involving large public expenditures. Wo ffel that we can say of the Loan bill, the second reading of which Hon. Mr. Turner moved yesterday, that it displays in a high degree these three admirable and necessary qualities. If it becomes the law of the province and its several provisions are acted upon, Mr. Turner and his colleagues will take a place in the history of British Columbia and Canada, scarcely second to any public men the Dominion has produced, as pro- moters of material prosperity. The priv- ilege which Mr. Turner had yesterday, of standing in his place in the house and announcing that the government of vhich he is the leader has made ar- rangements which will secure the im- ii'.ediate beginning of two great lines of railway from the I'acific Coast of the province to the inteiior, one through tho southern and the other through the northern part of the province, and both t'» open to the world great gold fields, was one that has never fallen to the lot of any provincial premier to equal nnd has been surpassed in the history of Canada only by the announcement of the perfecting of arrangements for the construction of the Canadian Pacific. These two railways involve the construc- tion of over eight hundred miles of road, through and to connect with what un- doubtedly are the richest gold-bearing re i gionH iu the world, but whose resources sre uot limited by the wealth which may be dug out of the bowels of the earth. Thf Premier stated his case so modestly that possibly the house hardly grasped its full significance; but it was an epoch- making declaration, presuming of courso that the house places the government in a position to carry out the arrange- ments which have been provisionally made. A PATRIOTIC NOT PARTY QUES- TION. Prom t^e outset the Colonist has ask- ed the members of the legislature to ap- proach this great question from a non- partizan standpoint. The credit for ori- ginating this bold and comprehensive policy must rest with the government; but the credit for its adoption can be shared in by members on both sides of the house. The question rises so far above all considerations of party politics, that one does not see them at al! when regarding it, any more than when we look upon some grand mountain peak, rising clear and white into the blue heavens, wo notice the mists which ling- er in the shadows of the foothills. It is not too much to sa.v that the eyes of Canada are upon British Columbia at this crisis. Let our legislature acquit itself so that it will centre upon our province the eyes of the civilized world. We do not pretend to know how all the members will vote upon this loan bill; but we do know that the man who by his vote shall contribute to the de- feat of the measure assumes a respon- sibility before the country, which noth- ing he may hereii fter do as a public man will efface. A great policy has been an- nounced. There is no alternative pol- icy to be considered. It is this or noth- ing. The Dominion government has de- clared that it will do nothing for the railway to the North this year. The railw-.y in the South cannot be carried out unless this bill becomes law. If this bill does not gc through a year with all its priceless opportunities will be lost. What man is there who dares take the responsibility of this? Is there an in- dividual in the house who will let his partizan feelings so blind his eyes to the great ndvHntage of immediate action thfi<^ he will not see where his duty lies ill Ihis great emergency? NEW FEATURES. The two new features in the loan bill are the extension of the railway provided for last year from the Coast to the Co- luKibia river, and the line from the Cop.st to Teslin Lake. As nearly every one knows new bill amends, provided for a line from English Bluff on the Coast to Boundary Creek. This was recognized as incomplete, but it was all that the gov- ernment felt able to ask the house to gDint at that time. It was hoped that the outstanding land subsidy would be sr.fllcient, with what "id the Dominion government would give to secure the construction of the whole line. This anticipation has uot been realized, but the government is now in a position to announce that if a subsidy of $4,000 a mile is given for the whole line from the Coast to the Columbia the construction of the road will be at onje begun. Wo do not believe there is any difference of opinion in the province as to the desira- bility of giving effect to this plan. The railway will be one of very great import- ance. It will open a splendid eection of country. It will add enormously to the prosperity of those portions of the southern part of the province where set- tlors and miners are already estabUshed. It will tie the Coast more closely than e\er to the interior, open new markets for our merchants and fanners, give an iTTipetus to tlie settlement of a very valu- able region and generally supply a new artery for industrial life along four hun- ditd miles of the fairest portion of Can- ada. Surely for such a line of policy no argument is needed. \N ILL STAND INVESTIGATION. The plan for the construction of a railway from the Coast to Lake Teslin is one that will stand the closest investi- gation. If we argue for it more at length than for the other enterprise, it is not because its merits are less, but because they are less und'erstood. One gre.it beauty of the plan for the northern road is that it illustrates the truth of what Mr. Turner said in his speech yesterday —that as we grow older we learn better how to deal with enterprises of this na- ture. At first the province thought the best way to secure railways was to give large land grants. Then it decided to pledge its cre() miles long is to bo built by the company. As a business arrangement the plan agreed upon wi'.l stand the closest scrutiny. A TEOPLES POLICY. The great majority of the people of British Columbia, without regard to lo- cality or political sympathy, will endorse the whole policy which finds expression in the Loan bill. Those residents of Kootenay, who are said to be hostile to that portion of the measure which pro- vides for the railway to the Yukon, will surely see that the plan submitted to the house is one to which they cannot re- fvse their support. Surely the people of that favored portion of British Columbia will not be so utterly sectional as to expect their representatives to withhold their santion from this measure as an entirety. Is there a shadow of doubt that, if such a plan, as that for the Yu- kon railway, were proposed for a line iu any part of Kootenay, every voter in that part of the country would hold up bcth hands for it? Would they not say at once that all the province is asked to do in effect is to borrow the money and let the railway pay the interest and sinking fund? Will the people of the LoAver Fraser justify their representa- tives in blocking projects that will open to the farmers of British Columbia the best markets in America? We do not be- lieve they will, any more than the people of the Coast cities would support thei' representatives in such a course. The measure is in the hands of the house. We look for its passage by n irood major- ity, but would be more than gratified to chronicle that it had met with unani- mous support. Some days ago the Col- onist appealed to Mr. Semlin, as leader of the oppostion, to throw partizanship to the winds for the occasion and join bends tvith the government in carrying through this great measure. He will re sume the debate on Monday, and he has the political opportunity of his life. He can rise at one step to as high a pedestii as ever was occupied by the leader of a provincial opposition in Canada, by clos- ing his speech with seconding the Pre- niier's motion for the second reading of the bill. He would lose nothing, but on the contrary would gain immensely by such a course. It would be a fitting cul- mination to his political record. Next Monday will be the beginning of the last week of the last session of the present parliament of British Coiumbia. Let it be the beginning of a new era in the hidtory of our imperial province. Let the representatives of the people show the world that, differ as they may on politi- cal issues, they are as one on the great question of provincial development, one in their faith in the resources of British Columbia, one in their determination that the golden opportunity at hand shall not slip by unimproved. Let both sides of the house proclaim as with one voice: Advance, British Columbia! THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Proceeding to move the second read- ing of the dill Hon. Mr. Turner said: Mr. Speaker, as has already been stated frequently this is a most important bill —one of the most important that has been brought into the house this session, although there have been so many im- portant bills before us this session look- ing to the development of British Col- umbia that I find it diflicult to say which is the most important of the num- ber Still it cannot be doubtfed that this bill takes its place as the most im- portant measure to be placed before the house for consideration Owing to the fact that the present rules of the house do not make it necessary to reproduce the sections which are to be amended ihe bill is perhaps on the face of it a little misleading to the general public without an explanation. It might seem at first sight as if it is proposed by this bill to borrow $5,000,000; but as a fact it is only to give power to borrow $2,500,000 more than has already been authorized by the bill which was passed by the legislature last session and which the present bill proposes to amend. In the bill which passed the house last year several very important lines which again appear iu this present bill are provided for. Those roads are the one from Pen- tiction to Boundary creek, the road from the coast to Penticton, and the road from Bute inlet to Quesnelle, or 560 miles in all. Now it is proposed to raise $2,500,000 more for the purpose of aid- ing in the construction of 480 miles more of railways. The most important part of this is that intended to assist in build- ing a railway from some point on the coast of the province to Teslin lake. That section of the province has been so very prominently before the public for the past year that it is almost un- necessary for me to advert to it, but from the opinions of those best qualified to know and from the information set out in the public press the general feel- ing among the people of the province is that for the development of British Co- lumbia it is absolutely necessary to have that extreme northern portion of the province opened up by means of rail- A BOLD. PROGRESSIVE POLICY. It was by a bold, progressive policy of aiding railways that has had the de- Hirable effect of developing the Kootenay and Okanagan country in the southern part of tlie province and has brought ahout such magnificent results. Now it is proposed to go hundreds of miles North to develop those sections which had hitherto in a large measure lain dor- mant. I feel sure that such a bold, pro- Kiessive policy is acceptable to the prov- ince. It is perhaps a large sum of monoy but the government is encouraged in bringing in the bill from the fact that we know of the success attending the railway works already assisted by the province. It is really owing to the policy of this government in subsidizing such roads as the Columbia & Western, the ShuBwap & Okanagan, the Kaslo i^ Slocan and ether lines that these lines were built and the country opened up to the extent that it is to-day. I do not be- lieve that Kootenay would to-day be re- turning one-quarter or even one-tenth of revenue she is now doing if it had not been for uudertakmg such enterprises, for beyond a shadow of doubt those rail- ways would not have been built so speedily had it not been for government assistance. There have been many opin- ions as to the most advantageous meth- od for subsidizing railways. Several methods have be?n tried and these have been modilied from time to time as ex- perience and better knowledge of condi- tions had indicated as desirable. At Jtrtt little was known of the conditions and results could not be reasonably anti- cipated, but as time went on the province gradually changed its policy until last year, when the house hr.d adopted t.ho plan of granting a subsidy of so much per mile. There was an uncertainty about the system of guaranteeing bonds as to the exact amounts which the prov- ince would have to pay and consequently the government believed that the present plan of a cash subsidy with participat- ing benefits is the best method. govehnment ownership. Of course, there are people who advo- cate state ownership of railways and a great deal may be said in favor of that policy as applied to certain countries. In New Zealand I believe that this has been to a certain extent successful, though the blue books do not give all the de- tails necessary to show that the success has been as Ki'eat as claimed. Still there can be no comparison between New Zealand and British Columbia for the conditions in the two countries are so different. In New Zealand the popu- lation is distributed evenly over the whole country, and being a colony by it- self and not a province the government has control of the tariff revenues, an advantage which British Columbia does not possess. Having control of its tariff and all other sources of revenue New Zealand is in a position to which we can never attain. It can not only vary its tariff to meet its refjuirements but it can control its railways absolutely. I will not discuss whether the Dominion would be wise or not to take over the railway system of Canada, but I do say that British Columbia as a province is not in u position to undertake such a grave res- ponsibility on its own behalf. In New Zfaland, though it appears that many lines do not pay, yet on the average and by the big profits made on the lines run- ning through the more thickly settled portions of the colony the average return is something like 3 l-3per cent, on the expenditure. It is important to know what rates are charged by the railways, but the blue books do not show that. However, reading the London Times I observe that it is stated that although New Zealand is a beautiful country and comparatively prosperous its railways afford the worst travelling accommoda- tion in the world. Not only is this accommodation indiff- erent, but the trains are slow, starting when they like and very uncertain as to the time when they will arrive at their destination. I do not know if this is a faithful picture, but Max O'Rell testifies to it. From this it is apparent that the fact of government ownership of railways paying in New Zealand does not prove that it will pay here. There the colony ia self-contained, so it does not much matter how the trains run as everyone is on an equal footing. Here we are brought into competition with a gigantic railway system that would swamp roads ran under New Zealand conditions. THE BEST SYSTEM. We think that the best system at pre- sent to encourage railways is to give^ a definite sum as a subsidy. This rail- way from the coast to Teslin lake will open up the Omineca and Cassiar conn- try, which from the information which we have, promise to be as wealthy as any portion of the province and may possibly prove to be the wealthiest. With the development which will be brought ahout by a railway we will soon see a very large number of settlers in those districts — for even now people are going in there fast and when r. railway is con- structed there will be vastly increased facilities for an in-flow of population. We want to see the northern part of the province increase in population in the same degree as in the southern por- tion and I feel sure that with railway communication inaugurated and that es- tablished we will have 50,000 or 60.000 6 people there in a very short time. It has been said that this railway will bene- fit the Dominion more than it will tho province, and that the revenue from the districts mil go largely to the Do- minion. That is no reasonable argument why it should not be constructed. lOvn if two-thirds of the revenue went to the Dominion and o!»e-third to the prov- ince it would be foolish for the provin;e to do nothing. 'J'he proper argument is that the road will benefit British Colum- bia, that it will develop the resources of Omineca and Cassiar, that it will be of benefit to the towns and cities of the Ooast, and that it will contribute ma- terially to the prosperity of the whole of the province. It will open up a mining section of wonderful possibilities. It will open up the Skeena valley and the lands beyond, where agriculture :iud stock raising can be carried on. It will benefit the farmers on the Fraser valley and the Coast districts, for it will open up to them larger markets and improved prices for their produce. We all know what beneficial influences the lines in the Kootenay country have had and how the Okanagan district has grown and developed from the enlargement of the mining interests through the advent of railways. This line is the one which will largely carry the people going into tho Yukon and besides that pass through a country that will attract people to stop and settle or prospect. Even if all the people at first do pass through to the Yukon they will have broun^t in large sums of money which will be distributed throughout the province and then when the reaction sets in and the people begin to return, the important works going on ii. the northern portion of the province will give employment to many and will induce many more to settle there adding their quota to the wealth and population of British Columbia, and aiding as well in discovering new mines and develop- ing fresh resources. OTHER LINES OP RAILWAY. The other new railroad provided for In the bill is that from Robson to Boundary creek, approximately a distance of **0 miles. Th^re is already a line which has n charter and a land grant for that por- tion o? the road, but it is proposed to modify this arrangement so that the land grant will be changed into a money sub- sidy. Of course, any line that takes up the money subsidy loses the land subsidy. This line, giving as it does connection v.'ith Penticton, will be of very great importance to the province by giving a connection with the Shuswap & Okan- agan and making that part of a through system of railway. The guarantee of this road is at present a heavy tax on the province and if it only pays th'it the new road will pay very well. It wdl open up new outlets for the Okanagan and be very advantageous to the countr>'. I have not yet referred to the arrange- ments proposed for carrying out these great works. The fact is tiiat tho line between Robson and Penticton will be going on very shortly and will bo un- der way before August. The other por- tion from Penticton to Boundary in an- other mouth. The building of the line to the North is the one that presents the greatest difficulty. We had many inter- views with railway men on the subject and finally were enabled to come to an understanding on all points. The con- tractors are ready to agree to build a wagon road immediately over the section from the Stikine to Teslin lake and to have it finished within three months, that any work done by the province and any expenditure by the government on the road will be assumed by the contrac- tors; that the work on both sections of the railway will begin before June 1; that the northern section will be finished by August, 1899, and that the southern section shall be completed two and a half years after the selection of an ocean port. The contractors wijl be paid $4,0O> a mile subsidy only upon the completion of each section and when the railway is running and not before. This railway will return to the government 4 per cent, on the gross earnings of the line. Mr. Williams— Gross? FOUR PER CENT. OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS. Hon. Mr. Turner — Yes, gross, not net, and besides, as soon as it is com- pleted the railway is taxable at the rate of .^2,000 a mile. This subsidy of $4,000 a mile is not to exceed $1,000,000 and will cost the province $64,000 a year. The 4 per cent, on the gross receipts of the railway added to the tax on the road will give the province $50,000 a year, so the difTerence the province will have to pay will be very small. In ad- dition to these considerations there must be taken into consideration the taxation arising out of the development and set- tlement of the district which now yields very little revenue. Within three years the revenue will be $20,000 or $30,000 from this source alone. It is to be re- membered, too, that there is a term by which the contractors are to put up $75,- 000 security to the satisfaction of the Lieutenant-Governor-in-council for the construction :f the line. The fact that the northern section is to be finished by August. 1899, uieans that this year a part of the road— fifty miles— will be ready this autumn and so reduce the dis- tance to be travelled by trail materially. T" The riiilway will open up the very ini- ptrtant district of the Skeena river us well and also give communication with the great district of Omineca, one of the richest mineral districts on the conti- nent. Consequently, this great work will recoup the province in a very few years for the outlay. British Columbia has been the boldest of any province of the Dominion in undertaking develop- ment works and in its railway policy and this means that by its progressiveness and enterprise over 1,000 miles of rail- way in British Columbia are due. I will now read the terms which Mackenzie & Mann are prepared to accept. THE TERMS. Victoria, B. C, April 30, 1898. The Hon. J. H. Turner, Premier: Dear Sir:— Referring to my communica- tion to you of the 18th Inst., re Teslin railway. My undoratiinding of the matter Is that on April 201h the terms therein set out were discussed and amended to further meet the governmcMit's demands, and that the proposition verbally accepted by the government now stands as follows: The railway to be a through narrow gauge line from Teslin Lake to an ocean port In British Columbia. The port to be selpoted Jointly by the Provincial and Dominion governments. The railway to be divided Into two sec- tions. The northern section from the Stlklne River to Teslin Lake. The southern section from the Stlklne to the ocean port. Work to be commenced simultaneously on both sections at the Stlklne before June Ist next. Northern section to be finished by August 31st, 1898. Southern section to be flnlshcd within two and a half years after selection of ocean port. Government to grant cash subsidy of 94.- 000 per mile for both sections. Payable upon completion of each section. The railway to be assessed at $2,000 per mile when completed. The government to recehe 4 per cent, of the gross receipts of the railway. The railway company to have the op- tion of repaying at any time the total sub- sidy. We to Immediately construct, for the pur- poKcs of th(? rallway( a wagon road over the northern section along the looated line of railway. The wagon road to be free to the public for transportation puri^oses during the con- struction of the railway. We to toke over and assume all expendi- ture In respect of any such wagon road under construction by the government at date of contract with us. Security for the due performance of the whole work to be given to the satisfaction of the Lleatenant-Governor in Council In the sum of $76,000 for each section forth- with upon the execution of the contract. Tvith reference to the modifications of the above terms suggested \erbally by the gov- ernment to-day, 1 may say that I am will- ing to accede to the following: 1st. The subsidy to be jJ4,000 per mile from Teslin Lake to an ocena port In British ('olumbia, to be nominated by the Lieutenant-Governor In Council and the Governor-General In Council, such subsidy not to exc3ed the aggregate sum of 81,- 600,000. 2nd. The Lieutenant-Governor In Coimcll to have supervision of the construction of the wagon road, also of the railway rates, which two matters shall be mutually ad- justed and agreed upon before the execu- tion of the contract. I beg to say that my firm are prepared forthwith, upon the granting to them of the said subsidy, to execute a contract upon the above terms, so modified, with provis- ion therein for the full and satisfactory equipment and operation of the railway. I beg to remain. Yours faithfully, LEWIS LTTKK.^, For Mackenzie, Mann vt (jo. AN OCEAN TERMINUS. Mr. Cotton asked why the ocean port had to be designated by the Dominion as well as the Province. Hon. Mr. Turner — It is important that the terminus of the railway on salt water be declared a port and it is only the Dominion who have the right to say where a port of entry shall be. Conse- quently it would have to be a place ac- cessible to steamers. Some people have imagined that a uorthern port would in- jure the southern ports of British Co- lumbia. This was evidently said without much thought, for I think the southern part of British Columbia is quite capable of taking care of itself. If we only had one or two ports on the Coast we would never amount to much. These other reads mentioned in the bill were in the bill last year. The Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern is already under subsidy and there is reason to believe that the Chilliwack section will be built this year. I have not had time to preparv? a speech on this important bill as my time has been so fully occupied; but so large and important a subject is worthy of greater effort and greater than I could bring to bear on it. It does not, I am proud to say, require great eloquence. It speaks for itself. The advantages of the bill and the ar- rangements to which it gives effect are so evident that they may be readily un- derstood, and plainly stated as suiBcient- ly convincing without the aid of ora- tory. However, if gentlemen so desire I am quite willing that the debate be adjourned till Monday. Mr. Semlin moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to. i