1. Are the government aware that the caretaker of the Stratford post office has been recently dismissed?

2. What was the cau3e of his dismissal?

3. Has an investigation been held?

4. Has his successor been appointed?

5. If so, what is his name, and what is his salary?

6. At whose instigation was the dismissal made?

7. If an investigation has not been made, will the government cause it to be held?

1. Yes, on January 26, 1901.

2. Such employment is of a temporary nature and such services can be dispensed with at any time.

3. No.

4. Yes.

5. J. P. Murray, $50 a month, the same as

his predecessor. [DOT]

6. Minister assumes responsibility.

7. No.

1. Has the government or the Department of Marine and Fisheries received tenders for the construction of a lighthouse at Victoria Beach, in the county of Annapolis, N.S. ?

2. From what persons have such tenders been received, and what is the amount of each tender?

3. Has the government or Department of Marine and Fisheries accepted any, and if so, what tender?

4. Has the lowest tender been accepted? If not, what is the difference between the amount of the lowest tender and the amount of that which has been accepted?

5. Whose tender has been accepted?

In the absence of my hon. colleague the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, I beg to reply :

1. Yes.

2. John Roney, $497; R. W. Hardwick, $497 ; Ralph M. Oliver, $645; John W. Snow, $698.11 ; Lemuel Moonson, $850 ; John S. Hayden, $1,000 ; Pickels & Mills, $1,100.

3. Yes, the tender of John Roney.

4. Two persons tendered at the lowest sum, and the tender of one of these was accepted.

5. The tender of John Roney.

1. Has Mr. John Craig, for many years postmaster at Strathclair, been dismissed?

2. If so, for what reason?

3. Were charges made against him, what was their nature, if any, and was an investigation held?

Has a petition been received to retain Mr. Craig in his position? If so, how many names are attached?

5. Has his successor been appointed? If so, who, and upon whose recommendation?

The answer to the first question is, yes.

To the second, active political partisanship.

Mr. MacLAREN (Perth).

To the third question, yes, active political partisanship, which, having been shown, no further investigation was deemed necessary.

To the fourth question, yes, ninety-five.

To the fifth question, yes, William H. Reed, on the recommendation of the Hon. Mr. Sifton.

Mr. CLARKE asked :

.

1. Were all the departmental reports presented to the House on Monday last printed in the government printing office in this city?

2. Are the departmental reports yet to he presented to the House being printed, or to be printed, in the government printing office in this city? '

3. If any of the departmental reports have been printed, or are being printed, in outside offices, what are the names of such offices, where are they located, on what terms is the work being done, were tenders called for the work, and why was the work not done in the government office?

1. Yes, with one exception, the Department of Public Works Report.

2. Yes, with one exception, the Trade and Navigation Report.

3a. The report of the Department of Public Works has been printed at the office of La Patrie, in Montreal ; the Trade and Navigation Report is being printed at the Herald office in Montreal.

3b. At current commercial rates.

3c. No.

3d. Pressure of urgent work.

1. Has the government taken any steps to ascertain exactly whether the Grand Trunk Railway Company and the Dominion Steamship Company intend making the city of Portland, in the United States of America, the shipping port of both these companies, to the exclusion of Montreal?

2. What steps has the government taken in regard to said change contemplated by these companies?

3. What information has the government of Canada obtained in reference to said proposed change ?

As soon as the announcement was made in the newspaper press with reference to the transfer of the Dominion Steamship Line to Portland, and of the Grand Trunk Railway business to that port, inquiries were made by correspondence.

That correspondence is still pending, it is unclosed at present, and it would be premature to make any announcement as to what conclusions may be drawn from the correspondence passed between the parties.

Mr. McCORMACK asked :

Is it the intention of the government to issue scrip for land to each officer, non-commissioned officer and man from Canada who served the empire in South Africa?

I have to inform the hon. gentleman that such is not the intention of the government.