1. This amount does not appear in the public accounts.

2. No. it has not been returned to the contractors.

3. The cheques for the amount have been sent to the Department of Finance. My attention has been recently called to the

fact that they were still remaining with the accountant in my department.

Sir CHARLES HIBBERT TUPPER asked :

What are the particulars and dates respecting the calling for tenders and contract for lighthouse at Hawk Island, county of Richmond, Nova Scotia ?

In the absence of the hon. Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Hon. Sir Louis Davies), I would answer the hon. gentleman's question as follows :

Tenders for the construction of lighthouse on Hawk Island, Poulamond Bay, Richmond county, N.S., were invited by bills sent to the agent of the department at Halifax, and to the post offices at Poulamond and Arichat, to be put up in conspicuous places. Three tenders were received, viz.: Peter McLean, Cannes, $942; Alex. MeCuish, St. Peter's, $1,373; Edward Doyle, Poulamond, $1,397.

The manner in which the case was dealt with is set forth in the following memorandum from the acting Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Mr. Hardie, dated Oct. 23, 1900 :

The minister approved of the acceptance of the tender of Mr. Alexander McLean, carpenter and builder, Cannes, for the construction of a wooden lighthouse, with outbuildings, on Hawk Island, Poulamond Bay, N.S., for the sum of $942.

Before informing Mr. McLean of the acceptance of his tender a letter was received from him, dated 29th Sept., requesting that the contract might not be awarded to him as he omitted to charge for masons amounting to $167.

As the amount omitted in Mr McLean's tender if added to it would still make the tender considerably lower than the next, which is one from Alexander MeCuish, of St. Peter's, N.S., amounting to $1,373, inquiry was made of Mr. McLean as to whether he would accept the work if $167 was added to his original tender. He writes to say, under date 19th inst., that he will be glad to do the work, but it is now too late in the season to carry it on this fall, and that it would be the last of November before he could get lumber, so that he could not possibly finish the work before the 1st of January. He states that if it would suit to have the work completed on or before the 1st of June he would undertake the work at the price stated, viz, $1,109. The chief engineer recommends that the time extended to the 1st of June and the work given to Mr. McLean at the amount stated, and I concur in his recommendation.

The matter is submitted for the minister's ap-

The minister approved of this recommendation and the contract was made accordingly.

Mr. MORIN asked :

What was the number of hands, including the staff employed by the government, on the Inter-

colonial Railway, on the first day of July in each year during the years 1892-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 and 1900 ?

The number of persons, including staff, employed by the government, on the Intercolonial Railway, on the first day of July in each year during the years 1892-3-4-5-6-78-9 and 1900, is as follows :

1892

1893 4,376

1894 4,146

1895 3,982

1896 4,193

1897 4,386

189S 4,740

1899 5,309

1900 5,949

With reference to questions 4 and 5, all property which is leased by the government in the city of Ottawa is not subject to taxation. The government pays no taxes. This is done under British North America Act, section 125.

As to questions 1, 2 and 3, the information had better be moved for in the ordinary way.

1. Has any promise, statement or assurance, written or oral, been given by the Minister of Railways and Canals, or by the Premier, or by any member of the government to Alexander Gibson, or to any person, with respect to the intention of the government as to the purchase of the Canada Eastern Railway ?

2. If so, what promise, statement or assurance has been so given, and when was it given and to whom ?

I am not aware that any member of the government, other than myself, has made any statement or had any communication on the subject of the acquiring of the Canada Eastern Railway as part of the Intercolonial; nor do I believe that any such communication has taken place.

During the past four years, boards of trade in different sections of the province of New Brunswick, municipal bodies and the city

Mr. MORIN.

and town councils of Fredericton and Chatham have declared themselves strongly in favour of the policy of the government taking over the Canada Eastern Railway, and both political parties in the provincial legislature have joined in a unanimous memorial to the government, in favour of the acquisition of this road by the government.

The railway intercepts the Intercolonial at Chatham Junction with one terminus, and crosses at the other terminus the St. John river, at Fredericton, over the new steel bridge, to which the Dominion government has contributed $300,000, which sum, with interest, remains as a lien upon the structure.

From time to time, both publicly and privately, when this question has been brought up by these various bodies and by business men, I have not hesitated to acknowledge that, in my opinion, speaking for myself alone, it would be in the interest of the Intercolonial that the Canada Eastern road should become part of the government railway system, and I have stated that I would, personally, advocate action by the government in this direction ; but I have never made, nor profess to make, any offer to the Canada Eastern Railway Company, or any person in its behalf, for the purchase of the road, nor has the company, or any person on its behalf made to me any offer for the sale thereof.

1. No.

2. Yes, 1st March, 1901.

3. No charges made. For improvement of service.

4. No.

5. No. 4 answers this.

6. Yes.

7. Mr. Frank Lally.