Mr. OSLER asked :

Has any tests been made by the testing Department of Public Works or by the Railway Department of the various brands of Canadian and foreign cements ? If so, what is the result of such tests?

Tests have been made of a number of brands of cement by the Department of Railways and Canals at the

Superintending Engineer's offices on the several canals, but the results of these tests are not on record in the department.

1. Is the government aware of the relations existing between the warden and deputy warden of tho St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary ?

2. Does the government know that the deputy warden is in open conflict with the present warden, thus lessening the authority that the chief of such institution should have ?

3. If not, does the government intend to inquire into it ?

4. If yes, has the government taken measures to cause this state of things to cease, and to maintain the respect due the chief of the institution.

5. What are the measures taken ?

The answer to the first question is : Yes.

To the questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 : No.

The deputy warden is not in open conflict with the warden and the relations existing between them are not of such a nature as to lessen the authority of the warden.

1. Has the honourable the Minister of Justice written or caused to be written a letter to the warden of the penitentiary, relating to the conduct of certain employees during the last election in Laval ?

2- If so, will the honourable minister comthe warden of the St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary concerning the conduct of certain employees of that institution, especially of Oscar Beauchamp, deputy warden, during the said election in Laval ?

4. If so, will the government do it immediately, and report it to this House 7

1. No, but the minister has issued instructions to penitentiary and territorial jail officials and employees regarding their future conduct.

2. Copy of circular attached.

Ottawa, February :,2, 1902.

Dear Sir,-It is in the best interests of the institution under your charge that when a man enters the service of the government he should refrain from actively interfering in political contests. Will you be good enough to inform the officers of the penitentiary, of all ranks, that while perfect freedom to vote in conceded to every employee, all interference in political contests is forbidden, and the officer found giilty of breaking the rule is liable To immediate dismissal.

Yours very sincerely,

(Sgd.) CHARLES FITZPATRICK.

Sent to Warden Platt, Kingston ; Warden Duchesneau, St. Vincent de Paul ; Warden Kirk, Dorchester , Warden Irvine, Stony Mountain ; Warden Whyte, New Westminster ; Jailer Mae-Ivor, Regina ; Jailer Kerr, Prince Albert.

3 and 4. No charges of misconduct have been made against any of the officers or employees of the St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary.

Mr. SCOTT asked :

Is it the Intention of the government to make grants of lands to members of the military contingents which went from Cana la to South Africa ?

The matter has not yet been considered by the government.

1. In the new plans of the London drill shed, what accommodation by way of armouries and rooms is being allotted :-

(a.) The 26th Middlesex Regiment, and

(b.) The 7th Fusiliers of London ?

2. Is accommodation being provided for any other corps ?

3. What arc the relative strengths of the 26th and 7th regiments ?

4. What is to be the total cost of the drill shed ?

5. When will it be ready for occupation ?

I beg to reply :

L (a) Armouries for two companies 26th Regiment, near London.

(b) Armouries for eight companies, commanding officer's and orderly room, and quartermaster's stores, 7th Fusiliers.

2. Yes. Armoury for two squadrons, 1st Hussars at London, 185 all ranks.

Gun shed and harness room, quartermaster's stores, commanding officer's office and orderly room, 6th Field Battery, 101 all ranks.

Armoury and stores, Army Service Corps, 35 all ranks.

Army and stores, Field Hospital, 24 all ranks.

Accommodation for all corps in drill hall- officer's mess, sergeant's mess, lecture room, band room, and offices for district officer commanding, lavatories for officers and men, rifle range and caretaker's quarters.

3. 7th Regiment. Total all ranks, 277 : 26tk Regiment. Total all ranks, 367.

Mr. SAM HUGHES (North Victoria).

Before proceeding with government business, Mr. Speaker, I wish to draw the attention of the government to an item which appears

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in tills evening's ' Citizen,' to the effect that small-pox has developed among our boys in South Africa. The item is as follows

Small-pox has developed in the second section of the Canadian mounted rifles, and the troops are said to be in quarantine at Durban, and likely to remain there for three months.

Relations, in Ottawa, of hoys with the contingent have received no word of them since they left and the fact goes to confirm the rumour that they are in isolation pending the btamping out of the disease.

I would ask the government if they have any information on this subject ?

So far, I have no information beyond what has appeared in the newspapers. I wish to point out that the transport ships were Imperial ships and were under the control of the Imperial naval and military authorities from beginning to end ; the Department of Militia had nothing to do with the ships, and consequently was not responsible. Of course we are very anxious to know the actual condition of things, and I shall endeavour to get all the information possible, and shall make it known at the earliest moment.