Mr. H. GERVAIS moved :

That 111 accordance with the recommendation contained in the 12th report of the Select Standing Committee on Standing Orders that portion of the 49th rule which limits the time for receiving petitions for private Bills be suspended ' in reference to the petition of H. D. Garland and others presented this day, for an Act of incorporation under the name of the Crown Casualty Company of Canada, and that the said petition be read and received forthwith.

1. Has a contract been let for the mail service between Coldwater and Lovering, from the 31st of March, 1905 ?

2. If let, were tenders asked for ?

3. If let, who was the contractor ?

4. If let, what is the consideration per year agreed upon ?

A contract for this service was let by tender in 1897 and awarded to the lowest tenderer, W. H. Lovering, at $130 a year. On its expiring it was, in 1901, renewed with the same contractor at the same price for four years ending on the 31st March, 1905, and it has been agreed to renew this contract for another term of four years from its expiring with the same contractor at $156 a year.

Mr. F. R. LALOR.

On the 13th February I asked concerning the purchase of certain supplies for the Department of Marine and Fisheries. I also, on February 20th, inquired concerning orders given in the department without public tender.

Hon. RAYMOND PREFONTAINE (Minister of Marine and Fisheries).

I am having the papers copied and will lay them on the table as soon as possible.

Mr. M. S. MCCARTHY.

An order of the House was granted on the 3rd February for the enumerators' list in use at the last elections in the Northwest Territories. This matter was also referred to on the 21st February, and no return has come down.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I might add to what my hon. friend has said that I mentioned several returns at the time when the Bill was introduced. I also, in the concluding portion of my remarks on that occasion, pointed out certain other information which I thought would be extremely useful in the discussion of the measure. If the information is to be of any practicable service, it should be brought down reasonably early, so that it may be before tbe House when the question is being discussed.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

There are some returns which were asked by my hon. friend and I hoped they will be brought down on Monday. There is also some information which he asked, and which requires a good deal of compilation ; I am not sure whether we will have it but we are working at it.

Mr. MONK.

I wish to remind my right hon. friend that the copies of correspond-euce with the imperial authorities in regard to the Royal Mint were ordered some time ago and, if it is possible, we would like to get them down at the earliest possible date.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I shall try.

Mr. DANIEL.

Something over a month ago the Prime Minister promised that he would bring down shortly the interim report of the Transportation Commission, more especially with regard to the port and harbour of St. John. I have been waiting for that report and I notice that in a discussion a few days ago the Minister of Railways and Canals referred to it as having been before the notice of the government so long ago as May last year. I do not myself, of course, know any reason why it should not be laid on the table of the House. These commissioners I presume, are appointed not alone for the information of the government but for the information of parliament and of the country and as the right hon. gentleman, when I spoke to him and spoke In the House about it, intimated that there was no objection, I would be glad if he would bring the report down.