William Pugsley (Minister of Public Works)
Liberal
Mr. PUGSLEY.
Yes.
Hall's harbour-repairs to breakwater, $8,300.
Subtopic: OOMMOKS
Mr. PUGSLEY.
Yes.
Hall's harbour-repairs to breakwater, $8,300.
Mr. PUGSLEY.
This is to be done by day labour. A considerable part of this is for the purchase of timber; therefore the labour will be under $5,000.
Mr. TAYLOR.
I do not see how that affects the law that no work costing more than $5,000 shall be done by day labour.
Mr. PUGSLEY.
I do not think my hon. friend is quite right in that. In this case it is required to restore the end of the breakwater and the eastern portion of it for its entire length. It is a work which the engineer thinks can be better done by day labour. We have a right to buy timber to the amount of $5,000 ; that would be from one concern. Then we have a right to employ labour up to the amount of $5,000.
Lake Ainslie-protected boat channel leading to wharf at Kinloch railway station, $1,000.
Mr. AMES.
What boat plies on Lake Ainslie that comes up to the railway station ?
Mr. MCLENNAN.
There is a boat plying between the pyrites mine and the railway wharf, and there is a shoal which it is desired to deepen, and it is desired to build protection works on both sides of the channel thus made.
Is there any passenger service on Lake Ainslie connecting with the train ?
Mr. MCLENNAN.
Yes. all along the settlement from East Ainslie.
Margaree river-shear dams, &c., for protection of intervale lands on northeast branch, $1,300.
Mr. PUGSLEY.
This Is expected to complete the two dams.
Mr. AMES.
How far are these from the mouth of the river ?
Mr. MCLENNAN.
About twelve miles.
Mr. AMES.
Are we building protection dykes up a river twelve miles from the sea coast ?
Mr. MCLENNAN.
It would appear that in the heavy freshets the river rushes from the hinterland along its hanks and changes the bend of the river entirely, in many instances destroying it as a salmon ground.
Mr. AMES.
Does it not seem strange to spend money on a small river one and a half miles inland to protect its banks from the ocean? This stream is not navigable.
Mr. MCLENNAN.
It is only four miles from salt water. The salt water runs up to the harbour, some eight miles.
Mr. PUGSLEY.
It is not always easy to draw the line between federal, provincial and local works. The banks of this river being alluvial, the ei'osion of the banks carries down the silt, filling up the harbour, and it is in the interests of navigation to prevent that. Similar work has been done ever since confederation. We have to be careful not to go too far and have to be guided by the extent of the injury.
Mi'. AMES. The hon. minister is creating a dangerous precedent. It will be followed by a large number of demands for the protection of small rivers 'which flow into harbours and which, in the time of freshets, bring down mud. If we are going to follow small rivers to their sources there will be no end of demands made.
Mr. PUGSLEY.
This is only a small distance from the salt water.
Mr. AMES.
It is four miles up a rapid stream which is not navigable.
McPherson's cove-Great Bras d'Or lake, wharf, $3,000.
Mr. AMES.
Where is McPherson's cove?
Mr. PUGSLEY.
It is on the southern side of East bay.