Mr. MADDIN:

Why has the free mail delivery service promised the city of Sydney, Nova Scotia, not been put in operation, and what has occasioned the delay?

SiT WILFRID LAURIER. The delay referred to has been occasioned by the fact that the department has only recently been

able to ascertain that the city had the necessary population to entitle it to free letter carrier delivery. Moreover, the service cannot be put into operation until after the houses have been properly numbered, and the streets labelled at intersecting points, and this latter requirement is only now being supplied.

Mr. RHODES:

What quantities of single-reeled and double-reeled machinery steel were imported into Canada during the years 1907 and 1908, and what was the value of each kind in each year?

Mr. PATERSON.

Single - reeled and double-reeled machinery steel are not classified separately in the customs returns. The imports of round steel shafting not exceeding 21 inches in diameter, during the years ended 31st March, 1908 and 1909, were as follows:

Year Quantity. Value.1908

43,387 cwt. $89,4281909

28,322 " 53,747

FISHERMEN'S BAIT ASSOCIATIONS. Mr. MADDIN:

1. What amount per ton has been paid to Fishermen's Bait Associations for storage of bait ?

2. What amounts were paid during the years ending March 31, 1908 and 1909, as allowances to Fishermen's Bait Associations for storage of bait at Canso, Half Island Cove, Larry's River, New Harbour, Whitehead, Port Beck-erton and Drum Head, in Nova Scotia, to whom paid and the dates of the various payments?

3. What is the total amount that has been paid by the government towards the cost of construction of the freezers at Larry's River, Nova Scotia, and to whom were these sums paid?

4. What quantity of bait was stored in each

of the freezers mentioned in question 2, during the years ending 31st March, 1908 and 1909? .

5. What are the names of the persons in these places who report to the government as to the quantity of bait stored in the freezers?

6. What amounts have been paid by the government to the steamer known as ' Drift No. 33,' during the years 190S and 1909, and for w-hat services has this steamer been used?

1. $5 per ton of bait frozen up to twenty tons for the first five years of operation.

2. The bonuses to the Fishermen's Bait

Associations were paid for the calendar

years: 1907. 1908.Half Id. Cove .. .. 100 $100Larry's River .. . . 100 100New Harbour . . . . 100 100Whitehead Port Beckerton ... 100 Drum Head .. .. 100 100

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

11th February, 1908, and 28 th January,

1909.

3. $915.92, made up as follows:

Material supplied.. .

Cheque . . 797.07

The cheques were issued in favour of the

Larry's River Fishermen's Bait Association.

4.- 1907. 1908.

Lbs. Lbs.

Half Id. Cove .. 42,000 98,000Larry's River . . 48,076 115,416New Harbour . . 60,923 104,826

. . 49 912

Drum Head . . 53,894 112,615

5. Mr. Peter Macfarlane, the department's outside officer in charge of this service, on whose certificate the bonuses were paid.

6. Nothing has been paid to this steamer, as she is the property of the department. She is employed as a tender to the Canso-Dogfish Reduction Works.

Mr. GOODEVE:

Was a petition received by the Post Office Department from the citizens of Camborne, B.C., complaining about the appointment of a postmaster there, and objecting to being compelled to go into an hotel to receive their mail? If so, what action, if any, was taken in regard to it?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

No petition has been received from the citizens of Camborne, British Columbia, complaining about the appointment of a postmaster there, or objecting to being compelled to go into an hotel to receive their mail, but a telegram and letter were received from Mr. W. G. Marten, who informed the department that he was acting on behalf of the citizens of Camborne, stating that there was objection to the appointment of the present postmaster, inasmuch as the post office would be kept in an hotel, but the department was assured when making the appointment that the post office would be kept in a drug store, of which fthe present appointee, Mr. Abey, is the proprietor, and has no reason to believe that the postmaster has not kept good faith with the department, and that the office is now situated in a drug store according to agreement. If the hon. member for Kootenay will assert that the post office is now being kept in a hotel, the department will have immediate inquiry made and take such action as will protect the public.

1. How many bushels of wheat, oats, barley and pease were exported from Canada in the year ending 31st March, 1909, and the total amount received in each case?

2. How many dollars worth, of butter anil cheese, respectively, were exported from Canada in the year ending March 31, 1909?

1. The exports of the produce of Canada and imports for consumption, respectively, of wheat, oats, barley and pease during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1909, were as follows:

Exports. Imports,

(produce of (for eon-

Canada.) sumption.)

Bushels. Bushels.

Wheat

49,137,449 46,366Oats

5,255,610 454,693Barley

2,959,335 97,730Pease

801,309 30,2102. The value of butter and cheese the produce of Canada exported from Canada during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1909, was as follows:Butter $ 1,521,436Cheese

20,384,666

1. Is the title of lot 73, Baie St. Paul, province of Manitoba, vested in the Crown? If so, is it for sale? If not, why not?

2. Are there any unsettled claims against said lot?

3. If so, how many, who makes the claims, and what is the nature of the respective claims?

4. Has there been any applications made to purchase said lot? If so, who are the applicants and when did they make application?

5. Is it the intention of the government to oiler said lot for sale? If so, when and on what terms and conditions?

1. Yes; not for sale, pending settlement of claims thereto.

2. Yes,

3. Two, Louis St. Denis and Sus6 Gladu, respectively, on the ground of ownership before the transfer of the territories, July 15, 1870.

4. Yes, John Merigold on the 14th September, 1876; Peter Kirton, 7th October, 1890; J. Lenfestey, 6th September, 1902; Alfred Hogue, I9th June, 1908, and John Cameron, 30th October, 1909.

5. No; pending settlement of claims referred to in answer to question No. 3.

1. What was the cost of transporting the six twelve-pounders, B.L. 6 cwt. guns with lumber, wagons, stores and ammunition, &c., to Esquimalt, British Columbia?

2. Where did these guns come from, what regiment had last been using them, and what guns have been supplied in place of them to such last mentioned regiment?

i

3. For what purpose were these guns sent to Esquimalt, British Columbia, and what unit is to train on these guns?

4. Has this type of gun been discarded by the imperial authorities as useless for modern warfare?

5. Has the department withdrawn these guns from eastern Canadian regiments and armed them with more modern weapons?

6. It it the intention of the department to send any more of these guns to the Pacific coast ?

1. $957.27.

2. (a) Montreal and Granby, P.Q. (b) 6th and 7th brigades, Canadian Field Artillery, (c) Q.F. 18-prs.

3. (a) To replace 13-pr. muzzle loading guns. (b) No. 1 company, 5th 'British Columbia' regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery.

4. No.

5. Answered by No. 2.

6. This will depend upon circumstances.