Mr. ROBB:

In view of the report from Dr. J. T. Donald, expert analyst and assayist, on the use and quality of explosives employed in district ' I

Hon. G. P. GRAHAM:

The matter is under consideration.

1. Have orders been given requiring the conductors of sleeping cars on the Intercolonial railway, residing in Montreal, to remove to Halifax, or at leiast to live there when not on duty?

2. If iso, who gave these orders, and why?

3. Why does not the same order apply to Mr. Archibald, superintendent of the department, who remains at Truro?

1. No. Sleeping car conductors are required to lay off between runs in Halifax.

2. Orders are given by superintendent of parlour, sleeping and dining car service by instructions of the board of management.

3. It is not considered necessary.

PORT HOOD HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. Mr. RHODES:

1. What amount has been already expended oil the breakwater to close the northern entrance to Port Hood harbour, Inverness county, N.S., and the amount for each year?

2. What amount has been spent on the Port Hood side, and what amount on the Port Hood island side?

3. Has the wrork been done by tender and contract, or by day's work?

4. Under what foreman or foremen was the work done, and what total amount was paid him, or each of them?

5. What distance has been built from the above on the Port Hood side, and on the Port Hood island side, respectively?

6. What distance is there of channel still to fill in, and what is the greatest depth of water ?

7. How much does the government propose to spend this year, and will it be spent by contract?

8. What is the original estimate of the government engineer for the whole of the work?

1. 1903-04 $ 2,968 85

1904-05 19,942 43

1905-06 9,999 91

1906-07 14,885 13

1907-08 14,999 37

1908-09 15,000 98

1909-10 15,012 31

$92,808 98

2. Port Hood side, $77,796.67; Port Hood Island side, $15,012.31.

3. Day work.

4. James McDonell, foreman, $3.50 per day, $2,212.87; Isaiah Watts, sub-foreman, $2.50 per day, $1,119.38.

5. Port Hood side, 1,660 feet; Island side, 540 feet.

6. (a) 2,400 feet; (b) Greatest depth at extreme low water between the two works, 19 feet.

7. (a) Amount voted for fiscal year 191011, $40,000. (b) It is proposed to have

the balance of the work done by contract.

8. The resident engineer submitted various estimates ranging from $165,000 to $482,000 according to character and height of work. These plans, however, were not adopted, and the chief engineer recommended loose brush and stone work, estimated to cost $215,000.

1. Is it the intention of the government to spend any money on making a harbour at Inverness, Nova Scotia, this season?

2. Has any amount been already spent on this work for land, and to whom, for timber, and for foreman's fees?

3. If the work is done this season, will it

be by opening up a channel to Melsaac's pond, or in the rebuilding and repair of the old piers outside?

4. How much does the government propose to spend this season on this work?

5. Has the government any word of serious damage being done to the old piers by a late severe storm ?

6. What is the government engineer's estimate for building and extending pier and for dredging boat channel to Mclsaac's pond, respectively ?

1. There is an item in the estimates for the purpose, and it is hoped that the work may be proceeded with.

2. The government having been obliged to expropriate the land required, work of construction was necessarily delayed; there-' fore the appropriations granted so far by parliament have partially lapsed, the only yearly expendituresTieing as follows:

Year. Appropria- tion. Amount Expenditure, Nature.

$ $ cts.

1907-8.. 10,000 70 60 Survey of land and legal services.1908-9.. 10,000 70 00 Foreman's fees. 611 31* Timber. 229 63 Stone, hardware, &c. 1909-10. 4,700 750 79 Land and costs-D. J. McDonald. 520 69 Legal services, witness fees. | &c. 20 00 Foreman's fees. 3. Reconstructing and repairing old protection work on east side and possibly excavating to one foot at low water.4. Amount voted for fiscal year 1910-11,

5. No.

6. Reconstruction $12,324New channel piers

39,970Dredging 9,400

1. What was the number of sessional or temporary employees of the House of Commons on the 25th of January last, and by whom were such appointments made?

2. What was the authorized number of such employees at said date?

Sir WILFRID LAURlER:

1. The number of sessional or temporary employees of the House of Commons on the 25th of January last was 175. These appointments were made by his honour the Speaker of the House.

2. All the said appointments were authorized.

1. Was an office of customs opened at Cham-bord? If so, in what year and for what reason ?

2. In what year was it closed, and why ?

3. Who are the persons who asked for its discontinuation ?

1. Chambord Junction was established as a customs outport from 1st May, 1897.

2. The customs outport at Chambord Junction was abolished by order in council of 22nd October, 1901, with a view of promoting economy.

3. The official reports received through * the customs service led to the discontinuance of the outport.

1. Has Mr. Jean Gauthier, postmaster at Metabetchouan, been removed or has he resigned? If so, in what year and why?

2. Who are the persons who asked for his removal and resignation?

1. Mr. Jean Gauthier was removed from the postmastership of Metabetchouan in October, 1902. The office had for some time been very badly managed and had on several occasions been the subject of official inquiry and report. No improvement being shown in the management, it was found necessary in the public interest, to make a change in the postmastership.

2. As stated, in answer to No. 1, the change was made after official investigation, as a result of repeated complaints made to the department in regard to the unsatisfactory management of the office. Complaints were preferred by the following individuals: Mr. George Perron, Mr. Joseph Dore, Mr. Wilfrid Cote, Mr. Edouard Montminy, Mr. C. P. Renauld, Mr. S. Bouchard, Mr. W. Ratte, Mr. J. Couture, Mr. J. Desmeules.

INDIAN AGENT AT POINTE BLEUE. Mr. GIRARD:

1. Has a person named W. Donohue, Indian agent on the Pointe Bleue reserve, been removed? If so, in what year and why?

2. Who are the persons who asked for this action of the minister?

Hon. FRANK OLIVER:

W. T. A. Donohue was removed from the position of Indian agent for the Pointe Bleue reserve in the year 1902, by order in council of 23rd April of that year, as result of an investigation into irregularities connected with the conduct of his agency.

2. The department has no data to enable it to answer this question.