SiT ROBERT BORDEN: I was asked yesterday with regard to a report from Col. Sherwood, Chief Oommissiomeir of Do-

minion Police, on the fire which occurred on Thursday last. On the 4th instant Col. Sherwood handed me a report which I did not get in time to bring down on that day, and I have since asked him if he desired to supplement it in any way. He says that it contains all the information with regard to the fire that is available up to the present time. The memorandum is: Chief Commissioner of Police, Canada, Ottawa, February 4, 1916. Memorandum for the Right Honourable the Prime Minister of Canada. Sergeant Carroll who was in charge of the police on duty at the House of Commons last night, reports that at about 8.45 p.m., fire was discovered in the reading room among papers lying on the shelf of the second reading desk from the House of Commons entrance. Constable Moore was the nearest officer on duty at that point and his attention was called to it by a gentleman whom he recognized as a member, but whose name he cannot recall. The fire at the time he saw it had apparently just started and had not reached serious proportions. He immediately got a Are extinguisher from the Senate side, thereby passing the flame and upon operating it found that it had no retarding effect, because it had gained great headway in that brief space of time. The sergeant and one or two other men had arrived then and got ready the hose that was stationed at the Speaker's door, but the blaze was already coming out from the reading room so that they were compelled to abandon it, and got the hose in operation from the west corridor, while other constables with the caretaker of the Senate reading room had also a line of hose operating from the Senate side, but even then found the smoke so dense that they were unable to get any results and were forced away from that part of the building, by which time the fire brigade had arrived, the police then bent their energies to warning those in rooms and in getting them out of the building, as it was evident that the conflagration was going to be serious. I regret to say that in addition to the two ladies who died by suffocation in Mr. Speaker's quarters five others are reported missing, and I fear have perished,- Mr. Haw, member of Parliament for Yarmouth, N.S. Mr. J. B. R. Laplante, assistant clerk, House of Commons. Mr. Robert Fanning, Post Office Department. Mr. Alphonse Desjardins, plumber, Publio Works Department. Constable Alphonse Desjardins, Dominion Police Force. I have no reason to believe the fire was the result of a malicious act, but would suggest that a board of inquiry be constituted to fully investigate all the facts, and if possible to ascertain the true cause. (Sgd.) A. P. Sherwood, Chief Commissioner of Police.

Reports of the Auditor General for the year ended March 31, 1915, Vol. 2.-Sir Thomas White. Orders in Council Nos. P. C. 731, dated April 19, 1915, and P. C. 1168, dated May 21, 1915, setting forth the arrangement between the Federal Government and the Governments of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan respectively in regard to the Royal North-West Mounted Police.-Sir Robert Borden.

Bill No. 26, respecting the Corporation of the City of Brantford.-Mr. Cockshutt. Bill No. 27, respecting The Empire Life Insurance Company of Canada.-Mr. Mac-donell. Bill No. 28, respecting The Kettle Valley Railway Company and Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway and Navigation Company.-Mr. Green. Bill No. 29, respecting certain patents of The Pedlar People Limited.-Mr. William Smith. Bill No. 30, to incorporate Seaport Trusts Corporation.-'Mr. Stevens. Bill No. 31, to incorporate The Eastern Canadian Union Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. - Mr. William Smith. Bill No. 32, respecting The Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway Company - Mir. Stewart.