1. How much has been expended on the Matapedia public highway in the Matapedia Valley, Quebec, to date?

2. Who was in charge of this work in Rimouski county, and what amount was paid him?

3. Is the work completed?

4. If not, is anything to be done this year?

5. What was the respective mileage in Rimouski and Bonaventure counties in which work was done, and what amount was expended in each county?

6. Who was in charge of the work in Bonaventure county?

1. $9,979.14.

2 and 6. In 1913, Alfred Lepage, of Uauscapsal, was in charge of repairs on 5 miles of road in Matane and 2 miles in Bonaventure county; salary paid, $75, and petty disbursements, $18.35.

In 1914, again in charge of repairs on 3 miles of road in Rimouski and 5 miles in Bonaventure; salary paid, $246, and petty disbursements, $35.75. William MeCallum was also paid $63.12.

In 1915, Wm. MeCallum and Silvio Martin continued making repairs over 10 miles of road in Bonaventure county; salary paid MeCallum, $67.50, and to Martin, $46.25.

In 1916, Silvio Martin was employed in continuing the work in Bonaventure county; salary paid, $103.50, and to Mathias Blanquiere, acting foreman, $7.50.

3 and 4. No provision made to do further work.

5. (a) About 10 miles in Bonaventure county, 3 in Rimouski and 5 in Matane; (b) about $1,800 in Matane; $6,400 in Bonaventure and $1,800 in Rimouski county.

1. 312,503 all ranks.

2. 25,475.

3. There is no record in the department of the total number of officers and men reaching England on overseas service who, without having gone beyond England, have been returned to Canada as unfit for service at the front.

1. Is the Government aware as to whether or not Edson, on the Grand Trunk Pacific, between Imrie and Resplendent, is a railway divisional point, with a roundhouse, repair shops, etc., or that it is a starting point of a wagon road to Sturgeon Lake and Grande Prairie?

2. What is the population of Edson town?

3. What is the assessed value of property in Edson town?

4. What is the population of Edson rural municipality?

5. What is the assessed value of property in Edson municipality? '

6. What is the population of the settlements outside Edson town and rural municipality which receive and ship their freight' at Edson, Yates, Thornton, Rosevear, Oatley and Mac-Kay stations, respectively, on the Grand Trunk Pacific?

1. Yes.

2. 500 according to the census of 1916.

3. $1,595,255, according to provincial report for 1914.

4. The census records of 1916 do not mention Edson rural municipality by name. Rural municipality No. 555, surrounding Edson town, had a population of 169 in 1916.

5. $452,170, according to provincial report for 1914.

6. Thornton, Oatley and MacKay do not appear in the census returns of 1916. Yates settlement in that year had a population of 35, and Rosevear settlement a population of 39.

1. Is Maurice Le Blanc, of Bonaventure, Quebec, in the employ of the Public Works Department, or any other department of the Government?

2. If so, in what capacity, and when was he appointed?

3. Is the appointment permanent, and what is his salary?

4. What amounts have been paid him annually?

5. Is the position to which he was appointed a new one?

6. If so, who recommended the creation of such office?

7. Were any sums paid Maurice Le Blanc apart from his salary?

8. If so, what amounts, and why were such moneys paid?

1. Yes, in the Department of Public Works.

2. General foreman under District Engineer Tache, 1st May, 1912.

3. (a) No; (b) $1,200 per annum.

4. Salary, travelling and disbursements: 1912-13, $1,428.88; 1913-14, $1,566.92; 1914-15, $1,538.87; 1915-16, $1,538.93; 1916-17, $1,494.91. Total, $7,568.51.

5. The position is not a new one. See answer to No. 2.

6. The district engineer.

7. Yes.

8. Answered by No. 4.

Mr. OLIVER:

Referring to statement in the press of April 27, alleging that a deputation, consisting of Mr. F. C. Fletcher, General Manager of the Union Stock Yards, Toronto, and others, professing to represent the British subscribers of a company with a capitalization of $5,000,000, and with 492,000 acres of grazing land in Alberta, waited on the Minister of Agriculture and outlined plans for the development of the live stock industry for export purposes, and in which it is alleged that Hon. Mr. Burrell promised the co-operation of the Government in assisting production and marketing.

1. Is it correct that such deputation waited on the Government and' that the minister replied as alleged?

2. What was the nature of the assistance in production that was intimated by the Department of Agriculture to the deputation of this corporation ?

3. Did it consist of a promise to provide said corporation with free use of bulls?

4. What was the nature of the assistance in marketing, intimated to the deputation in question?

5. Where are the lands referred to situated?

6. How much, if any, of said lands are held under lease?

7. If any is held under lease, how many years does such lease run?

8. Has any arrangement been entered into between the Department of Interior and Great War Veterans' Association looking towards the cancellation of grazing leases on land suitable for farming purposes?

9. If so, will the lands held under lease by above mentioned company come under that arrangement?

1. Were tenders asked for recently, to convey the mails between Heatherton post office and the Intercolonial Railway station at Heatherton, Nova Scotia?

2. If so, what were the names of the parties who tendered, the amount of the respective tenders and dates on which they were received?

3. What is the name of the party whose tender was accepted, and the amount of his tender?

1. Yes.

2. The following tenders were received: Martin A. Rogers, $140; tender received, 10th April, 1917. John R. McDonald, $160; tender received 5th April, 1917.

3. The tender of Mr. Rogers, being the lowest received, is being accepted.