Mr. McLENNAN.

Oh, no ; they are simply brush and stone for the protection of the entrance to the harbour. The facilities for handling the coal are entirely within the harbour.

Mr. McLENNAN.

There are two piers built for the protection of the entrance to the harbour, in other words, to keep sand from being banked up at the entrance of the harbour. These piers have been wrecked by storms from time to time, and the company at present owning them, having no particular interest in maintaining them, allowed them to go to wreck, and the object of the gov-

eminent now. in the public interest, is to keep the company to the original engagement, that is to hand the harbour and these old works over to the public on condition that the government would rebuild those piers and otherwise render the harbour fit for shipping purposes. There is no doubt the company would use the harbour for local shipping of their coal in a small way to local ports as well as the public, but the government would not make a grant without the company first arranging to hand over the harbour to the public. The company are now hesitating to hand these works over, and untii they do so the government refused to go on with the work, -and the prospects are that the entrance to that har-hour will very likely have to be expropriated by the government in the public interest, in order that this grant may be used for the purpose for which it was voted.

1. Has the commission appointed to investigate the herring and lobster industry made their report ?

2. Is it the intention to have the same printed for distribution ?

Mr. MCLENNAN.

There is nothing to prevent these gentlemen from buying postage stamps where they please.

Mr. MCLENNAN.

No, but they go to other offices*