The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-25 00:00:00

British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

There was a legend long; ago in England that a
passage had been discovered, at the end of the 16th
century, between the mainland of North America
and what is now Vancouver Island. An old Greek
sailor, so the story went, Apostolcs Valerianos by
name, but better known as Juan de Fuca, was
found nVenice, in 1696,wh0 had sailed to and from
many places in those western seas, and had made
discoveries of much importAnce. In his wanderings
he had reached the 48 deg. of latitude, entered a
narrow strait between the 47 deg. and 48 deg., and
sailed therein for more than twenty days, until be
came to the North Sea, where he found it " wide
enough everywhere." The story of this ancient
mariner was long current in England. There
were many who believed it, and many who
were sceptical, but none who had the courage to
test its accuracy. In 1778 Captain James Cook
was sent out to examine the shores asd seas as far
as the 65 deg. He searched with care for the old
Greek's passage, but he failed to find it, and pro-
nounced it to be a fiction, and Vancouver Island to
be portion of the mainland. Fourteen years later,
Captain Vancouver, an officer in the English navy,
and not a Dutchman, as has been erroneously sup-
posed, was despatched to settle some official busi-
ness with the Spanish commission, and to survey the
western coast of the new continent. He found San
Juan's Straits, and entered on the Gulf of Georgia,
which separates the island which now bears his name
from what is now British Columbia ; and after a long
and difficult navigation, he forced his way among the
islands of the gulf, and through the strait named
by him Johnstone, until he came at length into the
Pacific at Queen Charlotte Sound, probably at the
very point where Juan de Fuca, the old Greek
sailor, found it "everywhere wide enough" two
hundred years before. Vancouver Island was thus
discovered, and began to be colonised by English-
men at the beginning of this century. But the
colonisation did not proceed rapidly until 1857,
when the gold discoveries were made on the Fraser
River, in the adjoining continent. Since then both
the island and British Columbia have prospered, and
one day they may be among the most valuable of
British possessions. Vancouver Island is about half
the size of Ireland, and it had been granted to
the Hudson Bay Company on condition of its being
colonised. British Columbia is about three times
the size of (heat Britain, has a coast line of some
500 miles, and is made up of lake, mountain, forest,
marsh, and prairie.—London Beano.

Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre-
vents the Chinese passing off inferior leaves as in the usual
kinds. Horniman's Tea is uncoloured, therefore, always
good alike. Sold in packets by 2,280 agents.
WHOLESALE PLATE ROBBERY.—Henry Cram,
footman for six years in the service of Mr. J. K.
Hooper, of Tooting-common, was re-examined yesterday,
at Wandsworth Police-court, on a charge of stealing plate
of the value of £3OO, the property of his master. Several
pawnbrokers attended and produced a quantity of stolen
plate. The prisoner was committed for trial.
THE LARGEST CITY IN THE WORLD.—A very
erroneous idea is indulged in by many people in
relation to the largest city in the world—many confidently
asserting that London, or, as it is frequently termed,
the Great Metropolis, is far superior both in size and
number of inhabitants. But such is not the case. Jeddo,
the capital of Japan, is, without exception, the largest and
most populous city in the world. It contains the vast num-
ber of 1,00G,000 dwellings and 5,000,000 of human souls.
Many of the streets are 19 Japan aerie in length, which is
equivalent to 22 English miles.
EXTRAORDINARY EXODUS.—Our quays presented
on Thursday and the early portion of this day, a
very busy scene. Numbers of emigrants, accompanied by
many of their friends, perambulated the city, making
the last preparations for a departure from their own
" native isle of the ocean," to seek their fortune in " the
land of the west." The Zephyr, Liverpool steamer,
steamed away next day, with, besides a large cattle cargo,
105 persons of both sexes, bound, some for the Canadas, and
others the United States.—Waterford Mail. Several
young men have been leaving Ireland for the last few
months, ostensibly to emigrate to America, but actually
for service in the Federal army, for which they are engaged
by American agents, and forwarded with gold watches,
large bount'.es, &a—Limerick ,Reporter.

Col. WHITE suggested that it would be well to refer
the subject to ten Irish members, who, he doubted not,
would be able to frame a bill which, probably, the Govern•
meat would not be indisposed to adopt. (Hear, hear.) In
order to afford the hon. and learned gentleman an oppor-
tunity of adopting his suggestion he begged to move the
adjournment of the debate (Divide, divide.)
Mr. LON GFIE LD supported the bill on the ground that
stone weirs and stake and bag nets, so many of which were
permitted by the Act of 1842, wore a violation of the rights
of the public, and, besides, materially tended to destroy the
propagation of fish. The legislation of 1842 was hurried,
and the erroneous course then taken should be at once cor-
rected by the passing of the present measure. The Law
Courts had over and over again asserted that the use of
these " infernal machines"—for so he was justified in styling
these Irish traps—was opposed to the law, but the owners
were too • powerful to be dispossessed by the poor people
whose livings were thus taken away by them—
the cry of the poor peasant against the peer had not pre-
vailed. The rights of the people of Ireland in these
fisheries could not be safely left to the Treasury benches,
for hon. members thereon knew nothing about them,
and besides some of them like the hon. and gallant
member (Colonel \V hite) were interested in the fisheries ;
so that the poor fishermen and the public had little to ex-
pect except from the House of Commons in its collective
capacity. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. M'DONNOGH said the question was a very im-
portant one to the nation at large, and should be treated in
a judicial spirit. He had no personal interest of any kind
in the subject before the house, save the protection of the
salmon fisheries of Ireland for the service of the public,
and after listening to all the speeches delivered during the
two debates he had deliberately arrived at the opinion
that it would be best to refer the bill to a select committee,
for investigation should precede any further legislation.
Many of th fi-hery rights, which would be destroyed by
this bill, had existed for hundreds of years, and been often
sold and resold with the land on which they abutted. These
rights could not be destroyed without compensation being
afforded to the owners. The subject should be approached
without temper, but with a desire to deal fairly between all
the parties interested. A fair compromise would doubtless
be acceptable, and it would be well that a measure dealing
with the subject should be conducted under the auspices
of the right honourable baronet (Sir Robert Peel). li e
quoted figures to show that the export of salmon
trom Ireland had materially increased during the last two
or three years. He deprecated the introduction of per-
sonalities into these debates, and held that the assertion
that men of the highest honour and fame who had seats in
the various committees which had investigated this sub-
ject bad all been actuated by personal motives was en-
tirely untenable, and, moreover, unjust. (Hear.) The
balance of all testimony was in favour of past legislation.
He denied that the laws of England and Scotland with
respect to salmon rivers could be applied to those of Ire-
land, on account of their great dissimilarity. (Divide.)
Mr. ESMONDE supported the amendment to refer the
subject to a select committee, not with the view of creat-
ing delay, but simply on the score of justice, and in the
earnest hope that the subject would be properly taken up by
her Majesty's Government, and brought to a satisfactory
termination with the least possible delay.
Mr. GEORGE considered that the bill, if passed, weal
commit a series of acts of spoliation. The law was, how-
ever, in a state of confusion, and it was the duty of the
Government to bring in a measure that would be acceptable
to all parties. The present bill would not work justly.
Lord FERMOY stigmatised the conduct of the hon. and
learned member (Mr. Longfield) in impugning the motives
of the living and the dead for the part they took in past
legislation. It was exceedingly bad taste to attribute cor-
rupt motives to hon. members connected with these fisheries.
There were several eminent lawyers in the former commit-
tee who would certainly not bear an unfavourable compari-
son with the hon. and learned member. (Hear, and
laughter.) The bill of 1842 was a compromise, and was
not passed in a hurry, but after much examination: by a
committee up stairs and full discussion in that
house. (Hear.) It was said that the committee of 1842
did not take the evidence of the parties interested ; but the
fact was, that none of the parties connected with the fishing
interest expressed a desire to be examined. The fact was,
that all parties had the utmost confidence in the committee.
If, as was said by some hon. members, stake and bag nets
wore illegal in the rivers and estuaries, why did they not
put the law in force instead of seeking a new one, Let the
hon. and learned member for Mallow (Mr. Longfield)—if
he had faith in his own interpretation of the law—begin
with the Shannon. He had the means, and he was sure
he did not lack the courage. The bill before the
house would not, in his opinion, increase the quantity of
salmon. A compromise would be the best mode to adopt
in this business, and this could only be properly effected
by the Government. By good legislation they could have
in a few years 100 salmon where there was but one now.
(Hear.) He implored the Government, therefore, to take
the matter up. On a re-assurance of this kind--that as a
Government they would deal with the matter—he would
withdraw his amendment. All rational people in Ireland
would support the Government in legislating in this wise
on the matter.
Mr. WHITESIDE hoped the debate would take a prac-
tical turn, It was the object of both sides of the house to
produce as many salmon as possible. What should they
do ? A select committee would be a tedious affair. He
ventured, therefore, to suggest that the right hon. baronet
(Sir R. Peel) should, during the recess, address himself to
the bill, so as to endeavour to render it acceptable to both
sides of the house when they meet again after the holidays.
(Hear, hear.)
Sir H, BRUCE hoped the Government would take the
bill in hand and reconstruct it in the way:suggested. But if
not, that the noble lord (Lord Naas) would take the bill out
of the hands of the hon. and learned member for Wexford
and bring his great experience in connection with the Go-
vernment of Ireland to bear upon the question. (Hear,
hear.) The measure, as it stood, was most objectionable,
and would, if passed, confiscate many ancient rights.
(Divide, divide.)
Colonel VANDELEUR avowed himself as a proprietor
of the lower Shannon, though he derived little advantage
from it, and deprecated those attempts year after year to
wrest property from persons, the ownership of
which had been confirmed by Acts of Parliament.
If they had in any way violated the law, let its
provisions be rigidly enforced. It appeared, however,
that the hon. member for Mallow (Hr. Longfield) was not
so disinterested in this matter as he appeared to desire
should be believed, because not long since he got a petition
presented to the house praying that a road might be knocked
through the Duke of Devonshire's estate at Lismore,
which would have greatly benefited the hon. and learned
member. (Hear, hear.)
Col. DUNNE said they were wasting their own tim
and that of the country in these discussion& clear the
progress had been made. It would
bet
Irish and Eng-
matter to a committee composed PartlY °

AYES —7O.
Addington, Hon. W. Getty, S. G. Packe, C.
Ayrton, A. S. Goldsmid, Sir F. Paget, C.
Baines, E. Greaves, Edward Parker, Major W.
Barnes, Thomas Greenall, G. Pilkington, James
Bass, M. T. Greene, J. Pollard 'Urquhart W
Beach, W. W. Grenfell, H. R. Scholefieal, W.
Blake, J. A. Gray, Capt. Selwyn, C. J.
Bonham-Carter, J. Hadfield, Gco. Shelley, Sir J. V.
Bright, J. Haliburton, T. C. Sidney, Thomas
Butler, C. S. Hibbert, J. Staniland, M.
Cave, S. Hodgkinson, G. Stansfeld, J.
Clay, James Hot siali, T. B. Taylor, P. A.
Cobbett, J. M. Jackson, W. Thornhill, W. P.
Coningham, Wm. Kekewich, S. Warner, Edward
Cox, W. Kelly, Sir F. Westhead, J.
Crawford, R, W. Kinglake, A. IV'. Whalley, G. H.
Dalgrlish, Robert Langton, W. G. White, Jas.
Davey, R. Lawson, W. Williams, W.
Doulton, F. Lewis, Harvey Wood, W.
Ewart, William Lyall, G. Wyld, James
Ewart, J. C. 31`3lahon, P.
'ermoy, Lord Martin, I'. W.
Forster, Charles D. Murray, William
Forster, W. E. North, F. Leatham, E.
Gard, R. S. Onslow, Guildford Hubbard, J. G.

TELLERS.

NOES —llB.
Adeane, 11. J. Goddard, A. L. O'Conor Don, The
Atherton, Sir W. Gordon, C. W. Packe, Col.
Aytoun, kt. S. Gower, F. L. Padmore, R.
Baring, Sir F. Gower, G. W. L. Paget, Lord A.
Baring, Thos. Geo. Gregson, S. Palmer, Sir R.
Bazley, Thomas Grey, Rt. Hn. Sir G. Palmerston, Visot.
Beale, Samuel Gurdon, B. Patten, Col. W.
Beamish, F. B. Hanbury, B. Peel, F.
Beecroft, G. S. Hanmer, Sir J. Portman, W. H. B.
Bridges, Sir B. Headlam, Thus. E. Potter, E.
Bruce, H. A. Henniker, Lord Powell, F. a
Butt, Isaac Holland, E. Pugh, D.
Cardwell, Rt. Hn. E. Howard, Ron. C. Puller, C. W.
Carnegie,Hn. C. Hunt, G. W. Ricardo, O.
Chapman, J. Hutt, W. Russell, A. J. E.
Clifiord, C. C. Jervoise, Sir J. Scott, Sir W.
Coke, Col. Jones, D. Seymer, H. K.
Colebrooke, Sir T.E. Knatchbull, W. Seymour, H. D.
Collins, T. Knatchbull-Hugess Seymour, A.
Conolly, T. Layard, A. H. Smith, Augustus
Cowper, Hon. W.F. Leader, N. Somes, Joseph
Cubitt, George Leeke, Sir H. Spooner, It
Cubitt, Ald. Lennox, Lord H. G. Stanhope, J. B.
Dawson, R. P. Lewis, Sir G. C. Tollemache, J. H.
Dering, Sir E. Lindsay, General Turner, J. A.
Duff, 31. E. Longfield, Robert Vandeleur, Col.
Duff, R. Lowe, Rt. Hon. K. Verney, Sir Harry
Duncombe, A. 3PCormick, W. Villiers, Rt. Hon. C.
Dunne, Col. Mackie, J. Walpole, S. H.
Elcho, Lord Malins, R. Weguelin,m T.
Flute, Col. Martin, J. yss, J.
Fellowes, Edward Merry, James Western, S.
Finlay, A. S. 31ittord, W. T. White, L.
French, Col. Monsell, Rt. Hn.'W. Wood, Rt Hn. Sir C.
GallweY, Sir W. P. Montagu, Lord R. Wynn, C.
Garnett, W. J. Montgomery, Sir G. Wyvill, M.
Gavin, Major Mowbray, Rt. Hn. J.
Gibson. T. M. Naas, Lord
Gilpin, C. Newdegate, C.
Gladstone, W. E. Norris, J. T. Brand, H. B.
Glyn, G. G. Northcote, Sir S. H. Dunbar, Sir Wm.