The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

BRITISH COLUMBIA BOUNDARIES BILL.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in moving the second
reading of this bill, took the opportunity of referring to the
improved prospects of Vancouver's Island, because a belief
existed that this distant dependency had never prospered,
and, what was more, never would. He said that the re-
moval of the authority of the Hudson's Bay Company had
been attended with )he best results, as there had already
been a great improvement in the state of the colony,
and in a few years it would, without doubt, become
a place of great importance. Although it had only
been founr:ted four years, he had great satisfaction in inform-
ing their lordships that the name of Vancouver's Island
would never again figure in the estimates of the House of
Cotrmons. He considered this a great credit to the legis-
lature of the country. During the last year the revenue
had doubled, and d uring that time no less than 1,000 miles
of roads had been constructed—not of a temporary descrip-
tion, but of as good a description as would be found
in England. Last year the revenue from these
roads amounted to no less than £lO,OOO, but
gratifying as the result was, it was confidently expected
that the amount received this year would be not less than
£20,000, thus enabling the colony to repay the loan of
£lOO,OOO in about 5 years, when good and substantial roads
would be open up to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. An
arrangement was in progress between the Governments of
Canada, British Columbia, and Vancouver's Island, for the
purpose of making a telegraphic communication which,
taking advantage of the roads made and being made, would
complete a line of telegraph across the entire continent. This
would be done by the colonies themselves. There would be
no guarantee by the British Government. There was also
a plan in contemplation, called the Intercolonial Railway,
which would connect the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans
through British North America; and when they considered
the results to which such an opening would give rise, their
expectations of the grand future which was before the
British colonies in North America could hardly be too san-
guine. There were certain gentlemen in the City who had
made arrangements to buy up the shares and rights of the
Hudson's Bay Company for £1,500,000. They had applied
to the International Financial Association for an advance,
to enable them to pay down ready money for the purchase,
and the arrangements had been finally made that very even-
ing. The International Financial Association had merely
interposed to aid the purchLsers, and the new proprietors
were resolved to open up the country under their control.
He mentioned these facts, as he had heard that some noble
lords intended to question him upon the reported purchase
of the property of the Hudson's Bay Company. But, in fact,
it was no purchases It was a mere transfer from one set of
shareholders to another, and the new proprietors had secured
the valuable services of Sir Edmund Head, who had con-
sented to act as governor.

The Earl of DONOUGHMORE thought the house
and the Government ought to be very careful about what
they were doing. The Hudson's Bay Company was a
most obstructive body. They had kept the vast territory
entrusted to their management a -howling wilderness,
traversed only by wild animals, trappers, and hunters.
They had opposed every attempt at colonisation. They
held under a chillier of Ol'..arles 11., which gave them
most extensive. rights, an'a if those rights were to be pre-
served and ed forced by the new_pro_plietoEs,the Govern-
could say that the transaction was open and notorious.
(Hear, b ear.) He wished to know what guarantee the Go-
vernwnt had that the new company would encourage
coloro.sation. He wished also to know what arrangement
had been come to with the American Government respect-
infS the disputed island of San Juan.

Lord TAUNTON agreed with the Earl of Donoughmore
in thinking that the transfer of the charter, shares, rights,
and stock of the Hudson's Bay Company to a new company
(for in fact it amounted to that) was a most dangerous
transaction, and one which ought to be looked upon with
very great jealousy, The old company had treated the
Indians with. great care. The treatment of the red men in
the Hudron's Bay territory contrasted most favourably
with the.% which they received at the other side of the border.
If any thing was to be changed in the management, the
traditions of the company might possibly not be preserved,
As to the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's
Island, he had heard stories which deeply shaded the pic-
4ures of prosperity drawn by the noble duke (of Newcastle).
Ile had heard that English settlers carried on a most hor-
rible traffic in Indian women, whom they pm chased from
the native tribes, and brought down to the settlements,
where they hired them out for the vilest purposes, and then
left them to perish by the most loathsome and abominable
disease, or sent them back to spread contamination amongst
their own people.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE was unable to give any
ocher information upon the subject of the transfer of the
xig,hta and charters of the old to the new proprietors of
the Hudson's Bay Company than that which he had
already given. The company would not be a new one, for
several of the old shareholders would remain. As to his
having any right to interfere, and to obtain any special
terms from the new shareholders, he had none. The
shareholders did not require his sanction to buy or sell
their shares. He had obtained what he considered very
important concessions, but as to any permission from
him., the shareholders did not require it. As to the condition
of the Indian women, these crimes had existed for centuries
mid ho did not see how they could be prevented, however
much they might be deplored. The island of San Juan, it
had been agreed, should be jointly occupied by British and
American forces until the dispute could be finally adjusted.
But the war in America had compelled the American Go-
vernment to concentrate all its power, and the force on San
Juan had been withdrawn about two years ago. Every
application to the American Government to settle the mat-
ter had been met by the reply that they had too much on
their hands to leave them time to attend to so distant
a settlement ; so the matters in dispute remitted still in
abeyance.
The bill was then read a second time.
The following bills went through committee :—The Naval
Medical Supplemental Fund Society Winding• up Act, 1861,
Amendment, the Telegraphs, the Sheep and Cattle (Scot-
land), the Oaths Relief in Criminal Proceedings (Scotland),
the Postmaster-General (Sale of Land), and the District
Parochial Churches (Ireland).
The Land Drainage (Provisional Orders) Bill, the Juris-
diction of Justices Bill, were read a second time.
The Officers of Royal Naval Reserve Bill, the Sale of
Mill Sites, &c. (Ireland) Bill, the Volunteers Bill, and the
Regimental Debts, &c., Bill, were read a third time and
passed.

_
The report on amendments to the Local Government
Supplemental (No. 2) Bill were agreed to.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. CARGILL (Berwick) and Mr. VERNER (Lisburn)
took the oaths and their seats.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
_ _

The Merthyr, Tredegar, and Abergavenny
Railway Bill
SOS read a third time.

THE PURCHASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL

BUILDING.

Mr. GREGORY presented a petition from the Finan-
cial Reform Association of Liverpool
against the extra-
yagantf Arta on the
outlay proposed in connection with
ing ; also a petition from the Society this new build-
in
ground that it is exceedingly objectionable
strictures
einpoint of
taste, and the ridicule of foreigners, whose
only mollified by the assurance that the building was
were
only
temporary ; Lord ELCHO presented two petitionsaageainst
the purchase of the building; Mr. CRAWFORD,
from mer-
chants and bankers in the City of London to the same
effect ; also by Mr. WHITE, from Brighton.
HAWKERS' LICENCES.
Mr. FERRAND gave notice that on Monday ho should
ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether small hawkers
were compelled to take out a licence.
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. BENTINCK gave notice that on Friday, the 16th,
on going into a committee of supply, he should bring the
el,b3act of accidents before the house, and move a resolu-
mon thereon.

POLAND.
RORtsMAN gave notice that on an early day he
VieaaOiose a resolution to the effect that the treaty of
lue
bsta violated in respect [to the good govern-
Itussia,
mem of vou and that its continuance would

be most calamitous to Poland and dangerous to the peace
of Europe.
REDUCTION OF INDIAN REGIMENTS.

In reply to Col. SYKES,

The Marquis of HARTINGTON stated that it had been
determined to reduce by a troop each of the Indian cavaly;
regiments, so as to place them on a footing will the
English regiments.
POLAND.

Mr. HORSMAN asked tb;
Foreign Affairs on wb _ -tinder Secretary of State for
day the English and French notes
were received at St. Petersburg ; on what day the
Austrian note was received ; on what day the several
notes were presented to the Russian Minister ; and, whether
the British Ambassador was instructed to keep back the
English note till the Austrian note arrived ?
Mr. LAYARD replied that the three notes were re-
ceived together, and delivered by the representatives of
the three Powers to Prince Gortschakoff on the 27th,
who said he should at once refer them for a reply to the
Emperor. No instructions were given to the English Am-
bassador to keep back the English note till the Austrian
note arrived. No reply had yet been received, nor could he-
undertake to say when there would be a reply.