The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-06 00:00:00

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL.

The order for this bill was also discharged.
'ETROPOLIS LOCAL MANACiEIIENT ACT BILL.
The order in this bill was also discharged.
AFFAIRS IN NOVA SCOTIA.

Lord STRATHEDEN presented a petition from
Nova Scotia, alleging the existence of much dis-
content in the province in regard to the Act past
last Session under the title of British North
America Act, and moved that au lienib;e whirrs.;
be presented to her Majesty to iippoint a commission to pro-
ceed to Nova Scotia for the purpose of examining the alleged
causes of dissatisfaction, w.th a view to their reniev.d. Ile
said that the cause of iliscoutent was the Confederation of
Nova Scotia with Upper and Lower Canada, the fernier
province preferring still to re nain attached to the British
empire instead of being iuclu led in the Coufaderati
The issu) before the House was not as to the merits
of the Confederation, which subj met had been so often
discusse I. With regard to it lie was ready to conced
what they liked. Bat they had not met to review the
advantages of confederation, but fur the purpose of ascer-
taining what was the amount of disaffection. The noble
lord entered into a statement as to the importance of the
stronghold of Nova Scotia, and said that although England
deprecated a war with the United States, yet Nova Scotia
in such an event was most important as a military and
naval station, and by the discontent to which ho referral
we ran the risk of losing it. Earl Grey, the late
Duke of Newcastle, Sir John Burgoyne, and many
others considered Halifax as one of the most important
strongholds that we had. Under these circumstances it
was most jealously to be guarded, as the loss of Halifax
and Nova Scotia would be of the most vital importance.
He would now enter into a few of the facts connected
with the disaffection he had spoken of. In 1863, in the
month of July, a general disaffection took place in Nova
Scotia. The population was aroused to speak upon cer-
tain subjects of discontent. During the Parliament of
that year a great organic change took place. The
true object of discontent was that as Nova Scotia was
always intensely British, and in all great demon-
strations against England she was most loyal and
always first to oppose invasion, therefore was she
the first to resist being dissevered from the Bri-
tish Empire. When the members of her Parliamea
assembled at Halifax in January following, showed that
tbry were the partisans of Confederation, their discontent
arose. In consequence of this fifteen resolutions wore
framed, and delegates had been many months in this country
ready to express the discontent that was felt in Nova Sco
Another subject of annoyance was that Canada had re-
fused to enrol the Nova Scotian militia: The new local
Parliament of Nova Scotia assembled in August and the
question must speedily be decided on. Would it be sup-
posed that discontent would pass away unless something
was done before the Bth of August? He did not believe
in the statement that the union of peoples must arouse
some discontent, nor was he of opinion that unions of that
description were always successful. The local Par-
liatuent will meet in a few weeks, and this question
must then be settled or lead to all the evils which he had
shadowed forth. With regard to the manner in which the
discontent was to be dispersed, there were ono or two
' ways. The one was that of repeal, but this, when the
session was almost exhausted, was impossible. There
was another means, and that was there should be a
committee appointed to inquire into what was the
causes of disaffection. This inquiry could not be made by
the Governor-General, because that would only preci-
pitate an outbreak, and however clever and dispas-
sionate he might be, his opinion coming from the Go-
vernment of Canada would create no respect. Tho
inquiry should be by commission, and would be accepted
as is fair investigation ; and it would have the effect of
drawing out in Nova Scotia whatever feeling there was in
favour of confederation, and would elicit the opinion of
those who did not join in the discontent.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at 4 o'clock.
WINDSOR BARRACKS.

Colonel LESLIE asked the Secretary for War whether
he had seen the report in the papers of the sanitary c)tn-
missioners of the Lancet on Windsor Cavalry Barracks;
and whether there was any truth in that report as to the
bad state of the barracks?

Sir J. PAIiINGTON said he had seen the report, but
he thought the complaints with respect to married soldiers'
quarters was somewhat overstrained. Comparing the
condition of married soldiers now with what they were
ton years ago, he thought the arrangements were very
satisfactory. They had already spent £240,000 in im-
proving the quarters of mar ried soldiers, and now the
outlay was between £30,000 or £40,000 per annum in
order to secure each married soldier a separate room.
He thought that it was making too great a demand that
soldiers having four or five children should have two
rooms. With regard to the shortness of water, he did
not think, so close as the barracks were to the River
Thames, such complaints ought to exist.
THE ELECTRIC TEL E GRA.P H.

Col. FRENCH i , n the absence of Mr. Dillwyn, asked
the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was true that
negotiations, contingent upon the passing of the Tele-
graphs Bill either in this or the next session of Parliament,
for the purchase of their interest in telegraph companies
by the Government, had been entered into by the Post-
office authorities with certain railway and other com-
panies, notwithstanding that a select committee of the
house was now conducting an inquiry into the whole
question of the expediency of the Government's taking
up the telegraphs ; and, if so, whether ho would lay a
copy of the suggested form of ayeement upon the table of
the house?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said an
agreement had been entered into with the electric tole-
graph companies and the railway companies opposing the
bill subject to the approbation of the committee. It it
was approved of there would be full opportunity given to
the house to express its opinion on the subject.
TIIE DOVER FORTIFICATIONS.
In reply to Mr. DIXON,
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he had received intelligeno
through a private source that a schooner, whilst lying in
Dover Roads, had been struck by a shot from the bat-
teries, and he had given directions that a most searching
inquiry should be made into the circumstance.