New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-20

d,vs home; the Lady Eglinton only making the
outward passage within the contract time, ana tue
bomeward in one day less than that stipulated.
These were the summer voyages to Quebec. Inc
winter voyages 70 Portland were cquaiiy un'uc.
cessfu So much for the first years enPcfiuen,
of Canadian ocean steam navigation. Inc secouo
year. commencing last spring, three new Ves'es
were put on the line; the Ottawa, OF 9io 'uus,
the Charity, of ], 0O7 tuns, and the Cleopatra
These steamers also failed to fulfill their contract
The Cleopatra left Liverpool on the lltn April,
and reached this city on the oath May; having itn
alleged suffered detention by coming IN contact
with ice in the gulf Be this as il may, she was pre-
coded by so sailing vessels which she found IN port
ON her arrival In her FIRST trip the charity took
twenty. seven days to make the outward passage,
II is surely about time the contract was assigned
TO somebody more capable OF funlllng 1t. FOR
each summer trip, the contractors were TO get
.23S sterling, and for each winter mp ,o53.
The money has not been paid; aud the Chief Com
missioner of Public Works announced yesterday,
in the House. that the Government were "consid-
"eripg" whether they ought TO pay for services
which had not been rendered according to agree
ment. One or two of Edmondetons N Aliens
line of steamers arrived last season. They are
a very different class OF vessels; being OF
iron and of at least 1900 tuns burden. Govern
ment has announced, speaking by the mouth OF
the Commissioner of Public Works, that II the
new company do not fulfill the contract-that Is,
make the outward passages in IA, and the home
ward in 10 days-they will not be paid the bonus
granted by the Legislature.
1he great length of the Gulf is in one respect
favorable to steam navigation, because It is prac-
ticable TO establish Il coaiing station at + ortean
Bay 500 miles below Quebec-a quarter OF the dis
lance to Liverpool. Nova Scotia coal is within 800
miles of that bay. At that point, as well asseyera
others where they we're required, lighthouses are
being constructed with view to add to the safety
Of the navigation. One of the reasons why more
accidents occur to vessels in the Gulf than per-
haps in making any other American port on the
Atlantic is to be found in the inferior class OF
Captains too generally employed on vessels trading
to this port am told that the pay of Captains is
often quite as low as that of the common sailors,
and sometimes lower. The marine assurance
companies understand this thoroughly, and make
their charges accordingly.
The Finance Minister has got pretty well over
his budget" difficulties. The available surplus
of last year. after paying the emigration expenses
Of le47, for which England refuses TO fork over"
and several other out Of theway items, is reduced
TO ESQ, 000 which sum, added to the estimated
surplus Of the present year, f45O, OJO will give
total surplus, for the two years, of f6OO,0OO
Out Of this there will require TO be paid, f5OOOOO
Of Provincial debentures, to fall due next spring;
and the remaining lUO, OU0 VIII nc ABSORBED IN
repairs, alterations and improvements Of public
works. There has been appropriated this session
1850, 900 for public works OF this sum-
1850, 900 is to be raised by loan; and the re-
mainder is to be paid out of the ordinary revenue
Of this and the next two years; 10000 in the
present and next year, and f59,OJO in 1856. The
expenditures Of this $500, 600 is to be spread
over three years: cll6,OOO in 1854, G23i,0OO
in 1855, and f59,00O in 1856. Besides,
the new loan of f3JO, 900, the Finance Minister
has authority by an act of 1852 to borrow
{ 1870 600, and further sum of fl2O, 000-the
balance OF old loans authorized by the Legisla-
ture, but not yetnegotiated. OF course these two
amounts have special destinations, and cannot be
available for new works. Instead of maSIG4 these
loans, Gl690 coo has been borrowed Oh account
Of public works, from the consolidated revenue
fund. / say borrowed, because it is tho avowed
policy of our Government 10 resort to loans for
the construction of permanent public works-aot
indeed for the whole amount, but for at least two
thirds off This policy is grounded on the argu-
ment that toward works constructed in great
measure for tie use OF posterlty, pOsterty should
be called upon 10 contribute.