New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-25
CANADA.
From Our Own CorTespopden

from Our OWn CoLespopoeh
TORONTO, May 81, 1860.
The Provincial Legislature was prorogued on
Saturday the session having commenced on the
2Sth of February. The duration of the session
was somewhat abridged by tine new plan of g liz
demniiying" members for their personal expenses.
The law previous to the last session had, for sew
eral years, fixed the indemnity at "a day; but
one branch of the Legislature--the Legislative
Acknowledgements no bones about supplementing
the amount by - day, thus making 1t 80,
by simple resolution. which did not repeal the
law fixing the amount at 81, but, nevertheless,
OVERRIDE it. A certain number OF members always
voted against the increase but they nevertheless took
especial good care to pocket the money; thus seek
ing to get credit for love OF economy and respect
for law, while they profted by an act which they
made q merit of deHounclng. Last year, Attorney
General Cartier carried measure fixing the indem-
nifty of each member at 5000 session, provided it
lasted over one month. The result has been most
salts actOry There have been protracted debates
in which speaking against time was considered a
merit On the contrary, the business of the session
has been got through With reasonable Dispatch and
fair amount of il has been done.
The ministerial measures were not numerous; but
they Were Of average importance. The first was
the increase of the subsidy TO the Canadian line of
ocean steamersTO El06,000 a years nearly double
the previous amount. It was hurried through, at
the commencement Of the session, the Postmaster
General. who had it il charge intending TO 90 to
England to urge the Imperial Government to grant
q subsidy TO the line, as soon "a II was passed.
In connection with this measure was grant for the
extension Of the telegraph to Belle Isle, IN order
that, on the approach of the steamers we may be
enabled to get European intelligence two days ear
Her than at present. The increased subsidy met no
serious OppOsition; and there are strong rumors
afoat about the arguments said to have been used
BY an interested party With leading opposition
member; but as they have not been substantiated,
shall not be more particular. There was demand
for inquiry but it not enforced with any power
full argument Orpushed with any sort Of ygOr. On the
contrary the member who asked for inquiry put gues-
ti0ns across the House calculated to elicit precisely
the kind Of answers that would be most likely to
sist in carrying the bill. Among other questions,
he asked whether it were true that the Canadian
steamers had several times left three or four days
after the Cunard steamers and got in first; well
knowing, as an official return before him showed,
that none but an affirmative answer could be
turned.
The budget was very commonplace; and the
financial measures with one or two exceptions, were
not important. No new taxes were imposed, and
no great amount was RENTED. The book duty, i'm
posed at the previous session, was abolished;
!
further sacrifice of customs revenue to the amount
of probably $50, eco year. was occasoned by the
establishment of two free ports; one at Gaspe, near
the eastern extremity of the province, and the
other at the .Sault Ste. Marie, some 1000 miles
further west The object Of establishing these free
ports was to attract the Fishermen of the lower
ports, and TO encourage mining and agricultural
settlement near the Sault Ste. Marie. Fleets OF
fishing yessesSVisit the gulf Of st. Lawrence every
year; but they bring trade worth speaking Of to
any Canadian port. Hereafter they win be offered
goods free from import duties, in the hope tbat
under these conditions, they may find it their inter-
EST TO obtain their supplies at Gaspe. The rich
roDIer and silver mines on the north shores OF
Lakes Huron and Superior, have scarcely been
worked at ALL About IL or ~ years ago
,everal bubble mining companies were started
which began and ended in sfOch. jObbiDg A few in-
lividuals made large sums out OF the deusion-the
ancy prices to which the stocks without rhyme or
eason r0se--but nothing was done ~ the way OF
working the mines Of The richness OF which there
4 not the least doubt, except III two or three IN
tapces. Add even in these cases the cOmpanie-
vent 10 work in a most eItfayagant way, erecting
works ct ali eHOnuGug expense, and bringing 0ut
a. aIactCrltss set OF Cornish minerA who, III the
nd Of a week of idlcness would du their tools
gainst blocks Of granite 10 order TO make believe
hat they had been working. But, 10 spite ol all
nr enhancement ard extravaganza OF the com |
az ies and the bad faith o. their imported work |
iCn the investment proved profitable one, 0w-
IL tie extraordinary richness "a Tie ore. just |
0W there s disposition % turn these MINES to |
ccoant, in the only possible way by working |
lem. Aud the Government, in order to encourage |
bis disposition, has resolved to securr the niinrra'
sc Of export duty, all the goods they require.
iSro vii be considerable danger Of smuggling