The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-09
yLho Great Scare tn HaItfax-RepOrted
Naval RAltle-The Elkherles.

HALIFAX, IN. s., Aurll O.--An eXClJPme0G was
wanting to arouse from their lethargy the dull
citizens of this dulest of dull Provinces, and
that excitement has been found in the threat
ened Fenian invasion and anticipated dispute
with the United States Government on the
fishery question.
FIRST let us dispose of the Fenian movement.
The sensation kilograms which crossed the wires
from different parts OF Canada to the executive
authorities of this province we're withheld rom
the public until this morning, although during
the previous day great activity prevailed in the
forts and at all the military depots. Although
nothing has occurred, either in the shape of
rumor or street riots, to create alarm, several
citizens kept watch in their houses all cignt
and several ladies attired themselves in their
best, and slowed their jewelry about their per-
sons, ready for a run in case OF night attack
upon the town. fI .t t.t . ,.-.. -
In the afternoon telegram was received that
four iron-cads we're on their way to Halifax, and
Gazette Extraordinary was issued, calling out
the militia and all the volunteer regiments. The
town is now one scene of hustle and activity
orderies hurrying to and fro with dispatches,
ammunition wagons passing through the streets,
and the sidewalks crowded with pedestrians,
whose. only claims to military distinction are
single articles of regimental uniform with
which their wearers seem not ON the most tami-
liar terms. .... .-..
During the day the telegraph brought the re-
port that heavy firing had been heard Off Var
mouth" fishing town on the west coast of the
Province, about two hundred and twenty miles
from the metropolis and towards evening it
was asserted that Yarmouth had been captured
after sustaining bombardment OF several hours
from fleet of Fenian cruisers. To season the
story, an engagement between the British war;
soop Pylddes and Fenian privateer, in which
the latter was sunk, was diligently circulated
by, and for the benefit of gossip-mongers and
paragraphists. ..| .I... ... y.
Batteries have been strengthened, heavy ord
nance placed on all the forts, the night patrol
trebled, and the redoubtables breeched and
armed, and yet those tiresome Fenians won't
come. Yarmouth is not captured yet, and the
"heavy firing" was probably nothing more than
a feu de joie from an old 3pounder on board a
fishing smack lying off the harbor. .,
Meanwhile, military ardor has found new
direction. The transition is natural. It is only
fair to give a chance to another arm of the ser
vice-the navy. An exblockade runner, the
Druid has been chartered, some say purchased,
for the purpose of being converted into a gun
boat, to prevent intrusion of United States
fishermen into British fishery grounds. There
is delicate touch of irony in the selection.
This relict of the Phantom feel is now turning
the tables on Uncle Sans cruisers, and her in
visibility, speed and lightness OF draught while
she affords a running commentary on "strlct
neutrality,n Will enable her to steal many q
march on unWary fishermen who may have
"drifted" too near in shore.
For the nonce Halifax is quiet though by no
means restored to Its normal inertness.
The return of the Admiral is now daily looked
for, for although he is on the Committee of In
Vestigation at Jamaica, his presence there is con
sidered OF less importance than here or at Que
bee; and there is no doubt the squadron under
his command will be strengthened by feet ol
gunboats.
In the House of Assembly the only subjects of
discussion that would interest non-pTovincials
are the Plctou Railway, and the proposed eX-
tension OF mining leases. The railway affairs
of road, to terminate at Pictou, were contracted
for at the rate OF $40 600 mile, the whole TO be
completed in May, 1867. After working six
months, the contractors declared that they must
nave increase the estimate. throw
the jeb. The Provincial Secretary inquired OF
the Chief Engineer, what is best to be
doneY The engineer replied, "Give me the
job, and discharge the contractors" An arbiter
Is called In to estimate what the work could
now be finished for, and the best way of finish.
ing It, The arbiter recommends placing the
whole affair in the hands Of the Chief Engineer,
who abdcates his position of $4,000 year, and
becomes contractor at $4,000 per mile for the
unfinished portion of the road, and the arbiteI
(who before had been only deputy surveyor
at S600) is installed In the vacant enRneership,
and the whole transaction, involving an outlay
of two million or more dollars is withheld fol
nearly a fortnight from the knowledge of the
public. OF course, the opposition makes capital
out of the affair, although there are no proofs
OF harm either intended or done.
The extension of mining leases is q great de
sideratum, all leases under the present Law
expiring in 1866. The teudal law, by which al
minerals, even on private properly become
vested in the Crown, is IN force in this country
and in 1926 the Province granted all minera
lands TO the Duke of York for a term OF sixty
years. The Duke again relet his right to thu
General Mining Association who have al
Arrangement with the local Government, to tn
effect that all mining leases shall be subject t.
the same conditions and royalty as applied L
them II appears that British capitalists d'
not care to invest for period of only twenty
one years. their own leases invariably runnint
for ninety ynine but there seems no disposition
at present, on the part OF the Legislature I,
make any alteration.
The weather has been very capricious A tenn
peratuTe of AZ degrees Fahrenheit on the l6tl
was succeeded on the 18th by IL degrees, then
degrees, and then 10 degrees, at which latter