The New York herald., 1870-02-22
THE NEW DOMINION.
Snewsheoing-AQuatic Sports-Princc Arthur's
Opinion Of Amer4csns- Commercial and Rail-
road Matters-Anncxati0n Politics.

Observation-Disclosures Sports-Princc Arthur's
Opinion Of acknowledgements and Rail-
road Matters-Anncxstion Politics.
MONTREAL, Feb. II, 1870.
News here is scarce and times dull, so thar 1t is
with difficulty one can nnd matter for letter.
The snowshoeing season has commenced with un-
usual brilancy. the races being largely attended,
the prizes liberal and the racing good. The Domin-
ion Club, which visited New York In 1868, has made
q clean sweep SO far winning almost every race.
TneIndian wonder, Keraronwe, won the two mile
race yesterday in 1890, being by eight seconds the
best time on record Although as yet unoeieated he
only beat Daillebout by SIX inches yesterday, the
par finishing for the tenth time first and second.
Harper who holds the two champion cups OF the
country, the Tecumseh Cup and the Ottawa vase
ran fourth in this race, his time being l2:36.
letter was received in this city yesterday from
the celebrated "Pars crew." OF St John, n.
Some talk there has been about 1ve mile race on
the Hudson, between the Tyne four Of England and
the Paris crew. The Paris crew having beaten the
world AT Paris and then having easily defeated the
Wards ut Springfield, claim tho championship OF the
nn e OF ns at
miles hence, IN July, four-oared outrigyers three
miles out and home, making Six miles, II the people
OF Montreal VIII pay expenses. The Canadian four
Will row without q cOxswain, In the American styie
and tne EnRlishmen may do as they please. There
Is little DOUBT tnat the race viii be gotten up, as
the Lachine Boating Club il prosperlng and intends
this year erecting o $4,000 club house. XII.
So much for sporting matters There y little or no
social report the Prince beng absent at Ot-
tawa at the opening OF Parliament. HIS kOyai Hi9n-
ness speaks IN the very highest terms Of the recep
ton accorded MIN In the States, and, believe ex
presses his grateful surprise ut the COURTESY deyod
as much OF snOboery as OF b00rishness. Win whlcn
ne was ~ Mc nas ~,
ne became acquainted on your SIDE Of forty nve de-
grees mementos Of pleasant visit One OF the CITY
papers being inspired with unusual vig0r suggested
lhat t was nigh time for his Royal Aignness TO "de
clare his Intentions now that he had been Jted sur
ncienty The Prince has not taken the hlnt but goes
on dancing merrily without an inspiration for
Canadian crown. Indeed, outside OF narrow circle
OF fanatlcal tories, the idea Is never mooted.
Matters commercial are likewise dun. The sensa-
ton OF the week has been the proclamation reducing
the value OF American silver after the 18TH OF April
by twenty per cent This measure Is strongly OPP
posed by the generality OF business men. the Mon
lreal Board OF Trade being especially pronounced IN
Its protest. system OF fractional currency Is to be
introduced. As yet the rate Of discount has been
but slightly Affected being four and haif.
The people Of Montreal are awaklng not moment
too soon To sense OF tneir position, and are pr0mOt
ing railway schemes by the Dozen one Of them being
the Canada Central, via Ottawa, 10 be link In the
Canada Pacific winch Is ultimately TO Ink tue Pacific
and Atlantic and to enable the Squallyamsh indians
OF Puget to swap salmon for the COZ OF the Blue Noses
tnus having change OF diet. Other lines are to be
Dullt out into the country to open IT up. We are
taking lesson from Toronto and not bit too soon,
because the sceptre OF commercial supremacy was
last slipping from u.s. Toronto, by nberally subs-
dizing lines OF local railway ana by dong her own
importing, instead OF purchasing from Montreal I'M
has utTScII UP al mllcuSe pTOuL-
able trade. increased her p6pulation and auSmented
the value OF property. whereas IN Montreal too
many OF the houses were carried on by English
firms Canadian banks and having inadequate
capital and market gorged by over-tradlng. nave
had 10 take IN sail or 90 under. Every one COM
plains OF du times; property is falling and even the
saloon keepers grumble, ana annexation wakes
popular. What u really wanted s capital and popu-
2tion and enterprise. Insolvency continues as
much In vogue as ever, ana the banks are making
m0ney-tw0 bad signs for business men,
This naturally brings me to politics. You will
notice in the Governors speech at OTTAWA his care
ful avoidance OI the American and independence
questions. The latter does not amount 70 much
never did In factbut the American question will be
pretty to be brought up this session The Gulf
nsneries and the Ked River insurrecti0n Will, OF
course, cause discussion, and Indeed, heard q
rumOr that more direct issue still might be induced
by foreign action. have not as YET sufficient details
confederation 70 another letter.
Mr.. William Workman has been for the third time
elected Mayor No opposition was made He ex-
poets to be knRhted by the Prince. SO did another
predecessor OF hls, who got gilt chain and scarlet
robe for the occasion. and remains plain Mr..
RodIer to this day. In only three Of the nine
wards Of the city has contest taken place.
The city c0un cillOrs generally have been rivalng
| those OF American cities, and behaving IN manner
worthy OF the ideal Alderman OF New YORK, which
our papers hold up to execralon as the effect OF re-
publican institutions. One OF them has been pub
lIcly accused Of taxing bribe; second, who was
elected on the moral ticket, has been convicted OF
getting his cigars at the Corporations xpense;
third misDehaved himself IN church and made the
police who were about TO interfere arrest the cham
at the railway station, but by influence had II
corded on The police sheet that ne, IN his official
capacity, "visitedo the police station. We are not
up to New York pitch yet, but we are coming to 1t.