Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-02-27
NUMBER 80.
DOMINION NEWS.

The Conservatives boast that. although
defeated at the recent election, thev have a
majority in the upper house. appointed for
life, and will be able to thwart the Liberals.
II they attempt to carry out measures they
DO not like. But the Senate. even now. i
not much in favor with the people Of Cana
da, and there is a probability. If it attempts
to thwart the will of the people. that if not
abolished altogether. il will he rcorsanized
and made an elective body. with its mem
bcrs chosen for a term Of Years instead of
for life. This of course will require the
consent of the British Parliament
The political complexion of the new par
Lament has been absolutely decided. At
the general election in 1872 the government
of Sir John \. Macdonald obtained a ma
jority in every province except Ontario.
Mr.. Mackenzie will enter new parliament
backed by an enormous majority in every
province. Taking the protest against the
prorogatiOn. last August. as indicating the
strength OF the opposition to SIR John Mac
Donald before his resignation. there were
81 supporters OF Mr.. Mackenzie in Onta-
rio. 20 in Quebec : in Nova Scotia. \ in
New Brunswick, and = in Manitoba. There
have been already chosen, 81 government
members in Ontario. 30 in Quebec, . IN
New Brunswick. 3 in Nova Scotia, and in
Prince Edward Island, making a total Of
i07 Of the party already elected to paria-
ment,-a clear majority ot the whole house
The Speaker Of the last House. Mr. Cock
burn, has been defeated by n relormor. Mr.
Gibbs, one OF the latest corners into the
cabinet Of the conservatives. has also lost
his seat. Mr.. O'COnnOr, another cX-Iuinis-
ter has been defeated Sir John himself
only saved his seat by thirty-six majority.
where in 1872. after severe contest. he had
nearly hundred more.
Hon. L. ). Huntington, Of Montreal. has
been made President Of the Council IN the
Mackenzie ministry.
Montreal has scandal IN high life. 4
woman named Celina Legri, was proSccu-
ted in the Police Court ON charge of being
dlsreputable character, the complainant
being SOlicitOr-General Chaplain, in his indi-
vidual capacity. Ii was alleged that the wO-
man had been on terms Oi intimacy with
Mr.. Chaplain. and endeavored 10 hlackmail
hlm. this beng the true cause Of the prose-
cutiOn. Counsel for the woman summoned
Chap!ean to the witness stand. hut the
magistrate would not allow him - be- ex-
amIned until counsel should have stated
what he expected - elicit. This tbe llwyer
refused to do, and Chaplain was spared
Legris was sentenced to -ix months hard
labor. Next day the Solicitor Geueral pub
liShed a letter declaring that he had been
the innocent victim OF persecution by this
woman, and had never been intimate with
her. If this statement be true it i strange
that he did not ask to be allowed to testify
in court before the woman bad been sent tO
jail
\ fire originating in Ward .s Brown,
store at Halifax, y. :, ON the night of the
18th, spread to the buildings adjoining, oc-
cupied by Precoart' :. saloon and Esan' gun
store. all of which were destroyed . loss
S2j 900. During it, progress. an ezplo-
sion occurred in PrecpurtS saloon, by
which a number 1f hrcmen were severely
burned, one named Aoans, it i feared, fa-
tally.
The freight sheds of the Great Western
Railroad at st. GATHERINGS. Can were
burned with all their contents on the l2th.
The streets Of S,. Johns are lighted with
patent gas.