Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-21
THE NEW DOMINION.

l wreclkins and Towing in Inland Waters -InternationaI Correspondence on the Subject.
 OTTAWA, Jan. 2O.-The correspondence be- tween Sir Edw ard Thornton, British ambas- | sador at Washington, and Secretary of State Evarts for the United States relative to 1 wrecking and towing in inland waters, which l has been forwarded to the Dominion govern ment, was laid before the House this after noon. On the 9th of June, 1879, the Cana dian privy counsel made a report in which it is stated that the minister of customs, to whom a dispatch from Sir Edward Thornton on the subject had been referred stating the question, ap- peared to be misunderstood by the authori ties at Washington. He believed it to be & fact that the action of the customs depart ment has been presented to them not only in an exaggerated but in a very erroneous light; that as it respects the departmental circular of the 6th of March, 1878, it was ad dressed to the collectors of customs only and was to remind them of the proper bearing of the customs laws on wrecked property actual ly stranded upon the Canadian shores, and
 
 dian officer ever interpreted the circular or laws as justifying interference with the efforts of vessels of any nation to succor ves- sells in distress and save human life or proper ty. while there was possibility of prevent ing loss, nor had any cause of such interfer- enee ever occurred. The desire of the gov ernment of Canada is said to have always been and still was to effect mutual arrange ment by which the coasting laws might be so made on both sides as to enable them to dis pense entirely with the present incon- venient restrictions on the move ments of vessels of eithe nation, But in the meantime the laws must be respected and while the claims of hu recognized it was the special duty of the de- partment of customs to protect the rights and interests of the Canadian commercial marine against the encroachments of all par ties. The government of Canada was not only willing but anxious that the most liberal interpretation should be given to the laws re- lating to the navigation of inland lakes and rivers, and are ready to enter into negotiation with the government of the United States with view to the adop- tion of a more liberal policy in this respect but they cannot consent to any measure which would give the United States ship owners privileges in Canadian waters not se- cured in equal proportion to Canadian ship owners in U. $. waters, nor can any partial system of reciprocity be accepted which in practical operation would favor the latter at the expense of the former. On August this report of the Canadian privy counsel. and says While I am pleased to note this indication of a disposition and desire on the part of the Canadian au- thorities to come to some reciprocal agree ment with the government of the United States which shall do away with the present objectionable system of wrecking followed in the lakes lying between the respective coun- tries, at the same time I am surprised that any such expression as is contained in the report referred to should have been made in view of the act of Congress approved June wrecked or disabled in the waters of the United States and do- minion of Canada.'' I would be pleased to have you recall the earnest con- sideration of the Dominion government, and the fact that the full reciprocity this act en- gages only awaits concurrent action on the part of that government to become instantly operative and thus remove a cause of serious and dangerous embarrassment to the ship ping interest of the United States.
 The correspondence closes on the 24th of November, 1880, when the Marquis of Lorne
 
 respondence which passed between Sir Ed ward Thornton relative to complaint made by MT. Evans, owner of the United States tug ''Relief'' with regard to the action of the customs authorities at Point Dover, Ont, on the occasion of raft in tow of the vessel be- ing wrecked on 8 sand bar near Long Point
 Grand Ball at Ottawa.
 OTTAWA, Jan. 2O.-The ball given by Lady T..- was the event of the season. No affair of the kind has created such fiutter of excitement in society since Lord Dufeiin's fancy ball One thousand invitations were issued and fully seven hundred were present, nearly every city and town in the Dominion being represented. The decorations were gorge ous. Flags, evergreens, Chinese panels and lanterns, trophies, coats of arms and exqui-