DEBATES 13740 OF THE SENATE OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA 1896 REPORTED AND EDITED BY HOLLAND BROS. Official Reporters of the Senate of Canada SIXTH SESSION-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT OTTAWA PRINTED BY S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE QUEEN'S EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1896 THE DEBATES OF THE SENATE OF IN THE CANADA SIXTH SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF CANADA, APPOINTED TO MEET FOR DESPATCH OF BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, THE SECOND DAY OF JANUARY, IN THE FIFTY-NINTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA Ottawa, Thursday, Jan. 2nd, 1896. The bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed is a cause for the deepest thankfulness to the Giver of all good. I congratulate you upon the evidence of increasTHE SPEAKER took the Chair at 2.30 ed activity in the various branches of commerce and industry. p.m. PRAYERS. Several such indications have come under my personal observation during a tour made recently in the North-west Territories and British Columbia. In particular, I noticed the extension of mining enterprise in British Columbia, where the THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. vast mineral resources are in certain localities be At Three o'clock p.m., His Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir JOHN CAMPBELL HAMILTON-GORDON, Earl of Aberdeen; Viscount Formartine, Baron Haddo, Methlic, Tarves and Kellie, in the Peerage of Scotland; Viscount Gordon of Aberdeen, County of Aberdeen, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; Baronet of Nova Scotia, Knight Grand Cross of the most distinguished order of St. Michael and St. George, &c., &c., Governor General of Canada, being seated on the Throne, The Speaker commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint that House, 66 It is His Excellency's pleasure they attend him immediately in this House," who being come with their Speaker, His Excellency the Governor General was then pleased to open the Session by a gracious Speech to both Houses. Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate : Gentlemen of the House of Commons: In accordance with the announcement made during the last Session, Parliament has been summoned somewhat in advance of the usual period. ing now developed and utilized upon something like an adequate scale. A special feature of the same tour consisted in the opportunities obtained for visiting a number of the Indian Reservations and also the Indian InOn the former I was received dustrial Schools. with hearty demonstrations of loyalty and goodwill, while in connection with the latter the proofs of proficiency and intelligence on the part of the children were highly encouraging. As to the work of the Indian Department as a whole, the manner in which it is directed and administered appears to be very satisfactory. A reference to these topics would be incomplete without an allusion to the valuable services of the North-west Mounted Police, which may justly be regarded by Canadians generally as indispensable, under present conditions, to the well-being of those extensive and promising portions of the Dominion in which they are stationed. Immediately after the prorogation of Parliament my Government communicated through the Lieuof that province, in order to ascertain upon what lines the local authorities of Manitoba would be prepared to promote amendments to the Acts respecting education in schools of that province, and whether any arrangement was possible with the Manitoba Government which would render action by the Federal Parliament in this connection unnecessary. I regret to say that the advisers of the Lieutenant-Governor have declined to entertain favourably these suggestions, thereby render tenant-Governor of Manitoba with the Government |