1. No.

2 and 3. It is not the intention of the government to proceed with this work at present. It has not been thought prudent to engage at the present time upon such a large expenditure as the work would involve.

4. $33,000.

1. Has any portion of ithe appropriation voted at the last session of parliament for erection of a wharf at Little River, in the county of Ddgby, province of Nova Scotia, been expended? If fSo, what (amount has been so expended?

2. If not, is it the intention of the government to proceed with the work? If so, when? If mot, why not?

3. Will the government advertise for tenders in connection therewith, and when ?

4. What is the estimated cost of the proposed work?

1. No.

2 and 3. It is not the intention of the government to proceed with this work at present. It has not been thought prudent to engage at the present time upon such a large expenditure as the work would involve.

4 $16,500.

1. No expenditure.

2. Yes; $16,182.80, including the construction of a lock and dam.

3. It is not the intention of the government to proceed with this work at present.

1. Has any portion of the appropriation

voted at last session of parliament for the erection of a wharf at Westport, in the county of Digby, province of Nova Scotia, been expended? If so, what amount has been so expended? .

2. If not, is it the intention of the government to proceed with the work? If so, when? If not, why not?

1. Has the government decided to establish rural mail delivery on the routes between Thedford, Ontario, and Arkona, and Thedford, Ontario and Port Frank?

2. If so, wbat is the cause of delay in establishing said routes?

Mr. BARNARD.

Hon. SYDNEY FISHER (for Postmaster General):

1 and 2. An application was, recently received at the department for the establishment of a rural mail delivery service between Arkona and! Thedford, and has been referred to the proper officers for inquiry and report.

. The department was also asked to establish a rural mail delivery service between Thedford and Port Frank, but on account of the courier refusing to undertake such service, tenders are now being invited for a new contract for the conveyance of the mails between the two terminal points, including the collection from and delivery to the rural mail boxes.

1. Have any contracts for the carrying of mail, which expire in the month of April, 1909, been renewed without asking for tenders ?

2. If any such tenders have been renewed, where are the routes situated, what is the price paid for carrying the mail, and what is the name of the carrier, and his place of residence?

Hon. SYDNEY FISHER (for Postmaster General).

This information is so voluminous that I would suggest that the hon. gentleman's question stand as a notice of motion for a return.

Mr. SPEAKER.

Stands as a notice of motion for a return.

1. Has the government consummated the purchase of any portion or portions of the Swan Esike Indian reserve in the province of Manitoba? If so, what portion or portions, and what was the consideration?

any ^le lan

3. If unsold, when is it the intention of the ^ovtiriijnoni. to put it on the market?

4. Will it be sold by auction or otherwise, and on what terms and conditions?

. Is it the intention of the government to throw open any or all of it for homestead-

1. On the 21st of January, 1908, the Swan Lake Band of Indians surrendered to the Crown 5,283 acres, comprising portion of the Swan Lake Indian reserve, No. 7, Manitoba, containing 2,880 acres, and Indian reserve 7A, in the province of Saskatchewan, containing 2,403 acres, which surrender was on the following conditions,-

(a) . That the minimum price at which the Swan Lake lands are to be sold will be ten dollars per acre.

(b) . That the minimum price at which the Battleford lands will be sold will be six dollars per acre.

(c) . That the Indians' equity shall be considered as one-third of the price of the land.

(d) . That the first payment to be made to the Indians at the time of formal surrender shall be equal to one hundred dollars to each soul of population.

(e) . That the second payment, being balance of the one-third of equity, shall be paid as soon as sufficient funds are realized from the sale of the land.

(f) . That the interest on the funded moneys placed to the credit of the Indians from the sale of these lands shall be paid to them on the per capita basis at the time of the annual treaty payments.

2. The land has not as yet been placed in the market.

3. It is the intention to place the land in the market at an early date.

4. It is the intention to sell in the usual way by public auction, terms of sale being one-tenth cash and the balance in nine equal annual instalments, with interest at five per cent.

5. No.