Mr. CROCKET.

Does the minister say he was not consulted by Mr. Murray ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

I have no knowledge of being consulted by Mr. Murray.

Mr. CROCKET.

I would like to have the minister's own idea of the price paid for that property-does he think it was excessive ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

A few months ago my attention was called to the fact that the property had been purchased from Mr. Murray at a less sum than the government had paid, the sum mentioned being $1,000. I at once wired to my deputy to delay the completion of purchase until I had had an opportunity to make further inquiries. I received a telegram that the purchase had been completed through the Justice Department and the title had passed. I at once wrote to the resident engineer, Mr. Stead, calling his attention to what I had heard, and asking him to give me full particulars of the facts on which he relied in giving an estimate of the value. I also called his attention to the fact that the department had not been informed of the previous transfer and gave him direction that, in the future, I wanted him clearly to understand that whenever a property was purchased the department must be informed of all previous transfers in recent years so that we could form a judgment as to the value, and also any other facts that might assist the department in arriving at a full judgment. The engineer wrote me very fully and very frankly. He said he had heard that, some months before, the property had been purchased at $1,000. He regarded that as an absolutely ridiculous price for the property. He made inquiry and was led to believe that the previous owner had parted with it because he had no use for it, having other property. He also wrote that he had made inquiries of Messrs. A. and R. Loggie, who are among the most reputable business men in the lower provinces, or in all Canada, and they had instructed him that if they owned the property they would not think of parting with it for $5,000. He also reported that he had examined the property and the material in the wharf must have cost at least $15,000.

Mr. CROCKET.

It wa3 all sawdust.

Mr. PUGSLEY.

He says not. He says there is ballast of stone and gravel and probably a million cubic feet of cribwork, not new, of course, but a million feet must have cost a considerable sum. He said he could not get the property for less than he had, and that, in his opinion, the valuation was not a high valuation, but a low one.

Mr. CROCKET.

Had the minister received any representation that this wharf was necessary ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

Yes.

Mr. CROCKET.

From whom ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

From different people there.

Mr. CROCKET.

Was there any public body in the county which made representations to the department ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

I cannot state as to that how. I know that we were urged to get additional wharf accommodation there. It appears that the Kent Northern Railway goes to the water, and there was no public wharf there, and the accommodation was very limited. There is no doubt we have a very valuable property and one that it was necessary we should have. In connection with the railway, it will be a great advantage to Richibucto.

Mr. CROCKET.

How much is it intended to spend ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

$3,000 at present.

River St. John - including tributaries,

Mr. DANIEL.

Will the minister state what he intends to do with this vote ?

Mr. PUGSLEY.

This is a vote for blasting rocks, building wing dams and otherwise facilitating navigation of the river. I am inclined to think that we will expend a sum of money this year in improving Grand Falls. There are difficulties in the way of navigation so far as floating lumber is concerned. I think a few thousand dollars could be expended there with great advantage-right at the falls and a little above.

River St. John and tributaries-construction of wharfs in tidal waters, $20,000.

Mr. DANIEL.

I would like the minister to state where he is going to build these wharfs.

Mr. PUGSLEY.

I could not state exactly, but we have applications for quite a number of wharfs, both in the counties of Queens and Sunbury, and some in the county of Kings. There is one at Oromocto, another at Scotchtown, and another I think at Burton. There aro quite a number which are urgently required in the public interest. I will get a list later if the hon. gentleman wishes.

Mr. DANIEL.

The minister stated some time ago that many public works had been proposed but had to be abandoned, but he did not intend to abandon those which came under one of three categories, and one of those categories was cases where tenders had been called for. Now, I wish to remind the minister that tenders were called for no less than nine wharfs in the county of Queens and Sunbury. I have here a clipping from the ' Daily Telegraph ' of St. John, dated October 13, 1908, which reads thus:

Nine new wharfs in Queens and Spnbury-

On representation of Colonel McLean, Minister of Public Works calls for tenders-

List of places where wharfs will be built.

The Department of Public Works, Ottawa, as will be seen by reference to another column, are calling for tenders for nine new wharfs in Queens-Sunbury. These will prove of great benefit to the residents of the localities and have been procured-

They had already been procured.

-through the representations of Colonel H. H. McLean, the Liberal candidate in Queens-Sunbury, to Hon. Mr. Pugsley, Minister of Public Works.

This was dated 13th October, little less than a fortnight before the elections.

The places where the new wharfs will be located are as follows:-

The Range, Parish of Waterborough, Queens county, N.B.

Burton, Parish of Burton, Sunbury county, N.B.

Newcastle, Parish of Canning, Queens county, N.B.

Barker's, Parish of Sheffield, Sunbury county, N.B.

McAllisters, Parish of Chipman, Queens county, N.B.

Young's Cove, Parish of Waterborough, Queens county, N.B.

lronbound Cove, Parish of Chipman, Queens county, N.B.

Scotchtown, Parish of Canning, Queens county, N.B. ,

Lower Jemseg, Parish of Cambridge, Queens county, N.B.

Tenders for these wharfs will close on November 12.

As tenders had been called for in respect to all these wharfs, I think they should be included in the estimates of work to be done this year. I have here a copy of the advertisement:

Tenders for wharfs on St. John river and Grand Lake, N.B.

Then it gives the nine places I have just read. That advertisement is signed by 'Nap. Tessier, Secretary.'

Mr. PUGSLEY.

Does my hon. friend say that he approves of my going ahead with these wharfs ?