The Hudson's Bay Route Supported. 515 



is a matter for the joint action of the Imperial and Canadian Gov- 

 ernments, and in view of the circumstances that the Imperial 

 Government has not unfrequently utilized vessels of the Navy for 

 such purposes, I think that an application of the Canadian Govern- 

 ment for the use of a vessel, indicating their readiness to pay any 

 extra expenses which would be involved in the prosecution of a 

 survey by a vessel of the Imperial Navy beyond those required in 

 ordinary stations, and making arrangements for a lengthened investi- 

 gation, would be probably satisfactorily received. There is another 

 point of view in which it is not unimportant that an effort should 

 be made in that direction. No doubt the capital which may be 

 required to secure the execution of this great scheme, involving, as 

 it does, the creation of a new line of communication across the 

 Atlantic, as well as the railway line, must principally be obtained 

 in England, and great credence will be placed on the reports of the 

 officers and scientific persons appointed or accredited by the Imperial 

 authorities. In that respect it would tend to the advantage of the 

 scheme that, if possible, such an arrangement as I have suggested 

 should be made. 



" I would suggest also, that no delay take place, as the emer- 

 gency in the North-West is pressing. The suggestion of the hon. 

 member for West Elgin, that the vessel should remain a very 

 considerable time will, I hope, be adopted. Much has to be done in 

 the way of indirect exploration, irrespective of the simple question 

 of the ice, which is, in one sense, the more important one. More 

 information should be obtained as to the various harbours and other 

 subjects of enquiry in an exploration of this kind, and the time 

 spent in the Bay, although not devoted to the single question of the 

 ice, will be well spent if arrangements are made to have scientific 

 persons form part of the staff especially chosen to undertake the 

 work. With reference to the statement of the hon. gentleman as to 

 the liberal provision which has to be made for the railway, certainly 

 50 cents an acre is a price only half that which has been set down 

 for the land of other railways in the North-West. But if I rightly 

 understand the arrangements made — although I am sorry to say the 

 details have not been laid on the table — I believe the grant for 



