IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ € 1.0 l.i ^ 1^ III 2.0 llllli !l 1.25 ■ 1.4 1.6 6" yw ^.'^>^. %^ w Photogrdpliic Sciences Corporation %^ -^ '■% 13 V^ST MAIN STRUT V) :>eut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortiori ie long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pagas blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 film6es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet axemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibMcgraphique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger una modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiqu«is c' dessous. I ~W^ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaur6es et/ou pelliculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxei Pages ddcolordes, tacheties ou piquies I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ r~~U Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ T P o fl b tt • o fl si o □ Pages detached/ Pages d^tachdes r~~l/Showthrough/ I— J Transparence I I Quality of print varies/ D Quality indgale de I'impresiiicn Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible T s» T w M dl er be r\{ re m Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tis!(ues, etc., have been retilmed to ensure the best possible imagn/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une peiure. etc., ont iti film6es ^ nouveau de facon d obteiiir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux ds reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X SOX .X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X ils u lifier ne age The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appeering hers ere the best quality possible considering ihe condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impression. L'exemplaire filmA f ut reproduit grAce A la gAnArositA de: La bibllothAque des Archives publiques du Canada Las Images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettetA de rexemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplalres origlnaux dont la couvarture en papier est imprimAe sont filmAs on commen9ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreSnte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous las autres examplaires origlnaux sont flimte en commenpant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — i^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion le cas: le symbols —»* signifie "A SUIVRE". ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, cherts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely Included In one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams IKustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux ds reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grend pour Atre reproduit en un eeui cllchA, il tut f iim6 A partir de I'engie supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthoda. ta ure. ] 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 HAMILTON MUNICIPAL DISTRESS. The following documents appear in the English ne\^ ^papers as having been received from His Excellency the Governor General by the London Committee of the Hamilton Bond- holders : — Government House, Quebec, March 20th, 1863. GENTLGatEN, — i am directed by the Governor General of Canada to acknowledge the receipt of your Memorial of March 17th, 18C3, and to regret tiiat through inadvertence you were not at the time apprised of his having received it. The Memcrial was referred (Signed,) Dknw Godlby. Messrs. Dawes and Sons, Cofiy cfa Report of a Commillee of the Honourable the ExeexUive Council, approved by SRt Excellency the Governor, General on the \9th March, 1863. On a dewpateh dated 21st February, 1863, from His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies, transmitting copy of a letter from the solicitor to the holders of certain bonds of the City of Hamilton, C. W., respecting the non-payment of interest thereon, and requesting that the applicants liiay be furnished with a reply to a previous application on the same subject, and that an Bccnnnt of the true merits and nature of the rase may be also forwarded for Hii Grace's irifoiniation ; The Hon. 'he Attorney General, U. C, reports that, with respect to the request contained in the lel'er of the solicitor of the nth March, 1862, which craves the atlentiou of Your Excel- lency to the protection of the interests of the memorialists m any steps that may be taken ; that no movement has been made to alter or derange the existing legal claims or securities of the memorialists as against the City of Hamilton, and that, therefore, no interference on the part of the Government can be exercised. That in regard to the letter of Messrs. Dawes and Sons, in which they allude to petitions being about to bt; presented to both Houses of the Legislature 0(4 Canada, in reference to the failure of the City of Hamilton to meet the interest due on the debfthtures mentioned, he, the , Attorney General, whilst deeply regretting that any necessity should exist on the part of the debenture-holders, lo submit any remonstrance, is unable to find that relief can be afforded by the Government, That the law under which these debentures were authorized, and the mode of enforcing payment of both principal and interest, provides for the collection of arrears of interest and accruing sums, and remains unaltered ; and that there is no provision under which the Gov- ernment of Canada can come to the relief of the memorialists. That the usual supervision by the Government over any measures which may be intro- duced for legislative action, will no doubt be extended lo any proceedings which may be i)rought forward during the present session, having for their object an alter&tion of the laws iiffecting the rights and interests of the memorialists. The committee concur in the view expressed by the Hon, Attorney General, and submit the same for Your Excellency's approval, . , N, (Signed,) Wm, H. Lbe, C, G. C. ('opv, — To His Excellency the Right Honourable Charles Stanley, Visaount Monck, Baron Monck of Ballytrammon, in the county of Wexford, Goveviior General of British North America, &c., Stc, &c. The Memorial of the Mayor and Deputation from the City of Hamilton, l{uMiii,Y Shewbth, — That the i)re8ent deputation was sent to the seat of Government by the City Council of Hamilton to satisfy Your Excellency and the otucr branches of the Legisla* tare that Hamilton has alwuys been, and is now willing and anxious, to do all in its power for its creditors, and to solicit the aid of the Provincial Executive as well as the Legislature to this great end upon the double plea that the financial distresses of Haniiltoa have arisen from faith not being kept with our city, by former Legislatures having violated the original agree- ni^ent that the main trunk line of railway should pass through Hamilton, and that the financial di^trcs^es of Hamilton are now (from being misunderstood in lilngland) infiicting most serious disgrace and discidit on the province generally, as well as the city of Hamilton. That on being to^lay honoured with im interview with Your Excellency, we explained the position and views of the oity of Hamilton in detail, and were requested by Your Excel- lency to put the same on paper, which we now do as follows : — 1. The city of Hamilton is wrongfully accused of throwing impeditne^ts in the way of justice. It was impossible for the city, in the interest of its general creditorn, not to pwvent unnecessary sacrifice of properly, nor is it in the city's power to alter (a? was insisted on) the law which required primary instead of secondary evidence by distant c'nimants, although we can have no objection to this if the Legislature sees fit. 2. No difliculty has been intentionally thrown in the way of the Sheriff — in levying rates the assessment for the interest proposed by the Honourable J. H. Cameron for the present year was regularly made by the City Council, but the day for legally ap|x)inting collectors was in- i^dvertently allowed to pass by during a most anxious discussion on the subject whether it was not the duty of the City Council in the interest of the general creditors (as opposed to Ihe few judgment creditors) to avoid for the moment actually collecting the revenue, a course which would have put the money for the payment of this year's interest into a position to be garnished by creditors who had get judgment for principal which had fell due last year. 3. Though the Court of Queen's Bench was applied to for a maadunius none such was issued, the City Council's explanation being satisfactory to the judges of that court. 4. The reduction of the value of the Hamilton Debentuves has not been caused by the aAtioi^ot the City Council, and would have l>een far greater had the Council followed the advice of its distant creditors to levy a rale to pay its whole arrears, as in such case the city, which had already lost more than a fourlli of its inhabilanis, would have been depopulated irretrievably. 5. The good policy and good intention of ihe City Council are now corroborated, by the fapL of the city having already got back much of the population ii hkd lost, thus giving in- cr^j^d security to its creditors. 6. The City Council has felt justified by the improving prospects of the city to accept thts, l^rtns oHered on behalf of tlie city's creditors by the Hon. John 11. Caineruii, and will support ihp" legislation required lo secure the creditors whal Mr. Cameron demands, although it is the general opinion in Hamilton that the settlement is more favourable lo our creditors than tmght 10 have be^n demanded, and than can be paid without threatening a rale of taxation which would continue to prevent all building and improvemeiil, as has been the case for the last five years, no capitalist IxMUg willing to lay out money on property with the certainty that at least half the interest or rental of its increased value will be recpiiriMl for taxes per annum. .;.;;, 7. The City Council lias also felt it clue to its creditors lo apply to the Execuliw Guvern- nviut of the Province for the Burlington Bay Canal, a public work which the city has hitlierto' refused to take over with the condilion of keeping it up, so as to be ai>le to levy tolls, and givn the same in security to its creditors for their arrears if money cannot bo raiseiloii ilK-se fur, that puriwse. And your uiemoriulists, as in duly bound, will ever pray. (Signed,) March 17, 1863. (hi bi'lialf of the deputation, Robert MtiBhvov^ Mayor. Co»Y. — T<( accompany the Memorial from llamiltou. — 27lh February, IHGd. (From (lif tMllfi .S/>ir(n(iM-. I CcNSus or THE CiTV OK Hamiltoic. — From the labours of the city assesaors jurt com- pleted we learn that there are now within iIh- limits of Hamilton 2J, 13*1 sou Is. Tliesp ore distributed throujjh the dilferent wards as follows, vi/ : — Muloi. FcmalM. ToUlt. St. M»<-y's Ward 2,825 .... 2,682 .... 5,607 St. George's Ward 1,985 .... 2,147 .... 4^^ St. Lawrence's Ward 2,235 .... 2,61« .... 4,^b\ St. Andrew's Ward 2,262 .... 2,088 .... 4,290 Sl. Patrick's Wart! 1,691 .... 1,8«3 .... 3,454 ' 22/1341 This numlior shows an increase of 3,938 over Ihal relurnrcl hythcconftUHof IftGI. Th Uli'i*'*;* *■ _ *A- . ' • -^nt^fV 1 Toronto. i. . ' '- ■.■iii . v-T- -^ c": ■ .-■■};■«• HovsE or .\ssEMBi.r, . • ,- Qnfebec, Z4th SfatcK, IStfjr. Mr Dear Sir, — You are no doubt aware of the use that has been made of ydur naiTle in stopping the lluinilton Bill embodying the viewsof Mr. Cameron, though I assured the House that your objection, I believed, was only one of detail, viz : as to the period up to whipH the city should pay the full interest. The present is a most critical jjeriod for Hamiltpn, and; scarcely less so for itx bondholders. I cannot illustrate this belter than by saying that if j^ thought no legislative arrangement of the city's affairs could be got, and that we w6ire to;, remain in the hands of the Sheriff, I would, in going home through Montreal, arrange fpr the removal of our business to that city; and the wholesale trade of Hamilton gone, its bonds would be worth very little. In these circumstances, I have felt it my duty to ask the Mayor, Mr. Thomas C. Street and Dr. Clark of Guelph, to meet me in Toronto on Ssititrday, to see you with- Mr. Cameron. Iti the mean time I may tell you that Government refuses to give to the city the Burlington Bay Canal. Former Governments had offered it to us on condition of keeping it up, which we refused, but we now feel it a duty to our creditors to take it now, in order, if possible, to raise money on the security of the tolls to assist the payment of eur arrears, even although our former decisions were likely to be true — that in the long nin it Would be a bad batgtiinl6rthe tniy; WeVof «dui^t', baafd'slinievytratbdtir iJWefenfAtffrrlHe- AwM'gotibf Hamilton in 1'86I, but as this would be entirely a drawback to the city, the same policy Whiell has triumphed, of (continuing moderate assessments, will probably dictate that those du^$i'(aii prejudicing people at a distance against Hiamilton), would injure the trade aridreddce its employment more than the five cents on the dollar which they might produce were^ wbhK; l\, may be found better for the city and its creditors that Hamilton should join with Dundas, and with the (Jreat Western and Port Dover lines of Railway, in agreeing to keep up, among the.n, the Canal, tbusA.eepingit free of cantil toll. Haiiiilton is thus thrown upon its assessment roll as its only means of satisfying its credit- ors, and nothing but the certainty of moderate taxes will prevent the city going down. I, however, am one of those who believe tliat if, by legislation, the citizens were secured in moderate taxes /br the future, they could, and at any rate ought to attempt to pay up this year their arrears of interest up to the present time. This would require 30 cents in the dollar to Im! added to the rate already struck of 20 cents. It is clear to me, however, that if either accumulation is allowed to -^o farther, or if your constituents insist on the full interest i)eing paid farther than to Ist .January, 1862, the above uticmp'. would fail. As I shall show below, the city, even after paying 50 cents this year, would still owe $163,301 05, besides the bonds, $2,367,398, viz :— Capital due in 1861 $17,280 00 do 1862 23,380 00 do 1863. 39,930 71 Due to Bank 48,485 55 Due to Government 34,224 79 $163,301 05 The not raising the city's taxes over 20 cts. in the dollar, in addition to about five cents— tlie water rate, has already led to the return of about one-half of th(! population that had to rfiuove elsewhere from want of employment, and the certainly of this being permanent, under legislation, would soon make Hamilton rising and prosperous again. Our present position, however, as a (city is a very desperate one, and as it seems vital that you should not at the moment misapprehend our position, I now send, for your information, the detailed statement of its allairi' which Hamilton has just laid before Parliament. 4 You will observe that llie city's debenture debt is |8,267,S98 alill to mature, and with our annual osaesHmcnt rednced to $300,000— one-half of what it once was — we have still arrears of. ....|604,S«t Viz; arrears of 1861 interext ^ 6,633 58 Interest, at 6 per cent., due Ist January, 1862 . . 67,603 bt Do two years, up to Ist January 1864 867,024 94 341,061 Debentures over due.... 80,690 71 Due to Bank 48,486 55 Due to Government «... 34,324 79 163,301 $604,362 I think, therefore, you must see that the terms proposed by Mr. Cameron are the utmost the creditors could squeeze out of the citizens without destroying the city, while it is clear that half the amount would not be got by its creditors should the city go down. The city's expense of government has been reduced to the lowest point possible, and its ordinary outlay is now met by its ordinary revenue, within about five cents in the dollar. This 5 cents, and 16 cents for interest of debt, in addition to water-rate, is the utmost the city can prosper under, and, even for one year, probably not 4.^th8 of the citizens could pay the addi- tional rate of SO ce this at the time. I have only to liope that through wise councils prevailing, when we tnci 1 at Toronto, a happier proxpecf for all parties may be inaugurakcd. Vonrs faithfully. - v^'»^»Mf ••'^r^ A7.t^^ Y - ll > -* r