February 7, 1868

PREMIER’S DINNER

Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald, Premier of Ontario hosted MPPs and prominent citizens at a dinner yesterday evening at the Rossin House Hotel, at the corner of King and York Streets in Toronto. Music was provided by the band of the 13th Hussars.

TRACTION ENGINES

The Traction Engine Bill has been referred to committee for study. The various provisions of the Act under consideration include the following:

• Engines shall only be allowed to run on untolled highways provided the owners of the engines have, at their own expense, strengthened all bridges and culverts that will be crossed;
• If highways are found to require levelling the initial costs shall be borne by the engine owners, though they may then recoup one-half of the cost from municipalities.

The Bill also contains a number of safety regulations:

• for three months following the first introduction of traction engines on any highway, the engine must be preceded, at a distance of forty rods, by a messenger carrying a red flag by day and a bright red light by night;
• Engines will also be required to display a red light at the front and white light at the rear;
• Engine operators shall be required to stop their machines upon encountering a horse that becomes restless. The engine operator shall provide a man to help get the horse past the engine. In the event that a horse refuses to pass, the person in charge of the horse shall turn back and leave the road at the first opportunity.