The Ontario Liquor Licence Act, 1876 (often referred to as the Crooks Act),[1][verification needed] which transferred control of licenses for the sale of alcohol from individual municipalities to commissioners appointed by the province, was passed.
Rupert Mearse Wells served as speaker for the assembly.
[2] The early months of this Parliament were marred by election trials in many ridings.
Most of these cases challenged the validity of the election results on such charges as bribery or corruption.
A common accusation was that of "treating", where candidates or their agents would buy potential electors alcohol or other favours.