Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-18 00:00:00

THE WEST' INDIES.

The proceedings of the Cota'on Supply Association of
Manchester had attracted consider able attention in Jamaica
where the facilities of producing this important raw
material are at least equal to those enjoyed by any other
colony of the British Empire, were an adequate supply of
labour available. The Caonial Standard says :—" The
cotton shrub is, we believe, indigenous; and we have our-
selves seen plants in full bearing, the age of which has been
stated to be upwards of twenty years. The eotton wool
produced from this native plant is of excellent staple ;- and,
could it be cultivated and prepared for market in quantity,
there is scarcely a limit to the extent to which it might be
produced. But in Jamaita, as in Demerara, the conclusive
obstacle to the cultivation of cotton as an article cif export
is the want of labour. We possess in this island the
smallest population, compared with the geographical area
of the island, of any Colony in the West Thaw, and,
from some unhappy but unexplainel causes, we have been
less fortunate in supplying this want than any other Colony
of the British Empire. Still there can be no doubt that
Jamaica might, with a due adjuetment of population,
contribute very largely to the supply of this important
element of British manufacturing industry, and that,
were the legitimate influence of the manufacturing
interest employed in urging upon Government the
expediency of either providing, at the national cost, an
increased labouring population for the Colonies, which,
like Jamaica, British Guiina, and Trinidad, could of
themselves, were they adequately populated, supply all
the Cotton for which Great Britain is now dependent
wholly on the United States ; or, at any rate, of opening
to us new labour markets, which are at present closed
against us, whilst they are open, with little or no practical
restriction, to the Cuban slave trader ; the objects of the
Manchester Supply Association might be in a groat
measure attained.

The slave trade in Cuba continues to excite a large
amount of attention throughout the island. An attempt
by the Hon. James Porteous to invoke the joint action of
the two lower branches of the legislature on this question
failed, in consequence
,of the absence from the journals
of the Board of Council of all precedent for the
motion offered by Mr. Porteous. The Upper House of
Jamaica, it would seem, does not condescend to
petition the Lower House of Great Britain and Ireland.
In consequence of this, says a Kingston paper, "it has
been resolved to call public meetings throughout the island,
for the purpose of petitioning Parliament on this subject,
and simultaneous efferts will be made, through the agency
of religious bodies in the colonies and in England, to bring
this question home to the hearts of the British people, ere
the petitions from this country shall have been presented
to parliament.
The island was healthy and business somewhat slack.
the Sugar crop was over, and the greater part of the pro-
duce shipped, a considerable quantity of which had been
coasigeed to the United St ,tes. Abundant rains had
fallen, and the canes promised well for text year. Mining
operations were being steadily conducted and progressing
favourably. The ore at the Clarendon and the Wheal
was greatly improved in quality, and becomes richer in
proportion to the depth obtained. The lode at the first-
named mine was upwards of twelve feet wide. Governor
Darling was expected out in the packet of the 7th inst.
From Barbadoes there is very little news. The Water
Works Company's Bill had been somewhat modified as far
as the guarantee clause was coccerned, The weather had
continued favourable for reaping, and very little sugar
remained to be made. The young crops presented a
healthy and luxuriant appearance. The health of the
island was good.
From St. Thomas's on the Ist inst., we learn that the
yellow fever was on the increase, and was making great
ravages among the shipping in the harbour. The amount
of fatal cases was beyond the usual average. The barque
Kingfisher, bound to Jamaica, had lost the captain, mate,
and nearly all hands by this dreadful malady.
Advices from Demerara state that the contract for steam
communication between Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice
had been taken by Captain Spotton and Mr. G. Watson, an
enterprising merchant in Water-street.
Her Majesty's steam transport Perseverance arrived on
the 22nd with 180 men of the 2d West India Regiment,
and had left again with the remaining companies of the
regiment. Business was dull. The weather had been
showery and favourable for the growing canes, which were
thriving well. The •colony was healthy at the departure
of the packet. There had been no late cases of cholera.
The Court of Policy was sitting, engaged in giving legal
form to the intentions of the Combined Court, which had
concluded its session.

The report of the great success of the gold diggers at
Upata, situate at the head waters on the Cayun, a river of
this colony, had excited little sensation. The labourers of
Guiana have a fear of the Yankees, and would be chary in
going beyond the shadow of the British flag.
Mr. Drysdale, the newly-appointed Governor of Tobago,
had assumed office, and was gaining the favourable opinion
of all classes. The crops were nearly reaped, and 3,000
hogsheads of sugar already shipped. Several vessels were
loading and waiting to load. Tee rainy season had set in
mildly, and the island was healthy. The canes were look-
ing well for next year. •
Grenada continued healthy, and business was dull in
consequence of the completion and shipment of the sugar
clop, which exceeds that of last year by about 3,000 hogs-
heads, making the year's shipment 6,500 hogsheads. The
encouraging state of the sugar market had led to con-
siderable patches of land being brought into cultivation,
the weather was also favourable and the young canes were
in a most healthy condition, and sanguine hopes were
entertained that the next year's crop will produce about
9,000 hogsheads.
There is no political news at Martinique. Plenty of
rain had fallen, and the crops were looking well for next
year.
Sugars had been selling from 52f to 55f, notwithstand-
ing the falling off of prices in the European markets. The
yellow fever was making fearful havoc among the shipping.
The town of St. Pierre was also afneted, but not to any
extent. In other French islands the crops had increased,
and still promised better. In all the West India islands
the planters had reaped good crops, and were using every
exertion to increase the quantity of produce next year to
meet the demand for the staple.