Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-20 00:00:00

ST. HELENA AND ASCENSION

The following communication has been addressed to us
(Shipping Gazette), in order that the qualifications of St.
Helena and of Ascension, as ports of call for homeward-
boundships, may be fairly estimated, as upon this subject, and
more especially upon the supply of water procurable at the
latter island, there exists considerable misapprehension:—
St. Helena is abundantly supplied with fresh water,

tnousanns of tons running into the sea. For its size it is
fertile, producing excellent vegetables in considerable
quantity, and a large quantity of water-tresses growing wild
—the latter costing only the amount of labour for their
collection.

Ascension is not well supplied with water. Its products
amount to a mere trifle.

St. Helena was taken over by the Imperial Government
from the East India Company, and for a considerable time
the Home Government assisted in payment of its expenses.
Such is not the case now, although some few years since a
grant was obtained from Parliament for the repairs of the
wharf, which had been destroyed by heavy rollers. The
whole of the fixed establishment is supported by taxes,
rates, and duties levied on the island and the shipping
touching. It is true a certain sum appears continually,
amongst the colonial allowances, for St. Helena, none of
which is ever seen there, the whole being absorbed in pay-
ment of pensions due by the East India Company when giving
up the island, and which in reality has nothing to do with
it, the pensions being due to parties for serving under
another government. To enable the colony to pay its own
expenditure, some £16,000 or £17,000 a-year fees are levied
on shipping touching, which are very obnoxious, and preju-
dice the island much. A free hospital has been erected, for
which, and the erection and support of the gaol, vessels of
all nations touching are obliged to pay id. per ton on the
register tonnage of the ship, which fee causes much dissatis-
faction, the more particularly as of late some trouble
and vexation have arisen in making the hospital avail-
able. It is true that no charge is made for hospital treat-
ment, but it generally happens that the very large ships
which most contribute to this particular branch of revenue
have less necessity in availing themselves of medical aid for
their seamen than smaller vessels. lam also sorry to state that
patients are not now admitted when suffering from venereal
or scurvy, unless the cases are very bad—these two being,
with dysentery, the principal diseases to which seamen are
subject.
Ascension is strictly under the management and control of
the Admiralty—no customs, no duties, no taxes ; an enor-
mous amount spent annually on it by the Imperial Govern-
ment, which never can publicly appear, the whole of its
expenses being included' in the naval estimates—the only
inhabitants in the island being borne on the books of the
Tortoise guard-ship.,
At St. Helena, we consider it unfair to the shipping and
ourselves that it should not be declared a free port ; and, in
carrying out this desirable object, some pecuniary assistance
should be given by the Imperial Government.
The wish of the writer here is, to show that the Imperial
Government are spending thousands on the Island of As-
cension, whilst St. Helena, on the part of the authorities,
lies comparatively neglected ; that the one island has no
internal resources, whilst the other wants only developing
to make it one of the most useful of places to the commer-
cial world, having connections east, as a place of call for
homeward-bound shipping. Both places are equally easy
of access, and both equally safe. _

What we want at Bt. Helena is-1. A dock for the repair
of ships touching there, instead of the enormous delay, ex-
pense, and wear of heaving down. It is true the building
of a dock would be a heavy expense, but, no doubt, would
eventually pay
.for itself. Either the Government or public
here might be induced to entertain the matter—at all events
it is worth a consideration.

2. That dues of every kind levied on shipping should be
removed.

3. That the hospital, if found too expensive to be continued
free, should be paid for only by those using it,

• 4. That the Time Ball should be continued free of cost.
5. That the expense of maintaining the government
should not in any way fall on the shipping.
To effect all the foregoing, the Imperial Government must
make a grant sufficiently to cover the probable expense. I
am told many other colonies (with a considerable export
trade) are not called upon to pay their governor, and that
special grants are allowed annually for special purposes.

RAILWAY SLAUGHTER IN THE UNITED STATES.—Since
1853, that is, in six years, nearly 400 persons have been
killed in the United States by railroad accidents, and over
600 wounded. Less than one-half were caused by collisions
upon the single track which composes most American rail-
roads.

PROSPECTS OF GROUSE SHOOTING.—It is stated that the
prospects of sport
,on the Yorkshire and Derbyshire moors

hatching of the young broods, so that they are somewhat
small ; but in regard to numbers, it is believed it will prove
to be an average season.

REVIEW or TROOPS.—The whole of the disposable bat-
teries of Royal Artillery, comprising the depot brigades to
be stationed at this garrison in accordance with the re-orga-
nisation of the regiment, assembled on the Woolwich Com-
mon on Monday, at eleven o'clock, in review order, for a
general regimental inspection by the commandant, Major-
General Sir Richard Dacres and Staff. The troops having
marched past the standard for inspection in the usual
manner, a series of evolutions was carried out by the field
batteries, which occupied about two hours.

AUCHINLECK.—ELOPEMENT.—The inhabitants of this
quiet village have been thrown into a state of considerable
excitement by the disgraceful elopement a man named John

Herd, with tarbara Montgomerie Caldow, a young girl of
about 16 years of age. They left Auchinleck on Monday
night, and took the train at Cumnock, but have not since
been heard of. It is supposed they have gone to England.
The male delinquent leaves a wife and five children, is about
5 feet 7 inches in height, red haired, and of a stoutish
make.—North British Daily Mail.

SUSPECTED CHILD MURDER AT SHADWELL.—On Mon-
day morning, the body of a male child, apparently about a
month old, was found tied up in a piece of brown paper
lying upon the pavement in the High-street, Shadwoll,
London. The body was that of a fine fully-developed
child; and when Mr. Ross, jun., the surgeon, examined the
deceased, he was of opinion that death had been mused by
violence, as there were several external marks about the
head and body. A post-mortem examination has been
ordered, to ascertain the precis@ cause of death.