The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-31 00:00:00

THE COLONIES.

The Times has some information about the colonies,
Which it is well to qua.° at a time when the subject is
engrossing so much attention. The "leading journal"
would have us bear in mind that there are colonies and
colonies. In the first place, there are colonies possessing
representative institutions and responsible governments,
such as Canada, Prince Edward's Island, Newfound-
land, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, and Now Zealand. In these
colonies the Crown has only a veto on legislation, and
the Home Government has no control over any public
ofll,;er, except the Governor. Tho executive councillors
are appointed by the Governor with reference to the
exigencies of representative Government; the other public
officers by the Governor, on the advice of the Executive
Council. The control of all public departments is thus
practically placed in the hands of persons com-
manding the confidence of a representative Legisla-
ture. In Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Prince
Edward Island the Upper Chamber is elective ; in the other
of this class of colonies it is nominated by the Crown
or the Governor. The House of Assembly is
in 'all cases elected by the people.. A second class of
colonies possess representative institutions, but not respon-
sible government; the Crown has no more than a veto on
legislation, but the Home Government retains the control
of public officers. In these colonies the Crown cannot
legislate by Order in Council, but laws are made by the
Governor with the concurrence of one or two legislative
bodies, of which one, at least, is wholly or for the most
part representative. In the Cape of Good Hope, Barbadoes,
Grenada, Tobago, Bahamas, and Bermuda there are a
Council and Assembly; in the Cape both bodies are elec-
tive, in the other colonies the Council is nominated by
the Crown, and the Assembly is elective. In Natal, Anti-
gua, St. ChristothsT's, Domincia, Honduras, Turks Islands,
Nevis, and St. Vincent there is a single legislative chamber
partly elective and partly nominated by the Crown. Lastly,
there are the Crown colonies, in which the administratior
is carried on by public officers under the control of the Home
Government, and the Crown has the control of legislation.
In Gibraltar and St. Helena laws may be made by the
Governor alone, and in other Crown colonies by the
Governor with the concurrence of the Council nomi-
nated or approved by the Crown, or in great part consist-
ing of official or nominated members. In some colonies,
acquired by conquest or cession, the authority of this
Council rests on the will of the Crown; such are Malta,
Coylon, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Labuan, British Guiana,
Trinidid, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Virgin Islands, and Heli-
goland. In others, chiefly those acquired by settlement,
the Council is created by the Crown under authority of
some Imperial or local law. Councils of this statutory
class exist in Jamaica, Straits Settlements, British
Columbia, Western Australia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gold
Coast, Lagos, and the Falkland Islands. Laws may also be
made by Order in Council in those colonies, except Jamaica
and British Columbia. Important information on the sub
ject of the operation of the Constitutions of the colonies is
often to be found in the reports of the Governors,
which accompany the annual blue-books transmitted from
the several colonies to the Secretary of State ; but, unfor-
tunately, the yearly volume in which these reports are
collected, is slow to appear. The last year for which it
has been issued complete
.is, we believe, 1366. Probably
the volume of report.; relating to 1868 might as well now
be issued as the volume for 1867, but that it would b'
contrary to the habit and custom to issue it so soon.

SIR STAFFORD NORTIICOTE ON TILE SUEZ
CANAL.

Sir Stafford Northcote's address on the Suez Canal given
at Exeter on Friday, dealt chiefly with its commercial
aspect. The trade between England and the East, he said,
rather exceeded that between England and America. The
distance between London and Calcutta was by the way of
the Cape 11,740 miles, by the canal 8,700 ; from London to
Bombay by the Cape about 11,000 miles, but by the canal
little more than 6,000 miles They would therefore see
at a glance how important was the result which they
might expect from this enterprise. The right hon.
gentleman then wont on to give a history of the Canal;
and then briefly touched upon the difficulties of M. de
Lesseps's work. Ho gave some interesting reminiscences
of his journey to Suez, and proceeded to comment
upon the work itself. He considered the great
difficulty was the harbour of Port Said. He did
not think it possible for anyone yet to form a precise
or confident opinion as to the maintenance of an open
communication at its entrance. Many persons, in whose
opinions he placed great confidence, were hopeful that it
would he maintained. The vast quantities of sand brought
down by the Nile were carried by the western currents to
Port Said, but it was possible that the breakwater would
stop the drift sand. In consequence of this drift the
mouth of the canal, which was commenced 50 feet inside
the western breakwater, was filled, and had to be removed
200 yards further eastward. It was to be hoped that the
sand would strengthen the breakwater, but it was impos-
sible to say whether it could withstand the great seaward
pressure. II believed that if a clear open channel could
be maintained at this point, the canal might be kept in
good order at very little expense. The alarm with respect
to the banks of Lake -Menzaleh he believed to be needless,
and he detailed the tests to which they had been put. The
banks of the canal also had been put to a good trial, and the
result was favourable, The vegetation on the banks would
stop a deal of the blowing sand, and even if it fell into the
canal it could be easily removed by dredging. Ho thought
that the canal would be very largely used for the carriage
of goods by steam, but did not think that it would super-
sede the Peninsular and Oriental and Blessageries Im-
peiiales Companies in the mail service, or the present
system of transporting troops. Neither did he think it
would be used by sailing vessels. He thought, also, that
passengers would prefer the railway to the canal. Steamers
might be built, and would be built, specially for the traffic.
The freightfor fine goods from Liverpool to Bombay by tho
canal was 40s. per ton, whilst by the Cape of Good Hope it
was 80s. per ton. From this fact, and also that the average
voyage by the latter route was 100 days, whilst the Bra-
zilian had recently gone the voyage in 33 days, he thought
that the canal would be profitable to those who used it.
He believed that the indirect effect would be to facilitate
traffic to a considerable extent, and it would largely
develop, and be the means of great prosperity to the
ports of Italy and Greece and of the Mediterranean gene-
rally. It would also have a good effect upon Egypt. They
might depend upon it Egypt had a great future before it,
and what it might come to it was impossible to say. The
fresh water canals were winning back the desert to the
original condition of the land of Cosehen. The effect hi
the Valley of the Nile was remarkable. It might also
lead to the accomplishment of a crotchet of his—the esta-
blishment of the capital of India where it ought to be—on
the west instead of the east side of India. Sir Stafford
then referred to the unworthy feeling of jealousy on
the part of the English. Ho did not think Lord
Palmerston was to be blamed for the view •he took of the
subject, when they considered the state of affairs at that
time. He thought, however, that the English were gene-
rous enough to rejoice in the failure of their prophecies,
and that England would join the other nations in the song
of triumph at the completion of that great work. He be-
lieved that it would be for the prosperity of the Turkish
empire, and advised Egypt to give up her ambitious pro-
jects and intrigues with foreign countries. With the large
tasks before him the Viceroy did not require ironclads to
go to war with countries which would never think of
attacking him. He might make his country what it was
in former times, and what it ought to be now, the great
highway between Europe and the East.
Bishop Temple was present, and proposed a vote of
;hanks to the hon. lecturer.

APPLETREES V. RABBITS.—" II011118," in /and
and Water, gives a recipe for preserving the bark of young
apple trees from the attack of rabbits. He says the
best and most lasting remedy is to fix round each tree a
circle of rabbit proof wire netting, which is very cheap.
In the absence of this, use a wash composed of the follow-
ing ingredients, but it must be applied every autumn, and
during dry weather. Take 61b. of quick lime in lumps,
and a few handsful of soot; add gently about three
gallons of water, keeping the whole stirrred until
thoroughly incorporated. Then wash the trees with the
mixture, while hot if possible, as it adheres so much
better to the bark ; neither rabbits or hares will touch the
bark of the trees so prepared.

How REPORTS ARE PROPAGATED.—Some time
ago a few German officers, who had been studying experi-
ments made with a newly constructed gun, betook them-
selves to a restaurant, and began to (I i.qmss over their beer
what they had just soon. They soon discovered that
a person sitting near them was eagerly listening
to their remarks and taking copious notes.
It at once occurred to ono of them, a mischie-
vous young fellow, that this afforded an opening
for a " lark " far too good to be despised. He, therefore,
proceeded to give a minute account of a wonderful
"revolver cannon," which, he said, had just heen dis
covered, and was at that moment being tested at K6nigs-
berg with the most amazing results. The success of
the story was • even greater than had been antici-
pated, for the mora the marvels of the imaginary
gun wero expatiated upon, tho more perseveringly did
the innocent listener apply himself to his notes. Two
days afterwards a long account of the new invention
appeared in a military journal, and so great a sensation
did it make that the news was repeated in all the leading
German papers, and ultimately found its way with some
comments, into the Times and the Moniteur ! It would,
perhaps, be as well if all guns were as harmless as the
. "revolver cannon" of the bamboozled German reporter.—
Glok.

THIRD EDI:HON,

SUN OFFICE, 0 ocLocK.

THE MARSEILLES LAND COMPANY.

'F is afternoon an arrangement was made before
the Vice-Chancellor with resrect to 11:e claim of
the Credit Funcier et Mobilier of Eoglaud against
this company. The Credit Foncier are to enable
the liquidators to sell the land by their removing
their inscription of mortgage, and to provide the
necessary funds for the purpose, and to have a first
claim for the sums so supplied, with interest. No
compromise was allowed with respect to the goo,
Lion of the alleged misappropriation of the money
of the Marseilici comp tny.

ANOIIIER CLAIMAYI"fO THE CROWN.

A f, male, who said her name Was Mary
Ann Kent, this afternoon applied to the
Lord Mayor for assi.ttance, in order to regain
the Crown, which she was, she stated, en-
titled to by being a daughter of George IV. She
said Mr. Gladstone had refused to do anything for
her. The poor woman, who was evidently
of unsound mind, left the court indignantly when
told that nothing could be done for her.