, 1867-11-26

town aud jurisdiction j. Finlay with Ia and
w. Behagen with 10 votes, for Frederiksted's
town and Jurisdiction H. Malgrav with Is and
b. B.. Beech with II votes.
5, Letter from the Government of the 10th
uitimo concerning the furnishing of provi-
sions, bread and lighting-materials for the
garrison in Frederiksted and at Kingshill.
This matter was discussed within closed
doors, Rules of Business ST.; by vote, IL votes
against 3, it was decided to adopt the Govern
ment's proposal for the renewal of the old con-
tract of the Goth February 1866 with E. Woods,
together with the increase in the existing dock
ct &c. demanded by him in his tender rendered
at the public competition, say,
for the provisions, bread from ~ cts. to 10
cts. pr. day, for lst class fare at the hospital
pr. maj pr. day: from 35 cts. to 81 cts.,-for
End clasS-fare at same place: from 80 cts. to
80 cts,
besides som new clauses for securing the
due fuliilment Of the contract on the part of
the contractor.
6, The LIST discussion of a proposal of the lSt
member for Christiansted's country district
(Christmas), that the Council would support
a petition forwarded by the planters TO His
Excellency the Governor soliciting more IA
vorable conditions for the importation of their
produce into the mother-country.
The petition vas read.
The 1st member for ChriStiansted's country
district (ChristmaS) stated, that according to
the request Of the planters of the Island and
their Representatives he had handed the peti-
ton to His Excellency the Governor; His Ex-
cellency having considered it expedient and for
the good OF the case itself, that the memorial
be discussed by the Council for obtaining its
support, he had now brought in the matter and
recommended ii to that careful consideration
and support OF the Council as a subject of SO
great an interest to the Island deserved.
The Chairman stated, that the object of the
memorial was Of the greatest Importance to the
Island, for also he felt convinced, that in de-
fault Of some aid from the mother-cOuntrv the
Su9ar-cultIyatlon OF q large portion Of the
estates OF the Island must very soon be discon-
tinued. AS proprietor Of estates heretofore,
and now as lawyer constantly engaged in bust
ness concerning planters and the economical
affairs of their estates, he has from experience
become minutely acquainted with these rela-
tons, and he must pronounce them very preca-
rious, lie would recommend the Council to
sift the present matter we'll, and to effect this, to
appoint a committee-most properly of 3 men,
bers-for the purpose of attaining all the re-
quisite calculations and statistical dates based
on estates-accounts Only by a carefully COM
piled representation, based on incontrovertible
dates, will it be possible to convince the Gov
eminent in the mother-countTy and the Imperial
Diet of the necessity Of bestowing some fnan-
cial sacrifice on this colony. It would moreover
be ezpedient to point to the colonies of other
countries, viz those of France, Holland and
Spain, which enjoy protection for their sugar
production in their respective mother countries,
and it will be necessary to point out how the
produce of this Island in a proportionately short
period has been deprived of all those privileges
and immunities which it formerly possessed and
which gave rise to the prosperity of the Island
and maintained its wealth privileges that
ceased almost simultaneously with the cessa-
ton Of slavery, the abrogation Of which in itself
alone as a natural result caused an enormous
rise in the expenses connected with the cultiva-
ton Of estates. First the Sound. Dues were
abolished, from the payment of which this ISL
and's produce was exempted; the mother coun-
try was Unidentified for the abolition, but the
colony lost the immunity without any remune-
ration or share Of the indemnity. At the de-
- II L. E.a-oL.