, 1868-01-03
The proposal runs thus

Th proposal runs thus
"EXTRA-MONEY-BILL
to the Budget for the Municipality of ST, Croix
for the Financial year from the lSt of April
1867 to the 3lst of March 1865.
In addition to the expenses under the Item
E in the Budget, the following amount is here
by granted
For assistance to sufferers by the Hurri-
cane of the goth October this year in ST. Tho
mas and st. Johns, in as far as they need such
assistance, an amount not exceeding $4,000.
REMARKS.
The misfortune which befell the two Sister
Islands on the goth Of October last must not
only call forth the deepest sympathy on the
part of the Inhabitants of ST. CroiX, but it also
requires this Municipality, as such, to offer
such aid to the bereft and helpless sufferers as
the Municipality is at present in a position to
spare from other purposes.
The Colonial Council of ST. Thomas and ST.
Johns has already in an extraordinary meeting
on the Both of October last agreed to place an
amount not exceeding $4,000 at the disposal Of
the Policemaster Of St. Thomas for the purpose
of providing shelter for poor persons who are
destitute of a home or refuge and for clearing
the streets and public country roads in that
Islands, besides another sum not exceeding
$4,000 at the disposal Of the Presidency for de-
fraying the temporary repairs of the public
buildings.
AS regards the Island of st. Johns it is not
only the proprietors of the larger landed pro
perties there that have suffered severely by the
hurricane, but also many of those inhabitants
of Cruxbay, Coralbay and of the Eastend of
the Island, whose property consisted almost
exclusively in their small wooden houses and
= I 80 l,.-. 49, H. I:,+1,. Ill G,,u, ,lf,I
they hitherto derived their scanty livelihood.
1t is particularly to this lastmentioned class
that such a sum of money that can be offered
by the Municipality of s.. CroiX, would be af-
fording some real assistance and lasting benc-
fit; it is however scarcely advisable now at
once to decide definitely that the whole amount
shall be exclusively applied to the sufferers of
st. Johns, or that it be eventually deyided be
tween the two Islands, but it could be left to
the Government to apply the amount in the
most suitable manner after further inyeStiga-
tions that will have to be made.
In accordance herewith it is hereby proposed
that the aforementioned amount not exceeding
$4,000 be placed at the disposal OF the Govern
ment for use in assisting sufferers by the late
hurricane in the two SlSter-lSlandS, III 50 Tar as
they need such assistance
His Excellence the Governor referred to the
remarks accompanying the proposal, and stated,
that there is no want of precedent, that the
Statetreasury in circumstances of an eXtraordi-
nary nature, viz. where whole districts have suf-
fered from floods, has granted sums in aid for the
inhabitants thereof, and as the Colonial Treas
uries have assumed the expenses OF the State
treasury as regards the essential items, and as
they yet in a great measure have expenses in
common, he was of the opinion, that there eX-
listed full warrant in an extraordinary case like
this, to apply a suitable sum towards aiding
those among such in St. Thomas and st. Johns
of the sufferers by the hurricane on the goth
ulto. as may require it, which moreover the eX-
listing circumstances and the close connection
between the Islands demand. 1t is true, that
the Budget adopted by the Colonial Council
for the present year goes to show a surplus of
only about $500, but considering the results
of the former annual statements, for 1665-66
and 1S66-67, he cherished the hope, that an
actual deficiency will be avoided notwithstand-
ing the application of the proposed sum of