, 1869-06-18

ColOnlal treasury, but not for loans, except by
grants subject to the Royal sanction. The Co.
lonial Treasury's own Cash on hand ard out
standing claims may thus be calculated at about
$62,600. In the meeting on the 26th ultimo all
the members present expressed themselves de-
cidedly in favor of the necessity of the measure
in question, with exception of Counsellor Sa-
rauw, who expressed his opinion less decidedly,
but at all events did not d~isrecommend the
measure, stating, however, that the $4,000
ought to be kept out of the transaction and he
wasnot present when the calculation was made
of the amount requisite for the advances. The
$4,000 proposed was calculated as follows
it was estimated that 1900 puncheons of meal
would be required, at a price of 1874 pr. pun
cheon=S2S,SOO and it was supposed, that for
each puncheon of meal there would be required
$32 in cash for wages to the ~laborers, making
S3S, 400. As the other members present in the
meeting considered. that this amount ought for
the present to be proposed, and as they stated,
that a smaller sum would only be a half-measure,
the amount so agreed on has been embodied in
the present draft of the Grant. He mnst, at
the same time direct attention TO this, that
during the time of the Burgher Council there
was scarcely ever question of using a larger
amount than $685. 00, and the advances were
then granted for 6 months only, from July to
December inclusively, while in the present case
7months are proposed, from June to December.
He expected; however, that there would not be
required as much as calculated, as the advances
ought to be confined to such cases where they
are urgently necessary, and then additional Sc
curity ought to be demanded whenever there be
danger of loss. 1t would certainly have been
very desirable, if previous to the adoption of
the Grant an accurate calculation of the amount
required, could be made, and if any desire to
that effect should manifest itself in the Council,
by the appointment of a Committee or other
wise, a request may be issued through the quar-
teroticers to all parties who may eventually
desire advances, at once to send in their requi-
sitlons. Agreeable to what had been agreed on
in the meeting on the goth ultimo, an advertise
ment had Immediately been published for ten
ders for an eventual supply of from 500 to 1900
puncheons of meal, and the time for rendering
the tenders fixed for the 9th inst, and the 18th
inst. for deciding on. them, in order that the
parties may be enabled to send orders to Ame-
RIGA pr. Steamer leaving on the 18th inst. It
was therefore necessary that the End discussion
should take place on The 9th or the 10th inst.
the emancipation, which want has as yet been only
partially relieved by the importation of foreign
laborers, but still more to the abolition of the
dlHerentlal duty In the Mothercountry on the Is
lands produce protection that was estimated
to represent Il value of i63, 600 Rd. p. a.-and
finally the war-tax of 5th August 1864, which for
the time weighs heavily on the production of Sugar
and Rum in st. Croix. The Colonial Council of
St: Croix, after it had got information of the ne
%gotiations concerning the cession of st. Thomas
and st. Johns, has very urgently, supported by
the Governor, petitioned for a reduction in the
import-duty in the Mothercountry on the produce
Of st. Croix, in compensation for the loss which
the Island would suffer by a separation from st.
Thomas and st. Johns but the Government have
not found it possible to such an alter
alton which would entail a heavy loss to the State
4raasrru and would hA nnnnrnd. 70 4hn nr;noinlns