The New York herald., 1870-03-22
BRITISH HONDURAS.
Earthquake Shocks-The New Legisature-Plain
Speaking Against the Homo Government
Hint at Annexation to the United
States-The Honduras Railroad.

BELIZE, March 7, 1870.
on the goth ult, at quarter past four O'Clock in
the afternoon, this colony was visited with three
slight shocks OF earthquake; the motion was felt
BY all sitting or lying down. The oscillations
were from the northeast to the southwest beginning
heavily and ending In u sudden, snort, trembling
motion. No damage was done we shall most
nkely hear that this the tail end Of sheavy one
IN Central or South America.
We now have beiutlul, fine weather. Win de-
nghtful sea breeze, which is unusually cooi and
refreshing. During the winter months the weather
~ times has been colder than can be renenbe by
the oldest person now living. The thermometer has
been twice down as low Us mlsyanies rantrnae,. , M
weeks together This Is very cooi weather, and
could II be lad during lhe waole year wou!d MAKE
seldom nave over ninety IN our hottest weather,
aud never SO not as 1 have sometimes found II Ia
New York IN July and August.
The Legislative Assembly is now In session. THIS
10 q new House. numocr OF the members have
never beea In the Assembly before, ana lnore ~
more u0antnity Ihan before The members are
undong all that has heretofore been done. Tney
are by law. placing the jais asyiums, roor
AID Council ana a committee, m0stiy OF new men,
0ers has been appointed 10 consider and report TO
eae House on the propriety OF aDoshing the
Assembly and makiDg this Crown colony. One
member, few days since, after the House had ad-
AWAY the troops am for giving the colony 10 the
United States.n Another, IN MS place Iii the Assem-
WiIhdraWal OF the troops, sad, II can tel you Whai
this til end IN. AS soon as the troops are gone The
Governor and all the public officers Will have 10 go
win them" Now, wheA ieu you the Gosernofs
salary $4,000 ana the Otter officials on
the same scale, ana all receive tileir appointments
from the Crown, II VIC are 10 gel no protection
from the imperial government We Will make ana
pay oar own officials ana az greatly reduced rate
OF salaries Then we snail be abte TO reduce our
taxes II We nave 10 do oGr own hgnung. i believe
this Is tie case ~ all ol tae other cooaies. expect
the same course viii produce the same results 80 II
the United States wants more territory she needonly
walt until GfeaI Britain carries ont her present
policy and all VIII be gao 10 be annexed 10 her and
she will nave to pay Gottn2 for tlen. - not this
q better policy than IS Uncle Billy Seward'sg
The news from the raj road IN the State oi HoDiu-
ras encourages 70 believe II WI! he bfflt
tact To put up telegraph lines throughout the Stale
has been awarded 10 John a. u. Bruno, of this
colony, WITH Seyefa Dihet privileges. ~ ~ also re-
ported that ne has secured the exclusive rgnt for
fifty years to saw and cut timber III the extensive
forests III that state II 80 ana ne can ma market
FOR his lumb there money In Il, there T. abuad
ance oi mahogany, cedar. santa Marta and other
quantities OF excellent pitch pine ridges where the
trees are reported TO be very large al and straight
Judge k0sseau, the former Minister of the United
states al Honduras, returns on the Tefit To the
United States. so does Colonel Harrison and his
Jamiy, with several oner emigraus, WHO prefer the
United States to Spanish or British Honduras.
The sugar planters All busy grinding, and
prospects are very iar for excellent crops. several
1amiles OF Indians aud hai.hrecd Spaniaids have
moved iron the nortnern dlsrct 70 the south. ana
others are 10 follow. Cause iear Of the ladags
from iucatan, Trade continues dall ana money
scarce American gold not 10 be had even III five per
cent premium.