The New York herald., 1872-12-09
BRIT7SSn WEST INDIES.

BEITISn WEST INDIES.
Sir John Grant-Initiatf0n Of Pabiic
Works-Collegiate and Popular Edu-
cation-Progress OF the Negroes-Finan-
cial Successes-The Customs Depart
mcnt-Value OF Property-Public
Hcalth-Weather and Crops.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 80, 1872.
1t Is announced ON the best authority that Sir j.
p. Grant Is to resume his place as Governor OF
jamaica. 1t was mistake to suppose that an In
dian Lieutenant Govern0rship would be regarded
by Sir John as reward for the service
he has rendered In Jamaica. He filed
the post OF Lieutenant Governor Of Bengal long
before his mission to Jamaica became necessary
and what he has done here greatly outshines all
that he had done previously. At his time OF life
It. Is most probable Sir John looks forward to
retirement and o peerage. Be that as it may,
however, 1t is certain His Bxcellency is returning
here salary, 1t is said, augmented from $1,000
to 100000 per annum. There is yet twelve
month to expire on the term OF his first appoint
ment; but it is reported the term has been
renewed, at his own request, to enable him to
complete certain improvements which he has
initiated, among which are mammoth )
IRRIGATION WORKS,
which are to absorb the water OF all the rivers
the island, and conserve them In great reservoirs,
for the benefit OF the sugar and coffee plantations,
GRAND TRuNR RAILWAY,
which s to intersect the island starting at Kings
ton and terminating at Montego Bay. -'-r--~-..
: PUBLIC EDUCATION. .,-.S-
Another purpose on which the Governor has
fixed his mind Is the establishment OF high school
or college, in the way OF completing his great
! scheme OF public education. Prior to the advent
OF the present government the expenditure or
public money for educational purposes did not eX-
ceed $4,000 per annum; now it reaches nearly
twenty thousand pounds. The whole amount
from all sources expended for general education in
the past year has been estimated ut total OF
s36,s
ii has been observed by the Inspector of Schools,
says the Governor, In his report to the Colonial
Secretary, 'that wherever fees rigidy de-
manded the schools are held by the parents of the
children in higher estimation than elsewhere, and
amount of fees demanded. The Inspector finds
| that the requirement OF school fees has marked
| effect very beneficial to the scholars. AS general
rule, in the really good schools no difficulty is ex-
perienced IN collecting school iees." This speaks
we'll j0r
THE FUTURE OF THE NEGRO,
in Jamaica. Sir John Grant is not little proud OF
| what he has done In this respect for the mass OF
/ the people. His great desire is now to do much
hitherto, in order to secure good education for
their children, to incur heavy expense in send
| ing them TO the United States or Europe. The
college to be established at Spanish Town, with
stan OF hngllsh professors, is intended to meet
this end.
COLONIAL TREASURY FINANCE.
Financial Is success GontiMes to be an maTkhd @
to time called attention to previous successes; ana
the period OF footing mp the public accounts hav-
! ing again come round, 1t is pleasant to note an
other very large surplus on the years transactions
! The revenue for 1s7c-7l amounted to E407.2fl,
which, after the expenditure OF the year had been
is7s has amounted to s44S s4i Which after cur
| rent liabilities met, will leave balance OF
42,ss7, therefore the last two years will give
surplus Of f65,471 to carry to previous balances.
According TO the notions on nnance which OBJ
tain in Europe and the United States large sur
pluses In the revenue over expenditure would lead
to an immediate reduction OF
/ TAXATION.
John. lie banks ali the surpluses and continues
taxation at Its normal rate. The people CRY out
against 1t; but as they are powerless to do More
than cry ont he does not heed them. But Whit
will he do with all the money he Is accumuatng2
is the question asked from one to another. No one
can tell, but the idea prevailing Is that he will lay
CUSTOMS COLLECTION MANAGEMENT.
Certain Irregularities among the officers Of Gus
toms, or rather should say the principal officers
of customs, recently brought to light reflect very
discreditably on the government for the course
| 1t has pursued. 1t appears that the Collector OF
Customs has been in the habit Of lodging the pub
lie money in his own name and on his own account
check for the amount when it accumulated, or at
stated periods, in favor OF the public treasurer.
very dangerous irregnsrity too for what W u was was
there to prevent the Collector-if he had
mind SO to do-tO draw the money out
OF the bank and clear out OF the country with il
for some other place between which and Great
! Britain there is no treaty of extradition The
| AFFAIR was long known and much talked over
| among the subordinate officers Of the department.
At length of them felt 1t his duty to bring to
The notice Of the local Civil Service Guarantee AS
s0ciation, OF which all the public officers were the
guarantOrs. For this he was reported to the
Lieutenant Governor for misconduct and dismissed
from the public service. Anything more unjust
and tyrannical on the part Of the government and
unsatisfactory to the public has not happened since
the advent OF paternal government.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Smallpox still prevails In the interior OF the
country, and the continued warm weather-it Is
increase.
Sanitary laws are being enforced against: the in
PRODUCTION OF cholera, which IS reported to be
prevalent In certain parts OF Cuba.
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS,
The continued absence OF rain retards agrcul-
tural operations and great fears are entertained
for next years sugar crop.
THE MARKETS
continue well supplied with the principal articles
very scarce.
British Colonial Traffic in Coolies.
BY late files from Trinidad we are informed that.
the Colonial Legislature being in session, State
paper was laid on the table OF Parliament in refer
ence to letters from Mr. Thomson Warner emigra-
tion agent at Calcutta, reporting the steps taken
by him for the establishment OF an agency at Ma
dras Tor procuring cOolie immigrants, and express
/ Ing hope that "he would be able to comply with
the requisition for the whole number Of coolies ap.
piled for during the present season. and repre-
senting that much advantage would be likely to
result from complying with the ordinance fixing
minimum rate OF wages to be paid to linden.