, 1874-10-24

of expressing their views upon any fnrtner
steps to be taken. The proposition laid before
the Governor was that the line should be ex-
tended to Falmouth or Montego Bay, Ella Porus'
For this work an expenditure of from
500,000i. to coo, 000l. was mentioned as neces-
sary, and the amount Of the Government subsl-
dy that would be required would be from
3O,OOOl. to 4O,0OO5 per annum for a specified
number Of years, equal TO about 5 per cent.
on the capital, The Governor could not en-
terrain the question Of such q large subsidy
although he had come to the conclusion that q
subsidy, and not q guarantee, was the proper
mode of dealing with the matter. Notwlth-
standing this opinion of the Governor, q guar
antee is generally admitted to be preferable to
a subsidy; it would be more ~effectual for raising
the Necessary capital, and at the sa me time the
colony, in all probability, would not be called
upon to pay any money at all, especially if the
work is only proceeded with so far as there is g
reasonable prospect Of its paying expenses and
giving four or five per cent. to- The shareholders. AT
the same time the Governor decidedly encourag-
ed the formation ola Company to undertake the
work, and his ExcelIency went SO far as to
promise that a survey of the proposed route
should be made at the Government expense.
This survey would Of course furnish trustworthy
data upon which practical action could be-
taken, and, altogether, the proposals for rail
way extension ia Jamaica have taken a turn
which seems likely to lead to eventual and
perhaps speedy su,ocss.
A document Of d very unusual character
has arrived home. It purports to be a memo
rial to the Secretary of State, signed by more
than 800 Inhabitants Of Antigua, expressing
thanks to the Secretary Of State for removing
Mr.. Irving from the government of the Lee
ward Islands, and praying that his successor
may be one Of liberal and extensive views,
az who will take an interest IN the welfare
Of the colonist and the colony. Assuming the
commences of this memorial, 1t IS Impossible
to estimate its value without q knowledge OF
the signatures attached, and these are kept
in the background. 1t is obviously not falr
to say that Mr. Irving has been removed from
The Leowarl Islands without adding that in
the lrdinRry course OF promotion he has sue
coeded to a moro valuable appointment. Ad,
hitting that Mr.. Irvine was not successful
in many things he had undertaken In the Lee
ward Islands, the peculiar circumstances IN
which he was placed as the first governor OF
q federated group of islands, the affairs of which
were in o state of transition, might be pleaded
as a sufficient justification. And it might be add
ed that Mr.. Irving did not remain sufficiently
long in the Leeward Islands for any general
opinion to be passed upon his official career IN
that colony. He goes to Trinidad with every
desire on the part Of the inhabitants for q sue
cesSlul administration. There are many ques-
tons there awaiting him that will try his powers
to the utmost.
The remarkable increase in the expense OF
immigration cannot fail to tell upon the fortunes
of the British West India colonies. Each
year, since 1870, has witnessed a rise in the
rate of freight, caused for the most part by an
ever-inoreasing stringency in the regulations
Of the Indian Government. The latest rule
was, that all e~migrant ships should be COM
PEELED to go into dock at Calcutta to be survey.
ed. This really involved great hardship and
expense, not merely to shipowners. but to the
colonies, which of course had to pay an in
creased rate Of freight ON account of this most
unnecessary regulation. The question was
put upon its proper basis by the Calcutta
correspondent of the Times, whose remarks have
been quoted in this column. The service has
on the whole hitherto been remarkably free
from casualty. The ships employed are al
ways of the very highest character, and the
principal firms in Calcutta have had reason and
strict Justice on their side in protesting against
the new regulation. 1t is now understood
that owing to the representations which have
been made to the Bengal Government the
rule is not to be enforced absolutely, and it Is
l. IL Lo,oJ 4LoE tb;o poodi6od OrnoodupQ will