, 1874-08-26

4XnAn0lk1fAs AT DToS6ub AOWOtOI Nv Is UI CUuES6
premature to hazard an estinlate OF the crop
and in the month of July, OF The probable reve-
nue. of the ensuing year, which must necessari-
lv be subject to revision at a later time, when
the prospects of that year can be approximately
ascertained. Nv immediate departure from the
COLONY precludes me from submitting to you
several measures which have been engaging
my attention during the recess, and indeed on
any matter involving questions of principle or
general policy, it is proper that l should leave
the Initiation of them to my successor. There
is however one Bill which will be laid before
YOU at once, and to which l would ask your
early consideration. By the Federal Supreme
Act the docket of fees receivable by the Off
GERS of the Supreme Courts have been abolish
ed, and no provision is made for the substitu-
ton of other fees in lieu thereof, nor is power
given either to the government orr the Judges
to create new dockets. The result is that the
payment of court fees can no longer be legally
enforced. At the meeting of the Federal
Council a docket of these fees will be framed
for the colony generally in the mean time to
prevent loss to the Revenue it is essential that
a docket for each presidency should without
loss of time be enacted by the several local
legislatures. l shall also cause to be laid be-
fore you a Bill to effect a technical amendment
which was discovered by Her Majesty's gov
eminent in the Church diseStablishment Act,
aud it will be necessary for the reasons | have
expressed, to submit to an early date a Bill to
raise by loan such amount of money as may be
necessary to provide for the redemption OF the
Local loan, and if necessary to meet the deficit
which may accrue for the present year.
There are two matters which have stood
over from last session and which trust it may
be in the power of the government to bring be-
fore you this year. The first matter is the ne
oessity of requiring parents to support their
children, whether legitimate or illegitimate, and
children to support their parents, and of ena-
bling the government to receive from the par
ties so liable for the support Of their relations
any expenditure from public funds for their
relief as paupers. The second is the want of q
law to prevent the aduIteration, and to regulate
the sale Of Bread by weight. [ believe that
stringent laws on both those subjects are re-
CURED to correct crying evils and abuses.
Gentlemen, although the term of my admin
~istratiOn has been brief, it has not | think been
altogether barren of results. After a long and
vexatious delay the new judicial machinery of
the Colony has been brought into operation,
and the judicial business, civil, criminal, and
appeal, is being satisfactorily disposed of in this
presidency. Under the auspices of the Chief
Justice accumulated arrears of the work have
been disposed of and brought into order, and
the business of the Courts will henceforWard
proceed with the promptitude aud regularity
which is essential to the due administration Of
Justice. An Act for the establishment of
Courts of limited summary civil jurisdiction
has been passed by the Federal Council and
brought into operation throughout the colony.
This law cannot fail to be of the greatest value
to the community, and will in all likelihood Ill
timately form the basis of the system of judi
cial procedure of the colony.
An Act Of the Federal Council has been pas
sed to convert the local Police of the several
presidencies into a Police Force for the Colo
ny; the organisation of which is being rapidly
proceeded with; and though the benefit Of the
change of system may be less felt in Antigua,
which has already enjoyed the advantages Of
the valuable services of Lieutenant Colonel
Menzies, the Inspector General, than in the
other Presidencies, it has at least the merit Of
producing a moderate reduction of expendi-
ture.
An Act has been passed to regulate the
grant of aid to the Elementary Schools Of the
colony, which [ believe will not merely prevent
the expenditure of the public funds without
adequate result, but will in course of time pro-
duce educational results which will be literally
worth paying for. The work Of Church discs
adjustment has been completed by the discs
tahIishmant hf tho Ohrrch both in Antiora and