, 1874-03-04
COLONIAL.

JAMAICA THE weather seems to have continued
propitious TO the progress of the crop in certain
parishes in the island, and ~sugar-making was in ae4
tive operation. Calls News Letter" Of he 25th uIt.
says, w have been having some fine showers in
the country parishes, but not of any intensity or dura-
ton, and the city of Kingston can only be said to
have had a few slight sprinklings. The Observatory
at Myrtle Bank shows an average,
Barometer corrected to 1927 30.l68
Thermometer-min 70. max. IS.
Relative humidity 81 to 81
In Portland the rains appear to have been heavier
than in the other parishes, so heavy indeed that two
persons crossing one Of the rivers near to Port Anto-
Mo were washed away, but afterwards rescued with
difficulty. Judge Starks had to postpone the holding
of the District Court in consequence of these swollen
streams. In the parish of ST. James and its vicinity the
weather has been very propiious for s~ugar-making, and
so far the sugar-yjeding is reported very good indeed.
In Westmoreland the planters are actively enga ged
in sugar-making and the arrival OF 300 Coolies at
Sayanna-la-Mar in 81 days from Calcutta, was a
cause of general congratulation, as they came at a
most p%ropltlous season.
Political affairs in the country were not working
satisfactorily, and the {" News Letter. compa res the
state ofthings to the old Proverb, When the cats
from home, the mice play,' abiding to the departure
Of Sir John Grant, by whose firm control of matters,
general satisfaction was given. Fault is found with
g the demand of one of the youngest members ottfe
Legislative Council at one meeting "tO be provided
with an official return OF the attendance OF the nom
Othclal members OF the COuUCll, dHQ AT the next iHee("
inc for demanding to know from the Administrator
if there was any truth in a rumour current in Port
ROYAL Street. relative to the :" allowing of Mr.. Justice
Rapini to retire from his District ~Judgeship on a PEN
sion Of $500 per annum."
This is " political ~claptrap," says the News
Letter. which g unless they hive a Governor sufh-
GENTLY strong-minded to put it down, they
would ha We the I" sons Of jamaica mounted on
" hobby-horses' disturbing the peace and contentment
of the country. The mischief must be checked
early, and the Legislative Council must not be the
arena for public display
Some of the " Sons of Jamaica" are, on the other
hand, spoken of as " real" These are those whose
talent the Government is ready to. appreciate and
cknowledge- deserving men among the natives of
the island" They have a " perpetual cry in Jamai-
ca, that the civil service of the Colony is only a nnr-
sery or feeding ground for Englshmen who are The
parasites of the Colonial Office )" but a g plain demon
stration" that the :" Real Sons of jamaica when
merit. is present, are appreciated" was exempli6ed
" on the occasion of the elevation Of Mr.. S. c. Burke,
a native, to the vacant Office of Crown Solicitor,
when the late Mr.. Altman who filled that office,
died in 1869. The respective offices of " Advo-
cate of the Supreme Court" Assistant Attorney
General" and finally of " acting Atorney-General' -
have all been filled by the same gentleman.
Referring to the prevalence of lunacy in the island
the Il News Letters says;
ATmost interesting Report has just been published
by the Government from d.. Allen, the Medical Su-