, 1874-04-15
NO. 80.

other hand, 1t would be IN my opinion unreaSOn-
able aud most mischieyous to exclude from the
public service of this colony, all tut those who
happened to have been horn in it. To do this
would be to narrow the field of selection to a
degree fatal to the maintenance of an efficient
service. My object is, while securing to the
c%olonist a full share of the public appointments,
to widen the field Of selection by filing a pro-
portion of the public Offices from outside the
limits of these islands and seeing that the
probable result Of my scheme will be that the
whole of the public civil offices will be filled by
colonists, with the exception OF eight or nine APP
pointments to be filled by nominees Of the
Secretary Of State, who may not be, but who
it does not follow necessarily will not be, con-
nected with the colony, it would be impossible
to maintain that the colonists viii not have o
full share in the public service Of The country.
The first volume Of Governors Reports for
1872 has been published. 1t is, as usual, full
of interest. The Jamaica Report presents the
features to which we have now become &C
customed. There is first the summary of the
legislation Of the year, which seems to have
been of a particularly practical character. The
financial state of the colony during the year
was eminently satisfactory. 1t was the sixth
year under the new constitution, and the fourth
consecutive year in which a large surplus of
revenue over expenditure had been obtained.
Turning to the detailed statements of receipts,
the large increase in the import duties attribut-
ed to renewed improvement in trade IS very
noticeable. The public debt secured on the
general revenues has been diminished from
682, 466l. in 1866 to 67l,542l. in 1872. Pub
lie works were being vigorously carried on.
improvements had been effected in the Botanic
Gardens. Nearly sixty varieties Of sugar canes,
new to Jamaica, had been received from Maurl-
thus. Governor Grant pays a deservedly high
compliment to DR.. Hooker, of Kew, for the SER
vices he has rendered to Jamaica. The Gin
chona plantations were increasing in area.
With regard to education, there has been a great
and steady increase in the number and efficien-
cv of elementary schools, although only a third
Of the children in the colony at present attend
school. The coolie statistics are interesting.
Out of 1899 coolies who had completed their
term of service only 400 elected to return to In
dia, thus showing satisfaction at the treatment
they receive in the colony. The quantity OF
sugar exported in 1872. viz, 1888 hogsheads
was considerably above the average. The
small settlers are extending their cultivation of
coffee very largely. Some wealthy Cubans, a.
bandoning their own distracted island, have set
tied in Jamaica and engaged in sugar and to-
bacco cultivation. Upon the whole this report
is very cheering. 1t is likely to do good to the
colony by Strengthening confidence IN her re-
sources, and it is another chapter in that record
of excellent administration which is associated
with the name Of Governor Grant.
The Governors Report contain a vast deal
Of information respecting the colonies, the sa-
lent points of which will be noticed from time
to time i'll this column. The Demerara and
Trinidad Reports are not included in the volume
just published, but will appearin the second.
Governor Grant, in his annual report, refers
to the cultivation of tobacco in Jamaica, and
saws that he has not the least doubt that tobac-
co will very soon be a great staple Of export, and
that there is nothing to prevent Jamaica cigars,
equalling those exported from Havana. There
are already signs of the beginning of a great
industry and the Governors statements
have recently been confirmed by the ar
rival of very fine sample of Jamaica
cigars, sent to Messrs. Thomson Hankey & Co..
by their correspondent, Count J. Duany, of
Hall Head Estate, in Jamaica, manufactured
from tobacco trown on that property. The
sample comprises four or five different makes of
cigars equal in appearance to the best imported
from Havana, and as the Count himself is a
Havana gentleman, thoroughly conversant with
the manufacture of cigars in that island, there is
no doubt that they will be found Of superior
favour and quality. 1t is not long since he
commenced the cultivation of the plant in Ja-