, 1874-05-13
NO. SO.

chinery, and dwelling houses for the labourers.
The estate is estimated to produce about 300
tons of sugar this year, and about $50 tens in
1878. This Indian capitalist, who has earned
the most cordial wishes for the success of his
new enterprise, possesses considerable property
besides the sugar estate. To illustrate the
rate of wages, Mr.. Mitchell gives a list of 70
estates, and shows that the average rate of wa
ges earned during four consecutive weeks in
1878 was So &c. The food consumed by the
Indians costs them al a day, and as a rule
they are able to cultivate as much provision
ground as they please. They grow a quaint
ty Of rice. Such a thing as wages being in ar
rear is quite uuknown in the colony. Mr..
Mitchell is to be congratulated upon the in
teresting picture he has been enabled to give
Of the Collie in Trinidad. His report GER
tainly seems tolerably conclusive as to the
benefits of the immigration system to the
Indian Cool.e,
The following letter to the Right Hon. Sir
Stafford Northcote, Bart, NJ. T., is extracted
from a Parliamentary Return, just published
-"West India Committee, March 81, 1874:
Sir,-I have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of Mr.. Kempe's letter, dated March II,
written by your direction, upon the subject of
the proposed amendment of the sugar duties
and drawbacks convention by the Introduction
of refining in bond. The committee have ap-
pointed several of its members to represent the
importers of sugar from the British West In
dia Colonies at the interview with which you
have agreed to favour a deputation from the
sugar trade on the oath inst, to urge upon
Her MaieSty's Government the abolition of
the duties on sugar. The repeal of the Eng
fish duties would, of course, render the estab-
lishment of refining in bond unnecessary in the
United Kingdom. The committee would, how
ever, venture to press upon the attention of
Her Majesty's Government the ACCESSIBILITY OF
maintaining treaty engagements with the Con-
tinental Powers for the suppression OF all
bounty upon the expectation of sugar, so that
the importers of sugar from the British Colo
MES may be secured against further competi-
ton with the foreign sugar manufacturers upon
the unequal and unjust terms which have been
prevailing for some years past. The Commit
tee would therefore humbly pray that Her
Maiesty's Government would be pleased, what
ever decision may be come to with regard to
the English duties, to take such steps that the
engagement of the Continental Powers to
abolish bounties may be made the subject of a
further convention in accordance with the pro-
posed amendment of the existing treaty.
have, &c, G. II. CHAMBERS
The revenue of st. Vincent for the year
1872 was 33,7I7l, and the population was
35,688, showing a rather heavy taxation con-
sidering all the circumstances of the colony.
1t is true the colony has had to raise some
G,0OOL. a year for troops, owing to the policy,
which is another name for the parsimony, of
the late Government, The colony may be
congratulated upon its freedom from debt, as
we'll as upon the important public works which
were in progress in 1872. Means of commu-
~nication along the coast were also being pro-
vided, which would be a great boon to the
small cultivators, by giving them a better
market for their produce. The imports for the
year were valued at l56, 1861, and the exports
242, 1881, showing a good balance in favour
of the colony. The sugar exported in 1872
was 1882 hogsheads, against 1895 hogs
heads in 1871. The operation of the West In
da Encountered Estates Court in facilitating
the sale of estates, and bringing fresh capital
into the island and restoring cultivation, has
undoubtedly been beneficial. Mr.. Laborde
states that the troops have been since removed
from the island, and the colonial contribution
to the Imperial Government on this account
has therefore ceased. The acting Lieutenant
Governor concludes as follows :-"On the
whole the year was rather a favourable one
than otherwise, for although the sugar crop
was below that Of 1871, better prices compen-
satad in q ntaaSnra. for the loss in quantity