, 1874-09-12
THE WEST INDIAN IN LONDON.

the Planters Association. LUIS ulnner was IN
tended to express the high estimation in which
Mr.. Booker was held in the colony, both on ao-
count OF his social qualities and his eminent
public services, That the expressions of regret
at his denarture were sincere and heartfelt, no
one who has watched Mr.. BOoker's career in
the COLONY can have the smallest doubt. He
has been most prominently before the public in
the active discharge of his duties as a Member
of the LEGISLATURE, and it is absolutely true
to saw that his influence has always been ex-
erted in the furtherance OF the best interests
Of the COLONY. No one has stood up more man
fully for the lust rights of the Legislature, or
more ABLY protested against measures which
would curtail its independence, lessen its con-
troll over taxation and expenditure, and impair
the dignity of the colony. Mr.. Booker, as a
large proprietor and employer of Iabour, has
naturally shown a great interest in immigration
matters. He took q. part in all the discussions
upon the immigration Bill of 1878, and endea-
yOUred to improve that homemade measure so
as to render it practicable, until it was found
that, owing to the unprecedented position as
sumed by the then Secretary Of State, all such
efforts were in vain. Now that the time has
arrived for an amendment of the Ordinance, in
the interest both of employ er and Iabourer, the
experience and judgment of Mr.. Booker would
nave D0GI peculiarly faludOlC' DuG IL Illdy W
safely assumed that in leaving the colony he
still retains an undiminished interest in its con-
Germs, and will be as ready in the future to pro-
mote its welfare as he has shown himself to be
in the influential public position he has enjoyed
for the last few years as a member Of the CO.
lonial Legislature.
A feeling of surprise is natural, and its ex-
preston therefore pardonabIe at the announce
mani Of tho apn0iDtDoopt of Mr. wv GairOc who
recently paid a flying visit to Trinidad in the
capacity of governor, to the Government of
Queensland in the room of the Marquis Of Nor
manly, who succeeds Sir James Ferguson in
New Zealand. Mr.. Cairns, VINO is happily re-
lated to the Lord Chancellor, will receive the
same salary in Queensland that he would have
enjoyed in Trinidad, with however, the rather
important addition of I,f64A. for allowances.
Trinidad, therefore, has been simply used as q
stepping-stone to Queensland. Mr.. Cairns be-
gan his career as a writer in the Civil Service
of Ceylon about % years ago. At the begin
ming of 1874 he was receiving the salary of
1,80OL as Lieutenant Governor of Honduras,
and he deserves, of course. the customary con-
graduation upon his rapid promotion to an APP
pointment that is worth, including allowances,
the not unhandsome sum Of 5,164.
An account of the deputation to Lord Derby
upon the Sugar Convention question was given
in the last number. The substance of the re-
presentations which were made to Lord Derby
at the interview has been put in the form of
a written statement and forwarded to his Lord
ship, and it is not unreasonably expected that
the dispatch which is to be sent to the British
Ambassador in Paris will be effective in hasten
ing q settlement of the question.
The Government of Peru have sent an agent
to this country for the purpose Of inducing the
India Office to allow emigration of coolies from
India TO Peru, but the scheme is not likely to
succeed, if we may judge by the following re-
marks from a correspondents" After all the
dreadful atrocities of the Macao cooIie trade,
after all the misery endured by the chained
gangs Of helpless coolies in Peru, it would be
impossible for the British Government to allow
the free subjects of Her Majesty in India to be
slowly killed in Peruvian mines, or treated as
slaves in Peruvian plantations. Every voice
ought to be raised, and every %exertion used to
defeat a plan leading to such results. The la
bour supply of Peru has, by the oonnivanoe and
encouragement of the Portuguese Government,
been obtained from Macao. The atrocities of
this traffic at last became so intolerable, and
the odium attached to the Portuguese Govern
ment so great, that efforts were at last sincerely
made to put a stop to the system. The Peru
Wan planters now desire that the British Gov
eminent shall OCCUPY the position which that