, 1874-09-23

up of manure has not been neglected. There
have been few arrivals from the States within
the last fortnight, and breadstuffs and other
supplies are in demand. TIL csrgoes of Ga
sene g. Horry q. AUBREY from New York in
the last day or W fetched good prices. OF
native provisions sweet potatoes sell at o cent
for a pound, and little else to be had.
The heavy weather we have had lately has
brought large fights of plover and other birds
over the pastures, and a better shooting sea-
son than there has been for some years. On
Wednesday last, q large flock of many hundred
plovers passed over the town, the largest seen
for many years. 1t is considered a prognostio
of q good year, and a reasonable one, as the
birds take the land when the rains set IN and
at the approach of heavy weather. Another
sion of the weather is the appearance of the
yellow butterfly, which has also been observed
of late, indicating, it is said, fair weather.
Tha ,rometer-the suresf test-on Wednes.
dav (2od) fell from 1907 in. to 1894, since
which it has gradually risen to 30 in. on SUI
dav, falling to 29.97 last night, and recovering
it's formar position at noon to-day. The
variations have beeu very slight for the last
six weeks.
The health Of the island continues good.
The weather last month was exceedingly sultIy,
with variable winds, chiefly from Southwark
and Westward, as usual at this season. 1t has
become somewhat cooler after the rains accom-
panied with thunder and lightning, which re-
lieved the atmosphere.
Bushes is exceedingly dull in town. To-
dav the streets are washed quite clean by the
heavy rains of this morning, but the stores are
deserted, and we miss the thrOng of carts and
carriages in Broad Street. 1t is not quite SO
bad on the wharf, owing to three vessels just al
rived from New York. with welcome supplies OF
-four, meal, corn and bread, &c, landing their
cargoes. Shipments of molasses and sugar, the
remnants of the crop, continue to be made.
The number of emigrants during the past
month amounted to POI, of whom 2I0 were men
and 81 women and 81 agricultural labourers.
Fifteen went to St. Lucia, and the remainder
246 to Demerara,
Tine Legislature being in recess, the Govern
or has applied to the gentlemen of the CONNER
cial Hall for their assistance in getting a small
tax passed on packages entered at the Customs
House, to be limited to goods imported, OF the
natnre of a Wharfage tax, which is paid at
Kingston Jamaica, Port Of Spain Trinidad, and
in other places. We understand the Commit
tee of the Rooms, to whom the question was
referred, have declined to support the prOpo-
sal, which in fact amounts TO nothing more
than an additional tax on imports, already bur
thened heavier thar lney ought 10 De, ny Cue
20 Der cent additional duty. The proposed tax
would have the further objection of being a pas
senger tax, and lead to the inspection of pas.
sengers luggage at the Customs House, as is
done in England, to the great inconvenience of
travellers. 1t is an object to encourage the
passage of the laboring classes backwards and
forwards between Barbados and the neighbour
ing Colonies, where they resort TO procure
empIoyment, to sell stock, furniture, vans and
potatoes, and other small wares, and for other
purposes, contributing to the support of the
inter colonial trade, and not to hamper them
with vexatious regulations and annoyances,
such as would arise from the imposition of a
package tax of even a penny on a barrel OF
YAM from ST. Vincent or Grenada, GA bunch
of p"lantains or a parrot from Demerara. The
pubIic desire to see taxes taken off, and trade
relieved of the burthens now placed upon it, in
order for il to recover its elasticity, which it can
never do by increased pressure, any more than
a spring can keep its elastic power, unless at
times the weight is removed from it. 1t is not
so much the amount of the tax as the inoon-
v~enienco and annoyance it occasions to those
who have to pay it that make it Objectionable;
the amount raised might be very small, in fact
so insignificant that it cannot be weighed with
the trouble it gives in the collection oft. But
that is another and the strongest ground of OBJ
faction m tho cohamn.