, 1874-10-21

the "Cuban Submarine Telegraph Company"
will now lay their Gable along the north coast
of the island to Holland Bay, which will afford
no advantages to the towns which would other.
wise have been opened up to telegraphic inter-
course with one another and the city of King
ston. Nevertheless, the Railway Telegraph
line has been extended, and is now connected
up with the Telegraph Company's Office in
Kingston it is to be open to the public on
Monday, the 18th Oct.
10 Old Harbour. 30 words. ...2s
10 Spanish Town....20 words lis
and for every additional ten words Cor under)
to Ola Harbour Is. to Spanish Town cd.
Railway extension is the all-absorbing topic
OF the people of Clarendon, Manchester, Ire
iawny, and st. James, and large sums are
Delng subscribed towards the scheme. One
gentleman on board the British Mail Packet,
on nearing OF the project, at once subscribed
$1,000. A Company Of wealthy and infuen-
tlal gentlemen have determined to test the
practical utility of a Central Factory in an
adjoining parish, and Mr.. Burton, a gentleman
skilled in a newly-patented process of sugar
manufacture, has been chosen Managing Direc-
tor. MIR. S%treadwick, in Kingston, has pur-
chased the premises in Hanover Street, known
as "Ihe Sailors Home,'' and is now erecting
new Lodging Houses for persons wishing
change of air and sea bathing. He has also
erected and opened another Marine Bath for
ladies. Messrs. Thomson Bonar & Go. of
London have established o large factory near
Myrtle Bank, for the curing and preservation
of Jamaica Turtle for the English market.
Sir William Grey has determined to divide the
public printing of the island among the several
printing establishments, instead of bestowlng
the printing patronage upon one office only, a
policy which caused general discomfort, in SO
far as the contract was made without any ten
der being called for.
THE IRRIGATION WORKS.
The Rio Cobro Canal Works have been
suspended until after the October seasons"
as it is uuadvisable to risk the erection of new
"damS" until the usual seasons for river
floods are over. The unusually early rains
this year have already caused the loss of much
money to the contractor, which, had they only
been two weeks later, the dam would have
completely saved, in 50 far as the nearly COM
pleted body Of earthWork would nave been
sufficiently strengthened to have resisted the
enormous body of water which descended and
swept away $4,000 and the work of three
weeks by 500 lab0urers. No doubt is express
ed in we'll informed circles as to the skill and
ability Of the Engineers engaged, and recent
misfortunes have in no way damped the energy
of Mr.. Hutchings or the confidence of the Adj
ministration in the benefits which are to arise
from o vigorous prosecution Of the Rio Cobre
Canal. Mr.. Clinic, C.E, who has contracted
for the construction and completion of the
Dam at the Head Works, has just arrived from
England, and will resume an active supervi-
sion of the work when the rainy season is over.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
A Hand Book is at press containing o com.
plete guide to the Civil Service of this island.
The early career of every officer will appear,
together with his progressive steps Of promo
ton.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
A decided improvement has taken place In
the public health of the island. Smallpox has
almost entirely disappeared from Kingston,
and in the country parishes there are only a
few isolated cases and these are remote. This
happy circumstance has been the subject of
much congratulation in the country, and 1t Is
to be hoped that now that we are in a heal
thy condition once more, the government will
take much greater precautions than hitherto
in preventing the introduction of epidemics
from other countries, and when pestilential dis
eases do arise, use strong measures to Isolate
their patients and so protect the country from
ravages such as the island has just recovered
from. This lesson unfortunately came too late,
but we hope its moral may not beget inditfer-
npo until couOa oibor dicnaga OVartakeS us and