, 1874-02-21

IN this respects will be- of value to him in his
new government, for so much confusion has
been caused by the recent Guiana Ordinance
IN the financial arrangements, connected with
immigration, that there is plenty of room for
the display of any special knowledge and abili-
ty that Mr.. Lpngden may possess. He like
wise understands the labour system of the West
Indies, and it is well known that his influence has
been exerted IN maintaining a proper system
OF apportioning the cost of immigration in Frini-
dad between the general revenue and the
planters. This is a question now exciting the
greatest interest in Demerara it is one to-
wards the solution Of viii III Mr.. RuShworth
has made an important statement, and IL is one
also the settlement of which Mr.. LUngden may
be expected to advance, by bringing to bear
upon it principles of justice, an independent
mind, and q knowledge of the practical work
ing Of the immigration system as a whole. Mr..
LOngden'S career in Demerara may possibly
not be a brilliant one, but it is reasonable to
expect that it will be safe, sound, and honest.
The flttest man to fill the position left va
cant by the promotion of Mr., Longden to Brit
ish Guiana would undoubtedly have been Mr..
Rennie, who administered the government of
Trinidad during Mr.. Longden's absence in
Europe in 1872. If the appointment had rest
ed with The colony, Mr.. Rennie would certainly
have been chosen, but Mr.. w. ". Cairns, who
seems 20 have entered the colonial service at a
later date than Mr.. Rennie Though the differ
ence is not greatG has been appointed. Fol-
lowing in the footsteps of Mr.. Longden, Mr..
Cairns goes from Honduras to Trinidad. From
a writerShip in the Civil Service of CeyIon he
rose to be Postmaster General Of that colony.
His next step was to the Lieutenant-Gove
norship of MaIacca, and it is possible he could
e~nlighten the public mind about that mysteri-
Gus question of the Straits of Malacca which
has suddenly arisen between the Prime Minis
ter and Mr.. DisraeIi. But Mr.. Cairns was not
to be left in the Straits. In 1868 he was ap-
pointed to st. Kits, from whence, in 1870, he
went to Honduras, and now for the first time be-
comes a full Governor in succession to Mr..
Longden at Trinidad. He has the reputation
of being an able man. 1t will be remembered
that when Lord Granville, with more haste
than wisdom, decided to send a Commission of
Inquiry to Demerara, Mr.. Cairns was nominated
by Sir Arthur Gordon Though what right Sir
Arthur Gordon had to interfere in the matter at
all is not olear) as one of the commissioners
but for some reason or other Mr.. Cairns either
declined or could not take up the appointment.
However, Mr.. Cairns has a fair field before him.
He goes to his government without any preiu-
dice to hamper him, but with every desire on
the part Of the colony that be should be success
full. He takes an office which has been held by
many distinguished men. He finds the colony
making way, after many years of struggle,
against the oyerpowering las it seemed at one
time) opposition Of the slavo-holding colonies
of Spain He will see, when he begins to look
around him, signs of energy and material pro-
gress on every hand, and he will doubtless feel
that the work before him and the circumstances
in which he finds himself will be sufficient in
SEPARATION to do all that is possible to advance
the best interests of the island.
Sir Julian Pauncefdte Gas he may now be GALL
ed if it be true that be has been knighted) has
been appointed to the Chief Justicesbip Of the
Leeward Islands. He was called to the bar of
the Inner Temple in 1852, and after practising
at the bar in Hong Kong for some years was
appointed Acknowledgement of that colony in
1866, which Office be now leaves for the Chief
Justiceship of the Laeward Islands. A great
deal Of the success Of the judicial arrangements
connected with the federation of this group of
colonies depends upon the new Chief Justice.
The code Of law which is to be applied to all
this group is still in an undeveloped state. and
the whole judicial system will require great care,
deliberation, and, it may be added, a high order
of mind, to bring it into good, effective, aud har-
monious working. The principle Of federation,
its failure or success, therefore lies in the hands