, 1874-03-21

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more. M. Pouyer 'Quertier was the mover of
the refinery. The Government stood out upon
a technical plea. The Convention said that
the sugar duties were to be assessed in a GER
tain manner, and the Convention could not be
altered without the consent Of the other
Powers. But the French Government forget
that the Convention was intended to establish
equality-that it has been worked so as to
give an enormously unfair advantage to the
re6ners of F~rance-that refining in bond will
carry out it's intention and make all parties
equal, and that lin the view of the English Co
verDment at least) any one Of the countries Is
at liberty 20 modify its method of assessment
while observing the strict intention Of the Trea-
ty. The Duke de Cazes, amid great excite
ment, pleaded for more diplomatic negotia-
TONS" The appetite of this distinguished
French statesman would be sufficiently satisfied
if be would read through the minutes of all the
conferences which have taken place upon this
question. He would hardly, like Oliver Twist,
call for g more,' with such undated cheerful
ness. M. Pouyer Quertier, seeing a great part
of the Chamber with him, refused to be put
down, and, in reply to the Minister, demanded
the immediate adoption of the principle of this
excise duty. He promised the French Govern
ment an increase Of 90 millions of francs in the
collection of the duty-all of which sum is nov
lost to the Treasury, but presumably goes into
somebody's pockets. NJ. Magne, the Minister
of Finance, said that the Government did not
object to the proposed excise duty (this was an
evident concession to the feeling Of the Assem-
blv), but only as to the time of establishing it.
The result of the division, SO far as it can be
gathered from the telegraphic summary in
the Times, was that the excise system should
begin on July |, 1875, when the Convention
would expire, instead Of May l, 1874, as origi-
nally proposed and supported by a large
minority Of the Left. The sitting was all
through of the liveliest characteristic speeches
were imprisoned, the tumult grand. The
decision, however, will be of some comfort to
the English sugar refners, although the long
delay is to be regretted.
The report of the Barbados Agricultural
Society for 1873 is a very full and interesting
document for all who are engaged in planting
sugar cane. 1t cOngratuIates its readers that,
in spite of very untavourable seasons and low
prices in the sugar market, the agricultural
community has SO well maintained its position.
Is At no period can it be said that the a%gricul-
ture of the island was more excellent than at
the present day never was the market value
of land higher" The report goes on to give
details of crops, the increase in which is to be
attributed in a measure to improvements of
the sugar mills. The increase in the cost Of
is referred to as being a subject for
grave consideration. The use of steam macbi-
merry on a more extensive scale is noted as a
gratifying fact. "Of the 494 sugar estates of
oil sizes in the island, steam machinery Is now
employed on ffty-Dine two-ffths have adopted
steam within the last three years" A descrip-
ton of this new machinery is given, but is to
long to be quoted here. The relative advan-
of refining sugar in the island instead of
it home to be refined are stated and
the dependence of the size of the crops upon
the rainfall is also explained. This question
of rainfall has indeed been settled by clear
scientific demonstration in Barbados. 1t is
cheering to read the report-it is so full of
hope. 1t claims for Barbados that this colony
is still the " garden of the West Indies" 1t
speaks of energetic work being done, and good
prospects opening in the future, and is alto
gether readable, for it seems to be written in
the right spirit.
The meeting of the Jamaica Council, on
January %, was one of historic interest. 1t
was the last appearance of Sir John Grant as
Governor of the colony. The Council pre-
scented him with an address, in which they re-
ferred to him as "an ~estimable man, and a
wise, benevolent, and able ruler" A few
words from Sir John in acknowledgment closed
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