, 1875-01-02

that it met SO much opposition in the
Colonial Council, at the same time that
it is plain from your article that you
are not satisfied with it yourself, but only
accept it for want of something better,
and principally on account of the saving
promised, which you do not find great
enough either.
I have read the discussions on this
matter with the greatest. interest they
have, as was natural enough, produced
some stir, which, however, is more OBJ
seryable in private conversation than in
discussions in the public press, where, I
should think, it would be likely to do
more good. | have not, however, received
the impression OF any great establishment
among people at seeing the opposition
in the Council alluded to above, which
is all the easier explained when it is re-
membered what Il delicate matter it
always has been to make changes in the
military. That upward of sos, 900 per
annum for the Police and Military, is pro-
portionately too great an expenditure for
our little island, is certainly agreed by
most people, and it is also undoubted that
most people are convinced that as great
security of life and property as is now
enjoyed, if not greater, might be obtained
for a smaller amount than is now spent
for this object but to solve the problem
satisfactorily, seems, for years, to have
been a very difficult, not to say insur-
mountable, task, and SO far as may be
surmised, from the apparently little
enthusiastical reception of the draft
by the Council, as we'll as from what
one hears expressed among the public,
principally among proprietors-it would
appear that the Governor has not been
very successful with his bill, at the same
time that people are ready to acknowledge
his endeavours to create q more effective
force with less expense.
When it has been often maintained by
those convers8nt with the subject that it
is a correct principle to have only one
military station in the island, it has always
been Kingshill that, as the centre, was
considered the fest place, and it was
then always understood that the towns
were to have smaller attachments sent
from that point. This plan does not how
ever, from several reasons, appear to be
feasible, principally, | should think, ON
account Of the great building expenses
connected with it; wherefore the new
plan proposes to place them all at Chris
tiansted.
Without pretending to criticize the diff
ferent opposing views vindlcated by the
Governor and the chairman Of the Council,
l can very we'll understand that the ma
iority of people, and principally property
owners, who in the mere presence of the
military see q guarantee that order will
always be maintained, do not like to give
up two military stations, without any re-
organization of the police, thereby expos
ing the one own and the most thickly
peopled part of the island for it must not
be forgotten that a thorough reorganiza-
ton OF the police was always considered
a necessary condition for the further re-
duction or eventual giving up of the mill
tary !; but of this no mention is made 10
the new plan, according to which the po-
lice force gets only on insignificant increase,
while its support, the military, is removed
farther off. It is in this that most pro-
perty owners and many others think they
see the authority of the law too much
weakened. This is not, as / understand
it, intended to convey any fear of any thing
like a revolution for which there is no ma
terial in st. Croix, but at the same time
that our population-principally the native
portion-are justly praised as peaceable
4 .uol - ooooot ho daniad that