, 1875-06-16

~ w IN
ing too much tea sweetened. with slave-grown su.
gar. The dear, harmless old body is under the de-
fusion, whichis common to many people who have
outlived their work and strength, that she is
still poss essed of all the vigour of her youth. She
can't get over those coolies. They are al
together too much for her. She wants to
know why they go to the West Indies, and
she fears they are not properly treated when
they get there. With broken voice and queru-
'lous accent she poured out her troubles to
Lord Carnarvon, and was quite overcome un-
til his ~lordship brought her to with a strong
dose of common sense. But it is to be feared
that the poor old lady is past being instructed.
Fact, experience, reason are quite lost upon
her. Lord Carnarvon did his best, but she will
maunder on to the end, and then the only
wonder will be bow she ever came to live so
long. Dear old thing, how we shall all miss her.
with her starched trills and pretty ancient ways.
The report of Sir w. Grey upon the Jamai-
ca Blue Book for 1928 quotes some remarks
upon the Rio CObre Irrigation works made by
Sir J.'P. Grant before leaving the Govern
ment. These remarks express Sir John Grants
disappointment at the Caymanas branch not be-
ing completed, nor the canal opened, before the
end OF 1878. But Captain Ferguson's report
that he expected the Trunk Canal and CAV.
manas branch to be completed by March 81,
1874, is quoted. 1t only remains to add that
more than a year has elapsed since that date,
an additional sum of 100000. has been raised,
and these works are still incomplete.
-Four ships arrived during the year 1928
In Jamaica with 1,5lS cOOlie emigrants from
Calcutta. During the same year 357 coolies
acquired their right to return passage, and
the whole of these people elected to accept
the bounty and remain in the colony. The
description given by the Governor of the
condition Of the immigrants in the colony
is highly satisfactory. Their conduct is stat
ed to be good. The convictions for criminal
offences have been few, and with one excep-
ton these offences have been of a ,trifing ma
ture. The general treatment of these people
continues to be highly satisfactory they are
provided with improved dwellings,, and their
wages are regularly and punctualIy paid. A
practical Illustration is given Of the success
to which an industrious cOOlie can attain in
the colony. "SeeperSunsing'' arrived in 1860.
lie is now the proprietor of a pen for which
he paid 600l., as well as a run of land which
cost him 200L. 1t is further reported that
this is not a solitary case, for everywhere
throughout the colony, the time-expired coolie
Chat is the immigrant who has completed his
term Of indenture for agricultural ~servic6)
may be found in comparatively af1uent cir
cumstances. In this way proofs of the bene-
fits OF immigration accumulate-proots which
the. Anti-slavery Society steadily refuse to see,
but which people whose philanthropy is more
consistent with common sense are glad to vel.
come. Turning to points that illustrate the
condition of the general population Of Jamaica.
it is satisfactory to see that1the deposits in the
Government Savings BANKS have risen from
So. 000E, in 1868 TO 15S, $1,000. in 1873. The
value Of imports in 1873 was 1888 1917 in
that year, against 1859. 602l. in 1872. The
total value uf exports was 1926, 0OOL., against
1,41S.443l. 1t is to be regretted that the I'm.
ports and cxpOr's are not more nearly 'balan.
ced. There is no sounder principle of political
economy than that a country should pay for
the articles that it needs by its own produc.
tons. A tropical country producing an article
in universal demand should have the. balance
of trade on its own side, and should not. have
to pay a large sum in cash for the articles it
requires for its own consumption. That ia
maica, with its large population and splendid
resources, could fulfil this condition, who can
doubt? An increase in the value of imports
is possibly a good sign as far as it goes, but
there ought to be a proportionate increase in
the value of exports to make up a perfectly
satisfactory account. The exports of sugar
in 1878 were $4,000 hogsheads, against $4,000
in 1872. Rum, $4,000 puncheons. against
10000 puncheons. Coffee, 7 millions of pounds.
against 9 millions. Ginger, $4,000 lbs, against
$4,000 lbs. Pimento, 6 millions of pounds,
against 5 millions. When lit is considered