, 1875-09-01
j NJ AIOA
From Calls Nems Letter.

Monday, the 23rd August, was the warmeat
day we have had this year, the Thermometer
at Myrtle Bank registering 80 degs. in the
shade. In the Colonial Bank and other public
Offices it registered 90 DIGS. The weather
generally has been warm, and less rain has
fallen this fortnight than last, although in some
districts there have been a few fine show
erS.
In the parish of St. Mary the crops promise
we'll, but they will be later than usual. In
We're new machinery is being imported, and
is expected to arrive and to be erected in time
for F." taking off the crop"
The times are specially hard everywhere
in many places the peasantry are enduring
famine from the absence of ground provisions
destroyed by the hurricane Of November, and
the cost of living has in every parish been
more than doubled. Business is extremely
dull, and has been 50 for the past two months
30 dull that the stores are empty of purchasers,
and goods cannot be moved even at a sacrifice.
The Church collections have been so reduced
that the Committee of the Parish Church has
had to dispense with the services of their
curate (Mr. Spenoe), and other denomination
make similar complaints of a failing off"
The Rio Cobro Irrigation Works are report
cd near completion, and Mr.. Wright one IF
AhO LuSIuCCIo GnSdBSu1 HAS Ue6u uOlIIlSQ
that his services will be no longer r, quired.
There is a general feeling of discomfort at the
expenditure of this department. of the Public
Service. Men are continually engaged at
large wages making desks, drawers, presses
and other office furniture, which could be much
more economically done by tradesmen con-
tractors, and the question is naturally asked
Is there never to be an end of this furniture
making 2.
Some of the officers Of the Police Force
have been hauled over the Goals recently
one has been already dismissed, while others
are having their conduct pretty we'll scruti-
nized by the higher functionarieS.
Some eight or nine Of Mr.. Altamont De-
Cordova's provision shops in Kingston have
been broken into and plundered. without the
police capturing the burglars. Fifty pounds
reward has been offered for any Information
that will lead to the capture and conviction of
the guilty parties. The father and mother of
a child who, in a quarrel about its possession,
killed it by tearing it, the one from the other,
have been apprehended by the police,
Much public indignation has been aroused
and very faithfully expressed too by members
of the Municipal Board, because of an attempt
which is being made to increase the taxation
in Kingston by an increased assessment of
household property.
The bad policy of such an attempt is singu-
larly manifest at a time when the community
is suffering from the largely increased cost of
living, consequent upon the recent hurricane
and scarcity of cattle. The taxation of Kings.
ton already exceeds s5 per head of the popu-
%lation, and of this a large amount is wasted
and thrown away, while everything calculated
to promote commerce, agriculture and industry
is refused.
A new Lucifer- Match has just been intro
duced into the island, which is reported to be a
great improvement on the " Safety Matches"
of Messrs. Bryan & May, which only light
upon their own box. 1t is the discovery of a
celebrated Russian chemist, and has been
patented in the mother-country by Messrs.
Dixon, Son & Evans of Manchester.