, 1875-12-18
C o L 0 MA L.
A G A.
From Calls Neos Letter.

has been extremely dry, quite an exception to
the weather usual at this season of the year,
when planters expect fine showers. There has
not been a drop of rain in any of the parishes,
not even in St. Mary.--The canes are there
fore drying up, and as they are beginning to
"arrow" the growth is stopped.
Labour continues very capricious in its char
acter, and the country and its industries are
only sustained by coolie lahour, of which there
is far from being a sufficient supply. The
heavy charges imposed by the Government
in the sustaining of coolies in hospital has
been extremely discouraging to planters, and
it has been suggested that these hospitals
should be open to the parish and not confined
to coolies. In this way the whole country
would share the benefits and the expense.
\ serious fire broke out on Tuesday (30th
November) in the establishment of Mr.. John
Macdonald, the saddler in Harbour Street,
which resulted in the total destruction of three
different houses, viz those of Mr.. Macdonald,
the " Morning Journal" Office aud Mr.. AIexan-
der Berry, Cabinet-maker. The fire was first
discovered in the garrett of Mr.. Macdonald's
premises, where no person resides, and in which
a light is never used. 1t is thus clear that the
fire was the act of an incendiary, and not an
accident. Ga the alarm being given there was
a multitude of persons very quickly on the
scene, and. had ordinary measures been adopt
ed at thiS time, the fire, which was very small,
might have been easily put out, but while
there was an abundant supply of water there
were no engines, no hose and no fremen to be
seen. When the Fire Brigade did arrive on
the spot after a very great delay during which
the fire had got 3 complete command, not only
OF Mr.. MlcdOnald's premises, but those of the
" Morning Juurnal'-tha hose was found to be
out of order, and one after another burst as the
attempt was, made to apply them to the
hydrantS-. $40 sup erintendent {Mr. Macfar-
lane) was a fame old man, whose lame FOOT
gave him more anxiety than the fire, lest any
body should tramp on it. Fne fire soon gained
upon all three buildings, and the arrival of the
military from Camp, commanded by Col. Web
Der, G. B., was the saving of the city Their
e%xertions we're orderly aud with precision
Captain Stoker and Lieut.. Grant with other
OF the officers setting a very noble example.
BY the efforts of the military force the estab-
lshment Of MessfS. Grips & Scott was
saved from destruction, and much of the pre-
misses of Mr.. Berry from being needlessIy de.
moIlshed. Lieut.. Grant (son Of the late Cover
nor, Sir john Z. Grant, was particularly notice.
able, carrying buckets OF water on the house
tops, where special e~xertions were needed.
The annual athletic f6te of the Jamaica
CaIedonian Society came off, as usual, on
St. Andrews Day, 30th November. The
demonstration was a conspicuous success, the
weather being cool, yet dry and bright, the
list of competitors long and strong, and the
gathering OF spectators the most numerous and
brilliant which has ever been seen at an
outdoor fete in this island. Though the con.
tests are open to all corners, the Scottish
element is always we'll to- the front in the prize
list, as may be seen from such names as
Black, Dodd, Ingram, Morrison, Thompson,
Maouab and Macdonald-a}I prizemen. The
Pole Leap, however, fell entirely into the
hands of Jamaioans-the first and second being
both ~ore0les, viz Messrs. Laidman and Groom.
The maximum height leaped with the pole
was nine feet, which, at first sight, would
appear to be only Indifferent jumping; but
when it is considered that none of the com.
petitors are professionals, that there is only
one athletic contest in the year, and that that
contest takes place with a thermometer at 90
degrees, We are Of opinion that nine feet in
Kingston will be acknowledged to be, at least,
equal to ten in Inverness or Edinburgh. The
Heavy Hammer was won by a magnificent
throw of rs feet, the winner being Drum-major
Ingram, presently of the End W. [. Regiment
but formerly of the 18th Highlanders. Space
does not permit US to specify more particularly
the many interesting features of this most
popular of all annual gatherings, and we would
only further observe that among the dis.
tinguished visitors present were His Excellency
Sir William Grey, Miss Plowden, and suite;
Commodore Lyons, A. dc. to her Majesty the
Queen the Hon. Colonel Cox, OBJ, Com.
mandoY of tho Eoroa q MrS Now IL 1a,kv.