, 1875-11-13
THE WEST INDIAN IN LONDON.

It is understood that both the India and Colo.
NAL Offices are very much Interested in Mr..
Routledge's proposals for the cultivation of
bamboo for the purpose of making paper. Copies
Of Mr., Routledge's pamphlet have been officially
sent to the different Governments in tho East
and West Indies, and some valuable reports as to
the districts in which the bamboo might be cult.
waited are expected in consequence. There is no
doubt that the papsr-whether for writing or
printing purposes-is Of very superior quality.
Specimens of the paper, as we'll as of the raw
material in its different stages, are now to DO seen
in London,
In discussing tho American bounty system in
this column some time ago, an opinion was OK
pressed tn It it would not be of long continuance.
1t is understood that the arrangements by which
the premium was obtained have already been
rescinded.
The agitation among the best-root sugar manu-
facturers in France, in consequence of the intor-
probation put upon the law of July % by the
Government, still continues. The Government
say that unless their own reading of the law is
carried out, the use Of the sacoharometer will sim
ply g5ravnte the loss to the Treasury. The
manufacturers reply by threatening al appeal to
the Assembly.
1t is hndoretood that Mr. Firth has made a long
sad valuable report upon the prospects Of Chinese
emig alton to the West Indies. The main points
of the report have already appeared in the
Overland China Mail, but no proper review can
be givon until the report itself is published.
The small settlers in Jamaica are still COM
planning bitterly of the robbery of their provision
grounds by the hordes of idle vagabonds who
prefer t. steal rather than to work. Nothing but
a stringent vagrant law will remedy the state of
things pictured in the memorial, which has been
recently published, of "the small settlers of Bar
tons to the Rev. Joseph Williams" The settlers
say that they suffer most severely from the out
RACES of numerous thieves, who leave them scarce
ly any food for themselves or families. These
thieves ere almost always armed, and are perfect
ly reckless. 1t is alleged that the sentences
passed upon them by Judges are not severe enough,
and i'm prisonment has no terrors for them. This
evil PRACTICE of robbing provision grounds has
been /. standing difficulty with the Jamaica Gov
ornment for many years. 1t is quite time now
that energetic measures were taken, and the in
dustry of tho small black settlers protected by
the law. If the Government of Jamaica has any
nerve or spirit in it, which some people begin
seriously to doubt, it will take the matter in hand
at once. and deal vigorously with it.
The London daily newspaper called the Hour
had some interesting "Jamaicl Notes in it's issue
of October 6, and a correspondence upon the
question of slavery and the equalization of the
sugar duties has been going on in the columns of
the same paper, which may be worth the attention
of people connected with the West Indies. Let
tiers upon this subject are to be found in its issues
of October IL an1 IA. 1t is very properly noticed
that the agitation against the late Admiralty in
structions for the treatment of fugitive slaves was
very inconsistent with the encouragement which
has been given to slavery by the commercial
legislation Of this country in matters relating to
sugnr s:noe 1876.
il is understood that an important representa-
ton ia likely to be made to the Secretary of State
upon the affairs of Grenada. The excitement
which so often arises in that colony upon the
discussions of proposed changes in the Constitu-
ton is SO detrimental to its real interests that it 10
surprising a movement has not been made before
to put an end to the state of things existing in the
island. A government absolutely by the Crown
would probably meet with much opposition, and
may not be desirable in itself, but it seems
essential that the Executive should be invested
with much more responsibility for the proper con-
duct of affairs than it possesses at the present
time.
The sugar bounty question, like the " perturbed
spirit" of Hamlet's father, will not rest. 1t re-appears
at the most unlikely places. 1t has taken it's turn at
Brighton, and been treated by the Social Science
Association with the proverbial cruelty of a candid
friend. The British Association was bad enough.
but in the Social Science Congress we find human
nature macadamised to a dead level of nonsense.
Now and then a sensible MN tries to make his voice
heard. but he is either not listened 10 or openly
derided. A paper was read by the representative of
the refners, full of sound sense and able argument;
How was it dealt with A local dealer in foreign
loayes contriyed to make himself ridiculous and the
ladies in the section laugh A MI. Napier. believed
to be in some way connected with the West Indies.
.ws. q Iittla moya sensible, because he said that RI.