, 1875-05-15
THE WEST INDIAN IN LONDON.

occurred in commencing the survey of the pro-
posed route of the railway in Jamaica, 1t was
not known that the Jamaica prOprietors inter-
ssted in the question of railway extension had
addressed through the West India Committee
a memoria to the Governor upon the subject.
This fact, coupled with the interest which is
shown in Jamaica with regard to the proposed
Improvement, may justify the anticipation of
some practical results before long.
Upon the appointment of a new Governor-in-
Chief for the Windward Islands, it is impossi-
Bile to avoid speculation as to the prospects of
a further extension of that principle Of fedora
ton which has already been applied TO the
Leeward Islands. The newspapers received
by the last mail show that it is a prominent
subject of discussion in the colonies practically
concerned in the scheme which appears to be
freely attributed to the Colonial Office at the
present moment. Governor Pope-Henessey
may be, as Governor RawsOn apparently was,
entrusted with tie execution of a scheme of
federation. There is no room for full discus
.sion'ef1bs question in this column now, nor is
it indeed ripe enough but it may be said that
Mr.. Semper, the Attorney-Geaera Of Barbados,
seems to be doing his best towards preparing
the minds of the. Inhabitants Of the colonies for
the consideration Of Il scheme. His Lecture at
St. Kits appears to have been marked by his
usual ability and earnest eloQuence, but it is
difficult to believe that he committed himself to
the absurd proposition Of including the colony
Of Demerara in a federation Ofthe Wihdward
and Leeward Islands. If Mr.. Semper's re-
marks are to be taken as a semi-official utter
ance, it appears that a federation of WindwaTd
and Lseward Islands is proposed, but there is
surely no need to create additional difficulties
by extending the proposal beyond its proper
limits. 1t is probable that Mr.. Semper's mean
ing has been misunderstood, owing to an lmper-
feet report of his lecture. 1t was delivered on
the eve of his departure for Barbados, and the
manner in which it was received shows how
highly the learned gentleman is esteemed In
St. Kits, and the mark which he has made in
the Leeward Islands generally by his high
character and ability.
Legislation is proceeding rapidly in Trinidad
in the ful6lment 0 fthe plans laid downb Govern
or Irving in his recent Message to the council.
These proposals were discussed in this cotumn
when the message came home, and they were
generally commended. 1t was impossible, how
ever, to see their full scope and bearing from
the outline given by the Governor, but it now
appears that the necessary ordinances, especial
ly that for creating a new department of public
works, have been hastily passed. Reforms
were no doubt pressing, but in order to make
their success certain, the Governor was bound
to allow further time for their consideration
by the Council, the unofficial members of which
were especially adapted by their great expert
once to deal effectively with the questions
which had been raised, The sudden and unex-
peoted appointment of Mr.. Tanner as the head
Of the new department of Works, seems to have
excited considerable comment in the colony.
The execution of a large scheme like that under
notice depends greatly, if not exclusively, upon
the men appointed to work the department..
Let it be clearly understood that no objection
is made to Mr.. Tanner in any ~invidious spirit.
The high opinion entertained respecting him by
Governor Irving is very much in his favour.
His name is we'll known in connection with
railway works, but his special fitness has not
yet been proved for the highly responsible and
important position to which be has just been
appointed. 1t is not too much to hope, how
ever, that he will show himself to be an able and
useful official, and it is rather the manner of
his appointment that affords ground for objec-
tion. Fifteen days after the Ordinance consti-
tuting the Department was introduced, it was
read a second and third time. The Ordinance
was passed on March l, and proclaimed on the
9TH to come into force on the 10th, the
customary notice in the OGcia1sG Gazette appear
ing on the very day the Ordinlnce1, was to be-