, 1876-01-26

@OAS' AhAN AO@Fy I&d0bAOh OAOOho liz O0AGA
walton of provisions, cocoa, and other products.
and the uncertainty 0ccasiOned by a new
assessment being made every three years
causes a further restriction in the profitable
use Of the land. The resources of Trinidad
are SO great, and the opportunities for useful
lab0ur on the part of the general population
so various and excellent, that it might be con-
sidered the first duty of the Government to
Tighten the burdens of the people and give q
free outlet, to the greatest extent possible, to
the latent wealth Of this beautiful Island.
In the third volume of the new edition of the
Encyclopaedia Britannica" there appears a new
article on Barbados, which is the work Of Mr..
Gibson, if the initials at the end are any guide.
The spirit in which the article is written may
be gathered from the following extract relating
to the history Of the Colony -" That history
has some special features, for the island, ao-
CURED without conquest or bloodshedding, has
never since been out of the possession Of the
British. It was the first English colony where
the sugar cane was planted. Its oolonists
have almost from the beginning enjoyed repre-
sentative institutions and the full measure of
English freedom. They have always defended
their rights with spirit and shown consistent
loyalty to the Grown. The prominence and
accessibility Of the island have made it impor-
tant as a military station in the wars with the
French and Dutch. Aud it's varying fortunes
show the effects Of the commercial legislation
Of England, from the stringent navigation laws
Of Cromwell down to The repeal of the sugar
duties in 1874" An account is then given Of
some of the principal points in the history of
the island. The natural features Of the coun-
try are described, and statistics are given of its
population, imports, exports, and other mat
ters. The article is headed by a fairly good
sketch map of the island, and to Judge from the
6Ot 0f hOnlo 1coJ 90 oDthorifIac ~ ma
thata good deal of literature exists in connection
with this historic colony.
The beginning of a new year is naturally a
time for congratuIation and hope. The old
year has gone; another definite period of
human history has begun, and it is a mere
trulsm to say that while the known past may
have been full of gloom and failure, the un-
known future is always anticipated with cheer
fulness and hope. A heightened retrospective
review is not necessary, as the principal matters
which have risen to the surface in the colonies
during the past year have been faithfully
reflected from time to time in this column.
The year has been one Of continual struggle
for the English sugar industry. Tie unfair
competition Of the bounty.fed boet-sugar, and
the still more shameful continuance of slavery
in Cuba, the low prices at homo and the
increased expenses of an estate, especially for
labour, have made the past year one of con-
siderable anxiety. From the history of the
year now closing it is quite clear that the main
source Of hope for the West Indies lies In a
reduction of the expenses of production, and
in good methods Of extracting as much as
possible of tue saccharine richness Of he cane.
Barbados has made one of the heaviest crops
on record, but the colonists have been excited
upon political questions during the months of
the past year. A period Of calm, however,
seems now to have commenced-a state of
things the new Governor would do well to
promote. It is only fair to Mr., Henuessy to say
that his rule has auspiciously commenced. In
British Guiana attention has been principally
divided between the labour supply and new
processes for dealing with the cane and ex-
tracting the sugar. The immigration question
has been carried to a most important stage by
the recent dispatches of Lord Caruaryon and
Lord Salisbury, which sill await the considera-
ton Of the Legislature. Mr.. Firth has varied
his useful labours as the Demerara Emigration
Agent in Calcutta by a visit to China, which
resulted 10 a valuable report upon the prospects
of Chinese emigration to the colony. Trinidad
has also been exceedingly fortunate in possess
lug an Emigration Agent in Calcutta of SO
much ability and energy as Mr.. Mitchell.
In Trinidad itself q very important amend
ment of the immigration Law has been made,
and the attention of proprietors has been direct
ed towards a reduction of the public expendi-
ture. In Jamaica the effects of the last great