, 1876-07-08
JAMAICA.
From Calls News Letter.

(Fr0m Calls News Letter.
The island suffers immensely from the capri
cious character of native labour, which is spas.
modio, and just as inclinations lead the labour-
er-he is never to be relied upon for steady
Work-if he works to-day, be may absent him.
self for two days without a word of notice, and
progress is materially affected by his absence.
Money in no way induces him to steady indus
try, for so long as any immediate requirement
of his is gratifed, his object Is achieved, and
he will not work until some new fancy takes
him. There is no ambition ia him, and this
is fatal to his elevation and advancement.
Without Coolies, all Estates in the island
would DO ruined, save perhaps in TreIawny
and st. Ann, where the ground is not suited
for the planting of yams and other ground
provisions, and where this condition of affairs
makes the negro labourer o better and more
industrious man than is usually found in other
parishes.
The long pending suit of Col. Stewart and
others against Mr.. John GirdwOOd for infring.
ing Col. Stewards patent in the manufacture
of sugar by the aid of Sulphurous Gas, having
been decided In Mr.. Girdwood's favour, several
Sugar Estates are likely to avail themselves
of his process. One advantage is, that the
quality of sugar is not only improved, but its
price is likewise enhanced, and it can be kept
for any length of time without entailing any
loss In weight as other sugars do.
The Government has now ordered the use
Of Silioated Carbon Filters in the Post Office
and other Government Offices in the metropo-
lis, and the result, according to DR.. Lewis's
testimony, has been a miraculous Improvement
in the health of the officers.
The Irrigation Works, which we're so persis-
tently denounced by a section of the Press,
have turned out a very great success, despite
the engineering disappointments and vicissitudes
while they were In course of construction.
The old enemies however, will not confess
themselves wrong, but contend that, while the
works are on engineering success, the un-
dertaking is a financial failure. Time and
results will decide this also, as they have done
the engineering success. The Legislature has
decided upon raising more money to cover the
expenditure, and also to make good the
Jamaica share of losses consequent upon our
entering the international postal convention for
the reduction of postage.
We regret that Mr.. Bowers, the Royal Mail
Company's experimenting engineer, and Capt.
Dix, their superintendent at this port, have
given up all hopes of recovering the Inflated
Shannon" from her bed on the Coral Reefs
by the Pedro Bank. She is to be abandoned
and sold after the pumps and other movable
articles have been taken out OF her.
The Kingston Street Oar Company has
commenced active operations the first sod
was out by Mr.. Ralph Nunes on Monday last,
in the presence Of a large number of spectators,
and before sunset $50 feet of railroad had
been constructed and cars were running upon
them. It is expected that on the 4th July
there will be a grand opening of the City
Oarway. The Royal Mail Oompany's Steam
or 60 RotiYn ~ ckapfo1 on har so00nI fRin rnrnH
the island yesterday morning with a large
amount of freight.