, 1876-01-08
CARL ~HATTENSER.

that has to be done here. He had, however
prepared two drafts of ordinance. which we're
already so nearly completed that they could
be laid before the Council shortly after his
departure, and discussed during his absence.
The drafts TO which he referred were, an or
dInance concerning certain altera.on s in the
present system Of taxation, and, q ordinance
concerning the establishment of lotteries.
He hoped that, through the action Of the
measures proposed in those drafts, the pub
lie revenues would be augmented in such a
manner as to enable us to meet the %increas-
ed expenditure entailed by the new School
Ordinance, and by the public works Of gener-
al Importance and utility to the community,
which have been contemplated for q long
tine and frequently mentioned in this Coun-
ell. Besides the drafts already mentioned,
another will soon be laid before the Council
"a draft Of Ordinance concerning the tax on
lnheritances, and the draft of the municipal
budget TOR I076-77 IS, also, in course of pre-
paration and will soon be forthcoming.-
His EXceIlency would beg hon. members to
understand that he would, as a matter Of
course, not remain away longer than abso-
lutely necessary he could not say exactly
how long he would be absent, but he did not
propose to emain more than 4-6 weeks in
Copeahagen. During his stay there, notwith-
standing that the immediate cause of his going
is the affairs of st. Croix, he would also try to
be OF use by attending to the affairs of this
community, and do all he could in the advance
ment of its interests-especially in regard to
a question which has been the subject of many
complaints and discussions the diferental duty
levied in Puerto Rico on goods imported from
St, Thomas. The School Ordinance, lately
passed by the hon. Council, has been sent home
in order TO be submitted for His Maiesty's
sanction and the Governor would, also, dur
ing his stay in Denmark try to find a man to
whom We would intrust the direction of the
educational department. Out Of regard to
economy, His Excellency had found it neces-
sary to regulate the administration during his
absence in such a manner as to avoid all I'M
necessary additional expense on the part of the
public treasures. 1t is a matter of course that
the voyage ought not to entail any expense
upon St. Thomas, and hence the Governor
expected a Royal resolution sanctiOning his
provisional arrangement, by which the seat
of Government would during his absence be re-
moved to St. Croix, while the despatch Of the
administrative business of st. Thomas would
be transacted here by other hands"
" The Governor would, finally, thank hon.
members for their good assistance and co.
operation during the past year. He regretted
the necessity 81 leaying St. Thomas at present,
and, as already said, went away only because
it was his duty to go. He would however
return as soon as possible and resume his work
in this community, and he hoped on his return
to find again the good assistance which he
hitherto had found in the hon. Council"
His Exeellency is accompanied on his tour
by his family, and we hope he left in better
humour than couldhave been expected when he
left this island but a few days before. Between
that time and this there has, however, been q
splendid rain in St. Croix, as we have already
announced, and rumour has it that His Excel.
lenoy received intelligence via England, of.
later date than the Danish News direct. that
the draft of Law concerning Factories before
the Diet ia progressing fayourabIy, a committee