, 1876-02-05
C IAL.
A
From Calls Ncrs Letter.

The past fortnight has been q succession Of
sunshine and shower, and the planters are all
busy for the season. The Barometer at Myrtle
Bank (Kingston) has averaged IS deg. (cor-
rected to SO deg.) and a maximum Thermo-
meter, SO deg, with a minimum Of II deg.
The v~alue'of property in the island is, we
regret to say, going back, and numerous Estates
are in the field for sale, though these are not
yet advertised. The cause Of this retrograde
movement is the present system and policy of
the Administration, which is most r~uinOusly
expensive as we'll as prUfigate in its expendi.
ture-but there is no regard for the industries
of the island, and the planters are most reck-
lessly saddled with expensive institutions which
private enterprise could erect and sustain with
much greater efficiency for one fifth of
their present cost-and larceny and produce
stealing is so protected by the administration of
law, that the only individual who has a chance
Of living we'll is the scOundrel who robs his
neighbours field or his lOgwood at night while
he sleeps, and unless the owner can swear TO
the identity of his vans, his canes Or his log
wood, there is no conviction in the Courts;
still, if il is only Rum that is stolen the Gov
eminent having Il revenue in that article
things are instantly changed, and The onus
of proof is On The person found in possession
the Government are not to identify the Rum,
but the thief is to show that be came honestly
by it. Verify there is one law for the Govern
ment and another for the people.
The falling off of the Sugar crops in ST.
Thomas in the East last year has aroused
some proprietOrs in England to considerable
vitality Of action, and one of the leading firms
in charge Of these Sugar plantations has sent
out one Of their Oldest and most tried planting
attorneys 8, Mr.. Samuel Shortridge, to lock into
matters, land take the bull by the horns"
This has been done, and there has been a com
plete Overturning Of the beehives and a change
of overseer-it has yet to be seen what results
these changes will produce on the crops.
A memorial is now in course of signature
throughout the colony, which commands the
sympathy and breathes the prayer OF nearly
every loyal ~cOl0nist in the country. 1t is most
respectful in its tone, and fairly and truthfully
represents the gross mistake which exists at
present-the profigacy Of the Government in
the administration of our fnances-and the
very unsatisfactory constitution and working
OF our Courts Of Justice. AS the memoriaI
stands, it is hardly possible that any one can
take exception TO its representations, and while
it lays bare the lamentable condition of the
country and our people, it simply prays for
Parliamentary enquiry and such relief as the
people OF England may deem necessary, after
ten years patient submission TO paternal deSp0-
tlSul' Inc memorial ASKS IOf DO return 10 Inc
elective franchise, for the intelligence of the
country is averse TO that, but they ask for q
better representation of the colonists in the
Legislative Council and in our Municipal
Boards, which are packed with officials to carry
out the whims and %caprices Of The Administra-
ton, and some little say in the management
and distribution of our finances, which are
w~antonly and u~selessly squandered. The colo
nists, when they send this memorial, will pa
tientIy wait the will Of Parliament, and it is
hoped that all the friends of Jamaica in Eng
land will help in the simple institution of i'm
partial enquiry as to our condition and pro-
gress since the departure of Sir John Peter
Grant, three years ago.
AS an evidence of how much property has
fallen in value within the last year or two, we
may mention that "Nonsuch" Estate in the
parish. of st. Mary, and near to Annette Bay,
together with the machinery and growing
crops. was sold out of the Court of Chancery
last week to Mr.. Isaac Levy, of Spanish Town,
for only ,&l,500. Such a condition of circum-
stances speaks louder than words, and bears q
painful contrast with the more hopeful charao-
ter of the country under an active and progress
siEe administration.