, 1877-02-10

Islands, end On The high road to England and
also eljoys he great advantage Ct being a
British possession; ''its Salubrious climate and
e" It's capaciOuS, well.protected, and well shelter
ed harbors render il admirably suited for
{" The purposes of a rendezvous for British
Mail Steamers trading to The West Indies"
The FIRST part of this resolution may BIZ accept.
ed So tue, bot The latter pant nay not be so
accepted ly those who possess an accurate
knowledge OF The CaracilitS # The harb0rs
of Antigua compared with that of st. Thomas.
It Is very true that g very large SUM Of money
was required to make the harbOr Of ST. Thomas
what it now is, and also that ST. Johns or
Falmouth harbors with q similar outlay could
be made available for the requirements OF 4
great naval Company like that Of the
r. NJ. S. Co.
The second resolution which was moved by
the Rev. r. II. BiEdon tie Rector Of ST. Paul,
and adopted, related to tie saving in the x.
p%en6iture Of coal, and greater safety OF TIE
Company's ships when riding at anchor in The
harbors Of Antigua than il ST. Thomas that the
Mails aud passengers would hr landed earlier
In the French COLI Mrs than al present, and
that a vtly desirable ihtclccuIee would be
opened up between tie several preoid,ncies Of
the Colony CT the Lttwald Islands. L does
not fUllt " that Ltcaute, in the hurricane sea.
son, greater casualties are reported in The
crowded barber ot ST. Thomas, that these YES
sells would be mole secure from the fleets Of
hurricane if riding at anchor in ST Johns or
Falmouth halbor. 1t is true We do not hear
of many great disasters to shipping happening
from StelmS in Antigua but then it vii. be
considered that at that particular season Of the
year few vessels are 10 these harboTs. II is
not SO with 81. Thomas.
The third resolution was moved by J. a.
Hiil ESQUIRE ana adopted by The Meeting
It is in thsse words
That this meeting respectfully rrsys Ills Ez-
oellcncy tho GoYclLol and the Honorable the
General Legislative Council Of the Lecwud ISL
ands, to call ths attention cf he Directors If lie
Royal Mai Steam Packet Company, and Her
Majesty Principul Secretary ofState OF the Colo
mics, 10 the facts set forth in the preceding reSo-
lutions and this meeting further prays His EA-
cellency and the Council u offer 20 the Company
every reasonable concession in the way Of an
annual subsidy and otherwise to induce them to
remove then depot TO Antigua.
This resolution asks His Exrellency the
Governor al d Legislative Council 10 Offer to
the l.. 81. Company Z" every reaS, nable conces-
e sion Ia the way Of an annual tuhsidy and
81 otherwise to induce them to remove th,ir
q depot 10 Antigua"
Il is not from any lack Of sympathy with
the oIj'ct Of the Meeting, to which reference
IL made, nor YET from any desire to throw a
- wet blanket over The question; that We
thus write, Tut rather fom an honest conyic-
iion that he obstacles in the way are far
beyond the resources IF This island to remove.
The Public Debt is already heavy. The
government " concession referred to is pre-.
Aumed to mean both land and money, for the
Il. ri. s.. Comply aIreacy possesses, besides
land expensive workshops and other convent
encss for c0aiiGg ard The Ike, et their present
depot, snd il Is unlikely tlat they will f0r ths
reasons assigned consent 10 abandon these
costly erections, without some very substantial
inducements, over aud above good harbors.
Are we in d position TO Cfer all theSe2 That
seems 10 be the chief question, and The first
which the company will likely put to lie gov
eminent.
The next resolution adopted requires that
copies of the resolutions be forwarded to His
Honor the President Of the General Council;
and that the honorable member for Falmouth
and English HarbOr be requested to advocate
the objects Of the meeting in his place in the
local legislature.
The experience of those who are acquainted
with the capacity Of he St. Thomas Harbor
leads them to declare that at present it is one
Of the beat in the latitude Of the Leeward ISL
ands that, however, does not imply that
after a large expenditure Of money the harbor
of St. John or that of Falmouth cannot be
made equally accommodating. Will the R. Nj.
S. Company be inclined to improve our Har.