, 1880-01-17

&S0O "a ~ OohSH
The matter will shew itself clearly by
calling to mind two cases of recent occur
renee.
When in 1876 the Mother Country assist.
ed the island with a loan of 100000 Kr.
which were again lent to planters on
bureau security, the country was lite.
rally so situated, that without that
helm at least one half of the Estates
would, in consequence of the pre-
ceding ruinous seasons, have been
~abandoned; to talk of giving them over
to the Dealing Court, is only illusory,
since the Dealing Master would have been
as little able to procure money for the
carving on of the cultivation as the owner
himself. AS however the same untavora'
BILE weather continued IN 1876, Ii was
inevitable, to apply the payments resulting
from the crop TO the same purpose. AL
last the change so long prayed for came;
in the latter half of 1877 the weather was
all that could be desired, and for 1878
cron similar to the one in 1871 was looked
forward TO. when in 1878 three clrcum-
stances of a quite peculiar character occur
red. by which the crop was retarded to
suchaa degree, that of the Ii or 11,oOO
reekoncd upon only 10000 could be utlllz-
ed during the time of the year when the
canes can be turned to account, the rest
had. although to the great impeachment OF
fine nreparations for the following crop, to
stand over till November or December.
The accidents alluded to were firstly q
0uite extraordinary absence OF wind, q
circumstance however of less general I'M
nortance on account of the snal number
of windmills: what was really decisive was
first, that lnany Estates on the more
Eastern part of the island had, relying
upon the Central factory, omitted the re-
pairs without which the machinery could
not be made use of; and IN this reliance
they found themselves sadly disappointed.
More towards the West the work on the
Estates was continually stopped and inter
rupted by the superintendent quantity of
rain at q time, when as q rule the weather
is dry. Had not the taking off OF the crop
been prevented by these extraordinary
circumstances which at all events are not
to be imputed to the planters, and had the
6 or 1000 hhds. worth Of canes LETT on the
land been made use OF, the Colonial Urea
sury would nave been reimbursed not only
for the bur~eau-adVanceS made towards the
crop. bnt would also AVE recovered q
large amount of arrears on former loans
and taxes. Bearing in mind these facts,
there is no cause to speak OF the bureau
loans as Il permanent running burden on
the State Treasury which must be expected
to continue without end; it is useless to
confne yourself to loose assertions and
declarations, you must Shew where the
facts adduced against you are untounded,
or prove the error i'll the conclusions drawn
from them.
AS we know, q great part of the crop Of
1873 had not only been put of beyond the
proper time, but became an actual loss,
because the works of the greater part OF
the Estates were rendered unserviceable
for some time by the riots in the first days
of October, and but very few of the owners
had the means to begin at once the restO-
ration, as also because the Central factory
did not come into full activity before the
first days of May, which activity was even
then but partial, and during the whole
season suffered from frequent Interrupt
tionS.
In reality the two cases Of 1876 and
1878 are essentially the same. But as 1T
is easier to form a clear picture OF the
state of things in a country, which with
an abundant harvest on the ground nearly
ready to be reaped, suddenly finds tho
means for it's recovery annihilated, than
of a country ruined i'll consequence OF the
failure of five successive crops, l would
prefer to ask Mr.. a. and others, who are
of his opinion, to answer the question,
what the situation of the island would be
at the present moment and for ever here
after, had not the Minister interviewed with
q provision, for which this community can
never be grateful enough. From the
moment that help in the shape of Bureau
advances was secured. there came life into
nrv0rrfhsnn 0c sc hrr M rio. hr1IIHIn0 mQf0.