, 1881-05-28

Majesty anu the Royal rSmly. lis
Excellency concluded by proposing a
"Lenge Leve Hans Majestet Kongen og
Diet Kongelige Huus."
After the health of His Majesty and the
Royal Family had been drank, His
Excellency made a few remarks on the con-
dition of the Island. He said that every
body knew that the financial condition of
the island, that is so far as the Colonial
Treasury was concerned, was far from
satisfactory. It was also well known that
the Home Government had always been
willing. to assist us. 1t was very impor.
tant not to impair the financial indepen-
dence of the island, and therefore the sup
port hitherto had taken the form Of TEN.
porary loans. OF late the Minister Of
Finances, az would be known, had, intro
duced a bill into the FOlkething by which
it was provided that the Military expenses
should be taken over by the Mother Couu-
try, and that the island for ten years
should be free from paying any compensa"
ton. This matter now stood in allegiance
because the Folkething had been Dissolved
before the bill had been disposed Of.
Whatever the Mother Country might be
willing TO do for us we ought to rely chiefly
on our own efforts in developing the resour-.
ces of the colony. 1t seemed to him that
the future of the colony depended mainly
on three things; these were the steady i'm
provement OF agriculture. the improvement
of public instruction, and the securing of
coed order and content among the people.
In regard to agriculture he was glad. to
learn that considerable progress was being
made at the present time. Having no ex-
VavionCo bo uyoo nor ohlo - n1uico On Fha
matter but he would only say that he
thought more attention might be paid to
the planting of trees; there must surely be
many places where valuable trees might
be planted without interfering with the
main branch Of our agriculture; he had
learned that on some estates there were nu-
merous fruit trees, which were allotted tn
the labourers aud formed a steady attraction
for them to remain on those properties; il
this were so, he thought the example should
be generally followed, as it might conducs
to the prevention Of vagrarcy.
In regard to The present state of public
instruction there were many deficiencies. 1t
TeS'ed with he administration to provide
proper regulations on this important subject
and to see that they were carried out. Last.
~ III regard to the order and content Of the
people he would say that it was possible
to maintain order by force; but that the
people might be content with their condi-
ton it required the cooperation of the
inhabitants, and chiefly of the estate
holders. in accordance with his instruc-
tons, his attention would be mainly direct.
ed TO the three points he had spoken of;
but what measures he would adopt he
could not now say, not yet being sufficient
ly acquainted with matters here. He
would rely on the cooperation of the
officials, the Colonial Council and the
Inhabitants at large. In conclusion His
Excellency thanked the gentlemen present
for having met in accordance with his
invitation.
His Honor the President then addressed
a few words of welcome to His ExcelleRcy
in the name of the community ,and express.
ed the hope that the ALMIGHTY would
bestow HIS blessing on His E~xcellency's
efforts for the advancement of our welfare.
On the proposal Of the President His
Excellency's health was drank by the
assembly. subsequently His Excellency
engaged in conversation with some of the
gentlemen present, and the levee was
shortly afterwards terminated.
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