, 1888-08-29

Barbados on Monday evening, and it
would be incOnvenient to the COmpany'S
local staff to have the outward steamer ar
rive before the hOmeward steamer had
sailed. Such all excuse as this amounts
to, for the deliberate delay of the steamer
or the Atlantic voyage, shows that there
is still to be be found on the COmpany's
directorate a preponderance of the old
granny policy which has in past days,
played havoc with the proprietors' divi-
dendS. In the length of the voyage from
Southampton all the colonies are interes,
ted III equal degree but it is in the seve-
raj sections of the scheme for the distribu-
ton of the mails from the selected centre
(whetheT that is to be Barbados or st.
Lucia, or Trinidad) that the majority of
the colonies will be most concerned.
Speaking for our own colony, we could
hardly have a worse mail service than we
have now between here and Barbados.
The mails may, and very frequently do,
arrive in Carlisle Bay at day break. The
Deinerara contingent, inclusive of paSSen-
gers and cargo, could, under an active
management, be despatched, on ordinary
occasions, say from six to eight hours la
ter. AS a matter Of record, our steamer is
regularly detained until between 2 and 3
on Wednesday afternoon, or say fully
thirty hours longer than necessity requires.
Then take the homeward voyage. 1t has
been the common practice to leave here
before daylight on Saturday morning, SO
as to reach Barbados on Sunday after
noon, although the Atlantic steamers time
of sailing is, say 5 pm. on Mondays, and
very often several hours after this, Con.
sidering the very large sum this colony is
contributing for the Barbados special ser
vice, the way in which the work has been
done can justly be described as uugraciOuS.
Mi. Jones suggested that it WAS possible
some of the other lines Of steamers trading
to this colony might be disposed to tender
for our service, Or that d rapid means of
postal communication might be found to
England via New York. We Opine that
neither of these alternatives will find greA-
ter favour than the Royal Mail Company's
service, with such improvements in it as
are demanded 10y the spirit of the times,
and whiOh are quite within their power to
supply. A very excellent suggestion by
the same speaker was to nave the annual
bill of our postal service laid on the table
of the Court, SO that the public might
learn what amount their postage costs
them. The acting Postmaster General is
10 be called upon to make up the account,
ana we have no doubt but that its grand
proportions will aStoniSh not a few.
Governor Robinson of Trinidad having
seEt a letter of congratulatiOn TO Senior j.
j. Rojas Paul on his election to the PreSi-
dency of Venezuela. has thereby incurred
the displeaSure of those citizens of Trini-
dad whose Sympathies are with the defea-
ted candidate, General Crespo, who is now
located in Po~rt.Of-Spain, and believed by
some to be preparing a scheme to turn his
successful opponent out Of Office. One
thing seems strange in connection with
this exercise of Governor RObinson'S court
eSy. 1t was announced some time ago
that diplomatic relations between Britain
and Venezuela were suspended, and the
respective countries had withdrawn their
ministers from London and Caracas and
we believe we are right in stating that
friendly relations have not been restored
how comes it then that the Governor Of
Trinidad in his official capacity places him.
self in communication with the President
of Venezuela and exchanges greeting of a
purely official character. The incident
seems to require explanation, unless we
are prepared to admit that the Govern
ment of Trinidad is Foreign Office to it.
self.
A letter addressed to the Government
protesting against the present useless con-
e Al I