, 1890-06-11

WUtI I6 wis Iu6 NON0IIOI VI CoeLAACOlO"b
imported the mongoose. He had never de-
sired to take unto himself the credit OF
introducing the m0ngooSo into jamaica.
If the mungoose had done a Let of damage,
and he had no doubt it had in SomA places,
why should he be accused of the blame by
the newspaper editors and other persons.
But there was another side to the story.
He had it on the authority of Mr.. Morris
who had taken n great deal of trouble Ill
that question, that the mOnToOSe had been
INSTRUMENTAL in increasing the export OF
sugar, coffee. cocoa, Nc, to the tune OF
$4,000 per annum. The mOnGOOSe had
been in the parish Of Portland eighteen
years. and eggs were as cheap to-day as
they were then. Poultry hadsincreaSed,
and he wonld attribute that to the mon
goose. The greatest praise was therefore
due to Sir john Peter Giant for not simply
Introducing the m0mgoose into Jamaica,
but in SO LONG, prolon slng the life OF po0i-
try Qaughter). He would suggest to the
hon. gentleman that by way OF reducing
the mOng0OSe a premium should be offered.
The mOngOOSe had unqneStl0nablY destroy
ed our quallS, guinea fowls, and they were,
he was of opinion, very rapidly destroying
our land crabs. He knew that in his dis
trict which was largely populated with
LuO ulOlSOOSGs blIO JlJh DCNt nav w
so great as it used to be-. He was us auXi-
Gus as the hon. member for Clarendon to
preserve from injury both insects and
animals. He thought the Governor ought
to appoint a commission to enquire tho
roughly into the matter and suggest what
would be the best way OF DISCRIMINATING
the mOngoOSe. The Council must how
ever, shear in mind that there were many
persons in this island who we're not antago'
niStic to Uhe mOngOOSe. Tno sugar planter,
the cocoa planter, and the man who plant
ed corn and vegetables had no better
friend than the m0ntO0Se. The object OF
the Government III Int not SO much to be
to exteTminate them rs to keep the mongoOSe
witt n bounds. The time had really ar
rived, when it was considered that the
mOngOOse had increased in numbers most
enormously, for the introduction OF II
scheme by the Government that would
bring about the destruction to a large eX-
tent OF the mOng0OSe. H. hoped that it
would never DO sid again that he had
introduced the mDng1o1e into the colony.
=. Hon. y. S. FarquharSOn sail that his hon.
friend, the m9mJor for Portland aad ST.
Thomas had preferred a charge against
himself of having been responsible for the
introduction of the mongoOse. His defence
had been Il heterogeneous one Qaughter).
The hon. gentleman had SuggeSa'd to Sir
John Peter Grant the ACCESSIBILITY OF intro
ducing the mougDOSe for the destruction OF
rats. Sir John Peter Grant carried the
suggestion OF the hon, gentleman into effect
bv importing the mongoo5a, They all know
on very high authority that many years
ago one fine morning Eve entered the gar
den of Eden aud asked Adam to eat OF the
forbidden fruit. The blame was cast by
Eve upon the Devil, (Llu@hter) His
Sata mic Maiest" got the credit for it. The
hon. gentleman could not clear himself OF
the charge which he had preferred against
himself. (Renewed Llught0r). He hoped
the Governor would agree to the appoint
meut of a commission. Som ding was
required to be done very soon in the mat
ter.
The Governor very kindly pHo nIS;d to
appoint a commission t. consider what
should be done with the mong ose.
Hon. Colonia!Secretar said he IL not tho
slightest d)u bt bat that the mong0OSe WAS
a capital rat destroyer. The depredati0ns
committed at night were not altogether to
be attributed TO the mongOose, for it went
about, he believed, only during the day.
He, however, thought there was a general
feeling amongst the people tht5 tbs NON
goose was too plentiful.
Hon. r. Craig said he was glad His
E xcellency the Governor had consented TO
amp ONT a commission. LG would be IN ,ch
the hest course to adopt. One of his con-