, 1891-08-05
position will seomsrn0rermarked:a If we take

DT1LlSu 0uldud Will .I6 w 6bC 1uQIdu RIOup,
the extent Of territory which falls under our
flag in those seas is nearly 100, 0C0 square miles,
and it divides itself politically into exactly the
same number Of governments as are comprised
in the Aust alasian gr0rp. There are British
Guiana, Jamaica' and its dependencies. Barba-
dos, Trinidad and Tobapo, the L.ceward Islands,
the Windward Islands. and the Bahamas. To
compare any one Of these. alone, in import
ance with a corresponding one Of the seven
Australasian governments would be, Of course,
absurd. Together. however, they have their
own importance, which is likely rather to in
crease than to diminish. To put the military
aspect of the situation for the moment alto
gether aside, the effect Of the Jamaica Exhibi.
ton has undoubtedly been to give a very con-
siderable stimulus to the m not only
of Jamaica itself but Of the other islands
and as West Indian is almost entirely
agricultural and mineral, commercial move
ment necessarily implies renewed activity in
the cultivation and development of natural re-
sources. 1t is, of course, in Jamaica itself that
this effect has been most marked. There local
life has been profoundly stirred The exhi-
bltlon, which was only intended in it's origin to
De a local exhibition, expanded into the pro-
portions which it eventually took, in
consequence OF the enthusiasm and
very practical testimonies of sympa-
thy with which the idea was received by the
leading men of Kingston and other towns.
The required guarantee fund was subscribed
ne"rly three times over, but, though the more
ambitious conception Of an international exhi-
bltion thus sprung almost spontaneously into
birth and was encouraged by the Home
Government the local idea was not abandoned,
Local exhibitions were held all over the is
land and not the least interesting feature in the
movement is said to have been the discovery
by It's meals Of the large numbers OF able
and useful VILLAGE leaders and crganisors
who had existed ,mknown to the authori-
ties. New products Of a more material
kind were also, under the stimulus Of in
terest and sympathy, found to cxist. Ochrcs,
which, with scarcely any preparations, are fit
to be put upon the foreign market. have been
found in quantity. Pottery CLAWS Of unusual
value have been satisfactorily experimental
with. Both these materials may serve as the
basis of a profitable trade, which may obviate
the necessity Of ,ships returning in ballast dur
ing the dead season. Dye woods also, pita
fibre, a tanning ma. crial which is one Of the
products OF the mango, cassav&, ard banana
-four are among the conn ODDITIES which are
likely to add to the trade returns If he island.
Everywhere native propPictors have begun to
ask themselves what they possess that Ameri-
can and European manufacturers are likely to
Want. American markets are near and
tempting. America has long dealt proftablv
with the islanders in sugar and fruit thew
have been in the habit Of considering that
American -four was the best they could
have. The natural tendency of trade
is on the line Of least resistance. and
before the exhibition the inclination had
been towards America; but at this point
begins the more than local significance of the
jamaican achievement. Canada, which has
been rapidly assuming the position of the
unitier of the Empire and loses no opportu-
nifty of pushing its policy of streng hening
the Imperial connection, was not behindhand
here. 1t took quite the leading position among
Ike guests Of the Exhibition. The Canadian
Commissioner, Mr.. Brown, not only pushed
Canadian products to such good purpose that.
cut Of the large proportion of space allotted
to the Canadian courts, there was nothing left
to return to Canada at the close of the Exhibi-
ton, and hat the qualities of Canadian -four
and butter were established beyond the posi-
bility Of dispute he also organised, in Cana
dian interests, a systematic examination by
experts OF the products and prices of the West
Indian courts, with a view to stimulating
trade between the two sections of the Empire,
The result is likely to be increased means Of
transport and a development of trade in woods.
clays, hbres, gums, and cassava, with a pro-
nOrti0natn iOcrnaSo IF Rrik;e L % 49,