, 1892-06-18

reference to the Sl5O tor planting public
grounds, it is an unfortunate amount to refuse
at present, under the low sugar prices. it is
necessary to find out some other resource for
the Island and We see that in all other West
Indian Island there are botanical stations for
the purpose of securing useful information to
the planting interests; and he had noticed
sums Of about S15, 900 to $4,000 expended
for that purpose elsewhere; it would cause too
heavy an expense to the Colonial Treasury,
to start a botanical station here on some
future day he hoped to establish one on the
Kings Estates. But it is desirable to have
that amount at disposal, in order to try some
experiments on the public grounds already
now those to the East of the town Of Chris
tiansted have been utilized to q certain extent,
and some revenue is expected to be derived
from them, if some necessary expenses can be
made. He did not mean to say that tori u
stance we can from there just now get bananas
for export, which is a matter OF some import.
ance especially as an article of export to the
United States but the cultivation of those
grounds ought to pay if we oan have some one
in charge; more returns of greater extent
can be derived from those grounds, if properly
conducted. To attend to this, there must be
money allowed, forinstance for the wire keeping
the grounds fenced in. The returns might in
time more than 10 times cover the small outlay
now used thereon. If nothing can be done,
the grounds will go to ruin. In St. Thomas
something similar had occurred, where the
outlay Of 5000 had given returns Of $l,lOO to
to $1,000 and with an increasing revenue, hS
hoped that he will be able in time to shew up
good returns from the public grounds for the
amounts expended on them already now the
military horses are furnished with grass, by
which a considerable saving is effected. He
would therefore ask the Council not to refuse
this small amount.
Ord Crown Member (Ditlspsen) would beg
to recommend the amendment for public
grounds from this point of view, namely be-
cause the military horses are supplied tor q
great part of the year from the grass pieces to
the East of the town, and it the grass pieces
cali be kept properly clean, 1T might De that
still more grass can be had, and a heavy ex~
penss be saved. In the dry season, when the
Jail stopped grass we got a pretty good sup
ply from the grass pieces.
The Speaker: If it be 80 that the amount
for hosting the flag at Kingshill is secured
the Police Sergeant by contract, We cannot do
otherwise than let it be for the time. As regards
the $3.50 for public grounds, he did not think
the amount needed nor the return adequate
at all events the expense for a walchman at
those places Of which His Exccllency spoke
would be betrayed from the revenue gained
from those places, before the balance be paid
in.
The Governor said he was sorry that the
Speaker had not appreciated his arguments in
favor OF the grant for public grounds he
could not we'll do without that amount, as the
ground could not be left alone. If. however,
it be The Councils wish to have the expenses
deducted from the revenue, and this latter APP
pearing with a smaller sum, it would be done
but he had believed that it was the wish Of
the Council to have the full revenue entered
and also the expense incurred. In reterence
to the amount for the Upper Guardians he was
happy to state that he had made arrangements
that the grant shall cease the present
Upper Guardian has agreed to dispense with
the amount provided The funds Of the Upper
Guardians be not reduced much below What
they are now, as otherwise it would not pay.
The results of the vote on the amendments
were:
The Committees sub Amendment to Go
verllment's Amendment (Aagaard) for $500
was adopted with s votes, and the Govern
ment's Amendment fell away.
The Governments Amendment tStrandberg)
Sl0O was adopted with 8 votes, The total Of
No, on the Money Bill was then 81 ,335.64.
Committee amendment. adoptei2 2. a. Hoist
ing flag was adopted.