, 1894-08-15


OF a lofty building commanding a far-reach-
iEg view of the charming grounds Of ST.
James Park.
So much has been said and printed regard
ms himself and his colony Of late, that we
were anxious to gain some authoritative IN
formation regarding the island whose desti-
Mes are now III his hands, and we confess we
found him most willing to crafty our wishes.
OF course we lad not the most remote IN
tenllon Of |yentuing upon administrative
subjects, our deG re being to elicit accurate
Information regarding only the social and IN
dustrlal questions affecting The island ard its
inhabitants.
lnIrIiy to ar opening question as to the
advhl eemrut Of the colony in all material
matters, his EXcellency said that unaues-
t'nabiy many changes had taken place
G0iln4 the hast few Years, all denoting an I'M
p;ovenent IN the condition Of the inhabitants.
Ihe people We're, perhaps, slowly, but Ger
talaly surely, taking advantage Of the lessons
gwen them in the late Exhibition and were
"Nliently aetuated by an earnest desire to do
none tor themselves in winning respect than
had been the case with the previous genera
ton.
As regards eIacation they wero quite pre-.
pared to take advantage Of the opportunities
"AAO' ACi - IL llSLl UtllOU OF IHUE
children III both Government and private
schools they seemed to be conscious of
the benefits they are likely 10 derive
from rudimentary ms Iuction at any rate,
whether they value anything in advance Of
such may be a question of time. The natives
Of Jamaica had a strong attachment to land.
aad property once acquired was valued by
them very highly. Their physical wants
We're of course very few, and beyond sat
isfying these they can hardly be expected
to 80 very far, though there were not want
ing signs that even this was looming in the
distance.
As regards European cultivation and Eu-
ropcar enterprise, coffee still held out good
prospects, and if care we're only taken in the
selection of seed, and in the isolation of
plantations as lar us practicable, there could
be no doubt 0f'ltS evident success. He was,
he said, entirely opposed to disposing of largo
blocks Of Grown Land for coffee planting, as
he did not forget what had befallen the coffee
enterprise in Ceylon owing to a disregard Of
this caution.
Bur what about blocks even Of moderate
size suitable for coffee. Did such exist in
the interior?
Certainly. replied the Governor. There
ave some thousands of acres AT a good eleva-
ton and of fair quality which would GER
tainly repay outlay upon them. That some
Of the coffee in the island has not sold at
good prices was entirely due to the want of
care in the harvesting and preparation Of
the beans. But all that will soon be
remcdied.
III reply to our enquiry about fruit c%ultiva-
ton and export to distant ports, Sir Henry
admitted there was a difficulty in keeping
bananas for any long period, but His Excel
lency continued, | have recently had a con-
v|ersation with the Governor Of SUrinam,
where bananas thrive marvellously we'll, and
l was assured by him thai a Dutch scientist
had found a means of preparing a -four of
excellent quality from dessicated bananas,
possessing all the favour and nourishing pro-
perties of the fruit and capable of being kept
in tins for an indefinite period; in this dis
covery it is expected that a large industry may
he found capable of ample development in
the future.
Altogether the Governor of the premier
West Indian island is most sanguino as to it's
future progress aud prosperity.
The directors Of the Royal Mail Steamers
will do well to heed WHAT'S said by a voyager
on one of their vessels in regard to the &C