, 1896-01-08

sarlly by purchase, but by several estates
pooling issues in a Joint Stock Company.
For instance, Hague, and CoInelia Ida would
DO much more valuable together than the
sum of their separate values, and the same
is true of many other estates. United they
can stand there will be enough good land
to eHabie the proprietorS to throw out all
which is costly to work, and to put some
under "assolement.' Singly, the smaller
estates will have to succumb. Then again,
1t Is most desirable to give the grower an
interest in his cultivation. In Cuba the
bulk of the crop is grown by farmers, or
'Colonos," as they are called, many Of them
growing sugar on a very large scale. 1t Is
Just here where Europeans might be of some
service. do not myself see why some men,
now filing ovsrseers' berths, or vainly
seeking such, should not grow canes for the
larger factories, to be purchased at a rate
regulated by the market price Of sugar. This
would give the whole population an interest
IN what is now believed only to concern the
few There would, [ believe, bej much diff
Guilty in getting the Creoles to become good
peasant proplietors, though there are some
notable exceptions, for instance, Mr.. Kryen-
hof at Buxton, and Mr.. James at Golden
Grove, both Of whom are good examples Of
what an honorable and Industrious black
man may become, and arc deserving of all
encouragement in every way. On the other
hand Portuguese and East Indians might,
l fancy, be got to grow canes It Il really
earnest effort were made, and the drainage
difficulty got rid of, The population Of India
Is an agricultural one, and there can be no
reason why they should not DO as well in
this colony, where their labour is so much
more remunerative, rs they do i'll their own
country. Personally, however, / should pin
my faith largely on the Chinese could they
be introduced III large numbers they would
do more for the colony than any other
class of immigrants. When I took up a sugar
estate In Penang [ imme Iiat3Iy went to
Swallow, and succeeded in gottimg down with
me a large number of Chinese, who are gradual
ly settling down round he estate, and becoming
growers of canes, instead of mere agricultu-
raj labourers. They now grow u very appre-
ciable proportion of the crop Of the largest
estate on the Peninsula.
In Farming do you consider people should
renal" on the lO0-Iying abandoned cane lands.
or seek other places Of more suitable soil IN
the ~interior. And If so how wouid you propose
TO connect them With the market?
This question was mainly answered when
| dealt with coffee. We are generally told
that the reason why the Dutch went up the
river in the old days was to avoid piracy.
1nle might nave been one Iea<O ,, but | cX-
pect that the main reason was, that the lands
were more suitable for the cotton, coffee and
cocoa which they then grew, us being more
moist, and more easily drained. The ques-
tion of connecting this land with the
market cannot be determined, or even con
sidered, until the localities for the farmers
are settled.
Do you consider 1t accessory that the Gov
eminent should alter tho ~eristinq Crown
Lands Regulations, and make easier terms
for those anxious to obtain land; and ohGs
penalty Uould you propose for non-conformity
30 Government rules7
am so imperfectly acquainted with these
Regulations that ! am not in a position to give
my opinion Oh the subject. No doubtif bOnGJidd
settlers could be obtained they should be given
land OIL the easiest possible terms, but III the
event of companies or syndicates claiming
large tracts, they should be heavily burdened.
The worst thing that could happen would be to
give a large tract of land to q poor syndicate.
A Large tract should only be given to a body
of men with practically boundIess capital,
and to whom it would be a matter of no great
concern whether they were called upon to
spen | 100000 or G1, 100000 in opening up
the Land. l would readily grant territories
to such a syndicate, but | should strenuously
insist rs a material condition of the contract
being drawn up, that aceItain large sum of
49, Ill H. -,D,A 80, kIN p,n,k with