The record-union., 1899-03-23
Only a Small Encounter, In Which But Few
Were Injured.
The Jamaican Government De-
cides to Do Away With the
Colony's Meteorological Service,
the British West Indies to
Hereafter Look to United States
for Forewarnings of APPROACH
ing Storms.

NNOliCSpOuOtlCc VI tile ASSOCIATED 8rGSS.J
KINGSTON (Jamaica), March IL
The Government of this island has Just
decided upon the extinction of the col
ony's meteorological service, hitherto
maintained on a somewhat elaborate
scale and at great cost, which the re-
trenchment scheme contemplates re-
ducing to a small grant for statistics
of the island rainfall. All the observa-
tories will be closed and the instru-
ments disposed of to the best add
vantage"
The United States has recently estab-
lished a branch meteorological bureau
near Kingston. The officers in charge
have been instructed to furnish to the
Government and to the public all the
information in their line. Under such
circumstances the Government has
concluded that it's own service may
we'll be done away with and that of the
United States used instead. This is
what has been decided upon, and ia
maica, and through it the British West
Indies generally, will have to depend
henceforth for warnings as to the APP
proach of hurricanes, ETC., on the gen.
crosby of a foreign Government. The
people of Jamaica feel more hurt over
this aspect of retrenchment than over
any other, as it is looked upon as the
taking of an unwarranted advantage
of American enterprise.
The latest advices to hand from
Cayenne, capital of French Guiana, in
dictate that the previous intelligence
about a collision having occurred be-
tween the French and Brazilian de-
limitation commissions were. somewhat
grossly, but under the circumstances,
u or d hv the WOllld-
be fugitives In so far as the facts were
exaggerated the Indians of Counani
appear to have been responsible for the
exaggeration, and it is probable that
they were themselves deceived by one
or two designing chiefs who sought TO
frighten away the foreign settlers.
The circumstances are that dis
rute arose between the Brazilian and
French Commissioners. 1t was, there
fore. decided to suspend the delimlta-
ton proceedings until the matter could
be laid before the respective Govern
ments. Meanwhile some quite personal
unpleasantness arose between tne
French Senegalese troops and the Bra
zilians. which eventually led to an en-
counter in which few on each size
were hurt. The Commissioners them
decided to move from the vicinity or
each other until operations were re-
su1ned so as to avoid further trouble
This the Indians seem to have IN
terpreted as a quarrel between their
masters. and accordingly they Sel
about preparing for war. Inc news
was spread among the settlers anu
miners. and many of them, recollecting
the troubles of 1896, retired, some to
Amapa, and some to Cayenne. 1t is be-
hat the original QlS-
pute between the Commissioners Is ca
pable of easy adjustment and much
public anxiety would have been avoid
ed had the local authorities made puo-
lie the facts in their possession.
The s.reinforcementS' of French anu
BRAZILIAN troops, the sending UP OIL
which gave color to the sensational
stories. turns out to have been nothing
more significant than the changing OF
the guards accompanying the Commas
sioners. and which was probably mast
tened by the official reports OF the quar-
rels between the original guards-
THAT the Commissioners will continue
40 delimitation work without inter-
ruDtion is proved by the fact that ,he
naur Governor of French Guiana NJ
Nontet. has set up a large number o.
LIGHT iron frame houses, which no
brought out with him for the PURPOSE
THE CAYENNE correspondent OF tho
,amerara .Argosy'' is responsible ior
the statement that a strong ahll-1
lish feeling exists there, Wnlcn mas
s,,lted in insults to the British resi-
dents who are unable to obtain re-
dress According to the courts, tneyl
baye no right in the country, ana Tue
sooner they clear out the pet'ei
them a. no a
The british Consul is said to pc
rr,,onchman who cannot speak oo~eiA
words Of English.
POLITICAL CRISIS IN JAMAlCA.
KINGSTON (Jamaica), March go
,o1i+ical crisis of gravity SAID TO De the
,,,os+ ;oportant since 1868 is now oc-
a,,Yv;np the attention of Jamaica Inc
governor. Sir Augustus Hemming, as
eoreoa sted in these dispatches on Fep-
NEW DIST. prorogued the Legislature
.-e,-terdav and reconvened it for to-day
-, tbe order of the Secretary OF state
~ colonies. Joseph Chamberlain, Ior
tta n,,rnose of introducing the opnox-
tons tariff bill, relating to industrial
;,,,,,,aments and literature, which the
rro,,noil rejected on March 10th, the
= ,,,a,,nor at the same time bringing IN
fa,,r new official members to out-vote
80 CONSERVATIVES The Jamaica AS
.1,o;otion has convened public meetings
th,,ouphout the country, and 1t has
30 bled to Mr. Chamberlain explaining
+be gravity Of the situation.
Mich anxiety prevails, and 1T Is ex-
v,oo+ad there will be trouble If the Cow
eminent persists in its present pollcy-