objection raised by the latter to the sections of the Railway Company's Law which authorize the Promoters to form themselves into a Joint Stock Company or Corporation. The third paragraph of the Governor's despatch is as follows:

As this is the first time that I have been called upon to offer any opinion on this Law I may say at once that I have always been of opinion that it would be more prudent for this colony to retain its paying Railway and to make the necessary extensions itself, reaping the benefit of the traffic, and of the land, which, when opened up by the Railway will be a very valuable property, and will, I have no doubt, be readily disposed of. I, however, entered upon the Government when the agreement had been practically completed, and at the unanimous request of the Elected Members of the Legislative Council, who so far as I could learn, were influenced by the view that the making of these extensions by an American Syndicate would be followed by the influx of American capital for the building of hotels, and the cultivation of the land to be assigned to the Promoters. How far these views will be verified time alone can tell. In my opinion the good land opened up by the proposed extensions, whether made by an American Syndicate, or the Government of Jamaica, will be readily purchased, as large tracts of land have already been purchased by the Boston Fruit Company, an investment profitable alike to the Company and to the colony. My duty I conceived was fulfilled by submitting the agreement to the Legislative Council, in accordance with your Lordship's instructions conveyed in despatch No. 82 of 3rd Apríl, 1889.

Sep. 30.-The surplus of revenue over expenditure for the financial year ending this day was estimated at £48,000. The result of the year's transactions, when the books were actually closed, showed, however, the larger amount of £56,538 as the excess of receipts over expenditure.

Oct. 1.-Meeting of the Legislative Council. Sir Henry A. Blake stated that he had determined (acting on powers given him by law) to reduce the postage on letters to all parts of the island to a uniform rate of one penny and on post cards to halfpenny. The new arrangement would take effect on the first January, 1890. In the course of his speech His Excellency stated that "feeling strongly the importance of the industrial education of the people he had directed as an experiment the formation of a small industrial school for boys, not criminals, at the Hope Gardens, were, in addition to their literary education, the Director of Public Gardens had undertaken that the inmates should have the advantage of a good agricultural training. Oct. 8.-Passing of a resolution by the Legislative Council expressive of the regret of the Council that the Hon. H. H, Hocking (the Attorney General) was compelled to leave the island for the benefit of his health, and its earnest hope that he would be speedily restored to health and enabled to resume the important duties of his office. The resolution continued as follows: "This Council also desires to place on record its warm appreciation of the valuable services Mr. Hocking has rendered to the island, its admiration of his devotion to his responsible duties and his ability in the discharge of them, its gratitude for the courtesy and consideration invariably shown by him to his colleagues, and its sincere hope that he may be spared for many years to advance the interests of Jamaica."

Oct. 18.-The Legislative Council passed a grant of £2,300, as an addition to the sum of £1,714 obtained from voluntary contributions, for the establishment of the Jubilee Memorial Training Institution for Nurses. The total amount (£4,019) was the estimated cost of a building, to provide accommodation for sixteen patients and fourteen pupil nurses. The Council in making the grant did so "with the understanding that the Government would, by a properly organized system of admission to the institution and of contracts with the students, secure that their services, when trained, should be within the reach of all classes for a term of years.'

Oct. 21.-A letter was laid before the Legislative Council from the Hon. H. H. Hocking, conveying "his sincere thanks for the good wishes expressed towards him and his profound appreciation of the great compliment which they had been good enough to pay him."

Oct. 22.--At the instance of the Government it was unanimously resolved by the Legislative Council that the commencement of the financial year of the Colony be changed from the 1st day of October to the 1st day of April.

On motion of the Hon. Wellesley Bourke it was resolved by the Legislative Council that with the view of checking the free transmission of departmental or official correspondence through the Post Office a system of postage labels should be introduced. Nov. 28.-Visit of His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake to the parishes of St.

Thomas and Portland. His Excellency's journey through the parishes necessitated the fording of sixty-four rivers. He received several addresses all of which drew his attention to the bad state of the parochial roads and the necessity for bridges over the dangerous rivers. His Excellency in his replies admitted the reasonableness of the complaints and promised to bring the subject before the Legislature. Dec. 23.-Payment into the Public Treasury of £100,000, the first instalment of the purchase money of the Jamaica Government Railway by the American Syndicate, and the incorporation of the Jamaica Railway Company.

Dec. 31.-The Governor issued orders for the final transfer on the 1st January, 1890, of the Jamaica Government Railway to the Jamaica Railway Company and appointed Mr. L. F. McKinnon, late Manager of the Railway, as the Government Director under Law 12 of 1889.

1890.-Jan. 2. -Alpha Cottage, on the West Camp Road, in Kingston, certified by the Governor in Privy Council, as an Industrial School for the purposes of Law 34 of 1881, the Reformatories and Industrial Schools Law.

Jan. 21.-Gazetting of the Hon. Henry Kirke as Acting Attorney General during the absence on sick-leave of the Hon. Henry H. Hocking.

Jan. 30.-Removal of quarantine restrictions against the Island of Cuba.

Feb. 13.-Publication in the Jamaica Gazette of a treaty between Her Majesty the Queen of England and the President of the Republic of Columbia for the mutual extradition of fugitive criminals.

Feb. 25.-Opening of the Legislative Council by His Excellency Sir Henry Arthur Blake, K.C.M.G. A detachment of the 1st Battalion West India Regiment formed a guard of honour for His Excellency.

The Governor in his opening address announced an anticipated surplus of £50,000 on the previous year's transactions, which would be carried forward towards the requirements of the current year. His Excellency stated that the Government Railway had been handed over to the Jamaica Railway Company, the latter having paid the instalment of £100,000 required by the law of the previous session. He added that "he had been informed that the promoters did not propose to alter the existing gauge, and that the work of the extension to Montego Bay was being proceeded with." His Excellency referred to the Exhibition of 1891 and stated that "he had reason for hoping that the colony would be honoured by the presence of Prince George of Wales, who would probably open the Exhibition." In connection with the necessity of providing locomotion and quarters for visitors to the Exhibition the Governor stated that he would submit to the Council" a proposal for the encouragement of the building of hotels and keeping of livery establishments in the island."

Mar. 5.-On motion of the Hon. C. S. Farquharson a Select Committee of the Legislative Council was appointed "to ascertain whether or not a system of immigration is necessary to the future agricultural prosperity of the colony; and, if so, whether or not it should be State-aided, and, if State-aided, to what extent.

Mar. 13. Intimation of the Governor, through the Gazette, that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had become the Patron of the Jamaica Exhibition. Mar. 17.—Passing of a Law by the Legislative Council increasing the duty on rum from 5s. to 6s. per gallon for general purposes, in consequence of the transfer of the spirit licenses to parochial road purposes.

Mar. 20.-The York and Lancaster Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the West India Regiment (including the Depot of the Regiment) and the following Volunteer Militia Corps, namely, the Kingston Mounted Infantry, the Kingston Artillery, the Kingston Infantry (three Companies), the St. Catherine's Artillery and the Old Harbour Infantry, were inspected on the Kingston Race Course by the Captain-General Sir Henry A. Blake. His Excellency was accompanied by General John C. Smith, ExLieutenant Governor of Illinois, U.S.A. The Forces were under the command of Colonel W. Clive Justice, the Senior Military Officer in Jamaica. At the close of the Review His Excellency stated that he was pleased with the appearance and smartness of the men; and that he was particularly pleased with the Artillery and with Captain Gruchy's and Captain Mendez's Companies of Infantry. The marching past of the Volunteers was generally commended.

Mar. 25. -Lady Blake laid the Corner Stone of the new rooms of the "Women's Self-Help Society" in Kingston in the presence of a large gathering of the citizens. Addresses were delivered by His Worship the Mayor of Kingston, His Lordship the Bishop of Jamaica, Mr. C L. Campbell (Editor of the Budget newspaper), and

others.

The Legislative Council agreed to the Report of a Select Committee to whom was referred a petition from Mr. E. M. Earle, with reference to the encouragement of local fisheries and the curing of local fish, in which the following paragraph appeared :

"That a grant of £500 be paid to Mr. Earle, or to a Company promoted by him, if he or they place in the markets of this island not less than 200,000lbs. of fish alive, fresh dead and cured not later than 31st December, 1891; a further sum of £500 should not less than 250,000lbs. of fish be put in the markets of this island for home or export consumption between 1st January, 1892, and 31st December, 1892; £500 for 300,000lbs. during the succeeding 12 months; £500 for 400,000lbs. during the succeeding 12 months; and £500 for 500,000lbs. during the succeeding 12 months when the grant should cease.

Mar. 28. The Legislative Council agreed to the Report of a Select Committee, to whom was referred a Message from His Excellency the Governor with reference to the Volunteer Militia, in which the following paragraphs appeared :

"In view of the size, population and geographical importance of this colony, your Committee are of opinion that it is a duty Jamaica owes to the mother country to provide an armed Force, alike efficient and sufficient to quell any local disturbance should one unfortunately take place, and to resist, at least for a time, an attack from outside.

"Your Committee hope it may be possible to raise for this purpose a Volunteer Militia of 1,500 men, of which perhaps one-third should be in Kingston, and the rest located in all other parishes; but should experience prove it impossible to induce a sufficient number of men to volunteer for service then your Committee, whilst deploring the necessity, have no hesitation in recommending a resort to the ballot.

"Your Committee being of opinion that the Force should be under the Military Authorities for discipline and training think it unnecessary to refer specially to the subject of drill; they may however express in passing their opinion that each man should be once every year for at least seven days in Camp, during each day of which he should have four hours drill."

April 1.-Introduction of the Postal Money Order System into Jamaica. The orders are redeemable at the parochial Treasuries, and at the Post Offices of the principal towns. These orders are a legal tender for the payment of taxes and dues and are collectable for three months. The denominations vary from sixpence to ten shillings.

Introduction of the Penny Postage System. Unpaid letters are subjected to a surcharge of double the postal rate. The franking of letters by the heads of departments was at the same time abolished.

April 17.-Appointment of a Commission consisting of the Hon. Henry Kirke, Acting Attorney General; Hon. Charles B. Mosse, C. B., Superintending Medical Officer, and Captain W. Peploe Forwood, Justice of the Peace for Kingston, to enquire into the system of management of the Kingston Gas Works and in to the manner in which certain defalcations occurred and to suggest means against a repetition.

April 24.-The Legislative Council discussed the immigration question and agreed to a report from the Committee appointed on the 5th March (as amended in Council by Mr. C. S. Farquharson) authorizing the Protector of Immigrants to enter into contracts with native labourers on behalf of employers, and to pay to such labourers a bonus of £2 a year, in addition to their wages, such bonus being paid to the Executive (with 10s. for the working expenses of the scheme) by the employers. With regard to the importation of East Indian Immigrants the following financial scheme, proposed Mr. U. S. Farquharson, was agreed to:

Taking the cost of an adult Coolie at

and deducting the departmental charge, which will very properly be chargeable to general revenue under the proposed system

leaves the cost of importing and providing return passage at

I suggest that an increase of 1s. per 100lbs. import duty on rice should be levied, and estimate it to yield £5,000. This in the ease of 1,000 Coolies a year would be equal per capita to

leaving to be provided

for which sum the first employer should give his note for 34s. a year, extended over 10 years.

The fee of 50s. to be levied annually on the employer of a Coolie who has served his first 5 years indenture, as well as the extra trade license of 50s. should be paid into a fund, the proceeds of which should be applied in the reduction of the employers' notes as they annually mature.

Suppose then only 25 per cent. of the first term Coolies are reemployed (a very small per centage) the charge to the first employer would be

less 5 years at 12s. 6d. (4 of 50s.)

At the worst the first employer would pay £17 and no export duties, but he would very probably pay no more than and perhaps a lesser sum.

If this view be adopted no possible charge can ever fall on general revenues, nor would even an advance, as proposed in the Committee's Report, be necessary.

As to the increase on the duty on rice (1s. per 100lbs.) it is infinitesimal and it will not fall on the masses of the people, but chiefly on the Coolies who are otherwise not heavily taxed.

April 24.-Passing of a Law by the Legislative Council authorizing the Government to guarantee the payment of debentures, and the interest thereon, issued for the erection of hotels within nine months from the passing of the Law, in Kingston, and within twelve months from the passing of the Law, in other parishes.

May 3.-Passing of a Law by the Legislative Council giving power to the Government to raise a loan of £180,000 at 4 per cent. to be applied in the re-construction of the parochial roads. A tax on land varying from 2s. on 5 acres to 60s. on 1,500 acres and the proceeds of the spirit licenses were appropriated to the payment of the interest and sinking fund of the loan and to the maintenance and repair of the roads, as main roads, after their re-construction.

May 21.-Passing of a Law providing for the reconstruction of the streets of Kingtson.

May 23.-Appointment of a Commission consisting of the Hon. Henry Kirke, Acting Attorney General, Staff Commander James Rogers, R.N., Charles Goldie, Esq., Collector of Customs of Kingston, and Simon Soutar, Esq., Merchant in Kingston, to enquire into the working of the Pilot Laws.

May 29.-Appointment of a Commission consisting of the Hon. C. B. Mosse, C.B., the Hon. Robert Craig, William Fawcett, Esq., and Dr. J. W. Plaxton, to enquire whether, as had been represented, the mongoose was destructive of poultry, game, and other useful creatures, and whether it was expedient that measures should be taken to reduce the number of the mongoose and, if so, what measures would most readily and thoroughly effect this purpose.

May 30-A party of American Gentlemen held a " Decoration Day Service" in the Churchyard of the St. Andrew's Parish Church, the grave decorated being that of the Hon. R. M. Harrison, late American Consul in this island. This was the first time such a service had been held in Jamaica.

June 5.-Publication of a Convention between Her Majesty the Queen and the United States of America with respect to the mutual extradition of fugitive criminals.

June 30.-His Excellency Sir Henry Arthur Blake convened a meeting of the inhabitants of Kingston for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of the sufferers by the fire which destroyed the Town of Fort de France in the island of Martinique. July 1.-Meeting in the Kingston Town Hall, presided over by the Governor, to consider relief of sufferers by fire at Martinique. Committee appointed to col

G

lect subscriptions to defray the cost of provisions which, on hearing of the disaster His Excellency had at once forwarded to Martinique.

The amount subsequently collected was more than sufficient to cover the cost of the provisions, and a sum of money was, in addition, sent to the Governor of Martinique for the further relief of the sufferers.

July 9.-Commencement of new Royal Mail Contract, under which the course of post from England was shortened to 16 days.

July 29.-Unveiling by the Governor of a Memorial Portrait of Sir Anthony Musgrave in the rooms of the Jamaica Institute. His Excellency in the course of his remarks referred to the many works of progress, such as Railway Extension, Telegraphs, Steam Communication, &c., inaugurated by Sir Anthony.

Aug. 4.-The Governor, accompanied by Lady Blake, visited Montego Bay for the purpose of opening the Local Exhibition in that town. This was the first of several Parochial Exhibitions which were held by way of preparation for the Jamaica Exhibition to be opened in January, 1891.

Their Excellencies, who had visited the Parish of Trelawny on their way to the Exhibition, continued their tour through Hanover and Westmoreland, returning to town by steamer from Savanna-la-Mar.

Aug. 6.-Coroner's Inquest held at Port Henderson by the Coroner of St. Catherine on the death of Sergeant William White, 1st W. I. Regiment, who was shot on the 24th July at Apostle's Battery. The verdict of the Jury was to the effect that William White was shot by a soldier "who was acting in the due execution and discharge of his duty as a measure of necessity and in self defence." The jury also added a rider to the effect that Captain Norris, who was in command of the party, "exercised all the forbearance consistent with humanity and the due execution of his duty."

Sep. 3.-The Governor visited Port Maria for the purpose of opening the Local Exhibition there.

Sep. 10. Dr. James Ogilvie resigned as Mayor of Kingston.

Sep. 11.-Discovery at the bottom of an old well near Drummond Street, Kingston, of a body afterwards identified as that of Paymaster Sergeant Herbert Cox of the 1st W. I. Regiment.

At the Coroner's Inquest subsequently held the Jury returned the following verdict: "That Herbert Cox was found dead on September 11th at the bottom of a well near Drummond Street in Kingston, and that there is not sufficient evidence before the jurors to enable them to say by what means and when the said Herbert Cox came to his death."

Sep. 18. -Governor's visit to May Pen to open the Clarendon Exhibition.

Publication in the Gazette of the Memorandum of the Colonial Defence Committee with respect to the scheme of defence adopted by Her Majesty's Government for the West Indies. Under the scheme Imperial Coaling Stations will be fortified and maintained at Jamaica and St. Lucia, these points being selected on account of their strategic importance in relation to the operations of Her Majesty's Navy in West Indian Waters, and all the Imperial Troops in the West Indies will be concentrated at these points, defence against minor raids by fast cruisers and protection against internal disturbances being left to the colonists themselves. Sep. 19,-Dr. Ogilvie re-elected to the City Council.

Oct. 2.- At a meeting of the Exhibition Commissioners held to-day, the announcement was made that Mr. Washington Eves, on behalf of the Commissioners, had engaged the services of Mr. Lee Bapty as Manager of the Jamaica Exhibition at a salary of £25 per week. Mr. Bapty was manager of the Exhibition held this year at Edinburgh. At the same meeting it was decided to vote £100 towards the expenses of exhibiting a Model Dairy.

Oct. 3.-Dr. Ogilvie, at a meeting of the City Council, re-elected Mayor of Kingston.

Oct. 6.-In common with their co-religionists throughout the world the members of the Jewish community in Jamaica celebrated the "Feast of the Rejoicing of the Law." Special services were held in the Synagogues, at which not a few Christians were present.