supply of water has recently been obtained from the Wag Water; a river which flows to the northside of the island. This water has, therefore, been brought by a tunnel, of ancient construction, through the main ridge of the island. The rights of Constant Spring and Temple Hall Estates to this water have been purchased by the Government. This further supply of water has so augmented the delivery that the numerous suburbs of Kingston and the pens of St. Andrew have now a most satisfactory supply of water. In very dry seasons the Hope River sometimes partially failed, but as the Wag Water never fails, it is reasonably believed that Kingston will never again suffer from want of water.

KINGSTON: History.-The site of Kingston was not the first chosen by the English for the commercial capital of the island. Port Royal flourished as such until 1692 in which year occurred the great earthquake which destroyed that place and caused the death of 3,000 of its inhabitants. That dealt it a fearful blow. Many people remained there but most of the survivors removed to the lower part of Liguanea in St. Andrew, then the property of Sir William Beeston, afterwards Lieutenant Governor of the island. They procured for their settlement the status of a town, a plan for which was drawn up by a Colonel Christian Lilly, under the direction of the Government, the name selected being "Kingston." There was not at first much progress in its settlement, the recollection of the former wealth and greatness of Port Royal giving the colonists a continued preference for that place; but the fire of 1703 completely destroyed the favourite town, and the disheartened inhabitants went in large numbers to Kingston, which the Assembly caused to be divided into lots and given to those who had lost their houses. A law was also passed directing the slave owners in the Parish of St. Andrew to send one out of every twenty of their slaves to build temporary huts for the refugees, and, as an encouragement for the early settlement of the new town, every house built within the year (1703) was exempted from taxes for seven years. Soon after this another law was passed declaring Kingston to be "the chief seat of trade and head port of entry" of the island.

From this time the prosperity of the town was assured, and in the year 1713 it was declared by law that the place should "for ever be taken and esteemed as an entire and distinct parish, with all the powers of any other parish," and, further, that it should "have the right of sending three Representatives to the Assembly." So rapidly had the town grown that in 1716 it was thus described by an historian of the time :

"Within the harbour and about six miles from the town of Port Royal lies the town of Kingston, first laid out and partially settled after the great earthquake. On the fire at Port Royal in the year 1703 thither resorted the most considerable traders and trading sort of people; and it is now become greatly increased in houses, stores, wharves and other conveniences for trade and business, so that it is by much the largest town in the island; and if the island shall increase in people and new settlements (the consequences of trade and riches) it is likely to be much the fairest town in all the Indies for 'tis most commodiously laid out, happily and beautifully situated, has many spacious houses in it, and more are daily building, is the residence of the greatest merchants and traders, and has resorting to it most of the ships or vessels that come to the island, and in it is managed the greatest part of the trade of Jamaica." For nearly half a century the town continued to grow in size and opulence, and so important had it become in 1755 that the attempt was then made to constitute it the seat of government. Governor Knowles twice proposed and the Assembly twice rejected a bill for that purpose, but at length the Assembly gave way and a law was passed giving effect to the arrangement. Soon after the public archives were removed to Kingston and the superior courts were established there. But the change was unpopular throughout the island and numerous petitions against it were sent to the King. On the 3rd October, 1758, the disallowance of the law was proclaimed and the records were returned to Spanish Town, escorted by "a considerable body of military."

In 1780 the town was severely stricken by a great fire which broke out at about 2 o'clock in the morning of the 16th May and continued until the following evening.

The large and closely built portion of the town lying between King and Orange streets was burnt down, the destruction of property being estimated at £30,000. But the town soon recovered from the effects of the conflagration and prospered to such an extent that in 1802 it was granted a Corporation under the style of "The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the City and Parish of Kingston." The Court of Common Council was given a seal and empowered to make and ordain bylaws, ordinances and regulations for the good order of the city, not repugnant to prerogative or to the laws of the island. The following is a description of the city seal : On one side the island arms, crest supporters and mottoes. Legend. Sigil Commune Civit: Kingston in Jamaica (sic). Reverse, Britannia, in the dress of Minerva, holding the trident in one hand, and in the other a mirror, reflecting the rays of the benign influence of Heaven on the produce of the island; behind her the British Lion, supporting her shield, a conch shell at her feet, and at a distance a ship under sail. Legend, Hos fovet, hos curat, servatque, Britannia Mater.

In 1843 another great fire devastated a large portion of the city: it began shortly before 10 a.m. on the 26th of Angust in a foundry situated at the east end of Harbour Street, and extended diagonally across the city until it reached the old Roman Catholic Chapel at the corner of Duke Street. Many of the best dwellings and much valuable property were consumed and a large number of persons were left in utter destitution. The sum of £10,149 16s. 2d. was distributed among the sufferers, of which £5,000 was voted by the House of Assembly. At this period a great deal of the foreign trade of Kingston had disappeared in consequence of the establishing of direct steam communication between the European and Spanish American States; still Kingston continued an important centre of commerce.

In March, 1862, another great fire occurred by which the commercial division of the city was devastated. Nineteen of the principal fancy and other stores in Harbour and Port Royal Streets, three wharves, and the extensive and well-built three storied house in which the Commercial Hotel was kept, were burnt down at a loss of £30,000. The value of the merchandise, furniture, &c., destroyed was estimated at £60,830, making a total of £90,830. Of this £9,400 was covered by insurances, leaving £81,530 as the total loss to the owners of the premises and stock. The sum of £499 16s. was distributed by order of the Executive to the necessitous sufferers. Three years afterwards Representative Government was abandoned in Jamaica and Kingston ceased to be a corporate city. All the powers and immunities of the Common Council were transferred to a nominated Municipal Board created by Law 8 of 1866, the privilege of making ordinances for the regulation of the city being transferred to the Governor in Privy Council.

For many years it had become evident that the convenience of the Government and of the general public would be best served by a transfer of the seat of government from Spanish Town, and in 1872 Sir John Grant, with the approval of the Secretary of States for the Colonies, gave effect to the change. The chief courts of law had been removed a few years before, as well as the offices of some departments of government, and the transfer of the Governor's permanent residence and of the Colonial Secretariat alone remained to be effected. Room for this department was provided in the spacious premises known as Head Quarter House (the official residence of the Officer in Command of the Troops) which was purchased for £5,000, whilst Bishop's Lodge, (the former residence of the Bishops of Jamaica) situated in the Liguanea plain, was also purchased for conversion into a Government House. The Legislative Council was thereafter convened in Kingston and a Chamber for its deliberations found in the large hall of the first storey of Head Quarter House. A calamitous fire occurred in Kingston on the 11th December, 1882, by which a large section of the business portion of the city was destroyed. The total number of houses entirely destroyed was five hundred and seventy-seven, whilst twelve were partially destroyed. These places were inhabited by about six thousand persons. The total loss of house property was estimated at between £150,000 and £220,000. The number of houses totally destroyed in the several streets and lanes reached by the fire was as follows :-Barry Street, 36; Church Street, 26; Duke Street, 2; Harbour Street, 55; King Street, 30; Little Port Royal Street, 3; Orange Street, 69; Port Royal Street, 55; Princess Street, 75; Tower Street, 58; West Street,

13; Luke Lane, 87; Mark Lane, 1; Matthews Lane, 35; Peters Lane, 36; Temple Lane, 9; and Water Lane, 37; whilst one house in Duke Street, one in Orange Street, two houses in Port Royal Street, four in West Street, one in Luke Lane, two in Matthews Lane, and one in Peters Lane were partially destroyed. Amongst the buildings destroyed were the two Jewish Synagogues; the premises of the Ordnance Department; the Government Savings Bank; the office of the Jamaica Mutual Life Assurance Society; part of the premises of the Colonial Bank; several wharf premises, &c., &c. The appearance of the town in the burnt districts has greatly improved since the fire, as the old offices, stores, &c., have been replaced by buildings of a more handsome and substantial character.

Previous to the fire last referred to the parish of Kingston had a population of 15,928 males and 22,638 females, or a total of 38,566 souls, inhabiting 4,198 houses, on which £4,211 was paid during the financial year 1881-82 as poor rates. The number of houses on which poor rates were paid in 1890-91 was 4,330, the amount received being £7,650; or £3,439 more than in 1881-82. The population, by the Census of 1891, is now 48,504.

The value of the imports into Kingston during the year 1891-92, for home consumption, was £1,649,832 and the value of the exports £752,725—£83,901 being for foreign produce re-shipped. The import duties collected at the port during the year amounted to £228,389. The rum duties received were £60,269, and the trade tax £1,751.

There are three Building Societies doing business in the city and nineteen Fire Insurance Companies accepting risks all over the island. Besides these a Discount Society, eleven Life Assurance Companies, an Ice Company and two Marine Insurance Companies, and an Electric Light and Power Company are in successful operation in the city. No less than three Companies have been formed for the establishing of Hotels. One of these, the American Hotels Company* has built a large and handsome Hotel at Constant Spring, about six miles from Kingston, capable of accommodating between 100 and 200 guests. The Kingston Hotels Company have opened at Myrtle Bank a fine and commodious Hotel, while the Jamaica Hotels Company has provided in Heywood Street an Hotel specially adapted in its arrangements and charges to the use of the humbler classes of the community.

The city is lighted with gas and several of the Churches and public buildings with electric light. The principal thoroughfares are traversed by street cars. A remarkably handsome and very commodious market adorns the lower end of King Street. In connection with this structure is a public landing place. In the upper part of the same street and immediately opposite to the principal entrance of the Kingston Parade Garden is the statue of an illustrious man, Sir Charles Metcalfe, which, as the inscription on the plinth announces, was erected "by the grateful inhabitants of Jamaica in commemoration of the benefits derived from his wise, just and beneficial administration of the government of the island."

On the eastern side of the parade (just without the garden fence) stands another full length marble statue, that of the honorable Edward Jordon, C.B., "who through a long series of years and in times of danger, fearlessly stood forward as the champion of emancipation and for the removal of civil disabilities." This memorial was, as the inscription states, erected "by public subscription, in humble acknowledgment of the important services rendered to his country" by the deceased, who, "honored by his Sovereign and beloved by the people, will ever be remembered as one of Jamaica's most distinguished sons."

The statue of another distinguished Jamaican, Doctor Lewis Q. Bowerbank, was erected in the year 1881 on the northern side of the garden. The inscription on the memorial is as follows: "This statue was erected by his numerous friends and admirers in memory of him in his private character as a Christian gentleman; in his profession as a distinguished physician and sanitary reformer; and in his public as a Custos whose administration is a tradition and a model. Born in Jamaica 1814." A statue of Father Dupont, a Roman Catholic Priest, who for many years laboured among the poor of the City, was placed during the past year at the NorthEast corner of the Garden.

* For details see "Hotel Companies in Jamaica."

Among the principal buildings of the city are the Theatre, the Lunatic Asylum, the Public Hospital, the General Penitentiary, the Mico Institution, the Town Hall, and Jamaica Institute, and the Jamaica Club. A substantial permanent Iron Grand Stand adorns the Race Course. The many places of worship are creditable and commodious structures, the finest in architectural appearance being Coke Chapel on the parade and St. Michael's Church near Rae Town. A fine Synagogue has recently been erected at the corner of Charles and Duke Streets. The old Parish Church is dear to the inhabitants of Kingston, not alone for its comparative antiquity but because of the historic memories with which it is associated. This Church has lately been considerably enlarged by the addition of side aisles. Within its walls "Old Benbow," "a true pattern of English courage," finds a last resting place, having died in Kingston, as the inscription on his tomb shows, " of a wound in his leg received in an engagement with Monsieur DuCasse, November 4th, 1702." We must not omit to mention the Gas Works at the west end of the town, solid buildings that would be creditable to any European town.

The Supreme Court of Judicature is held in the old Court House in Harbour Street, and the Resident Magistrates and Petty Sessions Courts are held in the former military barracks on the western side of the parade; on the opposite side, are the extensive offices of the Director of Public Works, as well as those of the Inspector General of Police, the Protector of Immigrants, the Inspector of Schools and the Director of Prisons. The Medical Department is located in East Street; the Government Savings Bank in Port Royal Street; the Government Printing Office in the upper part of Duke Street, next to the Colonial Secretary's Office; the Treasury, and Audit Office at the south-eastern junction of Duke Street and Harbour Street; one branch of the Post Office at the north-eastern junction of the same streets, the other at the building in East Street known as Blundell Hall,-the Inland Telegraph Head Quarters being in East Street. The Head Office of the Internal Revenue Department and the Customs of Kingston, with the Bonding and Rum Warehouses, lie at the west end of the city; and the Railway Station, with its commodious wharf and stores, is in close proximity thereto.

The private residences in the upper part of the city are well built and as a rule surrounded by trimly kept gardens; for this class of houses rents vary, but range between £50 and £100 a year.

Lines of steamers touch at Kingston regularly, keeping up communication direct with England, the United States and France. A coasting steamer leaves Kingston once a week for the outports. The lines of the Jamaica Tramway Company are laid from the foot of King Street to Constant Spring, by way of Orange Street, the Slipe Pen Road and Halfway Tree; to the North-east corner of the Race Course viâ East Street; to Paradise Street on the Windward Road; to the General Penitentiary at Rae Town; to the Jamaica Railway, and to the May Pen Cemetery on the road to Spanish Town; and cars run on the lines at intervals of 20 minutes. There are several hotels and lodging houses in the town, the best known being Park Lodge kept by Miss M. E. Burton, the Myrtle Bank Hotel, the Queen's Hotel in Heywood Street. The Jamaica Club is in Hanover Street.

Five daily and other tri-weekly and monthly newspapers are published in the city. Postal deliveries take place three times a day, and posts are made up for the home parishes and some of the country parishes daily and for all the country parishes three times a week. The markets are plentifully supplied. Butchers' meat is cheap. Fruit, vegetables and fish are abundant at reasonable rates. There are many. fine shops or stores well supplied with articles of all kinds, and the ruling prices are moderate. The climate is dry. The thermometer has been as high as 93° in the hot months and has stood as low as 56°. 7' in the cool months.

PORT ROYAL-situate at the extreme end of a narrow neck of land facing the entire front of the harbour of Kingston and acting as a natural breakwater-is as it were the entrance gate to that harbour. Port Royal was, prior to the great earthquake, "the finest town in the West Indies, and at that time the richest spot in the uni""* It was the headquarters of the buccaneers and as such the emporium and mart of their ill-gotten wealth.

verse.

New History of Jamaica by Leslie.

At half-past 11 o'clock on the morning of the 17th June, 1692, the town was shaken by a tremendous earthquake." Whole streets with their inhabitants were swallowed up by the opening of the earth, which when shut upon them squeezed the people to death, and in that manner several were left with their heads above ground, and others covered with dust and earth by the people who remained in the place. It was a sad sight to see the harbour covered with dead bodies of people of all conditions, floating up and down without burial, for the burying place was destroyed by the earthquake which dashed to pieces tombs, and the sea washed the carcasses of those who had been buried out of their graves."* At Green Bay there is still the tomb of Lewis Galdy "who was swallowed up by the earthquake, and by the providence of God was by another shock thrown into the sea and miraculously saved by swimming until a boat took him up. He lived many years after in great reputation, beloved by all who knew him and much lamented at his death." The ruins of old Port Royal are even yet visible in clear weather from the surface of the waters under which they lie, and relics are often procured by divers on exploring the ruins.

As terror after the earthquake subsided new houses were erected and the place, under the privateering system of the time, began again to flourish; but in the beginning of the year 1703 a fire broke out at one of the crowded warehouses where a quantity of gunpowder was deposited and in a few hours the whole town was in flames. With the exception of the royal forts and magazines not a building was left.

Notwithstanding these occurrences a number of persons who had left Port Royal returned to it and began its re-establishment. New houses were built and trade began to be restored; but on the 22nd August, 1722, a storm passed over the town which swept the greater portion of the buildings into the sea and destroyed a number of lives. Of fifty vessels which were in Port Royal harbour on that day four men-of-war and two merchant ships alone rode out the storm, but with all their masts and booms blown away. This further calamity was in time forgotten and Port Royal was again crowded with houses and enriched by the profitable trade caused by the war in which Great Britain was then engaged.

On the 13th July, 1816, about midday, a fire broke out which in a few hours destroyed nearly the whole place, including the naval hospital, and left many of the inhabitants utterly destitute. A subscription was set on foot for their relief, which was liberally responded to, Kingston alone subscribing eleven thousand pounds. Since the occurrence of this fire the town has ceased to be a commercial centre and Port Royal is now of importance only as a naval and military station.

The naval yard, or dockyard as it is commonly called, contains the official residence of the Commodore and his staff. The dockyard is equipped with a well-found machine shop, where steam engines and the machinery of war ships are almost constantly being repaired. If, however, a large ship requires to be docked for an examination of the bottom it becomes necessary to resort to Bermuda, where a floating dock of immense size is available to the fleet.

The present naval hospital, which is a very fine building, is built of iron and stone and is 380 feet long and 57 feet broad. It can accommodate about 130 patients in the upper portion, and the ground floor, which is available for use in the event of any emergency arising, will accommodate about half as many more, so that the hospital can find room for 200 patients in all. A yellow fever hospital was added by Dr. Thomas Colan, a late Deputy Inspector General, in which yellow fever cases can be isolated and treated, and the necessity of the main hospital being put in quarantine is thus obviated. This arrangement has worked very satisfactorily.

Port Royal has always been considered important as a naval station. As recently as the American war and the French occupation of Mexico the fleet on the North American and West Indian station numbered some twenty five ships, a goodly portion of which were constantly calling at Port Royal to coal, to obtain fresh provisions and to refit, and the Archduke Maximilian on his way to Mexico was met there by eleven ships-of-war.

Port Royal, and its outstations, Rocky Point, Apostles' Battery and Fort Augusta constitute the "harbour defences" of Jamaica, and Port Royal itself is the key and the chief. The military authorities have of late years been engaged in improving the

* Narrative of the Rector of Port Royal.

† Inscription on the Tomb.