VIRGIN ISLANDS. Books-A few are wanted. There are no means at the disposal of the minister for furnishing them. ($3 58 was in 1856 placed at my disposal by the bishop and president; I do not know exactly from what source. The sum was expended in copy books, &c., which are supplied to the children at cost price, and in some cases gratis). The Christian Knowledge Society forwarded in February 1856 a grant of books, &c. to the value of 6l., with the hope of calling forth other efforts in these islands by purchases from the society's catalogue. No. 2. St. Philip's School at Kingstown. Mistress.-Catherine Chalwill. Salary.-$23 per quarter, from same source as in No. 1. Scholars.-40 (boys 18, girls 22). Regular attendants, 25. State of School. Not in as good order as desirable. Causes, with one or two exceptions and additions, similar to those adduced in School No. 1. Books, &c.-A few required; no funds to supply them. No. 3. Church School at Virgin Gorda. Master.-William Gibbs Vanterpool. Salary.-Same as in No. 2., and from same source. Chapel Schoolroom.-In much need of repair. Scholars.-42; daily attendance, 20-24. Many of the scholars have lately been absent from sickness. The daily attendance was larger previously to last report received from schoolmaster. State of School.-Progressing favourably and satisfactorily when last visited, and by accounts since received. Books, &c.-Schoolmaster is of opinion that a few rewards given to the most deserving scholars would be productive of beneficial effects on the whole school. No means at disposal of minister to purchase the above or any other books, &c. Tortola, February 3, 1858. (Signed) ROBERT MATSON, Officiating Minister. APPENDIX D. REPORT of the Wesleyan Day and Sunday Schools in the British Virgin Islands. TORTOLA. In this island the Wesleyan methodists have five schools in useful operation. The day school in Road Town numbers 40 boys, 14 girls; total 54. In this school there are 34 who are reading the Scriptures daily, and can write and spell correctly; 6 of them are making some proficiency in the knowledge of grammar and geography. The day school at the West End numbers 19 boys and 21 girls; total 40. In this school there are twenty children who can accurately read the Word of God, and fifteen who are writing in copy books. We have three Sunday schools in this Island; viz. one at Road Town, West End, East End. In connexion with these schools, there are 446 children and adults who are taught on the sabbath day by thirty-eight gratuitous teachers their duty to God, to their parents, and to their superiors. Many of them are giving pleasing evidence that they "fear God and keep his commandments." Our day school teachers are supported partly by children's fees, and the remainder is made up by the Wesleyan society, which at present is quite independent of the funds in England. JOST VAN DYKES. In the former there are In this island the Wesleyan methodists have a day and Sunday school. twenty-nine children; eight of them are writing in copy books, and eighteen of them can read very correctly. The school held on the sabbath numbers fifty, the majority of which can read sufficiently correct as to be able to use the prayer book during the morning service on the Lord's day. We hope shortly to have a school at Thatch Island, where there are a good number of children growing up in ignorance. Tortola, March 9, 1858. (Signed) SAMUEL SIMONS, Wesleyan Missionary. DOMINICA. COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor HAMILTON to the Right Honourable (No. 33.) Leeward Islands, Antigua, July 3, 1858. SIR, 2. The disturbances which occurred in relation to the Rum Duty Act have entirely ceased, and the opposition to the Road Act is disappearing. 3. I trust that Lieutenant Governor Ord will not be disappointed in his expectation of a sufficient revenue; but, while there remains a loan borrowed from the Government, for the repayment of which adequate provision has not been made, the financial condition of the island cannot be reported as satisfactory. The Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart., 1 have, &c. (Signed) KER B. HAMILTON. DOMINICA. No. 23. Enclosure in No. 23. SIR, I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency the Blue Book for the year 1857 in triplicate. As I only assumed the Government of this colony on the 5th November last, a small portion of the year to which the Blue Book actually relates has come under my observation; I cannot therefore venture to do more than offer a few general remarks upon its statements. 2. Revenue and Expenditure.-The general revenue of the colony exhibits an increase of 1,600l. over that of the preceding year; but, from the amount received in 1856, must be deducted upwards of 400l. due on account of house tax in 1855, which will raise the actual receipts for the past year to 2,000l. over those of 1856. Of this amount about 1,100/. is due to the temporary augmentation of the duties received under the General Tax Act, which by Act of the Legislature, passed in September 1856, were raised 50 per cent. until 31st December 1857. There has been a falling off of about 1007. in imports, and an increase of rather less in tonnage receipts, whilst the Rum and Road Acts have furnished an addition to the revenue of upwards of 70Cl. On analysing these amounts it appears that the actual receipts under the General Tax Act were 54 per cent more than those of 1856, showing an actual gain of 4 per cent. imports and tonnage nearly balance each other, and the receipts under the Rum Act were augmented at the rate of 43 per cent. The Road Act also gave an increase of about 8 per cent., but as this fund is appropriated solely to the purposes for which it is collected, its variations cannot be considered as affecting the general revenue. The Although it would be unsafe in a colony whose prosperity depends so entirely upon the value realized by its crops of sugar to speculate too freely what a year may bring forth, I think that the prospects of revenue for the ensuing year are not unsatisfactory; indeed, considering that the Rum Act is producing, without complaint or discontent, such a valuable addition to the revenue, I am of opinion that we possess the means of relieving ourselves at any time from financial difficulty, and, if it be thought expedient, of altering the existing system of taxation by an increase of this duty, without fear of opposition or difficulty of any sort. The expenditure calls for no pa ticular observation. There has been a saving of nearly 5007. on the educational grant, from the Roman Catholic Bishop having declined to avail himself of the provisions of the new Act, under which assistance can alone be granted to his schools. On the roads there has been a large increase of expenditure, arising from the funds collected during the previous year not having been laid out upon them; and the expense of rebuilding Government House, and fitting up a public building DOMINICA. for the occupation of the treasurer and other public officers, has largely increased the charge under the head "Miscellaneous." On the whole there has been a small balance of revenue over expenditure. 3. Public Debt.-No measures have been taken for the extinction of the large amount still due on account of the Hurricane Loan, 1834, but I am about to make proposals with reference to this debt which I trust may be favourably considered. 4. Public Works.-The expenditure under this head during the past year has been of unusual magnitude, amounting to about 2,000l. or nearly one-seventh of the whole revenue of the Colony. The greater part of this has been incurred on the new government house which is now in a forward state of completion, and will probably be ready for occupation about Midsummer; the fitting up of the old police station, a massive stone building the property of the Colony, as offices for the Treasurer and AuditorGeneral, has also been commenced; these two buildings will still require a considerable outlay before they are completed, but they are both services of which the Colony was much in need, and the construction of the latter will relieve it from a charge of 801. per annum now paid for rent of offices. 5. Legislation.-Legislation has advanced at its ordinary slow pace during the past year. The Educational Bill has been replaced by another which is to have a five years' trial, and which as yet gives but little promise of success, the Roman Catholic Bishop having declared against it. The General Tax Act has also been renewed for three years, with but few variations from the former Act. These two measures were passed on the 30th September and 31st December respectively, and they are the sole results of the labours of the two legislative bodies for a whole year. A better illustration of the practical working of the system of legislation which exists in these colonies could not be produced if it were required. 6. Gaols and Prisoners.-The return which the Provost Marshal is in the habit of transmitting with the Blue Book, and which is a most valuable addition to the criminal statistics of the Island, shows that the actual number of convictions during the past year has been largely augmented. On analysing the character of these convictions, I find that a very large proportion of these are due to prosecutions under the Road Act of 1856, which was made the subject of great excitement and opposition at the commencement of the year, in the first three months of which 130 persons were committed for breaches of the Act, but as this excitement subsided these numbers have decreased considerably and do not now average 10 per month; if therefore, a deduction be made of this new class of offences which this Act has created, it will be found that the total number of commitments for offences punishable in former years is but 218, a smaller number than has been recorded in any year since 1851. In other respects the present year calendar presents, in the absence of serious offences, a favourable contrast with that of previous years; and, bearing in mind the summary character of the punishment which is awarded under the Road Act for any attempt at evasion of the tax, and also that the offence which forms so large a part of the charges upon which commitments take place is one that is nowhere viewed as a very serious character, I think the criminal condition of the people cannot be said to be otherwise than satisfactory. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart. M.P. &c. &c. I have, &c. Lieut-Governor. MAURITIUS. No. 24. COPY of DESPATCH from Governor STEVENSON to the Right Honourable (No. 187.) SIR, Mauritius, August 26, 1858. IN obedience to standing instructions, I beg leave to transmit herewith the Blue Book for 1857, together with the Annual Report on the general condition and prospects of the Colony. I have, &c. (Signed) IAM WILLIAM STEVENSON. MAURITIUS. Revenue and Expenditure. Mauritius, August 20, 1858. 1. The real Revenue of 1857 (exclusive of deposits, advances, and loans, which are added to the statement of apparent Revenue,) was 438,000l., being an increase of about 52,000l. over that of 1856, which was about 386,700. 2. And the real Expenditure of 1857 was 371,8127., being an excess of 62,025 over that of 1856, which was 309,7877. 3. The items which principally produce this increase of Revenue are:-Imports, 17,8134; Harbour Dues, 1,3587.; Sale of Liquors, 10,6291.; Licences, 4,0957.; Registration Dues, 6,3291.; Fines and Fees, 3,8947.; and Reimbursements, 7,8567.; while the only item of decrease arose out of the sale in 1856 of a house which had been occupied by the late Chief Justice Wilson, and of some Government land near the harbour. 4. The chief items of excess of Expenditure are to be found under the heads of "Revenue Services," 1,6307, for a large purchase of coals; "Administration of Justice," 1,9857., in the prosecution of Margeot; "Charitable Allowances," 1,0941, contribution to the Sailors' Home; "Conveyance of Mails," 4,7947, arising out of the new Postal Contract, which had not commenced in 1856; "Works and Buildings," 23,5921.; "Civil Stores," 2,1657., increase in the price of rice; "Immigration," 15,735, and "East India Company" 1,310/. 5. The financial condition of the country still presents a very flourishing appearance, the sum of 71,000l. of surplus Revenue having been remitted to the Agent in the course of last year, at the end of which there had been invested in the funds, to the credit of the Government, the sum of 219,397., and in the names of the Commissioners of Currency the sum of 96,6407; and this independently of the money in the Treasury vaults and that under the control of the Commissioners of the Currency, which latter make more than ample provision for all our notes in circulation. 6. During that year there have also been loans effected for the Savings' Bank to the extent of 21,6007., being more than double those that were effected during the previous year. 7. This latter institution, which is managed by a branch of the Treasury, yields a fair profit to the Revenues. It has existed since the year 1837, and during those 21 years the aggregate profit has been 20,6127, and the aggregate loss 1,8967, leaving a net profit of 18,7157. at the end of 1857, or an average net profit of about 8727. per annum. 8. If I succeed in satisfying the Secretary of State in the representations that I have already made and am about to make as to the Public Works and other items of permanent Expenditure strictly required for the Colony, and many of which ought long since to have been provided for a large part of our invested surplus Revenues will soon be brought into legitimate public use, for those Government undertakings which have become necessary in consequence of the great improvements in our agricultural and mercantile position, and by the alteration in some of our constitutional requirements. 9. I only fear that many of these necessary items of Expenditure have already been too long delayed, and that they now press heavily on the Government, at a time at which the cost of labour and materials has become very greatly augmented, thus giving to an unusual accumulation of important and necessary Public Works an appearance of profuse extravagance in the Government which would not have been attributed to it had those works been effected by degrees, and at the periods of time at which they were first demanded. Public Works.-Roads and Bridges. 10. Works. The progress of the Public Works, which have been begun, continued, or completed during the past year, has been as much advanced as could be expected, considering the scarcity of tradesmen and of skilled and manual labour of all sorts; but that deficiency has greatly retarded the No. 24. MAURITIUS. Completion of many works, and prevented the commencement of others; while the high price of labour and materials, and the uncertainty of contracts, have operated very detrimentally on the public undertakings. 11. The most important works which have been carried on during the year 1857 have been those in connexion with the quarantine establishments at Cannoniers' Point and Flat Island. 12. At Cannoniers' Point an extensive lazaret is almost complete. It comprises accommodation for about 600 immigrants, or two ships loads, as well as good hospitals, quarters for the staff, and other accessories. There are also quarters for Europeans in quarantine, and barracks outside for a military guard. This station is intended for small pox, or diseases other than cholera, and will, when complete, form a very efficient lazaret. 13. The cholera lazaret at Flat Island presented difficulties of landing which caused doubts as to the expediency of making it the permanent station; but no other having been available, it was decided that immediate steps should be taken to provide temporary accommodation for quarantine purposes, as well as a landing place, leaving experience to decide whether the expense of permanent buildings on the Island would be justified. 14. Temporary buildings were accordingly erected, and there has been constructed a landing jetty, which stretches out some distance into the sea, so as to be beyond the line of breakers (in all moderate weather). The footway is suspended from chain cables, which are supported by timber piers, offering very little surface to the wash of the sea. The work was much impeded by bad weather and other obstacles, but has now been brought to a close. It facilitates very much the disembarkation of men or stores. The temporary buildings are about to be replaced by the permanent ones, the estimate for which was voted by the Council in 1856. 15. The next work of importance is the construction of a wharf wall round the Iron Fanfaron, to prevent this valuable inner harbour from being encroached upon by the intentional or accidental deposit of mud or refuse matter on the shore. 16. The whole of the land which borders on this harbour is the property of the Crown. The greater part of it has been leased in lots of various sizes, one of the conditions of the leases having been, that the tenants should construct a substantial stone wall along the sea front of each lot. The work now in question is the completion by the Government of a similar wall in front of those portions of land which it is not the intention to lease. When this work shall have been finished all round the harbour, it is proposed to deepen the Iron Fanfaron, by means of dredging, to from 12 to 18 feet of water. 17. Considerable works have been in progress at the Lunatic Asylum at Grand River, with a view to rendering this institution more complete and efficient. And other suggested improvements will have the effect of making it far more so in many important respects. 18. A new prison establishment for the Savanne district has been in progress at Souillac. Nothing of the kind has existed there hitherto; and the prisoners are now partly lodged in a hired building. 19. At Flacq, a police establishment, with officers' quarters, has been completed. 20. This, with the new prisons at Souillac, are steps towards the general improvement of the public establishments in the districts, which are all far from being complete. 21. Under the head of Schools, the building a new school and master's residence has been commenced at the Champ de Lort; also a new schoolhouse, upon land recently purchased, for the purpose, at Terre Rouge. 22. A large building in Pucelles Street, Port Louis, has been purchased, and filled for a school. Each year something is done in this way, with the intention, not only of adding to the school accommodation, but of reducing the number of hired buildings now made use of for the purpose. 23. The old magazine for merchant's powder having been situated on ground much required for public improvements, and the position of the magazine so near the centre of the town having been considered dangerous, it was decided to build a new magazine at Fort George. The work was undertaken by the Royal Engineer Department, it having been found expedient that the magazine should be so constructed as to form an integral part of the defensive works now in course of construction at Fort George. 24. Harbour lights to point out the anchorage have been erected at Fort George and at Grand River, and are found exceedingly useful. 25. Semaphores, with the necessary buildings, have been established, to continue the line of telegraph to the lazaret at Flat Island. 26. Bridges. Of bridges the most important has been that over River La Chaux at Mahébourg. 27. This bridge is on piles. It is upwards of 650 feet in leugth, and forms the principal outlet to a large tract of country north of Mahébourg. It is an improvement of immense value to that part of the Island. 28. The formation of the approaches to the bridge over the Tamarin River, a work of considerable labour, has been completed. 29. Roads.-During the year 1857 an aggregate length of 224 miles of new road has been formed; 36 miles of road have been re-metalled and widened or otherwise improved, and 132 miles have been kept in repair. This work was done chiefly by hired labourers, the average number employed having been 584. In a few instances, where it was practicable, contracts were taken for the formation of new roads. 30. Considerable expense has been incurred in pulling down and rebuilding new structures, which have been injured by unforeseen causes, and in remedying defects which have resulted from too much |