BAHAMAS GROUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 162, 10 July 1940, Page 9

BAHAMAS GROUP.

" ISLES OF SUNSHINE."

DUKE OF WINDSOR'S POST.

OLDEST BRITISH COLONY.

With his appointment as GovernorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahamas the Duke of Windsor rises from the comparative obscurity of the years that followed his abdication as King of Great Britain to a post of authority in the British Empire. The Bahamas is one of Britain's oldest colonies. It was Columbus' first discovery and was occupied by the English in 1629, and after vicissitudes of fortune in tile war?, with Spain and France was ultimately secured by the peace of Versailles in 1783.

Nowhere does the sun bestow its favours more lavishly than over this exquisitely beautiful archipelago, which, like a necklace of rare jewels, adorns the bosom of the Caribbean Sea. From otf Florida to the north coast of South America stretches that chain of islands, of infinite variety, astride the main trade routes to the Panama Canal. The British West Indian Islands have many claims on the attention of British people, for they are Britain's oldest group of colonies of which . . some we got by purchase, And some we got by trade. And some we had by courtesy or pike and carroiiade. - The West Indies were the cradle of the Royal Navy, and witnessed some of the most brilliant exploits of our soldiers and sailors during the stirring days of the eighteenth century. The climatQ of the islands, especially during the winter months, when the heat is tempered by the cooling north-east trade winds, which blow with unfailing regularity, is delightful, the scenery superb, and the loyalty of the people beyond question. Hundreds of Islands. There are 20 larger islands in the Bahamas group, 053 islets and 2387 reefs. Chief members are Great Bahama, Abaco. Eleutliera, New Providence, Amlros, Cat Island, San Salvador, Kxuma, Long Island, Crooked Island, Acklin,- Mariguana, Inagua and Little Inagum New Providence, with a population of 20,000, contains the capital, Nassau, while the total population of the colony is 67,000. The group stretches nearly 600 miles north-west from the coast of Haiti.

Of coralline formation, the islands generally are of reef-like shape, long, narrow and low, the highest hill not exceeding 230 ft. With little appearance of soil, they derive considerable fertility from the tendency of the porous rock to retain moisture. Sponges are largely found round the shores and are exported in great quantities, andjf with sisal, are the mainstay of the colony. Tomatoes are being exported in increasing quantities, also timber and shells.

During the American civil war Nassau became the station for blockade-runners, and thence derived sudden prosperity. The value of imports and exports rose from £234,000 and £157,000 in 18G0 to £5,340,000 and £4,072,000 in 1864. They have greatly declined since and in 1037 were £1,213,000 and £209,110. So far, however, as agriculture is concerned, the impulse then received has been maintained by the Bahamas.

Island Currency. The currency is linked to sterling and the pound is therefore worth 20 shillings throughout the islands. Prices are often quoted in dollars and cents, but these are merely dollars of account, and are converted at the fixed rate of exchange, irrespective of the movements of the pound in the money markets of the outside world.

For many years the Bermudas have been the happy hunting grounds of Americans in quest of relaxation, and, during the period of prohibition in the United States, of refreshment. These excursions were widely known as "alcoholidays."

The Bahamas, in addition to the glory of their climate ancl scenery, have many attractions. There k lawn tennis, golf, cricke.t, bathing from peerless coral beaches, and fishing. A visitor would be hard to please who did not derive enjoyment from one of the race meetings in the larger islands, which are made the occasion of a gathering of representatives of more nationalities than one would believe possible within the compass of a comparatively small West Indian island: Indians, negroes, Portuguese, Chinese, C'orsicane, happily blended as British subjects.

In his administration of the colony the Governor-General i«s assisted by all executive council of eight, a Legislative Council of nine, and a Kc.preseutative Assembly of 2'J members, electors requiring to have a small property qualiiication.