THE WEST INDIES.

Southland Times, Volume 3, Issue 101, 14 October 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WEST INDIES.

1 The latest dates from .the "West Indies i are— Jamaica; June 9, liayti 10th, I'orto ! Rico. 12th, Demerara Bfch, Tobago 9th, ! Trinidad -Bth Bavbddoes 11th, -Grenada ! 9tb, St. Vincent 9fch, St. Lucia .lOtb, Martinique-' IQ, Guadaloupe 12th, Dominique 12th, Antigua 12th,"Moritserral 10th, Nevis 11th, St. Kitts 13th, Tortola and St. Thome's llth. ' The following clauses of acts passed in the late Session of the" Legislature' had been published for 4he information of persons concerned,' either in the island or abroad: — . ... • J "All the vpssels arriving in this island with ice, coals or in'ballast only, can] load with log%vood or any-other woods of this island produce, and also with hvo tons of any oilier caigo, and will only he subjected to Is. 2d. per ton. for tonnage dues.' *• All vessels ai riving, which call in at ■ Port Ro3 j al to land passengers, to receive j ovdei-s, or to take a Pilot, are' exempted | from the fee of 3d per.ton.the lighthouse dues under (he Act." The Trinidad Legislative Council met on the Ist ult, but nothing calling for notice had occurred. The dry weather had continued long enough to enable almost all es.tates to cut and grind off their canes ; but the crop, it was estimated, would stiU be between 5000 or 0000 hiids short of last year. This, with the continued lowncss of price, was enough to make the future looked fo.rward to with great anxiety. The next five or six months promise to be about as trying a time for ail classes as the colony has ever had to pass through. Commerce had not shown any signs of improvement during the fortnight. There was no fresh demand for produce and very little had been sold at previous rates. The following weie the latest quotations of exchange at the Colonial Bank : — Selling at 90 days' sight, 485 dol. jur LIOO ; do at GO days' sight, 490 dol. per LIOO ; do at SO days' sight, 492 - doi. per LIOO; do at 7 days' sight, 495 dol. per LIOO. Purchasing 90 days* sight, 470 dol. per LIOO. Tha weather at Barbadoes continued verj dry, and rain was much wanted. The young cr.ip was beginning to show the injurious influences of the 10113 drought, but it, was not considered that any permanent injury was being inflicted. American breadstuff's had been scatce, and the price of corn meal had been at the high figure of 8 dol.. and 9 dol. per barrel, but the price had become a little easier hi consequence of arrivals. The island was, generally speaking, healthy. From Qemerara there is no political news. The shortness of supplies at Barbadoes and other neighboring markets had caused an export demand, for several of the leading articles of consumption Stocks of all kinds were very much reduced, and beinij principally in the hands of the first holdrs, prices had advanced I considerably, the continuance of which ! would depend on future arrivals. With ! corn and corn meal the market was very I barely supplied, and prices had advanced in consequence. The supply of flour was | very limited, and holders demanded 9 dofs. 1 p&r Wrel, duty paid The market was but indifferently supplied with butter o! good quali y, but the stock of inferior was vei-y heavy. Grenada adv'c^s are to the 9th ult. The financial circumstances of the colony arc represented as b;ing far from satisfactory. The receipts at the public treasury in May (including a balance from April of LGI9 12.5 4d), amounted to LKJS3 7s 1 Id, and the payment of Ll 162 0-i 4el, showing in hand L 490 19s 7d to meet claims amounting to nearly L2OOO. Except the police, prisoners, paupers, and lunatics, whose expens s had been paid to the 30lh of April, and except also the LieutenantGovernor's private secretary, who as ' : treasurer of poorhouse" had received his whole year's salary of L4O, not one ck ; m had been liquidated since March. The Legislature was to meet on the 16th inst., when some plan-would, it was hoped be devised to meet ihe difficult situation. Very little business was being done by the merchants, and an unparalleled dulness pervaded commerce. The sugar crop, estimated at about 7000 hlids, would probahly bs all reaped during June. Appearances for next crop were also favorable.