462 TRINIDAD. 



ceremony could be performed by the minister, in the place named 

 in the certificate. Marriages solemnised in any other place than 

 the building specified in the certificate are declared null and void ; 

 ministers of religion unduly solemnising marriages are deemed 

 guilty of felony, and made liable to imprisonment, with or with- 

 out hard labour, for any period not exceeding three years. 

 Marriages may be contracted before the district-registrar. Civil 

 marriage was thus established ; religious marriage in an unautho- 

 rised place decreed null and void at law ; and the minister of 

 religion unduly solemnising any marriage declared a felon. The 

 Catholics strongly remonstrated against some of the clauses of the 

 Ordinance, observing that they held marriage as a sacrament of 

 the Church, and that the law, by some of its provisions, interfered 

 with the free action of the clergy ; that the delay of twenty-one 

 days, and the obligation of solemnising marriages in registered 

 places, hindered the administration of the sacred rite in articulo 

 mortis, when such administration could not be delayed. 



In the year 1865 an Ordinance was passed, altering in cer- 

 tain particulars the provisions of the Ordinance of 1863, and 

 giving satisfaction to the Catholics, under certain conditions, 

 with regard to the solemnisation of marriage in articulo mortis. 

 Marriages contracted under these conditions were of no effect as 

 marriages in law. 



Governor Keate had made up his mind to establish under- 

 ground sewerage in the town, which he had divided into dis- 

 tricts for the purpose. The scheme was generally disapproved, 

 on the plea of a scanty supply of water, insufficient declivity, 

 and the careless habits of the people. Sewers were laid down in 

 only one district. 



Governor Keate was absent from the island from April, 1860, 

 to May, 1861, during which time the Government was adminis- 

 tered by Lieutenant-Governor James Walker. 



The Honourable J. H. Thomas Manners Sutton succeeded 

 Governor Keate. There is nothing worth chronicling during his 

 government — which lasted from September, 1864, to March, 

 1866, about eighteen months — except the Ordinance already 

 mentioned for amending the law of marriage. 



Governor Manners Sutton had for his successor Sir Arthur 

 Gordon. Previous to his arrival the colony had been adminis- 

 tered — from April, 1866, to November, same year — by Edw. 



