466 TRINIDAD. 



say, since the adoption of those reforms, all unpleasant contro- 

 versies and invidious recriminations on delicate subjects have 

 apparently ceased. 



Governor Gordon was absent from the colony from June to 

 November, 1868; Cornelius H. Kortright, Esq., was adminis- 

 trator till the arrival, in 1870, of James Robert Longden, C.M.G., 

 appointed Governor. Governor Longden was prudent and 

 cautious. He laid the foundation-stone of Saint Ann House in 

 July, 1873, and had the good fortune of sanctioning and foster- 

 ing the construction of the first railway laid in the island, from 

 Port-of-Spain to Arima. He left the colony before it was in- 

 augurated. 



He had an Ordinance passed to enable the West India and 

 Panama Telegraph Company to land their cable and construct 

 telegraphs in the island, thus connecting Trinidad with the other 

 West India islands and with the United States and Europe. 

 The first message was received here on 28th July, 1866. 



In 1870 an Ordinance was passed, making it lawful for the 

 Governor to appoint district medical officers. The medical 

 officers have to visit all estates being worked by indentured 

 immigrants, and all paupers in their district ; they are also 

 public vaccinators. Previous to the appointment of district 

 medical officers, the medical attendants of estates were chosen 

 by the proprietors. The object of the Ordinance was, evidently, 

 to place under the control of the Government the medical service 

 of all estates having indentured immigrants. 



The Immigration Ordinance was amended, and a minimum 

 salary of twenty-five cents fixed for day and night work in the 

 field. 



An Ordinance was passed for the establishment of reforma- 

 tory schools, but nothing has been done yet. 



Mr. W. H. Rennie, who acted as Administrator from July, 

 1872, to May, 1873, had the Income-tax Ordinance repealed. 



In April, 1874, William Wellington Cairns, Esq., C.M.G., 

 arrived in the island as Governor, but left almost immediately 

 after, the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. J. Scott Bushe, being 

 appointed Administrator. 



Henry Turner Irving, Esq., C.M.G., was appointed Governor, 

 and arrived in the colony on the 20th of November, 1874. 

 Governor Irving was active, and finding that there was room for 



