06* WEST INDIES 



and N'iparima College (San Fernando). St. Joseph Convent School for Girls is now affiliated 

 to Queen'b Royal College. A Board of Industrial Training carries on small night classes for 

 apprentices, artisans also attending. 



Offences reported to the police during 1910-11 numbered 20,928, the total number of 

 persons arrested or brought before the magistrates being 23,787. Summary convictions 

 numbered 15,857. Convictions in the supreme court totalled 185. The death penalty was 

 imposed in 4 cases. Persons were committed to prison to the number of 4,780. The cost 

 of prison administration during the year was /12,36s. Prisoners' earnings were 7,749. 



During 1911 the first sod of the Tabaquite-Poole Railway extension, which will Open up 

 10,500 acres of fertile land, was turned; and work on an extension to Siparia, which will 

 serve an area of 14,100, is in progress. 



The Governor ia 1912 \vas Sir George Le Hunte., K.C.M.G. 



'.-..t-: '< ' ' - 



The Bahamas ' 



In. 1910 the Legislature passed a resolution authorising the Governor to ascertain on 

 what terms the Canadian Dominion could incorporate the Bahamas; but the resolution 

 was purely tentative. The Bahamas did not participate in the reciprocal Trade Con- 

 ference at Ottawa in 1912. During 1910-12 the tourist business continued to 

 ncrease, and the Legislature voted 1,000 for advertising the Islands in 1909-10. 



The census of April 1911 gave a population of 55,872, a net increase of 2137 since 1901. 

 The islands showing an increase were Andros (1,252), Abaco (1,146), and New Providence 

 (1,020). On the other hand Eleuthera showed a decrease of 2,203. During IQOI-II about 

 6,000 labourers (accompanied in some cases by their families) emigrated to Florida, Mexico 

 and Yucatan. The births during 1911 numbered 34.1 per thousand, and the deaths 21.7 

 per thousand. Nearly every industry has recently shown a decline. The export of tinned 

 pineapples has fallen off, owing to poor stock, Hawaiian competition, and the effect of the 

 American tariff. Sisal fibre cultivation is the most important industry, some 20,000 acres 

 being planted, but the price is low and the rapid extension of the industry in other countries 

 has had its effect on the Bahamas. The sisal is all shipped to the United States. 



The exports of grape-fruit, which amounted to 365,000 in 1909, fell in 1911- to 309,194. 

 The output of oranges, which in 1907 amounted to a million and a half valued at 3,000, 

 fell in 1911 to 15,400 valued at 20. The feeling with regard to agricultural prospects 

 is reflected by the decision of the Legislature to abolish the Board of Agriculture, after an 

 existence of six years and the expenditure of 5,000 of public money. The one industry 

 which has shown signs of progress has been sponge fishing. The sales of sponges during 1911 

 reached 79,102, as against 70,000 in 1910, and the total exports 110,740 as against 87,657. 



The trade figures are (1909), exports 171,442, imports 343,489; (1910) exports 

 193,803, imports 329,014: (1911) exports 209,251, imports 311,095. 



Out of a total of 3! 1,095, imports to the value of 203,550 came from the United States, 

 and imports to the value of 82,360 from the United Kingdom in 1911. It should be ex- 

 plained, however, that hi the absence of direct communication with the United Kingdom, 

 many goods from the mother country being transhipped in America are classified as American. 

 The United States is also the best customer of the Bahamas, having taken produce to the 

 value of 98,975 out of a total of 174,895, the United Kingdom ranking next with 29,349. 

 Here again, it must be remembered that as New York is the port of transhipment, many goods 

 destined for Canada and the United Kingdom are classified as going to the United States. 



The ^financialjfigures are: (1909-10) revenue 77,578, expenditure 92,858; (1910-11) 

 revenue 84,391,' expenditure 85,315; (1911-12) revenue 85,592, expenditure 82,675. 



The excess of assets over liabilities on March 31, 1912, stood at 15,482. The public 

 debt stands at 51,568, the annual charge for interest and sinking fund being 6,580. The 

 existing debt will be wholly liquidated by 1926 unless anything unforeseen arises. 



The number of primary schools (exclusive of private and denominational schools) is 64 

 (46 board schools and 18 grant-in-aid schools). Pupils number as follows: Board Schools, 

 6,5^4; Aided Private Schools, 1,492; Church of England, 1,625; Roman Catholic, 531; Private 

 Schools, 222; VVeslcyan, 167, total 10,621. 



The annual vote to the Board of Education amounts to 6,000. There is no State 

 secondary education, but five private organisations provide instruction for 153 pupils. 



The number of persons committed to Nassau Prison in 1910 was 189, as against 214 in 

 1909. The police force largely recruited from Barbados numbers 81 men. 



Mr. G. Haddon-Smith was appointed to succeed Sir William Grey-Wilson, K.C.M.G. 

 as governor in 1912. 



Bermuda 2 



The population of Bermuda at the Census of 1911 was 18,994. The revenue for 1911 

 was 79,248, and the expenditure 90,101. No official report on the colony has been issued 

 since 1907, but in 1910 the exports totalled 106,508 and the imports 517,074. 



1 See E. B. iii, 207 seq. * See E. B. iii, 793. 



