GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. 211 



tions, the northern and the southern, each being subdivided into 

 four counties ; each county into two districts ; and each district 

 into wards, according to their population. 



The common boundary of the two grand divisions is formed 

 by a line running from Point Manzariilla westward, and following 

 the course of the river Lebranche ; then along the summits of the 

 Middle Range to Mount Tamana ; thence, west- south- west to 

 Montserrat, and from that point, due west to the Gulf of Paria, 

 south of Point Savanetta. 



The four counties in the northern section are, St. George and 

 Caroni, St. David and St. Andrew. 



The four counties in the southern section are, Victoria and 

 St. Patrick, Mayaro and Nariva. 



There exist, at present, forty-one wards, viz., twenty-six in 

 the northern, and fifteen in the southern section. The county of 

 St. George comprises the larger number of wards, viz., eighteen ; 

 Caroni, five ; St. David and St. Andrew, two each ; Victoria and 

 St. Patrick, six each ; Nariva and Mayaro, one each. 



Under the administration of Lord Harris, a warden a resident 

 of the ward as far as possible was appointed over each ward, with 

 a salary of 100 per annum, payable from the ward funds this 

 sum being allowed as a compensation for clerk and stationery ; 

 and whose duty it was to prepare the assessment-roll, to keep 

 the roads in repair, to levy the ward-rates, with other local 

 duties, &c. 



Local rates were declared to be for local purposes ; they being 

 levied at not more than six per cent, on the value of land, and 

 seven and a half on the rent or assessed rental of houses. There 

 were, besides, duties levied on licences for the retail of spirits and 

 fermented liquors ; also for huckstering, burning coals, cutting 

 timber, &c. These formed the local revenues. The local expenses 

 were for the roads, education, charity, relief, general and local 

 police, &c. 



The warden's ordinance has been already amended partly, 

 or in toto four times, the charges of the wards being increased 

 each time. Before leaving the colony, Lord Harris had admitted, 

 in a review of the various acts of his administration, that the 

 ordinance had, on a whole, worked satisfactorily ; but that it 

 required such amendments as experience had suggested. What 

 new changes would his lordship have introduced ? I cannot say ; 



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