A Few Memories Extending over .'/I Years in British Guiana. 67 



remained a benefit to the City, their expanse of water, in the dry season. 

 adding the necessary moisture to the surroundings by evaporation, Mos- 

 quitoes would have been drawn to them and destroyed by the fishes in 

 the trenches. Thomas and Carmichael streets are not filled up yet, why 

 not let them be improved and kept full of fresh water? Barring this 

 blot, the rapidity of the improvement makes one wonder, what next. 

 Queenstown, Bourda and the Botanic Gardens I have seen evolved out of 

 wild bush. The two first by Mr. L. M. Hill, and the latter by the late 

 Mr. John Brummel, then Sheriff of Georgetown, to whom a memorial has 

 been erected in the shape of a bandstand in the Gardens. But absolutely 

 nothing has been done to mark the good work done by Mr. L. M. Hill. 

 Must we wait until he passes to the great majority ? That fine old 

 gentleman Mr. Jacobus Hill, Town Clerk, still looks down on us when we 

 enter the City Hall, by mistake called the Town Hall, an oil painting having 

 been placed there as a memorial. That grand old Planter. William Russel, 

 is also remembered by a bust opposite the steamer stelling. on account 

 of his success in supplying Georgetown with water. But for him what 

 should we have done during the longest drought ever known ? Mr. P. P. 

 Fairbairn. one of the most upright gentlemen the Colony has ever 

 known, has been honoured by a stained glass window in St. Andrew's 

 Church. I remember when the Town Council Offices were over a little 

 shop where the B.G. Mutual Building is now. The new Town Hall is a 

 landmark of local talent, the architect being the late Rev. Father Scoles, 

 and of local workmanship. It is a building to be proud of. but unfortu- 

 nately it is by far too small at the present time, another illustration of 

 how we are progressing. The B.G. Bank has always been the fine 

 building it still is and of really good workmanship. The Colonial Bank- 

 was in a pokey little place until replaced by the present eommodius 

 building. 



In former days we had no tram cars and very tew decent cabs, until 

 Messrs. Stewart (of PI ay f air & Co.. ) and Russell (of Booker Pros.. ) put 

 improved ones on the road, even importing two Hansom cabs. These 

 were found to be too heavy and cumbersome, sc were soon taken oft. I 

 wonder what has become of them ? Still we got along allright. and the 

 old gives way to the new. for we must march with the time, it being a 

 ease of Rush ! Rush ! Rush ! in these days, everything having to be done at 

 fever heat. Just a few r shabby cabs ; then mule driven trams and now elec- 

 tric cars, to be followed by aerial flights. When the much patronized 

 trams first made their appearance it was said that it meant the death-knell 

 of the cabs, but it has not been so. for as each improved method of 

 travels has taken place, the numbers of cabs has increased. 



For a great number of years there was little or no public spirit in 

 this Colony, the late good old Mr. Bascom. of Cove and John, being one of 

 the first in the legislature who seemed to see what was coming. The 

 Planters then were the dominant power. But this is a dangerous question 

 to touch on — it being almost impossible to make them see that one can 

 be with them up to the hilt and yet see some of their shortcomings. I 



