" TivieJn i " and Development. 199 



a few trees along the river banks and pools. This land is most suitable 

 for cattle raising, the grass being of a particularly sweet nature on which 

 cattle thrive. 



Cotton, maize and tobacco might be grown, and it is possible the land 

 is suitable for rearing ostriches, which industry is to-day proving most 

 profitable in other parts of the world. In this connection it would be of 

 great benefit if the Government were to establish a farm at some suitable 

 point, on the savannahs where experiments could be carried out with con- 

 sequent benefit to all concerned. 



The wealth of the soil of the interior has to be seen to be appreciated 

 but nothing can be done without a population to work it and under the 

 present conditions it is practically impossible to transport them to the 

 interior and even if they were got there they would have no means of 

 getting their agricultural produce to the market. 



It would not be advisable to count on obtaining &ny revenue on 

 through traffic with Brazil at present. Any line constructed by British 

 Guiana must depend upon British Guiana for its development and no 

 account taken of any traffic from the interior offering itself. 



There is this point to be remembered, however, that once the Panama 

 Canal is opened the shortest and quickest route to the West Coast of 

 North and South America from the interior of Brazil would lie through 

 British Guiana and every endeavour should be made to obtain this 

 traffic. 



THE HINTERLAND RAILWAY COMMISSION'S REPORT. 



The following is the text of the report of the Committee appointed to 

 discuss His Excellency the Governor's despatch to the Secretary of State 

 with respect to a railway to the hinterland. 



The Committee appointed to discuss Your Excellency's Despatch No. 5 

 of the 5th January, 1914, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with 

 respect to a railway into the hinterland of this colony, met on Monday, 

 the 20th April, 1914, in private. The members present were : — 



The Hons. C. Clementi, M.A., Government Secretary: J. J. Nunan, 

 K.C., Attorney General ; J. Hampden King, Immigration Agent General : 

 D. M. Hutson, K.C., and J. B. Laing, members of the Executive Council ; 

 the Hons. E. C. Buck, A.M.I.C.E , Colonial Civil Engineer, J. P. Santos ; 

 F. Dias, A. P. >herlock and C. F. Wieting, members of the Legislature ; 

 Messrs. C. W. Prest and J. S. McArthur, Mayor of Georgetown, Financial 

 Representatives ; J. A Abbensetts, Mayor of New Amsterdam, J. 

 Cunningham, representing the Royal Agricultural and Commercial 

 Society ; J. Duke Smith, representing the Chamber of Commerce, J 

 Gillespie, representing the Planters' Association, and A. F. White 

 representing the Bajata Industry. 



