6 382 
04. There is enough labour in Dominica for its present 
industries, but it is to be hoped that these industries will increase, 
à if so, their needs will soon outgrow the capacity of the 
present labour supply. By the time, however, that this takes 
islands in want of employment, and it should be easy to import 
many labourers from them 
40 e present eondition e Done is certainly one o 
pu Ac and it will sired ese from the Imperial Govern- 
ent. is may be giv as part of a general scheme for 
p steam alp between the islands, and of a 
special scheme for dun direct communication between St, 
Vincent, Dominica, and w Yo 
Dominica will also fee in any assistance which may be 
given to the system of botanic institutions in the West Indies. 
In addition to this the island should have some assistance from 
Imperial funds for making roads, which are essential to its pro- 
gress. Such help need not be very costly, and need not be 
grudged, since Doniine may, if sate icio nce is given, be 
expected to attain a state of comfort, or even prosperity, and its 
capabilities and prospects are decidedly better than those of any 
other of the Leeward Islands. 
ix.——MONTSERRAT. 
411. We pex Montserrat on Monday evening the 16th of 
March, and on t Tth app 11 representative witnesses and 
received written pec ments, and gained other information as to 
the a of the land. which we quitted on the following 
morn 
112. “The population of the island at the last census was 11,762. 
It is new estimated at 12,500. The area is about 25,000 acres, ei 
which it is estimated thet about SR JO acres are cultivable. The 
are all in private hands, and there are no Crown lands. Aboni 
10,000 acres are said to ‘he Kitali orsa cultivation. The are 
under cultivation in sugar is approximately estimated at 00 
acres, or about three-fifths of the total cultivated area. There 
many small holdings, EE eo estates 
413. The value of the exports of sugar and molasses in 1852 
was 31,1427. x 1896 the et "had fallen to 14,9677. Hardly any 
rum is exported. The value of the total exports for 1882 was 
38.1207., and in “1896 was 24,2137. It will be seen, therefore, that 
while in 1882 the exports of sugar and molasses amounted to 
81:69 per cent. of the value of all the exports of the island, 
this proportion had fallen in 1896 to 61°81 per 
414. All the sugar estates produce musco WA sugar r only ; es 
industry has ceased to be profitable, and the prospects o ofita 
no better than in neighbouring islands. "The island is irena 
ravines, which would make the establishment of 
central factories difficult. Even, aisrof die , if the prospects and 
Sole of the ndash y generally were to revive, the industry in 
Montserrat would in the long run be severely handicapped by 
the competition, in tliat parts of the world, of large central 
