136 



TRINIDAD I THEN AND NOW. 



Some years ago, not very long since, a fine foun- 

 tain stood in the wide esplanade forming the junc- 

 tion of Frederick and King Streets, Marine Square 

 and Almond Walk, (the latter now unfortunately 

 known as Broadway) ; but, like many other careless 

 acts, the Borough Council allowed an act of vandal- 

 ism to be perpetrated ; why, it is difficult for the 

 untutored mind to understand. They permitted the 

 Mule Tramway Company to remove it in order that 

 their line might run direct through the spot it occu- 

 pied. Surely there was room enough to make them 

 run a loop line around it, and, by a further condi- 

 tion, compel them to erect a nice iron column about 

 thirty feet high with branches to contain bracket 

 lamps. I may be told that the Borough Council had 

 no power to order them to do it, be it so, yet they 

 had power to withhold their consent unless it was 

 done in a way acceptable to them. Every civic in- 

 stitution takes pride in beautifying their chief city, 

 but it would seem as if the old Borough Council took 

 pride in defacing theirs. However, as I have said, 

 better times are making their appearance. , 



Going northwards we come to Harris Square, so 

 called in honour of Lord Harris who seems to have 

 been much liked in Trinidad. Till recently it too, 

 like Brunswick Square, was sadly neglected, until a 

 Borough Councillor, who lives on the south side, 

 forced the hands of the council by offering to erect a 

 statue to Lord Harris if they would enclose the 

 square ; in due course both were accomplished. 

 It is now surrounded by a very handsome railing, 



