The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. MONDAY. DECEMBER 23, 1895. VENEZUELA AND GUIANA.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 149, 23 December 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. MONDAY. DECEMBER 23, 1895. VENEZUELA AND GUIANA.

Ik order that our readers may better understand tbe position we furnish the following particulars of this small, bat at tbe present time most interesting, republic of South America, which was formed in 1830. It is governed by a President, who holds office for two years, assisted by a Senate ot twentyfour members nominated by each province, and a House of Representatives of fifty-two members elected directly, one member to every 35000 of population. Education is in a backward state, but was made compulsory in 1870. The area is 594,165 square miles, population 2,285,000 Caracas, the capita), ia one oi tbe most beautiful cities in South America, well lit, and tastefully laid out, with a population of 70,500. La Guayra is the chief port of the Republic, and is connected with the capital by a railway which is # .. marvel of engineering skill. Tbe revenue for 189091 was 36,000,000 bolivars (equal to 1 franc), the expenditure was the same amount. In 1890 tbe public debt was 113,310,043 «M>livars. The staadjng army, numbers aboui 6000, exclusive ot militia about 60,000. Xn November last y<ear £ Venezuelan force crossed the Cayuni river, and established a p_S OB B « tu * Guiana territory, assuring the 1 * of protection. The English Magistrate and the colonial police evacuated '

the district without offering resistance. This incident was the commencement of the trouble between England and the United States, the former demanding from Venezuela compensation which the Venezuelans agreed to make, but then arose the question of boundaries, which incited the United States to interfere. British Guiana is situated between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers, and is described as a forest clad peninsula. The coasts are low and flat, faced by mud shallows. The country rises gradually, forming plateaux of different elevations, back to high mountains in the far interior, whence large rivers descend. The climate is tropical and humid. The European population is small, but there are many negroes, while tribes of Indians sparsely people the interior. Guiana was the "Ei Dorado" of Sir Walter Raleigh, and formerly supposed to be rich in gold. In 1892 discoveries were reported in British Guiana, but the true wealth of the country is in its fertile soil and its boundless capabilities in regard to tropical produce. Much of the interior is yet unexplored. The area is about 109,000 square miles, the boundaries of which are in part undetermined. It has a sea board of more than 300 miles. In the disputed territory are situated very valuable good mines. There are two towns, properly so called, Georgetown, population '53,176, and New Amsterdam, population 8903. The cultivated portion of the country amounts to 94,000 acres of which 80,000 acres are in sugar cane, and is confined to the sea coast and to a short distance from the rivers. Sugar forms 82 per cent of the exports and the j other principal products are rum, molasses, cocoanuts, timber and gold. The territory now forming the colony of British Guiana was first partially settled by the Dutch West India Company in 1580, was trom time to time held by Holland and France and was finally surrendered to Britain at the peace of 1814 when it was stipulated that the Dutch laws and institutions should be maintained. The Government consists of a Governor and a Court of Policy of fifteen members. The local militia consists of 200 men. The revenue in 1893-94 was £602,762, and the total debt£9oo,ooo.