MAURITIUS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 528, 25 November 1857, Page 5

MAURITIUS.

Through the politeness of Captain Perkins, of the brig Maria, we ('Sydney M. Herald*) have eleven days' later from Port Louis, viz., to the 14th September. The committee appointed to inquire into, and report upon, the late visitation of the island by that devastating scourge, the cholera, has published its report, wjiich.is^ of extraordinary length. The conclusions amved at (says the ' Commercial Gazette') are :—" Ist. That for want of a proper care and sufficient precaution at the beginning of the outbreak of the cholera at Plat Island, great suffering and loss of life was caused to the immigrants. 2ndly. That the germ of the deadly disease was landed, and aftorwards rapidly developed, by the low state the immigrants were kept in, and from the many privations they had to endure. 3rdly. That the disease was brought to our shores because little or nothing was done to prevent its coming, and that great negligence was shown in the observance of the Quarantine Regulations by the proper authorities." After having held the reins of Government for five years and a-half, Sir James Macaulay Higginson has taken his departure from the island. In noticing this event, the ' Commert cial Gazette' remarks: —-Previous to the arrival \of Mr. Higginson, the financial affairs of the colony had been brought to the verge of bankruptcy through the blunders of Sir W. Gomm, but had been placed on a.better footing by Sir George Anderson, who had been obliged to add to the taxation of the colony. After a short residence in the colony; Mr. Higginson came to the conclusion that its prosperity depended on a supply of labour and that, although the prices of sugar were low, by a large immigration and by relieving the planter of every possible burthen in the way of taxation, the interests of the colony could be forwarded and the revenue maintained, notwithstanding the reduction of taxation. When the planters were despairing to be able to struggle with beetroot sugar—when sugar waa' selling at 3.50—3.75, and reports were coming from England by each mail to say that prices must go still lower, he told them not to fear for the future; he did not dispute the reports of the low cost at which beetroot sugar could be produced, but he told the planter that he must do more to increase his yield from the rich soil of Mauritius, and that the conviction should never desert him that they could produce still cheaper. He promised to do all that lay in his power, but told the planters they could do much for themselves. He issued a circular to the stipendiary magistrates to hint to the labourers the necessity of accepting lower wages if the employer found no profit from the present low prices of produce; he called on the planter not to fear the equalised duties on foreign sugar, as with abundance of labour, the Mauritius planter could compete with foreign slave; colonies. Sir G. Anderson was decidedly- opposed to the introduction of 12,000 immigrants in one year* During Mr. Higginson's reign 84,000 immigrants! have been brought here, or an average 14,000 per annum. As soon as this increased immigration was accorded at the request of Mr. Higgingson by the Secretary of State, with whom he was obliged to contend to obtain his assent, our Customs tariff waa remodelled and the duties on all article* of foreign equalised with those of British

production; the export duty on sugar, which waa 9d., was reduced to 3d.; quay dues on sugar of Id. per bag were abolished; harbour dues, postage and regulation dues. When he introduced those reductions to his Council, he said, —"In the face of the alarm which some men of experience and sagacity view the coining equalisation of the differential duty stilly protecting our staple product and the depreciation in its value which an enlarged production of beetroot sugar may occasion, it may be urged that the time is not opportune for diminishing any of the sources of the public income. With due respect for the opinions of those who prognosticate the future discomfiture and retrogression of the colony from the operation of either of the causes adverted to I venture to dissent from their conclusions. But whatever ground there may be for apprehensions on this score, I believe we may rely with confidence on the buoyancy and elasticity of our local resources, prudently and energetically directed; on the undeniable advantages of our geographical and maritime position, fostered and developed by a free and unrestricted commerce with the markets of the world and on our encouraging prospects of a continuous supply of labour on reasonable terms which our organised and healthy system of immigration is well calculated to secure. In these essential elements of progress it may be affirmed that Mauritius stands unrivalled, or is at least unsurpassed by any other competing country; and I cherish the conviction that they will enable her to surmount the obstacles that remain to be encountered, and ultimately to rest the foundation of her prosperity on a stable and enduring basis." Let us suppose a different policy—let us imj agine to a governor who entered into the fears j of those who had no confidence without proj tection to our produce, and high duties on foreign goods, and that he had hesitated to increase immigration. Our position would have been that of the unfortunate West Indies, instead of which we have doubled our production, considerably reduced the cost, and are now on the high road to prosperity.