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is from wells in the town ?—Yes. At this moment the Government are constructing waterworks for the supply of the city.
5664. Waterworks in the country ?—Yes, to bring the water down from the hills.
589
5665. Sir Lintorn Simmons.-Is not the water to be brought along the railway ?-Yes.
5666. Sir Henry Holland.-Do the ships take in water? Yes; I have never seen it done, but I have no doubt they do.
(The witness then withdrew.)
Sir John Coode, C.E.
30 Mar., 1882.
Memorandum by Sir John Coode suppyling the Information requested by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
1. The increase of sheltered area suggested by the Royal Commission as possibly desirable, might be afforded by pivoting the north arm of Design B from the position shown in red tint on the accompanying Admiralty Chart to that shown in red dotted lines. It will be seen by the chart that whilst the position of its western head would remain unchanged, the north arm, if so pivoted, would be straight throughout the whole of its length, its direction would be north-east by east, and the length 2,800 feet instead of 2,000 feet, as at present proposed.
I estimate that the additional cost of this enlarge- ment of the harbour would be (approximately) 65,000%. The additional area thus afforded within the harbour (shown by blue tint on the chart), having a depth of 26 feet and upwards would be 52 acres.
2. Assuming the harbour to be dredged to a depth of not less than 26 feet at low water, over the largest
practicable area (as shown by green dotted lines on the chart), the additional cost would be about 70,000%., and the area would be increased by 150 acres, thus making the whole area having the above-named depth 405 acres.
If the north arm were modified, as herein- before described, the total area, having a depth of 26 feet and upwards, would be 457 acres.
3. Assuming the outer head of the main or south- west arm to be made 100 feet in diameter, instead of 60 feet, as has been contemplated, in order to provide for the erection of a fort, the additional cost would be 25,0001. approximately.
4. With regard to the relative distances as between Colombo and Galle of the course of steamers passing round the south coast of Ceylon, the annexed Memo- randum by the Master Attendant of Colombo will supply the facts for the information of the Commis- sioners.
(Signed) J. COODE.
5, Westminster Chambers, London, S. W., April 26, 1882.
Memorandum on the Geographical position of Colombo, with reference to its being made the Port of Call in Ceylon
for the Mail Steamers.
It is generally considered that Colombo is as much out of the course of the mail-steamers passing round the south-coast of Ceylon as its distance by sea from Point- de-Galle-viz., 65 miles; and that Galle, being in the direct course of the steamers, offers such advantages from its geographical position as to secure for it, against all opposition, the patronage of the Peninsular and Oriental, Messageries, and other large Steam Com- panies.
On investigation, however, of the actual distance from Aden and Bombay to Colombo direct, and from Aden and Bombay to Galle direct, it becomes apparent that in the case of steamers bound from the Red Sea to China and Calcutta round the south of Ceylon, and vice versa, Galle has the advantage of Colombo by 30 miles only; and, in the case of steamers bound from Bombay to China and Calcutta, and, vice-versa, it has an advantage of 18 miles only; or, in other words, if steamers in the former case called at Colombo instead of Galle, they would only be taken 30 miles out of their direct course, and in the latter case, 18 miles. This may be clearly explained as follows, and further illustrated by the accompanying diagram :
Distance from Aden to Colombo
from Colombo to Galle
Miles. 2,090 65
">
from Aden to Galle viá Colombo.
19
2,155
from Aden to Galle direct
2,125
""
of Colombo out of direct course.
30
"
from Bombay to Colombo
871
from Colombo to Galle
65
5)
ور
1871.
Miles.
"
Distance from Bombay to Galle viâ Co-
lombo from Bombay to Galle direct
936
918
of Colombo cut of direct course.
18
وو
The only steamers that would have the full distance between Galle and Colombo added to the length of their voyage are those on the Australian line ; but the steamers on the other lines are much more numerous, and, therefore, on the whole, the geographical position of Colombo in the course of the mail-steamers compares very favourably with Galle. I submit, however, that Colombo is a more accessible port than Galle, both for sailing-vessels and steamers. The former class of vessels in making the port of Colombo have not the treacherous current to contend with that exists off Galle, and sometimes sweeps them to leeward of the port, giving them a month's additional work to regain their former position; and the latter class of vessels have no occasion, when making the port at night, to keep under steam, as they are obliged to do at Galle; they can anchor at once, at any time of the night, in Colombo Roads. But when the contemplated improvement to the harbour of Colombo shall have been completed, it will afford advantages to the mail steamers, such as quick dispatch, securing freight and passengers, &c., as to fully compensate them for the short divergence from their direct course.
JAMES DONNAN,
Master Attendant, Colombo.
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