48
Considering that lately an average of 2,000 Indians have had their title deeds registered yearly, and that on an average it takes at least five years for a purchaser to pay off his price, we may consider that four times this number of Indians becom- ing regular landowners (2,000) constitute a fair approximation for those forming the second category, viz., those in possession but not yet holding a title to the property of the land parcelled out.
1911
49
4. The borrowing power with which we have at present been provided allows of our borrowing only £100,000, i.e., with a margin of 10 per cent., but we hold some investments on account of Mauritius Surplus Funds, the value of which is about £35,000, which we propose, with the Secretary of State's approval, to realize at once, and by this means we hope to be able to make the necessary arrangements for carrying out the Secretary of State's instructions.
I have, &c.,
E. E. BLAKE.
No. 34.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to THE EARL OF ONSLOW (FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE).
(Received 1.15 p.m., January 14, 1903.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by L.F. transmitting a copy of No. 36.]
Referring to my telegram of 9th January, please instruct Crown Agents to place, by telegraphic transfer, Rs. 800,000 in National Bank of India, Bombay, to meet drafts being drawn by this Government in favour of Commercial Bank and Bank of Mauritius.
1911
2320
GENTLEMEN,
No. 37.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS.
[Copy to Governor, January 23, 1903. No. 22. L.F.] {Answered by No. 38.]
Downing Street, January 19, 1903. In reply to your letter of the 17th instant* on the subject of the remittances to Bombay on account of the Government of Mauritius, I am directed to express approval of your proposal to realize at once the investments which you hold on account of Mauritius surplus funds, the value of which is about £35,000.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O. 882
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
GENTLEMEN,
No. 35.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS.
[Answered by No. 36.]
Downing Street, January 15, 1903. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 10th instant, † I am directed to transmit to you copy of a further telegram from the Governor of Mauritius request- ing that a sum of 800,000 rupees may be placed by telegraphic transfer in the National Bank of India, Bombay, and I am to ask that you will take steps to comply with this request.
2320
SIR,
No. 36.
I am, &e.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
CROWN AGENTS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received January 17, 1903.)
[Copy to Governor, January 23, 1903. No. 22. L.F.]
[Answered by No. 37.]
Downing Street, London, January 17, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant; No. 1911/1903, § requesting us to arrange for the remittance of a further sum of Rs. 800,000 to Bombay on account of the Government of Mauritius.
2 In reply, I beg to say that although it is very inconvenient to us that we should be required to provide money before the necessary borrowing powers have reached us, we are taking steps to arrange for making the further remittance, and we hope to be in a position to carry the business through.
•
3. I would, at the same time, point out that the liabilities of the Government
of Mauritius are at present as follows:-
Current requirements, 1st January to 1st February, inclusive... £66,000 Remittance of Rs. 200,000 ...
Remittance of Rs. 800,000 (say)
13,437
53,750
£133,187
3194
SIR,
No. 38.
I am, &c,
H. BERTRAM COX.
CROWN AGENTS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received January 24, 1903.)
[Answered by No. 41.]
Downing Street, London, January 23, 1903.
REFERRING to your letters of the 15th and 19th instant, Nos. 1911/1903 and 2320/1903,† I have the honour to inform you that we have received the following telegram from the Government of Mauritius:-
2.
'With reference to telegraphic correspondence relative to advances in aid of planters, what is estimated cost of raising £200,000 in London, including your charges? What was cost of your provision Rs. 1,000,000 to meet our drafts on Bombay? Will you be good enough to place National Bank of India, Calcutta, in further funds to extent of Rs. 1,000,000, and instruct them to send that amount in specie by British India Company's steamer, timed to leave Calcutta on the 31st January? Let me know by telegram cost of this transaction."
We have not yet received the Loan Law for the raising of Rs. 3,000,000 on short dated debentures alluded to in the telegram from the Governor enclosed in your letter of the 10th instant, No. 1199/1903, and we do not, therefore, possess any security against which we could obtain advances to enable us to make the shipment of Rs. 1,000,000 from Calcutta.
3. I beg, however, to remind you that, on a somewhat similar occasion, in 1898, the savings bank securities were hypothecated for this purpose in exchange for bills of lading and other securities which were deposited with the Mauritius Government, and if any similar deposit of securities is practicable, we could no doubt arrange to remit the Rs. 1,000,000 from Calcutta as desired.
I have, &c.,
E. E. BLAKE.
• No. 30.
↑ No. 31.
‡ No. 34.
§ No. 35.
• No. 36.
Nos. 35 and 37.
‡ No. 31.
19234
Q