PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLC.O. 882
π | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Besides 200 arpents parcelled out to Indians lying between the old and the new Savanne Road 2,000 tons.
-
Now to the other estate canes from about 663 arpents and 64 perches, weighing:
10,941 tons in 99-1900
11,524
10,721
"
1900-01 1901-02
were sent for a year.
Yearly mean for three years, 11,062 tons,.
This means a grand total of 1,936 arpents and 64 perches, and 25,762 tons of canes, at 8 per cent. extraction, giving a total yield of 2,060 tons of sugar, representing a value of about Rs. 309,000.
Now, as regards the revenue likely to be derived by Government in the matter, one has to take into consideration:-
10. The rate paid for conveyance by rail of the above 25,762 tons of canes.
20. The rate paid for conveyance of 2,060 tons of sugar from the factories to
Port Louis.
30, The 14 per cent. exportation tax.
In a word, the result would be an increase of revenue to Government, or at least preventing the revenue lately derived from this direction from ceasing, through the above-mentioned land being given up by the peasant proprietors.
Over and above the advantages pointed out, the railway line, on crossing from Rivière du Poste to Pont Colville, will pass close to a tract of land in Grand Port district of nearly 1,000 arpents, belonging to several gentlemen and Indians, all cane planters, who will benefit by it; for instance, Mr. Lagesse, who has 650 arpents near Pont Colleville, the production of which is about 4,000 tons of canes. These are sent partly to Union Park Estate and partly to Britannia.
In fact, they would stand in a position similar to that of the above-mentioned farmers, if they had no mechanical conveyance for their produce.
On questions from the chairman, the Honourable Dr. Edwards replies that all the proprietors on which the line will be laid are disposed to give their lands free from any payment or charge, but that they are too poor to bear the expense necessary for a preliminary survey.
The Honourable Dr. Edwards says that the distance would be about four miles. In presence of the above information the Board are of opinion that the Govern- ment be moved to send one of its surveyors to make the survey.
As regards the other region, i.e., the Petite Savanne one, the Honourable Dr. Edwards is not prepared to supply information. He asks that the question be dealt with separately.
*
*
March 13, 1903.
33315
(No. 299.) SIR,
No. 97.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received September 7, 1903.)
[Answered by No. 100.]
Government House, Mauritius, August 8, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 125, of the 23rd June last,* on the subject of my proposal to charge to the Treasury balance £17,000 for the dredger as well as Rs. 245,000 for railways and tramways.
2. With reference to the 2nd paragraph of your despatch, the charge of £17,000 represents the sum necessary to meet part of the cost of the dredger, as stated in the 7th paragraph of my despatch, No. 246, of the 8th ultimo.t
• No. 85.
† 29643: not printed.
119
3. As regards the concluding paragraph of your despatch, the sum of Rs. 245,000 does not include the cost of the Long Mountain Branch Railway. The amount is made up as follows:---
Savanne District Extension Town Tramways
Railway Rolling Stock
Rs. 80,000
80,000 85,000
Rs. 245,000
•
As I stated in paragraph 8 of my despatch, 152, of the 27th April last, the cost of the Mountain Long Railway is met out of last year's general revenue, and the provision of a sum of Rs. 55,000 in this year's estimates. I referred to this expenditure in Section 10 of my Minute No. 3, of the 18th May, laying the estimates before the Council of Government, a copy of which formed an enclosure in my despatch No. 246, of the 8th ultimo.t
4. I enclose a copy of a report, with plan, by the Surveyor-General on the scheme for the construction of tramway lines in Port Louis. It will be seen that the expenditure is estimated at Rs. 100,000, the revenue is roughly estimated at Rs. 40,000, and the working expenses at Rs. 20,000, leaving a net revenue of Rs. 20,000 a year.
5. In view of the extreme urgency of the reasons which led to the construction of these lines it was, as the Surveyor-General has pointed out, necessary to provide such plant and rolling stock as could be obtained with the least possible delay. I annex a further report by the Surveyor-General giving a detailed statement of the items constituting the estimate of expenditure for permanent way materials and rolling stock.
(No. A/344.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 97.
I have, &c.,
CHAS. BRUCE,
Governor.
SURVEYOR-GENERAL to COLONIAL SECRETARY.
July 28, 1903.
WITH reference to the enclosed Secretary of State's despatch, No. 125, of the 23rd June last, relating to the appropriation in the estimates, among other items, of a provision for the Port Louis Tramway, I beg to report as follows:-
The trading community having represented to Government that owing to the surra epidemic transport of goods from the Government Quays to private stores had become most difficult, which might bring about a deadlock in the delivery and shipment of goods during the crop, inasmuch as the quantity of sugar expected to be received in Port Louis this year would be very large, it was decided to connect all the principal stores which are comprised within what is known as the commercial part of the town with the Government Quays and Railways. The enclosed plant shows the trace of a network of tramway lines now in course of construction. The Mauritius Dock and the Arabian Dock, which are the largest docks in the town, and are situated on the two opposite sides of the harbour having adopted the 60 centimetres (2 feet) gauge, for their tramway, inside their establishments, it was decided to lay-the town tramway with the same gauge.
The Government being pressed by time had to buy the permanent way materials and the rolling stock where it was offered with the shortest delay in the delivery A line on sleepers with fourteen pounds rails per yard will be laid in the streets shown on the plan, on the side of each street, with sidings wherever required, and will be laid so as not to interfere with the general traffic.
• No. 78.
† 29643: not printed.
‡ Not reproduced.
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