136
be advised to exercise his powers of disallowance in respect of Ordinance, No. 19 of 1903, entitled "An Ordinance to authorize the raising of a loan of £40,000 to meet the cost of the Black River Railway Extension," a transcript of which was enclosed in that despatch.
2. With reference to Lord Onslow's despatch, No. 312, of the 27th of December, 1902, and Mr. Chamberlain's despatch, No. 240, of the 8th ultimot (last paragraph), I should be glad if the Crown Agents could be informed as soon as possible when it will be necessary to raise the loans referred to in this Ordinance and in the Reafforestation Loan Ordinances and whether in the meantime they may hegin to draw on the Colony to meet current expenses.
3. As it is now contemplated to raise further loans for the Mare-aux-Vacoas Waterworks and the drainage of Port Louis as well as for the other railway schemes referred to in paragraph 6 of Sir C. Bruce's despatch, No. 353, of the 12th September last, it may probably be advantageous for the Crown Agents to raise all the loans
I have, &c.,
at the same time.
37903
GENTLEMEN,
No. 113.
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS.
Downing Street, November 3, 1903. WITH reference to the letters from this Department of the 27th December last§ and the 8th ultimo,† I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, a copy of an Ordinance, | passed by the Legislature of the Colony of Mauritius, to authorize the raising of a loan of £40,000 to meet the cost of the Black River Railway Extension, together with a copy of a despatch to the Officer Administering the Government of that Colony on the sub- ject of that and other contemplated loans.
37906
GENTLEAIEN,
I am., &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
No. 114.
COLONIAL OFFICE to CROWN AGENTS.
Downing Street, November 3, 1903.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you, for the informa- tion of Mr. Chadwick, the enclosed documents** Minute by Governor, No. 7, July 7, 1903.
respecting proposed improvements in the Mare- aux-Vacoas Waterworks, and further works to be Report by Finance Committee, No. 8, carried out in connection with the drainage of August 27, 1903.
Port Louis.
137
drainage works of Port Louis should be carried out, and that a loan of £24,000 should be raised under the General Loan and Inscribed Stock Ordinance to defray the cost of the works.
2. Sir C. Bruce stated that the experiment carried out in the section already drained has been so`successful that the strong opposition formerly offered to the scheme has given place to a consensus of opinion in favour of its extension, and that apart from all other considerations the difficulties caused by the absence of draught animals have proved the urgent necessity of proceeding with the work. There can be no question, therefore, as to the desirability of the proposals, and the only matter at issue is as to the arrangements for meeting the cost.
3. My predecessor was of opinion that the cost of the construction of public works for the benefit of a town should fall upon the revenues of the town in question, and not upon the general revenues of the Colony. I entirely concur in this opinion, which is based upon the strongest general grounds of right policy, but in view of the urgent necessity of improving the sanitary condition of Port Louis, the recom- mendations of the Finance Committee and the Council of Government, representing the Colony as a whole, and the practical certainty that the municipality cannot bear the cost of the improvements, which it is hoped may lead to a diminution of the number of cases of plague, and consequently of the heavy expenditure thereby entailed on the Colonial Revenues, I do not desire to press further in the present instance the objections urged by my predecessor. His despatches on the subject have been before the Council of Government, and the responsibility for throwing the burden of this expenditure on the Colony generally must rest with them.
4. I accordingly approve the proposal that the cost of the work already done, and of the extension now in question, should be borne by the Colony, and that the annual charge for working expenses and maintenance of works for the benefit of each district of the town should be borne by the whole urban area of Port Louis. I agree to the recommendation of the Council that a period of 15 years be allowed for the reimbursement, with interest, of expenses incurred by house-owners. I also agree to the introduction of an Ordinance on the lines of the draft Sewerage Ordinance enclosed in Mr. Chadwick's memorandum of the 14th June, 1900.
5. I have already in my telegram of the 26th of October* approved the strong recommendation made in Sir C. Bruce's telegram of the 20th ultimo, † that in view of the recrudescence of plague the work should be commenced at once, the cost being met temporarily by means of advances from the Treasury pending the issue of a loan.
41688
No. 116.
I have, &c..
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
Mr. Lyttelton has conveyed to the Officer Administering the Government his general approval of these proposals.
I am, &c.,
(No. 383.)
SIR,
H. BERTRAM COX.
37905
SIR,
No. 115.
MR. LYTTELTON to ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER. (No. 257.)
Downing Street, November 4, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Charles Bruce's despatch, No. 354, of the 12th of September,tt in which he proposed that an extension of the
51731 not printed.
¶ No. 112.
† No. 103. No. 10, Not printed. No. 19 of 1903: not reprinted. ** Not printed: Enclosures 1 and 4 in No. 108.
†† No. 107.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received November 16, 1903.)
Government House, Mauritius, October 12, 1903. REFERRING to previous correspondence respecting the loan to planters under the Mechanical Transport Ordinance, No. 34 of 1902, I have the honour to inform you that the amount of the loan to be raised having been established, I transmitted to you, on the 5th instant, the following telegram :-
"Referring to my despatch, No. 314, 12th August, re Ordinance No. 34 of 1902, amount required for advances to planters £185,200. I suggest that this amount be raised by issue of loan, and all expenses charged to profit of loan resulting from difference between rate of interest paid on issue, and interest charged on advances to planters; do you agree?"
to which you replied, on the 7th, as follows:-
"Referring to your telegram of 5th October, proposals approved; Crown
Agents will be instructed."
• No. 110.
↑ No. 109.
19184
B
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Jueference :-
C.O. 882
8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO