146
The use of Clayton's apparatus, which is stated not to damage goods, might be tried, but here, again, the action of the gas will be diminished by the bad state of the drains, which will hardly permit of its concentration to the extent desired. The gas, however, might prove of service in the destruction of rats.
April 21, 1903.
42980
147
I write to explain the delay, and also to explain why I have suggested that a small loan for new rolling stock be put in the Drainage and Mare-aux-Vacoas loan.
I do not want to commit the Government to a branch railway loan before January. If we decide then on a branch railway loan, we can include the rolling stock in it. But if we do not so decide, then we must raise an omnibus loan for small services.
Believe me, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER.
F. J. R. MOMPLÉ,
Plague Authority.
2146
No. 121.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
2」 2「 3
C.O. 882
No. 119.
MR. LYTTELTON to ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER. (No. 294.) SIR,
Downing Street, December 11, 1903.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Charles Bruce's despatch, No. 396, of the 21st of October,* and to inform you that I approve the vote of the Council of Government submitted therein of Rs. 104,800 in respect of further expendi- ture on account of the Savanne Railway Extension Scheme.
1221
MY DEAR Cox,
No. 120.
I have, &c.,
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
SIR G. BOWER to MR. COX. (Received January 11, 1904.) [Answered privately, January 15, 1904.]
Mauritius, December 12, 1903. In his despatch, No. 353, of the 12th September, † Sir Chas. Bruce forwarded
a Minute recommending the construction of certain branch lines of railway.
The cost of these lines is estimated at £200,000, or three million rupees. I am being pressed by the Executive Council and the Council of Government to go on with the Ordinance and the measures necessary to construct these lines, but have refused to give a definite answer before January.
The facts are these:
We expected great things from the Sugar Convention. Personally I did not expect much, as I was aware that the world's production of sugar greatly exceeded the demand. But I did not claim to be an expert, and I adopted the views of the experts in preference to my own.
Now we are in presence of the facts, and the facts are that, in September, the price of sugar in Mauritius was Rs. 9.50. It has been steadily going down ever since, and is now about Rs. 8 nominal, but there are one million bags of sugar in the docks, equal to 74,000 tons, and no offer.
No one can possibly say what price this sugar will fetch. I hope prices will rise, but my hope is based solely on the fact that I believe the action of the Indian Government in repealing the countervailing duties must have been discounted, and that the bears will have to cover themselves by purchases.
It is unnecessary to say that I earnestly wish that these branch railways may be made. They will mean salvation to many poor Indian proprietors, who have had to leave their canes uncut this year.
But before I recommend a further addition to the debt of the Colony, I must see more clearly into the future than it is possible for me to do at present.
I hope the position will be clearer in January. In fact, it must be clearer, for
we cannot continue to hold back the sugar now in the docks.
I have therefore told the unofficial members frankly that they must give me till January; that until the position clears I cannot take upon myself to guarantee the financial position, and that, however much I may desire these railways, no power on earth will induce me to recommend a loan unless I am satisfied as to the power of the Colony to bear it.
ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 7.10 p.m., January 19, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by Nos. 124 and 126.]
Referring to Bruce's despatch, No. 353, 12th September, and to your despatch, No. 254, 3rd November,* Council of Government have adopted resolution in favour of loan for the following: a branch railway line, Poudre d'Or to The Vale, £51,000; a branch line, Mapou to Australia, £38,000; a branch narrow-gauge, Mare d'Albert to Cent Gaulettes, £24,000. Increased rolling-stock required on main line, necessitated by new branch lines Black River, Mountain Long and other feeders, £17,000. The financial prospects of Colony have improved since the New Year, and I recommend this expenditure as being necessary for the preservation of the sugar industry, as well as being within the limits of financial prudence. It is of great importance that lines and rolling-stock should be in place before next harvest. I therefore ask for early authority to include them in a loan law which will also include drainage loan, £23,500, Mare aux Vacoas, £17,000.
2900
SIR,
No. 122.
ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received January 27, 1904.)
(Confidential.)
[Answered by No. 126.]
Government House, Mauritius, December 23, 1903.
IN my public despatch, No. 483, of the 22nd December, † relative to the re- organisation of the Medical Department, I refer to the financial position of Mauri- tius, and I think some further explanation on the subject is desirable.
2. In his confidential despatch of the 12th December, 1902, ‡ Sir Charles Bruce forwarded a confidential Minute from me on the subject of the financial position of this island.
3. In that Minute I stated that the estimated value of the land and buildings of sugar estates was Rs. 54,270,927, and that the actual mortgage debt of the sugar estates was Rs. 18,344,750. Since then two loans have been incurred by the planters, the advances in aid loan amounting to Rs. 2,955,050, and the mechanical transport loan amounting to Rs. 2,777,781. The secured debt of the sugar estates is therefore :-
Original debt
Ordinance, 43 of 1902 Ordinance, 34 of 1902
Rs. 18,344,750
2,955,050 2,777,781
Rs. 24,077,581
To this amount must be added a sum of about Rs. 8,000,000 for unsecured book debts. It is difficult, if not impossible, to get the amount of the book debts outstanding, but I am informed by gentlemen who ought to be in a position to form an estimate, that eight millions is not an excessive figure.
• No. 117.
† No. 106.
• Nos. 106 and 112.
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F
† 2881: not printed.
‡ No. 33.
T
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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