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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 882

4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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But although 42 out of the 67 miles have been constructed, Uva has not been entered, and its new and profitable traffic, which would have so greatly benefited the Government main line all these years has yet to be secured.

I have not thought it necessary to enter on the question of extension beyond Haputale for the reason that the section so far is the only one finally surveyed, planned, and prepared ready for construction; and that any attempt to include a second section, or indeed to open the question of gauge, would simply mean a further delay of some years before any commencement whatever could be made in the work of construction.

That railway communication open to Haputale by the season 1890-91 would be an immense boon to the whole province of Uva, to the planters as well as the natives, in all its divisions, is indisputable.

That, if either a broad or a narrow gauge survey to Badulla were now ordered, the finally approved plans and estimates would be ready for the sanction of the Secretary of State within the next three years, is exceedingly doubtful, judging from past.expe- rience. The policy, therefore, which would give Uva a railway (commanding the vast bulk of its traffic) within three or four years is certainly the wise and desirable one to adopt in the interests of the community, while as regards profit a return of at least 7 per cent, on the capital required is as sure as anything based on human calculation can be..

Apologising for this intrusion on your attention,

J. FERGUSON, Co-editor of the "Ceylon Observer" and

"Tropical Agriculturist."

I have, &c. (Signed)

The Right Hon. Sir H. T. Holland, Bart.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

SIR,

No. 38.

A. L. CROSS, Esq., to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Sunnylaw, Bridge of Allan, N.B., September 30, 1887.

I HAD the honour on one occasion whilst on a visit to this country of writing to Sir Michael Hicks Beach, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of railway extension in Ceylon. I took a considerable interest and part in the railway extension question during Sir William H. Gregory's time in Ceylon, and since then railway extension has been carried to Nanoya.

I am owner of several estates in the district of Dimbulla and elsewhere in Ceylon, urgently and am aslo interested in the Ouvah district, to which railway extension

required.

You have, no doubt, had able despatches from our present Governor Sir Arthur. Gordon on the subject of railway extension, but these have mostly had reference to extension on the broad gauge principle already existing.

Mr. Christie, the Chairman of the Planters' Association, has placed his views before you, and I only wish to add my testimony as a committee member of the Planters' Association, and one of the committee who went over part of the proposed extension with Mr. Prestage, the engineer of the Darjeeling line, when he was in Ceylon last March.

Ceylon is a comparatively poor country, and dependent to a great extent on its planting enterprise. The majority of the planters look upon extension of the line on the broad gauge principle at Rs. 250,000 per mile as sheer folly. A narrow gauge line, such as the Darjeeling line, or a 3 ft. gange would answer all our requirements admirably, and carry all the traffic likely to arise for the next 30 years. Governors come and go, and though Sir Arthur Gordon may have the very best intentions, I can only say that it will be a very serious strain on the finances of the Colony if it is committed to an extension at Rupees 250,000 per mile, and after all only stop at Haputale, when for 100,000/-less money, the extension on narrow gauge could be carried to the town of Badulla, the point where it is really required.

The native element is dead against railway extension on the broad gauge, and in this instance they are thoroughly in the right. There are no difficulties whatever in the way of break of gauge at Nanoya, as Mr. Prestage fully proved, and as I can testify from my own intimate knowledge of the country, a knowledge extending over 20 years,

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What is wanted now is an immediate settlement of the question, as the delay is causing serious inconvenience, and if you can see your way to granting extension on the narrow gauge principle, I feel sure you would earn the gratitude of natives and Europeans alike, and give a great lift to the prosperity of the Colony.

SIB,

The Right Hon. Sir Henry Holland,

Secretary of State for the Colonies,

London.

No. 39.

I have, &c. (Signed)

ANDREW L. CROSS.

Governor the Hon. SI A. H. GORDON, G.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. SIR H. T. HOLLAND, BarT., G.C.M.G., M.P. (Received October 1, 1887.)

(No. 374.)

The Pavilion, Kandy, Ceylon, September 6, 1887.

I HAVE the honour to enclose a memorial addressed to you by the Badulla Planters' Association on the subject of railway extension.

The memorial is substantially a prayer that instead of an extension of the existing railway on the existing guage to Haputale, state Mr. Prestage to have "offered" to construct,) may be carried from Nanuoya to a light line (apparently that which they Badulla itself.

2. I will not weary you by reproducing arguments which I have, I fear, with almost importunate pertinacity so frequently urged already, but it is right that I should point out that the meeting which passed these resolutions was attended by only 10 members besides the secretary, and thus afforded a great contrast to the great public meeting at Badulla, which unanimously resolved in favour of extension to Haputale.

3. Mr. R. Beauchamp Downall, the representative of the agricultural interest in the Legislative Council, was among the members of the Association who were absent from the meeting, and strongly disapproved of these resolutions. enclose the copy of a letter addressed by him to the secretary of the Association I have the honour to on the subject; and also of one addressed to that official by Mr. Martyn, a planter of the district.

The Right Hon. Sir H. T. Holland, Bart., G.C.M.G., M.P.,

&c.

SIB,

&c.

&c.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

A. GORDON,

Enclosure 1 in No. 39.

Mahadova, Lunugalla, Ceylon, July 8, 1887.

I BEG leave to place before you the views of the planters of the Badulla, Madulsima, and Mooneragalla districts of Ceylon, as expressed in resolutions of the Badulla Planters' Association (a copy of which I have the honour to enclose), on the subject of railway extension, and I am instructed respectfully to ask that you will favour them with your attention.

The Association begs leave to submit :-

lat. That as more than half the estates in cultivation lie beyond Badulla, the difficulties of transport from which they suffer can only be satisfactorily met by extending the railway to that place.

2nd. That the goods traffic, and especially the passenger traffic, of a railway to Badulla, would be very considerably greater than that which could be obtained at Hapatula, a place that is 2,400 feet higher, and 25 miles distant from Badulla.

3rd. As the railway returns during the lowest depression of recent years showed

a minimum traffic, exclusive of manure, of about 9 cwts. per cultivated acre, and as the area in cultivation in Ouvah, according to the most careful statistics, has

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