CO882-(6-8) — Page 234

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

12777

SIR,

(No. 81.)

80

No. 69.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE.

Downing Street, April 9, 1903. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches, No. 78, of the 5th, and Nos. 85 and 87 of the 7th ultimo,* on the subject of the advances which have been made to planters under the provisions of the Mechanical Transport and the Sugar Estates (Advances-in-aid) Ordinances of 1902.

2. I gladly take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the care, tact, and judgment which you have exhibited in dealing with this matter.

81

Enclosure 2 in No. 70.

STATEMENT showing the number of Horses, Ponies, Mules, and Donkeys declared in 1902, the number that have died since, and the loss which will fall on the

Treasury.

Declared in 1902,

Bince Died.

Remaining.

Districts.

Horses and Ponies.

Horves

Horses

Males. Donkeys.

and Mules. Donkeys' and Ponies.

Ponies.

Mules. Donkeys.

E

PamplemousBES

202

425

Riv. du Rempart

50 227

Flacq

103

650

Moka

101

206

Grand Port

97

458

Savanne

19

265

Plaines Wilhems

462

2 2 3 2 5 7 8

82

58

339

22

18

195

33

58

593 17

32

214

37

51

402

27

31

242

533 60 135

401

Black River...

28 101 78

29

8 * * 2 * *

-39 144

13

32

45 : 57

325

86

43

32

9

16

13

69

82

13

26

46

56

11

26

15

23

1

28 327

72

32

14

22

72

64

Total

1,092 2,955 365 392 2,475 176 700

480 189

Add: For Port Louis. Taxes for which go to the Municipality.

381

524

38 176

182 19 205

342

19

Total Deaths

3,490

13814

(No. 94.)

No. 70.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received April 15, 1903.)

SR,

Government House, Mauritius, March 14, 1903. WITH reference to the final paragraph of my despatch, No. 79, of the 6th instant, relative to statistics of the mortality caused by Surra, I have the honour to transmit a statement showing in fuller detail the mortality on sugar estates. This statement indicates the number of animals on the estates on January 1st, 1902; the number bought during that year; the number that died of Surra; and the number remaining on 31st January last. I regret to have to add that there is a serious and constant mortality among the animals purchased, at great cost, to replace those that have died.

2. I annex, at the same time, a statement prepared by the Receiver-General, showing the mortality, outside of estates, and the number remaining, so far as can be gathered from reports by the Revenue Inspectors.

3. This statement shows how far the consequences of the disease are likely to affect the public revenue of the Colony.

Enclosure 1 in No. 70.

I have, &c.,

CHAS. BRUCE,

Governor.

RETURN showing the number of Deaths from Surrahı among Cattle among Sugar Estates from 1st January to 31st January, 1903, including deaths among new animals bought during that period.

Number of Cattle on the

Estate on 1st January, 1902.

Horses.

Ponies.

Mules.

Number Bought in 1902.

Oxen.

Donkeys.

Horses.

l'onies.

Males.

Oxen.

Donkeys.

Number Remaining

Number that Died of Surrab

on Slat January, 1903.

since 1st January, 1902.

Horses.

Ponies.

Mules.

Uxen.

Donkeys.

Horses.

Ponies.

Mules.

Oxen.

Donkeys.

Of the 3,420 animals that have died, taxes were paid to Government on 3,043;

the loss is, therefore, as under :-

Horses and ponies-392 at Rs. 6.75 Mules 2,475 at Rs. 4.50 Donkeys-176 at Rs. 3.50

Total

Rs. 2,646.00

Rs. 11,137.50

=

Rs. 616.00

Rs. 14,399.50

If 3,043 animals have died, it is natural to suppose that about 2,500 carriages and carts will not be used until the owners can procure other beasts of burden, and this will bring about a further loss, for carriages of four wheels pay Rs. 22 per annum, and those of two wheels Rs. 13.50. It is impossible to estimate the loss that this will entail. Many Indians who were carriers last year will not renew their licenses this year, which means a further loss of Rs. 5 for each cart.

Another loss will be the 10 per ent. levied on direct taxes for branch roads, under Ordinance No. 9 of 1900.

I think it my duty to draw your attention to the vote for repairs to roads. This item will have to be increased by at least 50 per cent., as the automobiles and their heavy waggons will soon cut up the roads of the Colony.

J. J. BROWN,

Receiver-General.

349

95 3,502 6,169 64

March 14, 1903.

245, 46

101

+,980

7 211 38 3,181 7,065 52 403 95 311 4,474 41

March 4, 1903.

14120

No. 71.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received April 18, 1903.)

Government House, Mauritius, March 20, 1903.

In my despatch, No. 95, of the 14th instant,* informing you of the measures

GRAHAM BOWER,

Colonial Secretary.

(No. 103.)

SIR,

* Nos. 65, 67, and 68.

† No. 66.

19231

13815; not printed,

L

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

wimmi

Reference :-

C.O. 882

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO