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adopted to deal with the disease of Surra, I omitted to call your attention to a recom- mendation contained in the report of the Committee, to the effect that the importa- tion of all animals should be prohibited until the 15th May next.

2. The proposal was only carried in the Committee by a majority of one, the Chairman voting in the minority, and the Committee seem to have been unanimous in advising that it would be unwise to believe that the measures they recommend would result in the total disappearance of the disease.

3. The members of the Executive Council were nearly unanimous in opposing the proposal to prohibit the importation of healthy animals until the 15th May, and in their opinion I entirely concurred.

4. It seems hardly necessary for me to point out the obvious objections to such an unprecedented measure. It might perhaps have been justified had there been any well-grounded reason to hope that the disease might be stamped out before the 15th May, but the Committee prudently guarded themselves against the chance of their being accredited with any such hope.

I have, &c.,

CHAS. BRUCE,

Governor.

SIR,

93

COLONIAL SECRETARY to Manager, Bank of Mauritius.

(No. 2262/1903.)

March 7, 1903.

I AM directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, enquiring whether a planter will be required to produce the manufacturer's invoice when applying for payment under the Mechanical Traction Ordinance, or whether the invoice will be sufficient in the event of a planter contracting with "Les Forges et Fonderies de Maurice" for an engine or a tramway.

In reply, I am to inform you that the Forges et Fonderies can, under the Ordin- ance, only be looked upon as agents of the applicant, and that, therefore, the manu- facturer's invoice will be required under Article 13 (A) and (B) of the Ordinance.

It must be understood, also, that this applies to receipted accounts sent in by applicants in support of the amounts asked for tramways already paid for.

I have, &c.,

GRAHAM BOWER,

Colonial Secretary.

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PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

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16117

(No. 121:) SIR,

No. 72.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received May 4, 1903.)

[Answered by No. 73.]

Government House, Mauritius, April 2, 1903. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 79, of the 6th ultimo,* I have the honour to acquaint you that a formal letter,t a copy of which is enclosed, has been decided

on as the form of notification to applicants of approval of their application.

2. I forward also a form of the deed of contract charget on the estates.

3. I enclose also copy of a correspondence which has taken place with the Bank of Mauritius relative to the interpretation to be placed on Article 13 of the Ordinance No. 34 of 1902, an article which was carefully considered when the Ordinance was drafted and to which I attach real importance.

4. I forward a copy of the report of the financial officers, which I have approved, indicating the manner in which the payments under the Ordinance will be effected.

5. It will be noticed that the financial officers propose to effect the payments by telegraphic transfers on the Crown Agents, and I am satisfied that this arrangement will prove to be the most convenient and ccoron: cal.

SIR,

6. I shall be glad if you will communicate this despatch to the Crown Agents.

I have, &c.,

CHAS. BRUCE,

Governor.

Enclosure 3 in No. 72.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BANK OF MAURITIUS.

MANAGER, Bank of Mauritius, to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

March 6, 1903.

I HAVE the honour to submit the following for your opinion, and will be obliged

if you can kindly favour me with a reply this afternoon.

In the event of a planter contracting with Les Forges & Fonderies de Maurice for an engine or a tramway under the Mechanical Traction Ordinance, will it be necessary for the planter to produce the manufacturer's invoice to Government on applying for payment, or will the invoice of Les Forges & Fonderies be sufficient?

I may mention that, in some cases, the estimate of Les Forges & Fonderies is attached to the application for the loan.

• No. 66.

I have, &c.,

GEO. DICKSON,

↑ Not reprinted.

Manager.

(No. 416.)

Enclosure 4 in No. 72.

FINANCIAL OFFICERS to COLONIAL SECRETARY,

March 24, 1903.

We have interviewed the manager of the Bank of Mauritius, Mr. Malcolm, of the Forges & Fonderies, and Mr. Pierre Adam, and it appears that the bulk of orders for tramways are being executed through agents in England, whose drafts are negotiated by the Bank of Mauritius. These orders amount to about £145,000.

The bank pays the manufacturer's invoice duly receipted and the shipper's invoice, which includes commission, freight, and insurance, and all other customary charges connected with the ordering and shipment of the goods.

The shipper gives the bank a draft on the planter in Mauritius payable at a fixed date at the ruling rate of exchange between Mauritius and London, and 6 per cent. interest on the amount so paid until the money is remitted home.

The bank proposes that we should pay their draft by a wire transfer on the Crown Agents for the amount due to them less a reduction of 15 cents lower than the rate at which the bank collects the proceeds of the bills.

We consider this offer to be advantageous and convenient, and recommend it for adoption. Mr. Dickson, in his memoranda, enclosed, has explained how this course will operate. The planter would sign the contract charge in exchange for the docu- ments enabling him to take delivery, alongside the importing vessel, of his machinery, for the amount of the wire transfer given to the bank on the Crown Agents for the amount due by the planter, less the reduction already mentioned. The interest claimed by the bank will cease with the wire transfer (see note of Mr. Dickson).

DEAR MR. BROWN,

GEORGE R. DICK,

Auditor-General. JAMES J. BROWN,

Receiver-General. S. GRAVES,

Acting Collector.

Bank of Mauritius, Limited, Port Louis, March 10, 1903.

I HAVE received a reply from London with reference to the acceptance by the bank of wire bills on the Crown Agents in payment of bills which we have purchased in London against machinery under the Mechanical Transport Ordinance. We are authorised to accept same at a difference of 15 cents lower than the rate at which we collect the bills. I have been informed by His Excellency that only the amount of the manufacturer's invoice plus freight and insurance will be paid by the Govern- inent, the amount of commission, interest and other charges will be collected from the drawee; we will see to this.

Yours truly,

GEO. DICKSON.

19231

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