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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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On a question from the Honourable Souchon, the General Manager replies that once the plans, drawings, &c., of an engine made, it takes less time to construct it than one of a new design; as regards the rails they being of a current type, they can be had in a very short time. On a question from the Honourable Duclos, the General Manager states that it would take 6 or 8 months to deliver waggons which may be ordered.

When the manufacturers have to comply with a continuation of order, the delivery takes place more rapidly; for instance, eight months should be reckoned for waggons of a type already delivered.

The Honourable Duclos further asks the General Manager whether he would not have received the required material for beginning the traffic, if the construction of the lines were over by September next.

The General Manager replies that he is of opinion that they cannot in so short a time (especially when the rails have been received only one month or two previous to the date it would be useful to open the line for the crop), complete the line in such a way that it can be utilized for efficient and economical work.

Mr. Dumat is of opinion that the material could not reach Mauritius before July. The Hon. Duclos asks whether the lines, although not furnishing an efficient work, could not be worked to a certain extent as the Line Bois Cheri-Rivière du Poste worked this year.

The General Manager replies that the lines would help in some way. Mr. Dumat adds "on condition that the work be proceeded with during crop time."

The General Manager says that the traffic could be worked, but it would be expensive.

The Honourable Duclos asks whether the cane and sugar traffic could not be worked.

The General Manager replies in the affirmative, but adds that he meant to say that the traffic of such goods would be much more costly than if the lines were completely constructed.

The Surveyor-General says that when he stated in his reports that the different lines would be ready for the crop, he meant for the cane traffic.

The Chairman then asks:

At what time would the Mare d'Albert-Cent-Gaulettes line be ready for the traffic?

The Surveyor-General replies:

Six months after I receive the order to start the work, as this is a small job, I expect obtaining from the Government the permission of calling tenders in Mauritius. Mr. Dumat asks whether at the outset the inhabitants of Savanne did not protest against the construction of the line Rivière-du-Poste-Bois Cheri.

The Hon. the Surveyor-General replies that those planters who had been assisted were the only ones to ask that the work be stopped.

The Board adjourn.

(No. 48 of 1903.)

E. BOUFFÉ,

Secretary.

MINUTES of the Proceedings of the Light Railway Board at a meeting held on the 21st December, 1903.

PRESENT:

The Hon. G. A. Ritter, C.M.G., chairman.

The Hon. L. Souchon.

The Hon. Surveyor-General.

Léon Maurel, Esquire.

P. E. Carcenac, Esquire.

M. Montocchio, Esquire.

J. W. Hollway, Esquire.

C. Dumat, Esquire.

Ernest Antelme, Esquire.

The Engineer and General Manager of Railways.

ABSENT:

The Hon. J. A. Duclos,

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The minutes of the proceedings of the last meeting are read and confirmed. Laid before the Board a memorandum from the Surveyor-General in which he suggests that, owing to the controversy which is going on in connexion with the projeoted railway lines, the conflicting, interests at stake which, in the wise words of Mr. C. Dumat, Chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture, the Light Railway Board should try and conciliate in making a recommendation about the schemes before them.

The Surveyor-General proposes that only those works which could be completed next year in time for the crop be undertaken, and that provision be only made for those works in the proposed loan to be floated, leaving the remainder for further consideration.

As regards the line Pamplemousses-Grand Gaube-Poudre d'Or, the Surveyor- General suggests that' a portion only thereof be constructed, i.e., from Poudre d'Or to the Vale, a distance of about 10 miles estimated at about £34,000.

The General Manager of Railways estimates that by increasing the actual rates by 50 per cent, the line would pay.

Mr. Dumat states that in the Surveyor-General's memorandum, mention is made of his title of Chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture. Mr. Dumat adds that he did not give his opinion to the Board in his capacity of Chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture. As he is not in possession of the views of the Chamber on the question he wishes it, therefore, to be recorded that it was his personal opinion which he gave to the Board.

The Honourable Souchon asks that no decision be arrived at by the Board respect- ing the construction of the Pamplemousses-Grand Gaube-Poudre d'Or line or any portion of it, until the memorandum of the Surveyor-General and the estimates of the General Manager by which the rates are increased by 50 per cent. be referred to the Pamplemousses--Poudre d'Or Commission of which the Honourable Souchon is the Chairman.

Mr. Maurel asks that the Surveyor-General's memorandum be considered. The Chairman states that he has no objection to the proposal of the Hon. Souchon, but that following such a course would be a cause of delay for the Board's considera- tion of the question which it can at once proceed to examine: the Board are asked to decide whether the original report of the Pamplemousses-Grand Gaube-Poudre d'Or Commission is to be adopted, and the expenditure for the construction of the whole line is to be recommended by them, or whether in accordance with the Sur- veyor-General's memorandum, only a portion of the line is to be constructed and the increase of rates submitted by the General Manager is to be recommended. The Pamplemousses-Grand Gaube--Poudre d'Or Commission will not, by the fact of the Board's recommendation, be precluded from presenting observations on the subject.

The Chairman states that if the original scheme were acted upon, the question of allowance for purchase of land would create difficulties, the owner of Beau Plan and Solitude Estates having refused to give their lands free of charge for the passage of the line, and the owner of St. Antoine having protested against the passage of the line on his estate.

The Honourable Souchon explains that the objection of the proprietors of Beau Plan was that the new line should cross their siding, but he has been informed that this could be avoided there will, therefore, be no longer any difficulty there.

As regards Solitude Estate, the Honourable Souchon states that the estate would give the lands required free of charge if a siding were constructed for them by Government as to St. Antoine, the line could be made not to cross their lands if the owners refuse to grant them free of charge.

Mr. Ernest Antelme explains that there must be some misunderstanding as to the owners of Solitude agreeing to give their lands.

Mr. Carcenac is of opinion that the proprietors of Beau Plan and Solitude should be asked their consent in writing.

The Honourable Souchon withdraws his proposal to refer the memorandum of the Surveyor-General to the Pamplemousses-Grand Gaube-Poudre d'Or Com-

mission.

Mr. Hollway proposes the following motion:

The Board are of opinion that the original project of the line Pamplemousses- Grand Gaube-Poudre d'Or should stand, provided 10. The owners of Solitude and

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