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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

EPILNIC.O. 882

9

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

14463

(No. 85.)

MY LORD,

48

No. 51.

THE GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE,

(Received 25 April, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 65.]

Government House, Port Louis, 18 March, 1908. THE correspondence* with reference to the recent cyclone which has already Governor, Telegram, 2 March.

Secretary of State, Telegram, 4 March. Governor, Telegram, 9 March. Governor. Despatch No. 79, 12 March. Governor, Telegram, 13 March.

taken place will be found as noted in the margin, and I have the honour now to submit the following report in continuation and amplification of my previous communications.

2. The centre of a large cyclone passed within a few miles of Mahébourg, the south-eastern corner of the Island, on the morning of the 2nd of March, after threatening us for six days, and after showing signs of curving to the south-east at a safe distance on the 29th of February. Oň the morning of the 1st of March the wind attained a velocity of 43 miles per hour. and a squall at the rate of 72 miles per hour was recorded at 5.50 a.m., the wind being then from the south. A lull occurred during the day time, the wind falling It then increased steadily to nine miles per hour, for five minutes, about midday. till 2 a.m. on the 2nd, the mean velocity being 44 miles per hour, the direction being W.S.W. The maximum squall velocity was 75 miles at 5.50 a.m. on the 2nd. The At Mahébourg lowest barometer reading was 29.10 inches at 10 p.m. on the 1st. the mean velocity probably reached 55 miles, and the squall velocity 85 miles. Taking into consideration the duration of the strong winds this cyclone may be con- sidered to have been more severe than any since the 5th of February, 1902. The velocities above given are all by the Dines anemometer: to obtain the corresponding velocities by the old Robinson instrument they should be multiplied by 10/7.

3. The preceding paragraph is based on a note furnished by the Director of the Observatory for the purposes of this communication; his full report awaits details from Mahébourg, which are not yet complete.

4. On the morning of the 1st of March I'directed the Chief Officer of Police to call for and furnish information as to the damage done and loss sustained in consequence of the storm generally in the districts, and the Protector of Immigrants was desired to obtain similar information in respect of the sugar estates and growing crops. On the forenoon of the 2nd I proceeded to Port Louis for the purpose of personal investigation into the condition of the town and harbour.

5. The details with regard to damage sustained in the urban area will be found amongst the enclosurest herein, and I am glad to be able to report that there was no serious casualty to the shipping: three or four of the vessels in port went aground on a soft bottom, but they were refloated after the subsidence of the storm; some mooring barges and gear belonging to the Harbour Department were sunk, these were all recovered; the lifeboat was afloat and made several trips of inspec- tion; and the "Beacon " lightship, as to the safety of which previous reports gave cause for anxiety, rode out the storm without mishap. In connexion with this portion of the subject, I wish to bring to your notice the satisfactory conduct of Mr. Nairn, the Acting Harbour Master, who was continuously at his post and un- relaxing in his efforts to secure the safety of the shipping throughout the days of bad weather.

6. On the 3rd current, railway communication, which had been suspended since the evening of the 29th of February, was resumed, and a meeting of the Execu- tive Council took place, when the steps to be taken to relieve cases of actual distress, and the methods to be adopted for arriving at a reliable estimate of the damage It was decided that the done, generally, and on the estates were considered. Chairman of the several Rural District Boards, and of the Township Boards, as well as the Mayor of Port Louis, should be invited to make full enquiries and report for the information of the Council, and in the meantime instructions were issued to the Poor Law Commissioner to place himself at once in communication with bis several district officers, and to direct them to afford prompt relief in all case of necessity.

* Nos. 29, 30, 34, 48 and 35.

↑ Not printed.

49

7. 1 append copies of the instructions for the circular letter issued to the Chairmen of the Town and Rural District Boards, of the replies so far received from them, and from the managers and owners of estates: the latter having been collected by the Protector of Immigrants. The reports with respect to the losses sustained and the distress caused by the storm, outside the sugar estates, speak for themselves; and it is my endeavour to meet immediate requirements and to afford such assistance as may be legitimately called for from the Government. But as I have already indicated, causes apart from the storm have conduced to an unusual amount of poverty and distress throughout the Colony, causes which may be sum- marised in dearness of food, decrease of wages, and a serious reduction in the amount of employment offering. The people give voice to their wants in frequent petitions presented by deputations from all parts of the Colony; and unless some generally remedial measure can be taken so as to restore to normal conditions the power of the breadwinner to earn a living wage, I apprehend more serious trouble and

increased demands on the public exchequer. greatly

8. It is not possible as yet to arrive at a really close or definite estimate of the loss sustained on the estates, but I cannot think that it is an exaggeration to That estimate was put it at a reduction of 20 per cent. on the estimated crop. considerably above the average, or, say, for a production of not less than 200,000 tons; and it is scarcely necessary to dwell on the effect which a loss of one-fifth will have on the already critical condition of the sugar industry, or the need for further cutting down in expenditure on the estates which must be anticipated.

9. Before the storm there was cause for serious anxiety as to the future of many of the estates, and as to the ability of their owners and managers to afford employment for the people, or even food for those under labour contracts; but it was thought possible that with the output which was then in view, a general disaster might be possibly averted, and that the Government would escape the obligation of finding subsistence for a number of unemployed and helpless people.

10. I regret to be forced to the conclusion that such possibility has now disappeared, and I venture to express the opinion that the remedy lies in affording to the planters the assistance for which they have asked, and ask again, so as to enable them to weather the present crisis, and not only so, but to save the Govern- ment from the position of general almsgiver and food-supplier, to the serious detri- ment of the financial position of the Colony, and to the pauperising of a number of the people.

11. Apart from the sugar estates there is, and can presently be, no demand for the labour of a large section of the community, and with the closing of the factories, or even with the interruption of work which must ensue on a general liquidation of properties, there will be the additional distress arising from the inability of small canegrowers to dispose of their produce for the purpose of manufacture.

12. Should the responsibility for maintaining the able-bodied unemployed, as well as the indigent, be forced upon, and assumed by, the Government, it is not easy to forecast the period during which the obligation will subsist, and it is difficult to suggest the means by which the resumption of economic conditions can

then be secured.

13. In my telegram of the 13th current† I submitted at length the purport of certain resolutions passed at a meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture held on the previous day, which was attended by a largely representative body of planters and persons interested in the sugar industry of the Colony, and I added the advice of the Executive Council and my own views on the request therein put forward for permission to raise a loan of £600,000 to assist the industry in its present crisis. I now append a full copy of the text of the resolutions, together with a newspaper extract, giving a report of the proceedings at the meeting, and an extract* from the minutes of the Council.

14. I am fully cognisant of the tenour and terms of your Lordship's despatch, No. 18 of 23rd January, and of the reasons therein set forth for your inability to grant a previous request for somewhat similar assistance, and I am equally con- scious of the position I am taking in supporting the present proposal, which I regard as a petition for assistance from the community; but I have conceived it to be my duty to do so, and I ask that my action may be regarded as having been inspired solely by that conception.

15. Since your despatch above quoted was written (I caused it to be made

• Not reprinted.

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↑ No. 35.

No. 29.

A