150
There is no doubt that there will be an increase of traffic due to the opening of new railway lines, but what I tried to show in my report of 6th October was that even considering only the existing railway system, the traffic has increased to such an extent as to render indispensable a large increase to our rolling-stock.
I have stated plainly in my above-mentioned report my estimate of the increase this
year of the railway revenue due to the increased traffic. The figures are :-
Tona.
151
2. In the meantime I telegraphed to you on the 26th instant,* asking that the Crown Agents be instructed to draw upon this Government by telegraphic transfer for a sum of Rs. 200;000 to meet the requirements of the Colony.
I have, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER, Administering the Government.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PILLIC.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Rs.
1898...
1903...
...
280,000
750,000
•
450,000
1,000,000
estimated.
Difference
---
170,000 60-71%
250,000 33.00%
The revenue is estimated to increase in a smaller proportion than the tonnage, as a great deal of the increase in the latter is due to unremunerative traffic, víz.,
canes.
There will, of course, be some increase due to the new lines, but it will not be very important in the first few years. I estimate that 30 fifteen-ton covered and 50 twelve-ton open waggons should be sufficient for the whole traffic of the Mountain Long and Black River lines at the busiest times. As we already carry by rail from Terre Rouge and Petite Rivière Stations a great deal of the traffic anticipated from the new lines, sugar, provisions, manure, canes, &c., I think that the additional rolling-stock necessitated by the new lines may be reduced to 30 open waggons, 10 covered waggons and 5 brake vans.
All the remaining waggons are required for the increase of traffic on the other lines.
His Honour the Officer Administering the Government had occasion lately to consider the question of carrying the sugar of this crop to town, a task which the Railway Department with its existing rolling-stock is hardly able to perform. I say hardly able because working as we now do, we are, I believe, just able to carry sugar made each day on the estates, but we are not working normally. We have to run expensive special sugar trains, we have to ask estates to load our waggons at night within a few hours, we have to beg of the docks to unload the waggon in a much shorter delay than is authorised by the bye-laws. All these expedients would be avoided, if we had an adequate supply of waggons.
I earnestly beg that my requisition be approved: it is necessary that it should be forwarded without delay, if the engines and waggons are to arrive here in proper time for next crop
November 11, 1903.
2892
No. 123.
Enclosure in No. 123.
TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CROWN AGENTS.
(Laid before the Council of Government on 15th December, 1903, by command of His Honour the Officer Administering the Government.)
The COLONIAL SECRETARY to the CROWN AGENTS.
November 18, 1903.
Can you give following information: first, amount of balance or deficit of Mauri- tius exclusive of loans now in your hands; second, what is amount likely to come in course of payment before 1st January; third, what remittances will you require between this and 1st January?
The CROWN AGENTS to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.
December 2, 1903.
Referring to your telegram of 18th November, advances under loan £182,500. Additional overdraft up to 1st December estimated at £40,000, further £12,000 required 1st January for interest and sinking fund. Are about to draw for equivalent in cash £26,800. Additional remittance very desirable if possible.
Foreign
POSITION OF THE COLONY ON 18T DECEMBER, 1903.
EXPENDITURE.
REVENUE,
1903.
Ra, 0,
Rs.
0.
1903.
B...
R..
C.
July
..
-Local 630,662,85 Foreign 237,781.90
788,444 25
L. EMILE PITOT,
August Local
600,328.53
July 1st-Balance in favour of
Treasury Revenue July
-Local ...
472,772.64 Foreign 24.976.72
***
1,268,429 74
General Manager.
855,250.48
497,749 38
935,574 01
September-Local *704,156.89 Foreign 142,279.01
***
Foreign
846,435 90
August-Local ... 760,898,21 9,000,88
September-Local 742,274.24
759,899 09
October -Local"... November-Local"...
•
765,581 28 660,000 00
Foreign
2,877.49
745,161 78
4,016,095 44
December 1-Balance in favour of Treasury... 1,299,221 48
October -Local®... November-Looal...
HA 940,615 00
Arrears of masoned Railway Bevenue:-
July-November, 1903.
Estimated
702,913 00
·
8,645,827 18
***
***
400,000 00
Rs. 5,809,256 92
Rs. 5,909,256 92
ACTING-GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER to MR. LYTTELTON.
(No. 494.) SIR,
(Received January 27, 1904.) [Answered by No. 124.]
Government House, Mauritius, December 30, 1903. REFERRING to the 2nd paragraph of your despatch, No. 254, of the 3rd Novem- ber last, in which you request that the Crown Agents be informed when it will be necessary to raise loans to meet the cost of the Black River Railway Extension, and for reafforestation purposes, and whether they may begin to draw on the Colony to meet current expenditure pending the raising of the loans, I have the honour to inform you that the matter is engaging the attention of the Financial Officers, and I hope to be in a position to address the Crown Agents early next year.
• No. 112.
Foreign Revenue and Expenditure not known yet for the above two months.
Treasury, Mauritius,
December 8, 1903.
L. S. R. DU VERGÉ,
Acting Receiver-General,
VICTOR SINGERY,
Head Accountant,
↑ 46152: not printed.
152
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.