CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 57

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éxceed 4 of the cost of the garrison.

56

IV. MAURITIUS.

Since its conquest in 1810, the Colony has always

paid something towards the cost of the garrison.

In 1816 it provided the local allowances of the officers

all lands required for military purposes, barracks

and other buildings and their maintenance,

In 1829 maintenance of works and buildings was taken

over by His Majesty's Government for an annual pay- ment of £5000 by the Colony.

In 1857 this £5000 was increased to £10,000. The contribution fluctuated according to the number of troops in the Colony; but in 1862 when His Majesty's Government were spending about 2180,000 a year on the troops in Mauritius the Secretary of State directed the increase of the contribution to £45,000 (slightly uhder 10% of revenue) and laid down that the Colony must be held liable (when financially able) to pay for the whole cost of so much of the force as can fairly be assigned to the purposes of securing it against internal commotion and piratical attack.

The payment was made in 1865-1868.

In 1869 the troops were reduced and the introduction

of a capitation fee for each soldier brought down the

contribution.

In 1877 the question of the rate of exchange of the rupee was raised the rate was fixed at 2/- which

caused Mia Majesty's Government to lose a large amount

of the nominal contribution.

In 1887 the contribution had come down to £15,321.

In