'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908' [‎68r] (134/137)

ARTS AND SCIENCES.
1907'
r -1908.]
95
rh, r al-mmcUa statesmanship genuine sympathy with the people. The attitude of the
JSe Pr“ s t0 , wards the Honourable Mr. Muir Mackenzie during the period of his
.tine Governorship was on the whole friendly and appreciative. The appointment of Sir
neorse Clarke as Governor was welcomed by most of the Native papers, and cordial greetinas
were tendered to him on his arrival m Bombay. A very favourable impression was made bv
«;= Excellency’s earliest public utterances, which the subsequent development of his poliev has
intensified. His Majesty the Anair s movements during his stay in India were followed with
Ise interest, perhaps the more so because the non-polmca character of the visit was questioned
, ' some quarters. The scheme of Council reforms outlined in the Government 8f India’s
Circular was viewed by the Native Papers as a body with strong disappointment and disfavour.
The Royal Commission on Decentralisation was likewise regarded with suspicion if not open
hostility. But it was the political situation in the Punjab and Bengal, and the measures taken
to meet it, which called forth the most violent outbursts. Government was accused of intro
ducing Russian methods of repression and of deliberately fomenting dissensions between Hindus
aG d Mahomedans. The appointment of Natives of India to the India Council was hailed with
delight but the majority of the papers took objection to the persons selected. Comments on
the Budget were in the main favourable. With regard to plague. His Majesty the King-
Emperor's gracious message of sympathy was gratefully acknowledged, and the personal appeal
made to the editors by His Excellency Sir George Clarke was regarded as an tC honest and
business-like" attempt to put His Majesty's sympathy into practical shape. The educational
policy of Government was criticised, but on the whole without rancour, though the Risley
circular was fiercely attacked. Among Legislative measures, the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. Banks Act, and
the Civil Procedure Code Amendment Act, were received with approval. On the other "hand
the Bills to amend the Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act and the Bombay Tramways Act were
impugned on various grounds, and the Prevention of Seditious Meetings Bill aroused a fierce
storm of denunciation. The Factory An East India Company trading post. Labour Commission, the Congress, the grievances of
Indians in the Transvaal, the Excise policy of Government, and the inexhaustible topics of
swadesld and boycott, may be mentioned among other subjects engaging attention during
the year.
Literary Societies.
See-
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR 1901-1902, PART If,
PAGES 172-173.
Chap. VII.
INSTRUCTION
3. Arts and Sciences.
1. The museum was open to the public on 314 days during the year. The total number The Victoria and
of visitors was 872,423, and the daily average 2,778, compared with 830,648 and 2,654 Albert Museum,
respectively last year.
2. The number of visitors increased from 58,722 to 63,585. Receipts amounted to Victoria Museum,
Rs. 1,335 and expenditure to Rs. 1,167. Karachi.