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‘BOMBAY – 1924-25. A Review of the Administration of the Presidency’ [‎618v] (168/316)

The record is made up of 1 item (156 folios). It was created in 1926. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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124
BOMBAY, 1924-25
Notes on the changes in the value and volume of important articles in
the trade are given below :—
IMPORTS
Chemicals, Drugs and Medicines.—The total value again improved
by Rs. 3*02 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 35 *56 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , the United Kingdom being the
principal supplier as usual. Under chemicals, the chief importations
which showed an improvement were Soda Ash and Crystals, Soda
Bicarbonate and alum. A contraction, on the other hand, took place in
imports of ammonia and salts thereof, and caustic soda.
Coal.—The quantity of foreign coal imported at the port increased
by 17,692 tons to 106,880 tons and its value by Rs. 1*37 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 27 *29
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The increase occurred almost wholly in purchases from the United
Kingdom and Natal. Bengal Coal also showed a slight improvement
of 4,305 tons. Foreign coal is preferred to Bengal Coal owing to its
uniformity of quality and comparative cheapness. Arrivals of the latter
were confined to quantities received by importers directly interested in
the Bengal Collieries.
Cotton Twist and Yarn.—The import trade in cotton twist and yarn
showed a further development to the extent of 217,040 lbs. or 22 per cent,
in quantity and Rs. 4*52 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 27 per cent, in value.
Cotton Yarns and Manufactures.—The piece-goods market which
after the disastrous slump of 1921-22 showed signs of a slow recovery in
the succeeding two years, witnessed a considerable activity during the year
under report. A great demand sprang up in both local and up-country
markets resulting in a considerable expansion in the volume of imports
which were also stimulated to a certain extent by a vigorous demand for
exports to Afghanistan. This revival was to some extent due to the fact
that dealers everywhere had allowed their stocks to run down very low until
it became necessary to replenish them. Favourable opportunities which
offered themselves during the year also gave a further impetus to the trade.
Exchange rates were favourable, and the prices at which goods were
offered by the manufacturers at home were lower than spot prices which
induced dealers, both local and up-country, to place large orders in the
overseas markets. The total value of cotton yarn and manufactures
increased from Rs. 8 crores 73 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to nearly Rs. 13 crores.
Cutlery, Hardware, Implements and Instruments.—The total
value of imports advanced by Rs. 16*43 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 60*51 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in 1924-25.
Large orders were placed in the over-seas markets as a result of favourable
rates of exchange and a reduction in prices. Of the principal articles
classed under this group, cutlery advanced in value from Rs. 3*65 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
to Rs. 7*68 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , the increase having occurred in the supplies from
Germany and the United Kingdom. There was also a striking increase in
the imports of metal lamps, consignments valued at Rs 9*20 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees having

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Annual administration report of the Bombay 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. , providing a summary record of the main events and developments in each department of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. during the financial year 1924-25. The report was printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay [Mumbai], in 1926.

The report is divided into two parts. Part I (ff 541-554) comprises a report ‘GENERAL SUMMARY’, consisting of: [Political]; Finance; Trade and Commerce; Agriculture; Department of Agriculture; Instruction; Law and Justice; Police and Crime; Bombay City Police; Public Health; Salt; Excise; Forests; Co-operative Movement; Public Works; Bombay Development Department.

PART II (ff 555-683) comprises the following headings, which are further divided into sub-headings:

  • CHAPTER I ‘INDIAN STATES.’ (ff 555-560), consisting of: I. North Gujarat; II. South Gujarat; III. North Konkan; IV. South Konkan; V. The Deccan; VI. Kolhapur and Southern Maratha Country States; VII. Sind [Sindh]; VIII. Aden; Condition of the people
  • CHAPTER II ‘ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAND.’ (ff 560-565), consisting of: Land Records; Revenue Surveys; the Record of Rights; Remissions of Revenue; System of Land Tenure; Gujarat Talukdars’ Act; Sind Incumbered Estates Act; the Court of Wards Act; Department of Land Records; Routine Measurement Work; Revenue Surveys; City Surveys; Revision Settlements
  • CHAPTER III ‘LAW AND JUSTICE.’ (ff 565-572), consisting of: the Budget; Resolutions and Questions; Course of Legislation; Administration of Justice; Civil Justice; Criminal Justice; Registration; Joint Stock Companies
  • CHAPTER IV ‘POLICE AND CRIME’ (ff 573-580), consisting of: Mofussil and Sind Police; Bombay City Police; Village Police; Aden Police; Government Male and Female Workhouses; Bombay Jails; Criminal Tribes
  • CHAPTER V ‘AGRICULTURE, WEATHER AND CROPS’ (ff 582-602), consisting of: Nature of the Crops; Outturn of the Crops; Agricultural Stock; Condition of the Agricultural Population; Department of Agriculture; Note on the Weather; Prices; Labour and Wages; Forests; Co-operative Movement; Horticulture
  • CHAPTER VI ‘TRADE AND COMMERCE’ (ff 603-624), consisting of: Industries; Department of Industries; the Factories Act; Sea-borne Trade; Foreign Trade; Foreign Merchandise; Indian Produce and Manufactures; Trade According to Countries; Shipping; Coasting Trade; Subordinate Ports of 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. ; the Trade of Sind; Shipping Offices; Labour Office
  • CHAPTER VII ‘PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’ (ff 624-634), consisting of: Irrigation; Sind; Deccan and Gujarat; Railways
  • CHAPTER VIII ‘VITAL STATISTICS AND MEDICAL RELIEF’ (ff 634-649), consisting of: [Births and Deaths]; Epidemic Diseases; Hospitals and Dispensaries; Sanitation; Vaccination; the Haffkine Institute; Veterinary; Chemical Analysers; Wild Animals and Venomous Snakes; Mental [psychiatric] Hospitals; Acworth Leper Asylum [hospital for people affected by leprosy or Hansen’s Disease], Matunga
  • CHAPTER IX ‘LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT’ (ff 650-656), consisting of: District Municipalities; Bombay Municipality; Local Board Administration; Village Panchayats; Bombay Improvement Trust; Bombay Port Trust; Karachi Port Trust; Aden Port Trust; Working of the Rent Acts
  • CHAPTER X ‘COLLECTION OF REVENUE AND FINANCIAL REVIEW’ (ff 656-670), consisting of: the Budget for 1924-25; Loan Accounts; No Revenue from Income Tax; Land Revenue; Public Works Revenue; Customs Administration; Salt Department; Excise; Cotton Duties Act; Stamps; Taxes on Income
  • CHAPTER XI ‘INSTRUCTION’ (ff 671-676), consisting of: Education; Yeravda [Yerwada or Yerawada] Reformatory; Books and Publications; Newspapers; Royal Asiatic Society, Bombay; Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay; Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Bombay; Natural History Section; Victoria Museum, Karachi
  • CHAPTER XII ‘ARCHAEOLOGY’ (ff 677-678), consisting of: [Archaeological Survey of India, Western Circle]
  • CHAPTER XIII ‘MISCELLANEOUS’ (ff 679-683), consisting of: Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction; the Established Church of England; the Established Church of Scotland; Stationary; Printing; Bombay Development Department; Back Bay Reclamation; Industrial Housing in Bombay; Suburban Industrial Schemes; Suburban Development; Water Supply in Salsette; Railway Schemes; Advisory Committee; Organization of the Directorate; Military (Indian Auxiliary and Territorial Forces); Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Advances to Cultivators.

The report includes the following photographs:

  • ‘Gateway of India, Apollo Bandar, Bombay.’ (f 540)
  • ‘Large Hand Sizing Machine (suitable for a hand-loom factory An East India Company trading post. )’ (f 606)
  • ‘Group of castings made at the P. W. D. Workshops, Dapuri, Poona [Pune]. The large roller rim weighs over a ton.’ (f 625)
  • ‘Dragline Excavators for the three Right Bank Canals ex Indus at Sukkur. Ruston and Hornby’s Model No. 300, crossing the North-Western Railway line at Bagerji [Bagarji].’ (f 627)
  • ‘Dragline Excavators crossing Sukkur Canal on a bank 16 feet high, pierced with 6 ‘armco’ pipes 36” in diameter to carry the canal discharge.’ (f 629)
  • ‘Four machines ready to start on their journey to the site of work.’ (f 631)
  • ‘Lake Arthur Hill, Bhandardara Dam. Downsteam full view from south Bank.’ (f 633)
  • ‘Lloyd Barrage Circle. View of the Barrage Township at Sukkur.’ (f 635)
  • ‘Another view of the Barrage Township.’ (f 637)
  • ‘Alandi Fair–Pilgrims taking baths in the ‘Chakratirtha’’ (f 644)
  • ‘Alandi Fair–View of the pilgrims encamped on the river side from the bridge over the Indrayani River.’ (f 646)
  • ‘Alandi Fair–Lady Volunteers from the Seva Sadan, Poona, assisting the pilgrims in securing a darshan.’ (f 648)
  • ‘Salt Department. West wall of wharf at Dabhol. S. S. “Jayanti” alongside wharf, south side.’ (f 664)
  • ‘East end of wharf at Dabhol, showing landing steps and Indian Company’s office at far side.’ (f 666)
  • ‘Mohenjo-Daro (District Larkana, Sind). Well and paved baths.’ (f 676)
  • ‘Mohenjo-Daro (District Larkana, Sind). Seals with pictographic writings.’ (f 678).

There are also diagrams showing the following: ‘WAGES AND COST OF LIVING’ (f 597); ‘Chart I DEATHS IN 1924 AND PREVIOUS YEARS.’ (f 639); ‘DEATH-RATE AT AGE-PERIOD’ (f 640); ‘CHART VI - ANNUAL INCIDENCE OF DEATHS FROM EPIDEMIC DISEASES.’ (f 641); ‘CHART VII MONTHLY INCIDENCE OF DEATHS FROM EPIDEMIC DISEASES’ (f 642); ‘DISTRIBUTION OF PRINCIPAL HEADS OF REVENUE FOR THE YEAR 1924-25.’ (f 657); ‘DISTRIBUTION OF PRINCIPAL HEADS OF EXPENDITURE MET FROM REVENUE FOR THE YEAR 1924-25.’ (f 659); ‘TOTAL EXPENDITURE CHARGED TO REVENUE [1913-14 to 1924-25]’ (f 661).

There are appendices on folios 684-686, and an index on folios 687-689. There is a map of the Bombay 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. on folio 690.

A table of contents listing the headings and sub-headings of the report is on folios 538-539. In a small number of instances, there are discrepancies in the phrasing or inclusion of sub-headings between the table of contents and the body of the report. In these cases, the sub-heading as it appears in the body of the report is included above.

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‘BOMBAY – 1924-25. A Review of the Administration of the Presidency’ [‎618v] (168/316), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/10/317/4, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100152998491.0x000030> [accessed 8 August 2026]

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