Publications, Newspaper Cuttings, Photographs and Correspondence about Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎309r] (620/879)

APRIL 9, 1910.
meme ■ »■■■ ... we 111 111 ij II
THE times of India mail EDITION.
DIARY OF A TRAVELLER.
By Caravan.
Mr. Fraser’s journey from Isfaphan to Shuster proved
full of incident. He describes in some detail the
cathed al of Jaifa and its frescoes, and was fortunate
enough to discover a library of great a chacological
in erest. On the way he was overtaken by Chiragh All,
son of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Bakhtiari.
By the kindness of Messrs. Lynch Brothers
Agent in Teheran I found a small caravar
waiting- me in Isfahan. A written document
set forth that Reza, Charvadar, placed one
horse, four mules and his own body and soul
at my disposal for the journey to Shuster, at
a price equivalent to ten pounds sterling
Reza, a hang-dog looking fellow with ragged
clothes and an unwashed appearance, com
menced an acquaintance with a request for a
present to compensate him for a delay in start-
ing of two days. He next failed to ve there
at the hour appointed for loading up. W he n
he came the horse had no bridle. When I
sent him to the bazaar for a bridle he took
two hours to do what should have occupied
ten minutes. Finally, loading up took iour
times as long as it might have done if he hud
been worth his salt. Boiling inwardly 1 main
tained a calm exterior, mentally calsulatinz
at what pressure to the square incn a man
bursts. The caravan gone, however, I made a
good lunch with my host and afterwar is set
forth on a borrowed horse which was tc cany
me over the first stage of the journey.
In an Armenian Cathedral.
Our way ran through the Armenian villige
of Julia, where 1 had arranged to inspect the
cathedral. This institution proved unexpec
tedly interesting, and though the building it
self is without particular attraction the interior
is extraordinarily curious. A circular dome
about sixty feet high lights a large square nail
whose walls are completely covered vith paint
ings of scenes from the Bible. As high art I
have no idea of their value, but to me they
were as satisfying as old masters. The artist
must have been a realist, for his colirs are
rich and strong, and bloody as could be where
the subject gives occasion. The whole story
of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revel itions
and after is illustrated with verve and origi
nality. One might have spent hours studying
the examples of early Christian imagination an J
never tired. I liked best the pictures of
the damned, and bethought me that swear
ing would be a much less popular practice if
its patrons really knew what damnation
meant. Hell according to the Armenian ar
tist, who is really believed to have been an
Italian is a very uncomfortable place and
kinds of Armenians, the Roman Catholic ones,
the Protestant ones brought up in the English
missionary fold, and those belonging to the
original church. Drunkenness is most pre
valent among the Protestant ones, which shows
that the instinct for civilization is strong in
the Armenian when the opportunity to cul
tivate it offers.
Unfavourable Omens.
A maze of narrow lanes traversed, and we
emerge from Julfa into the open country be
yond. Some friendly residents of Isfahan had
agreed to start me in the way, and with an
escort of Tiwana Lancers from the consulate
we made quite a large party. The weather
was brilliant, with all the charm that bright
sun, blue sky, and purple mountain can con
fer. Mid-winter at a height of 5,000 feet is
always cold and bracing, and to the exhilara
tion of fine air was added the attraction pros
pect of a long journey through new country.
It seemed an auspicious beginning; but hardly
had the thought crossed my mind than my
steed slipped on a patch of frozen ground and
came down with a crash. The hardy camera
that has been my faithful companion all these
years presented tho same old corner to my
ribs as I fell and proved itself no softer than
of yore. The leg under the fallen horse took
all the button marks in the usual way, while
the hip on the side next the ground met with
a very stiff reception. Nobody in the cavalcade
liked this plain warning that the day was an
unlucky one for starting. Remounted, I pro
ceeded as before, until, as we were trotting
along a perfectly level smooth plane, down
came my beast again. The corner of the camera
scored another point against my side, the
ground got in another sledge hammer blow on
my hip, and the map imprinted upon my leg
by the weight of the horse spread itself in
all directions. The unfortunate animal barked
both its knees and thus incurred for me the
ignominy of having injured another man’s pro
perty. It looked indeed as if I had forfeited
the favour of Heaven. Nevertheless I too!
the chances, called for another mount, and set
out once more, amid the horror stricken mur-
murings of the native members of the party,
who took the man to be mad that could ignore
this double intimation of divine displeasure.
Soon afterwards I bade adieu to the kind
friends who had accompanied me so far, and
rode on to the village of Pul-i-wargan, when
I counted to find my caravan bestowed, my tea
ready, and a comfortable blazing fire whereat
I might warm my hands and soften the stiffness
that had crept into my limbs. Old bones resen
the gymnastics described above. But th<
caravan, although it had ample time had not
arrived, neither tea nor fire was ready, and 1
had to wait an interminable time for both. My
advice to the European intending to visit Per
sia is to have his heart broken before he comes
it will save him much subsequent trouble and
tation or of moving figure, desert as it has been
since prehistoric times, carved and rounded by
the ice of another age, shaped as it was in the
beginning of things—Such is the Persian
pl t au, an immense waste scarce redeemed
from utter loneliness by the few delightful
spots r scued from the wilderness by the labour
of mankind. The great valley before us proved
to be, as we advanced across it, not so blank as
it seemed, for when we could see into the bed of
the river we discover’d a series of small villages
nestling close under the high banks. Here the
Zendeh Rud wandered backward and forward
in a narrow band of rich alluvium cut into
flats whereof every inch was carefully culti
vated. Four hundred yards broad at the most,
this pleasant strip formed a sharp contrast to
the surrounding wilderness; cosily hidden be-
1 w the general level its position seemed to be
designed for escape from the bleakness above.
A Bakhtiari Friend.
It was while crossing this valley that I first
encountered Chiragh Ali. Tramping along for
the good of my health, with my nag in tow by
the reins, I could hear a quick-stepping horse
coming up behind me. When it came along
side a shrill voice gave me “Good Morning,” in
English, and looking up I perceived a small boy
perched before a man riding a handsome grey
\rab. Brown eyes were gazing at me seriously
from under the peak of a tweed cap that was
nany sizes too large for the wearer. My ser-
ant rode up and explained that this was
Chiragh Ali Khan, son of Samsam-es-sul-tanet,
ili hani of the Bakhtiari. At this introduction
I saluted and got back in response “Are you
quite will?" That exhausted my little friend’s
tock of English and henceforward we commu-
licated by interpretation. His father having
left Isafahan for Teheran—did I not meet the
Samsam's weird equipage on the road—the
boy was homeward bound to see his mother,
ccompanied by two tutors, his male nurse, and
in escort of six Sowars. He was greatly exer-
used to know why 1 walked when I had a
torse to ride, why I carried no gun and why
I travelled without Sowars. To these enqui-
ies I replied that I walked because I was
strong, like all Englishmen, that I had no gun
because I did not want it to shoot anybody,
ind that I had no escort because travellers
were quite safe in his father’s country. My
r plies were unanswerable though far from
convincing to Chiragh Ali whose ideas were
ompletely otherwise. But he was too polite to
irgue and so proceeded to other subjects. The
sowars behind however were not to be put off
so easily. One hard bitten looking specimen
isked what I would do if I were attacked by
obbers. I replied that the well-known gen-
lemanliness of the Bakhtiaris made that im
ossible in their country. He accepted the
ompliment with complacency, but begged me
ust to suppose that we were attacked—what
MADRAS COUNCIL.
The Madras Legislative Council was held
on Tuesday, at the Banqueting Hall, and the
Government members answered as many as 110
questions put by non-officials. At the instance
of the Advocate-General several amendments
were made in the rules for the conduct of the
business in the Council.
The Hon. Mr. Atkinson then made a long
statement relating to principal modifications
in the Budget and its special features, but the
debate on the same has been postponed to
allow of the Council proceeding with the dis
cussion of several resolutions of general inter
est, of which non-official members had given
notice.
The first resolution dealt with was that of
the Hon. Kesavu Pillai who moved that village
officials be relieved of the duty of finding
supplies for officials on tour. He dwelt on the
numerous troubles and opportunities of op
pression which the villagers and village offi
cials were liable to owing to the enforcement
of the system which was most demoralizing
in its consequences.
The Hon. Mr. Atkinson made a long speech,
defending the necessity for the system, but
moved an amendment with the object of se
curing a revision of the rules governing it with
a view to minimising the evils attendant on
it.
Several speakers dwelt on the objectionable
features of the system, but were inclined to
accept the amendment. The Hon. Mr. Ke-
sava Pillai was eventually induced to with
draw his resolution in favour of the amend
ment, which was carried.
The Hon. Mr. Perraju next moved a resolu
tion urging local option with a view to check
the growth of the drink evil. He made a
speech full of facts and figures showing the
enforcement of local option as the only effec
tive means of checking the drink evil which
the Government had as the chief object of its
excise policy.
The debate on the resolution had not con
cluded when the Council adjourned for the
day.
At the meeting on Wednesday, thero was
considerable discussion on the motion to give
local option regarding the location of liquor
shops to Municipalities.
The Government strongly opposed the pro
posal, and the Hon. Sir William Meyer said
it would be as logical to give a body of men
on the Municipalities, who almost without
exception did not drink, power to control the
I.quor trade, as it would be to give those
people who looked upon excessive litigation as
THE TIMES OF INDIA MAIL EDITION.
[APRIL 9, 1910.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Review of the Session’s Work.
On no previous occasion have the proceed
ings of the Viceroy’s Council in Calcutta been
watched with such keen interest as during the
session which terminated on Wednes
day of last week. The policy of
largely increasing the elected Indian
representation enjoyed plenty of healthy cri
ticism, but it emerged to all intents and pur
poses unscathed from its passage through
Parliament. Lord Curzon feared among other
dangers that the permission to ask supplemen
tary questions would involve delay and would
hamper the work of the Council and of the
Executive ; Lord Lansdowne believed that the
reform would prove the first stage in the un
dermining of British authority in India ;
while Mr. Balfour was careful to disclaim for
himself and for his party all responsibility
for the measure. Criticism in India seemed
interminable. Several bodies contended that
the councillors should be elected by the peo
ple; and there was a considerable body of
opinion that argued that the presence of a
large number of Indians in the Council would
cause far more jealousy and irritation than
their presence would allay. The balance of
thoughtful opinion, both English and Indian,
however, favoured the new proposals, looked
on them as intensely valuable, and considered
them ■ the logical outcome of the Legislative
Councils established during Lord Lansdowne’s
Viceroyalty. Their form, it will be remember-
ed, was never meant to be either fixed or
unprogressive.
Attitude to the Press Act.
On almost the first working day of the ses-
sion early in February the Council was faced
with very serious responsibility. It was called
upon to consider the New Press Act. Five
Indians were on the Special Committee that
considered the bill, - two of them expressed
complete agreement with it as amended, Mr
Gokhale and Mr. Mudholkar also signed the
Committee's report subject to a minute of dis-
sent and Mr. Malaviya was the only member
of the Committee who was unable to co-operate
with his colleagues. A long debate, quite in
accordance with the very grave character of
the legislation proposed, followed and the
various details of the bill were submitted - to
careful scrutiny. Dissent was expressed on
many special points, there was in several in
stances rather too great a tendency on the
part of the new Counsellors to make long
orations and to adduce historical parallels of
purely doctrinaire interest, but the net result
of the discussion which gave full expression to
all that could be argued against the act was to
strengthen the hands ■ of the Government in
the methods they contemplated for repressing
sedition. After the Bill had been passed with
only two dissentients, the Viceroy said
“The members ofthis greatly enlarged
Council thoroughly representative of Indian
interests have passed what may be justly
called a repressive measure because iney
believe with the Government of India that
that measure is essential to- the welfare of
this country. In so doing they have fur
nished the proof which I have always hoped
and believed they would furnish, that in
creased representation of Indian interests
and communities would not weaken, but
would vastly strengthen British admini-
stration.”
Criticism on the Budget.
The Budget debate was the second great
event of the session. Under the new rules the
old style of rambling debate which encour
aged portentously long speeches- dealing with
any question, from the pettiest details of pro
vincial administration to the largest ques
tions of foreign policy, was abolished. The
Finance Bill was introduced this year as
a preliminary statement, and followed by the
Tariff Bill, which as new taxation was im
posed afforded members an opportunity of
discussing the proposals for fresh taxa
tion, the new loan and the addi
tional grants to Local Governments. The
Budget was considered in its details by way
of resolutions when the Council met as a com
mittee of the whole House. After taking the
recommendations into consideration, the
Finance Member introduced the Budget in
final form, no discussion being allowed at the
time.. Later a meeting of the Council was
again held to consider the Budget, general
criticisms being in order, but not the pro
posal of resolutions.
As in the case of the Press Act the dis-
cussion reached a high level- Several mem
bers’ expressed the opinion that the increased
taxation was unnecessary, as the opium re
venue had been underestimated ; the Bombay
members stronglyprotested against the in-
creased duty on silver, as prejudicing ..the.
China trade. Other members, notably Mr.
Gokhale, made what must be considered rather
a captious attack on the steady rise of Gov-
erment expenditure, for the proposals they
subsequently introduced would, if carried, have
caused a rise far in excess of the present
rate that has the approval of the Home Gov
ernment . and the Government of India.
Speeches,, however, were markedly to the point
not unduly long, and they gave valuable ven-
tilation to, widely divergent opinions; the
s'ditpointsof the different provinces gained
a sympathetic hearing, and what was perhaps
stilt more valuables the Government had an
excellent opportunity for explaining in detail
the reasons for their policy. No useful pur
pose would be served by repeating the
suggestions made in connection with rail
way finance, irrigation works and so forth, for
these criticisms are of special rather than
general interest. The feeling of disappoint
ment, however, which characterised the last of
the financial debates has raised a constitu
tional question of considerable importance to
which reference was made by some of the
councillors. As a result of the criticisms no
change has been made in the proposed taxation
and no change can be made without reference to
the Secretary of State in England. It is're-
garded as an anomalous situation that the Gov
ernment should expect and welcome detailed
criticisms as to the proposed taxation and as
to the allocation of revenue, and should yet be
compelled, as regards the financial year, to
ignore it and give their critics a reply amount
ing to non possumus. It is, moreover, no
source of strength to the Government to invite
criticism and then be unable to profit by even
the wisest suggestions.
Interest in Education.
Education was perhaps the subject in which
the greatest interest has been taken. Mr.
Gokhale’s proposal to make primary education
free and compulsory for boys throughout India
rave rise to what will rank as a classic debate.
Mr. Gokhale stated his case with conspicuous
ability and moderation; but the discussion,
which showed no line of cleaveage between
official and non-official opinion, de
monstrated that free education in
India would be premature, if not re
trograde ; and compulsion even in a modified
form, would be a great hardship. Rapid
strides are being made in the diffusion of faci
lities for mass education ; the Bombay Govern
ment have arranged to open 573 new primary
schools in a single year ; but until the provi
sion of facilities has overtaken the demand for
accomodation, the sacrifice of the revenue from
fees would obstruct progress. The whole question
of Technical Education was raised by Mr.
Mudholkar ; it is unlikely that the views he
advocated were materially advanced by either
of his able speeches, but in delivering them he
voiced the opinion of a very large section and
enabled the Government to show that they were
pressing forward to the end that Mr. Mudholkar
desired, though they proposed to attain it by
rather a different road.
Unfortunate Tendencies in Debate.
In reviewing the work of the Council as a
whole, the most striking facts that stand out
at present are the devotion and skill with which
the new section of the Council are performing
their functions. They have been free and
open in their criticism but have been scrupulous
neither to obstruct the machinery of Govern
ment nor to embarrass it in any way. Ques
tions have been kept within reasonable limits;
only occasionally has a counceller been called
to order for irrelevance or for breach of rules,
and the valuable contributions made to the de
bate have gained much wider publicity than
would have been secured to them if they, had
been buried as opinions in a blue-book.
But in the course of the debates, one feature
has become apparent. If the Council is to
retain its authority as a deliberative body,
there will have to be some sacrifice exercised
by members regarding the length of their
speeches. The Council is now a large body,
composed to a considerable extent of busy men.
They are ready and anxious to discharge fully
the duties of membership; but they cannot
give an excessive amount of time to them. An
admirable example was set by me Bombay
members in this respect. Their budget
speeches, of moderate length, adhering strictly
to the point, ceasing the moment they had said
all they had to say, were models of their kind.
The stand made by the Bombay mem
bers against the silver duty is conspicuous as
the ablest and most businesslike episode in the
Budget discussion. Their anticipations have
not been borne out by facts ; silver has re-
covered its normal value and China exchanges
have not been appreciably affected. Neverthe
less, by common consent, their speeches were
the most vivid and illuminating in the Council,
because they dealt with the point and nothing
but the point, without frills and embroidery.
Another point is the allocation of Council busi
ness. His Excellency accepted the position stated
by this paper, namely that if business interests
are not to be disfranchised, the sittings of the
Council must be so arranged that frequent
journeys to Calcutta or Simla are unnecessary,
and he foreshadowed alterations in procedure
which will attain this end.
The following extract from his address indi
cates sufficiently well the official view as regards
the working of the reformed chamber
“Throughout our debates there has been
ample evidence of a deep interest in public
affairs and a desire to contribute to the better
administration of the country. The Govern
ment has benefitted by criticism and sugges
tions, and the dignity of procedure so neces-
. sary to an • assembly such as this has been
well recognised by its members.
The following are among the more important
acts that have been passed:—
The Press Act.
The Stamp Act.
The Tariff Act.
The Electricity Act.
The Central Provinces Councils Act.
Ihe Finance Act.
At the fourth opium sale record -prices-
were, reached, the average per chest being
Rs 3827. as. pies 3, • Benares reaching
Rs 298630/0884 13% The proceeds were
"8 .49,00,000, thus..exceeding dby falouar
figures suggested to the Hon. Sir Guy -Fleet
wood Wilson by Sir Sassoon David who-
voplipooed Rs. 1,750 a chest. High as these-
sale prices were they were exceeded in game
kloipaleson Wednesday night in which xsraei
spoiled the Marwans who entered in hastilv
and burned their fingers possibly. Then
Rs. 5,000 per case was reached.
MADRAS UNIVERSITY.
I ... . - -2.
' The annual convocation of the University of
Madras for the purpose of conferring degrees
on the new year’s graduates was held on Thurs
day evening at the Senate House.
In the unavoidable absence through indis
position of his Excellency the Chancellor the
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Wallis, the Vice-Chancel
lor, presided. The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abdur
Rahim delivered an address to the graduates,
and in the course of his speech alluded to the
speech delivered by Bishop Whitehead before
the Madras Teachers’ College, when his Lord
ship stated that the education given in the
Colleges and .schools in India was “Godless.”
Justice Abdur Rahim said, that unless this
word was used in some special sense it could
not be a true description of the effect which
a graduate’s education had on the moral and
spiritual side of his nature. Religious beliefs
were not shattered by college training. A
youth tried to reconcile what he learned in
College with his religious beliefs, and at least
satisfied himself that he had done so. His
beliefs might not agree with those of the old
pundit or moulvi but that was only natural.
Referring to the new ■ spirit of the West, he
said the natural -and inevitable result was a
quickening of India’s intellectual life. - They
were apt to measure the momentum of progress
and enlightenment in a community by results
merely of University ‘examination. Nothing,
however, was more wide of the truth. The de
sire for progress, which is now so marked
among people was not created by English
schools but was generated by mere contact
with a progressive civilization. It could not be
helped. It was a function of the Indian edu
cational system to take note of moving forces
and divert their force into well-defined and
ample channels.
On the subject of unrest the learned Judge
said he had always regarded it as a proof of
the statesmanship of England that India had
enjoyed unbroken peace for so many years. It
was easy for a man who was determined to
cause trouble to pounce upon the Government’s
weak points and errors, and no human Govern
ment could claim perfection. The work of the
rebel was to seek out men who were most pre
disposed to listen and to play upon their
weaknesses, their prejudices and even their
virtues, until he had instruments ready to
carry out his designs; but the machinations
of the rebel could never succeed' with the
peoples of this continent so long as the :Govern -
ment, under which they lived, afforded them
absolute security of person, of property and
of honour,’ and gave ample scope and facility
for the development of their energies. That
was why conspirators and the enemies of the
British Government had totally failed to evoke
the sympathy of the people.
DACOITIES IN BENGAL AND SIND
: Since the arrest of the Nangla dacoit gang
in September five dacoities of the same nature
have taken place in the Khulna and Jessore
districts. In one the dacoits, who were dressed
in khaki uniforms of sorts, looted, the house
of a rich trader at Khulna and meeting with
no resistance got away with loot and cash worth
Rs. 7,000. The villagers, three hundred in
number, were kept at bay .by the dacoits who
were armed with guns and pistols firing buck
shot. The dacoits escaped into the jungle.
At the Calcutta High Court on
Tuesday, when the . Special Tribunal
consisting of the Chief Justice and
Justices Teunon and Das reassembled for
the trial of the Haludbari dacoity case, their
Lordships passed sentence of seven years’
rigorous imprisonment on Sushil Kumar Bis vas,
one of the accused who pleaded guilty.
The cross-examination of Agarwalla, the com
plainant was continued. He deposed to the
identification of Sailendro and others, all dacoits
belonged to the Bhadro or gentle class. They
spoke English among themselves, using Bengali
only. in addressing villagers and householders.
They, were robbing.
Mr. Manley, District Superintendent of
Police, Karachi, is engaged in investigating a
serious dacoity which is reported to have
been committed in the village of Kathiari
near Jhimpir, about 75 miles from Karachi,
on the night of the 30th ultimo. It is
alleged that about fourteen men, armed with
guns, pistols and swords, entered the village,
looted the houses of some Hindus and carried
off jewellery and cash valued at about Rs 2,000.
Six of the dacoits have been arrested with
some of the property, as also a pistol, in
their possession. .
THE LATE BABU BISWAS.
The following Press communique is issued
Babu Ashutosh Biswas having been shot dead
at Alipore on the 10th February, 1909, while
he was engaged as Public Prosecutor in the
Alipore Bomb Case, Government have decided
to grant a jagir to the widow and eldest son
of the deceased, Babu Manmatha Nath Biswas.
The necessary arrangements have been com
pleted, and the. three villages anof Chandipur,
Bansberia and orRatnaswarpur,! situated in
Thana Kalpi of the Diamond Harbour Sub-
Division, a district of the: . 24 Parganas,. has-
been conveyed to them by a sanad. .They, com
prise an area of 1,397 acres and yield an annual
rental of Rs. 5,982 i .
The grant is, a permanent one and heritable
according to the English rule of primogeniture.
It will be rent free for the lifetime of the
grantees, and will then be assessed at 30 per
cent, of rental for the lifetime of the first
holder after them, and 60. per cent, thereafter.
POLLARDS LILLIPUTIANS.
The Pollard Lilliputian kidnapping case was
called on again at Madras on Thursday when
the case for the prosecution closed and the two
accused made statements.
Mr. Miller said that he had nothing to do
with the removal of the children on the night
in question, but he was present when Mr.
Pollard consented to the children being taken
over on certain conditions.
Mr. Rouse said that he was present at the
Castle Hotel when Mr. Pollard told Messrs.
Osborne and Bewes that the tour had been
a failure-and he-only wished to get rid of the
children and hoped somebody would pay their
way back to Australia. He attended the per
formance afterwards and the children told
him that they were afraid to go further with
Pollard. He then went and told Pollard that
23 out of the 25 children were afraid to go
to Colombo and asked him what he meant to
do. Pollard agreed to the children being
taken over and in reminding Rouse of the res
ponsibility he was underaking said: -“I am
glad, to be rid of them, I -hope, they will be
as much bother to you as they have been to
me. Mr. Rouse said-that he and others- were
prepared to-undertake the responsibility. -There
were no threats used. Pollard paid the child
ren’s pocket money willingly and even lent the
wardrobe handing over to Rouse an order to-
get these from the railway station. After-
wards, in the Madras Times -office he refused
to let Rouse have the wordrobe, saying he had
changed his mind. I _ . ... ....
The Madras Chief 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. Magistrate on
Friday framed a charge against F. J. Rouse,
contracting I engineer, of having kidnapped
fourteen girls under the age of 16 years, and
three boys under 13, members of the Pollard
Lilliputian Opera . Co., from the lawful guar
dianship of A. H. Pollard, proprietor of the
Company, without his consent. Evidence for the
defence will be heard on Monday next.- No
case was made out against A. B. Miller, who
was discharged. Rouse pleaded not guilty to
the charge.
On Mr. Justice Wallis remarked that
the only question for decision was whether Mr.
Pollard- had, by his conduct, disentitled him
self to the- custody of the children. His Lord
ship desired toknow the degree of chastise
ment that would be permissible. Would a
parent go the length of beating a child on face
with a stick and causing a big wound ? Counsel
for Mr. Pollard denied these allegations. His
Lordship then enquired whether, if the allega
tions of immorality, disclosed in the affidavit;
were true, counsel would deem. Pollard a fit
person to have the custody of the children.’
Counsel admitted he would not be.
After some further discussion his Lordship
said, that the-allegations were too serious to be
disposed off on affidavits, and he desired to
exam ne . witnesses, which he accordingly
directed to be done. - -
RAILWAY NEWS.
About this time last year a small committee
consisting -of Mr. Wood, president, Messrs.
Finney, Burt and Noel-Paton, members with
Captain Osborne, R. E., - Secretary, reported
upon the introduction of ■ Payne elevators in
India. Their report is being printed and will
be published for criticism. It has been held
that elevators might prove useful in certain
places but that these should be provided by
the trade and not by the railways. Mr. Noel-
Paton has appended a- minute of dissent. *
It is quite probable that Mr. R C. F. Vol-
kers, Secretary to the Railway Board, will
proceed Home on three months’ leave in
August.
The Railway Board have sanctioned the
survey of a railway from Biana to Agra as a
branch of the Nagda-Muttra Railway. It is
intended to open up this fertile tract of coun-
try and obviate the necessity of having double
gauges between Agra and Bharatpur as (pro-d
posed by the B. B. and C. I. Railway Com-
pany. - ” - .
A despatch on the proposed, amalgamation,
of the P. W. D. Accounts with..the enrolled
list of the Finance Department and the crea
tion of a railway Accountant-General under
the administrative control of the Finance De
partment has been sent home and a reply is
expected by June. Meanwhile, Mr. S. K. L.
Yeats, railway accounts officer, has proceeded
on long leave and Mr. W. F. O’donoghue, Ac-
countant-General, Public Works Department,
will in addition to his own duties act for Mr.
Yeats.
Mr. Haughton, Engineer-in-Chief of the Eas
tern Bengal State Railway, retires from the
service in June and Mr. H. B. Taylor wall
succeed him.
The. Railway Board have sanctioned the
provision of the two new 3-ton travelling
steam cranes required on the Bombay,
Baroda and Central India Railway.
Mr. Creedy, Assistant Engineer, is trans*
ferred from the North-Western Railway
to the Eastern Bengal State Railway.
The Railway Board have received the fol
lowing telegram re the. recent-fire at Sara-
ghat“Practically all the. railway build- -
ings including . the coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. 4 shed, and Mr.
Sorabjee’s bungalow and -godown, ■ the station-
master’s, Police (Sergeant’s, theYard Fore--
man’s and.to Babus’ quarters, were destroyed"
The fire was over at 13 hours. An- officers’
joint enquiry is-being held- The above were
all temporary mat and thatch buildings.”
Sir T. R. Wynne,. Chairman of the Railway
Board will shortly visit Lahore. He will
inspect the North-Western Railway and visit
Karachi, where remodelling is being carried
out on a large scale to meet the requirements
of the wheatitraffic.