LORD STANLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary for India, What progress has been made in the construction of the Pier and improvement of the Harbour of Sedasheghur, and in the opening of the roads from the cotton districts thereto? The right hon. Baronet had recently, in the course of a public statement, referred, among other subjects, to the works going on in the harbour of Sedasheghur, and had then entered into a statement of the number of persons employed and the progress that had been made. Since then he understood that the statement of the right hon. Gentleman had been directly and bluntly contradicted by a person professing to have accurate information. He therefore wished to know whether the right hon. Gentleman, in consequence of that contradiction, was now prepared to modify or retract what he recently stated; and whether he would lay all the papers relating to the subject before the House?
§ MR. KENNARDsaid, that before the right hon. Gentleman answered the question, he wished to know whether he could now furnish the information respecting the Bengal army for which he had applied in 1861?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODWith regard to the last Question addressed to me by the hon. Member, I am afraid I must ask him to repeat the Question on some other evening, as I cannot answer it without inquiry in my office. I am happy to have an opportunity of answering the inquiry made by the noble Lord. On the occasion to which he refers, I read an extract from a letter which I had received from Dr. Forbes, the superintendent of the factory at Darwah, giving an account of works in progress on which, as he understood, nearly 7,000 men were employed. I have no reason to believe that he was materially wrong in the statement which he then made; but I have received a public despatch on the subject since that time, and I think the best answer which I can give to the noble Lord's question will be to read an extract from that despatch. I am sorry to say that on one portion of the works a check has occurred in their progress, but this is due to one of those circumstances over which no control can be exercised, and which cannot be foreseen or prevented—namely, the influence of the climate 190 upon the health of the men employed. Some of my hon. Friends, who are impatient for the acceleration of works in India, I hope will see, that although labour may be abundant in some parts of India, it is impossible at all times and all places to command it. Colonel Kennedy, Superintending Engineer of the Southern Circuit, writes, under date of the 30th of September—
Belgaum, Dec. 20, 1862.I have just returned from an inspection of the Canara works. The Kyga Ghaut and its approaches, both above and below, to the head of the Kala-Nuddee navigation, are open to a minimum width of twelve feet, and are quite practicable for laden carts, though not yet prepared to receive a heavy traffic. Arrangements were made this year for prosecuting the works with great vigour, but those arrangements have been entirely frustrated by the unusually unhealthy state of the country through which the road passes. Fever has broken out with such virulence that the imported working parties have been broken up and dispersed, and the small amount of local labour is prostrated. Officers and subordinates have not escaped, and the executive engineer himself is so ill that he cannot remain in the district. Of 2,000 men lately employed on the works, within the space of a few days 900 were stricken with sickness. Several died, and the rest cleared off the work in 48 hours, carrying with them reports which deterred the advance of others who were on their way to the ghaut. Under these circumstances it is very difficult to say when the ghaut will be entirely completed; with this year's experience, which has, however, been unprecedentedly unfavourable, it will be very difficult again to collect workpeople; and, in fact, unless the malaria abates to a very material extent, it will he fruitless to do so, for men cannot and will not work when suffering from disease, nor will they consent to remain to die. The completion of the Kyga to the head of the navigation, though desirable, is not essential for the trade, provided the other road is available; and no preparations have yet been made by any persons to receive cotton at the termination of the former on the banks of the Kala-Nuddee. Too much stress has, I think, been laid on the Kyga Ghaut approach, owing, I believe, to the discussion about it having arisen before the alternative line was suggested and settled on. The question has not yet been cleared of the consideration that it first involved—namely, that the Kyga was the only approach to Sedashegur. It cannot matter to the houses concerned by what route they get their goods to the place where they require them, provided the one actually available possesses no marked disadvantages in respect to any other; and this is clearly the case as regards the Arbyle and Kyga lines. I believe amongst those who have any local knowledge of the circumstances there is no difference of opinion in the matter. The Arbyle and Ankola line is already opened out to full width to within fourteen miles of Beitkul, and a considerable portion of it is well provided with surface and drainage works. Of the incomplete fourteen miles nine are cut to twelve feet minimum width, and five on level 191 ground have just been commenced. In addition to this there is a branch road on a less convenient line over a high range of hills, which is opened the whole way to a minimum width of twelve feet, and by which cart communication with Beitkul is now opened throughout. On the Arbyle approach we have a heavy force engaged (two companies of Sappers and Miners, 500 convicts, and 2,500 labourers), which will, I trust, now increase day by day; and I think there is every prospect that the road will he ready to the full width by March or April next. On the transfer of North Canara to Bombay, on the 1st of February, 1862, it was determined to abandon for the present at least the idea of wharves in the situation selected by Sir William Denison, and in place of them to construct at once a quay or landing-place on the eastern shore of Beitkul Cove. A plan and estimate for a screw pile pier were called for. A commencement was made during my late visit with the wharf wall. Before I left Sedashegur it had begun to show above low-water mark; and by March next, before it is wanted, I expect that a length of at least 300 feet will be ready for landing and shipping goods. This wharf is being laid in three to four feet water at low tide, and will be accessible to cargo boats except at low water. It was originally intended to erect a pier on the western side of the Cove, but it has now been determined by the common consent of the representatives of the mercantile houses and the Government officers to place the pier on the eastern side. However, though it is most desirable to have a pier, one is not immediately and absolutely essential; for, when the wharf wall now in progress is ready, goods can be landed and shipped in cargo boats without difficulty. When the following works are completed, the absolutely essential and immediate requirements of the port will have been supplied:—The Arbyle Ghaut approach; the road from Beitkul to Konay; the wharf wall. It is confidently hoped that they will be finished to a sufficient extent to render them effectual by March or April next. Every possible effort is being made to secure this. The following works, not absolutely essential, but highly desirable, will be completed with as little delay as is practicable, under the peculiar circumstances of the districts:—The Kyga Ghaut line; the pier; the lighthouse. When all these works have been finished, sufficient will probably have been done until the port develops itself more fully, and it is ascertained what steps are necessary for improving or preserving the harbour, or to meet the increased requirements of the trade.Such is the official statement made upon the matter. It appears that the works as proposed were being carried out with much vigour, but in consequence of the fever suddenly breaking out in the district the progress of the works was interrupted in the manner stated. I have not the least objection to lay on the table the whole correspondence which has taken place will the Governments of Madras and Bombay on the subject; and if the noble Lord will move for the papers on an early day, they shall be granted as an unopposed Return.