SIR JAMES ELPHINTSTONEasked the Secretary of State for India, If anything as yet has been determined on towards replacing the defective moorings that were carried away bodily during the cyclone of October last in the Calcutta river; and whether some more efficient plan or appliance ought not now to be tried, in order to prevent, as far as possible, the recurrence of similar shipping disasters?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, that a despatch had been addressed to the Government of India at Calcutta, calling 208 their attention to this subject, but it was crossed by another from that Government asking for a supply of screw piles, with mooring chains attached. Some doubts being entertained as to the sufficiency of the piles for which they had asked, he had appointed a small committee of officers of the Indian navy and Bengal marine, who were all acquainted with the Hooghly, to consider and report to him how it would be most desirable to comply with the desire of the Government of India. As soon as he had received their report, it would be his duty to send out the necessary materials by the overland route.