HC Deb 18 May 1868 vol 192 cc425-6
MR. SMOLLETT

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the offer to purchase the works of the East India Irrigation and Canal Company in Orissa, on account of Government, has been finally declined; if so, to inquire whether the proposals to carry out the Behar and Orissa schemes of irrigation by raising an additional capital of two millions sterling are now being made upon the sole responsibility of the speculators, and without any assurance of repayment at a future period from the Indian Treasury?

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

replied that after the Secretary of State for India had made the offer to purchase the works at a certain price the shareholders held a meeting, and resolved to ask a higher price than had been named. The Government at once declined to make any advance on their previous offer, and since that time the Government had had no communication whatever with the Company. He saw in the newspapers that the Company were advertising for capital; but they were doing so entirely on their own account, without any communication from the Government on the subject.