§ SIR DAVID WEDDERBURNsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that a large expenditure has been incurred in erecting permanent Barracks at the cantonment of Morar, near Gwalior, with the view of making Morar the principal Military Station in Central India for European as well as Native Troops; and, whether the Government are satisfied that the climate of Gwalior is such as to permit of Europeans being safely quartered there in force?
MR. GRANT DUFFIt having been determined, in 1864, by the then Government that for military and political reasons it was most desirable to have a strong British force cantoned at or near Morar, a very carefully composed Committee was ordered to examine into the question of site. A paragraph from the Eeport of that Committee is the best answer that I can give to my hon. Friend, and will show that the extremely important point which he has raised has been carefully considered—
The members unanimously concurred in opinion that the force should be located it the present cantonment of Morar, which must necessarily be greatly extended. In thus recommending the extension of Morar, they desire to place prominently on record the individual opinion of Surgeon-Major Laing, not only because that officer's medical reputation stands so high that any professional opinion given by him on sanitary matters must, per se, be of great weight, but also because he, being a stranger at Morar, brings to bear on the subject a mind unbiassed and free from prejudice for or against the locality. Alter a careful examination, this officer recorded his opinion that he had seldom, within his Indian experience, seen ground which, taken as a whole, possessed in a higher degree the essentials requisite for a healthy location for troops. Dr. Auchinleck, who has had two years' experience of the place, concurred in this opinion, and gave the weight of his testimony in favour of the salubrity of the place.