§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If it is the intention of the Indian Government to continue the Marine Survey or charting of their coasts on a scientific basis, as afforded by the data of the Grand Trigonometrical Survey; and, whether a report, dated May 18th, 1882, made by a Post Captain in the Royal Navy, at that time the Director of Indian Marine, relative to the position, 1126 pay, and employment of specially trained Royal Naval Officers for this work, since approved by the Admiralty, is to be adopted?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSIn reply to the second part of the Question of the noble Lord, I have to state that the proposals contained in the Report of the then Director of Indian Marine, dated May 18, 1882, have been generally accepted by the Government of India, and, having been concurred in by the Lords of the Admiralty, have been approved by the Secretary of State in Council, except as regards two minor points—the precise disciplinary regulations under which the Investigator sails, and the relation of the naval officers to Indian Government officials, on which, at the desire of the Admiralty, the Government of India have been asked for more definite information. As regards the first part of the Question, the recommendations of the Director—which have been approved—were that systematic surveys of the coasts of India should be carried on by the Marine Survey of India, and that they should make use, when available, of the points already fixed by the Grand Trigonometrical Survey; but that the preparation of the charts from the surveys of the Department should, for the future, be undertaken in the Hydrographer's Department at the Admiralty, the preparation of charts at Calcutta being discontinued.