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Leader (1850-1860), 2nd April 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 24, LATEST INDIAN INTELLIGENCE. Calcutta new...

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      Generally. Several New Companies, For Va...

      • without any consideration for the increase of passengers and freight . The Bombay Government will now run mail steamers , and there will , consequently , be a competition on the route . ' We are sorry to see that the Bombay Government propose to put a tax on the importation of ice , ¦ which has hitherto been free . Ice is a necessary of life in hot climates , and is in most such countries nn taxed . Among the rcmarlcable features of the present advancement of India is the condition of the press . Not only are the old papers doing well and being greatly improved , but publications are springing up all over India .

      A publication called the Engin ' s Journal , ¦ which has now been issued at Calcutta for about a year , not only contains valuable professional matter , but has now succeeded in obtaining 600 subscribers , —a number not only large in itself , but showing how great is the demand for such class information , arising from the great increase of railway and other establishments , and the zeal which influences the military and other government engineers . These facts afford good augury for the material progress of India ; for among the first requisites of civilisation are the application of those mechanical expedients by which time is economised .. and labour abridged .

      At Allahabad a new paper has been started , called the New Times . As Allahabad is a growing place , through the increase of steam navigation and the provision of railway transit , good encouragement for the adventure is expected . The Delhi Gazette has been fully re-established , the establishment rebuilt , and a circulation has been obtained greater than ever . The Pmijabee has , however , ceased to exist , but that arises from the editor having obtained new employment on another paper ; In Calcutta itself a new ; daily paper is to be started , called the Indian Herald . The price is to be cheaper than the existing papers , for it will be published at 6 s . a month , or about 2 £ d . a number . There are already three daily papers . Another new paper about to be started in Calcutta is the Anglo-Indian , for Eurasians . It is strange there is not one newspaper yet published in the Hill towns , though these will become the seats of the independent English press , which will' do so much for the regeneration of India . . It is gratifying to see that the growth of vernacular literature is proceeding-. This is another step to that great measure of the adoption of the English language for India , which has already been advocated by some natives . The more useful information can be extended , the greater will be the demand for access to a printed literature , which can alone 3 upply the requirements of the reader . Thus as Welsh schooling and Welsh , books create a . demand

      the establishment of nevf courts , with properly qualified judges , oh a different mode , and so as to supersede the necessity of such an appellate system as now exists . This is the time the Government chooses for abolishing that great improvement—the honorary magistracies . . . There were no less than seven hundred candidates for Moonsiffships at Calcutta at the last period fixed for examination . As , however , has happened before now , the examination papers had been stolen by some of the clever candidates , so that they were able to prepare the answers . The examiner this time adjourned the examination . We believe there is little doubt remaining among those who have attended to the subject , that most of the paper examinations of natives are delusions .

      Some discussion has taken place on a remark of Mr . Augustus St . John , that Hindoos display remarkable aptitude for the acquisition of English , and when they have been carefull y taught , speak it without the slightest Asiatic accent . The Hurkaru ridicules this assertion-, but the Friend of India confirms it . Great complaints are being made of the rise of local taxes in the Indian cities ; but these are required for improvements , and with the progress now being made , and the increased wealth of the country , the taxation can . in most cases , be well afforded .

      Captain Baillie , the executive engineer at Jhansee , is greatly improving that town . He is employing a large number of women , widows of men killed during the siege . He is removing all . unsightly buildings .

      for English , so will Bengalee or Tarnul . In Bengalee there have lately been published a short " History of India , " by KedarnathBiinerjea ; an " Introduction to Natural Philosophy , " and a " Manual of Ancient History , " by Bhuden Mukerjee , of the Hooghly Normal Schools ; " Lessons on Objects , " by Ramgali Nyagaratna , of the same schools ; a *» History of India , " by Nilmani Boysak , all being based on English works . " Sushil Upakhycan , " is a work of fiction , to bring the subject of female education and social improvement before the natives , many of whom , who cannot read , like to be read to . 'The Vernacular Literary Society last ye » r sold 25 , 000 copies of its publications ..

      The Chief Justice of Bengal complains very strongly of the state of administration of the law without' his jurisdiction . The Chief Justice at Madras considers thatmuch of the greater prosperity and greater safety to life and property , which in his opinionqexists in the Presidency towns , is to bo attributed to the existence and constitution of the Supreme Courts . Tho Friend of India observes that notwithstanding these facts , tho Government will not extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Courts ,

      as if unwilling to extend " greater safety to life and property" beyond ); lie Presidency towns . One great value of the Supreme Courts is , that they train nativea as grand jurors , jurors and witnesses . There is no reason why tho towns on the East Indian Railway , the Great ; Indian Peninsula Kailway , nnd the Madras Railway should not have tho benefit of Assiaos of the Supremo Court . Such a measure would get over most of the difficulties of the Sudder Court .

      There is Poonah , for instance , whore there is a large English population , nnd which enn now bo readied by train in six hours from Bombay . ' Why oannot it ) have a Recorder and three Assizes ? The Indigo Planters' Association have strongly remonstrated against the prosont administration of what mtvy bo culled injustice in Bengal , nnd have memorialised the Legislative Council to take effective measuroa fora reform of the existing ' courts , and for

      440 The Leader. [No, 471, April 2, 1 85^

      440 THE LEADER . [ No , 471 , April 2 , 1 85 ^

      Latest Indian Intelligence. Calcutta New...

      LATEST INDIAN INTELLIGENCE . Calcutta news to the 22 nd February , and Madras journals of the 1 st ult ., have come to hand . The chief point of interest in the Calcutta news is the state of the money market . It is rumoured that the banks are not only declining to make advances on Government paper , but that they are , in some instances , callmgupon parties to redeem the paper which they hold . A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was . numerously

      attended . A letter to the financial secretary was adopted , in which several suggestions are made as to the best mode of raising money in India . In reply a Gazette Extraordinary was published , notifying ¦ " for general information , the financial measures which / have been resolved upon , in order to provide means for carrying on the public service for the coming year 1859-60 . " After giving a detailed account of the loans of the last few years , the GovernorrGeneral in Council anounces that live

      dier Bonner ' is supposed to be near Nagpore witl , his column ; Brigadier Showers was . ' probably near or at Koochan , ' in . Joudpore , torday Colonel the outer world . Thus , by latest accounts , I 3 ri ga-Hohnes has vanished . * in the direction of Soojamghur ; ' but it is hoped that some of the many columns may precipitate Tantia , now" held in solution , somewhere or other to the eas't of the Bikaneer district and jungles , and kill him . As to' dispersing his followers * the most venturesome brigadier now seems to think he will not be credited if he says , the deed is done have been utterl

      . They y dispersed so often—they have so frequently thrown away their arms and hid in the jungles- —nay , they have been so often reduced to starvation , which has not affected their next appearance or much diminished then ? numbers , that till I see a telegram which contains the news ' Tantia Topee and his chiefs are killed or taken , ' I shall not be satisfied that we have put au end to his extraordinary career . As to despatches , ' hoping to intercept him , ' or to Overtake him , or announcing that he and his are in hopeless plightincredulus odi . " incredulus odi .

      THE KING OF OTJDE . An Indian letter says : — " The . king remains in a dubious condition , scarcely a prisoner , and yet not free , at Calcutta . There is not , I understand , the shadow of a shade of evidence to connect him with the rebellion . It is universally admitted that it was owing to his influence no outbreak took place at the time of the ' . , annexation ; against which he never ceased , indeed , to protest , but which he sought to overthrow by peaceful means—by petition , embassy , and the mission of members of his family to England , of whom two met with au untimely death . The king , has firmly refused up to this time to

      accept any allowance from our Government , as by so doing he would admit that he was our pensioner , and Would acquiesce in the act of annexation . He is living on his capital , and on jewels and treasure brought away from Lucknow , and he is in the habit , from time to time , of sending precious stones and money to the female members of his family at Lucknow . All these , as well as his letters , pass through the hands of the Chief Commissioner , but I do not believe that the letters which are sent unsealed are exposed to very close scrutiny . It is time that England should adopt some decided step as to the status and fortunes of the King of Oude , on whom this mutiny has fallen most heavily . "

      crores of rupees are required for the coming year , and to raise this sum a loan at 54 per cent , interest is to be opened on the 1 st of May next . A new issue of Treasury bills will commence from the same date , " bearing interest at the rate of 2 & per centum per diem . " As Government assures the public that " no further loan will be opened during the year "—provided the amount be raised- —it may restore confidence , and produce the required amount . The Governor-General , however , does not feel very sanguine on this poiut , as he hints that if the amount be not ¦ forthcoming , recourse will be had to England ; and then , if instructions to that effect be issued by the home Government , another loan carrying a higher rate of interest will be opened in , India .

      Colonel Horsford has entered Nepaul , and on tho 10 th February encountered the Nana and the Begum , took all their guns , and drove them further into the interior , and according to one ( unconfirmed ) account , captured the Begum , Tantia Topee , when last heard of , was still in Biknneer , but moving southward . He was travelling at his usual , tremendous pace . Colonel Showers , the most active of the four active Brigadiers in . pursuit , recently reported officially that , whatever his own pace , Tantia could always outsti . p him by thirty miles a day . ' Mr . Montgomery hns left Oude for Lahore , and has been succeeded by Mr . Wingflold ^ Sir John Lawrence has been allowed fifteen months' sick leave , a notice which seems to imply that he will return to his appointment . Tho military movements reported in tho Calcutta papers woro made known to us by tho last Bombay advices . Tho trial of tho Nawab of Furmcknbad was to commence on tho 14 th ult . The commissioners appointod to try him are—Mr . Batten , judge of Cawnporo s Mr . ltoas , judge of Futteyghur ; and Mr . Wynward , judge of Shahjehanpore . TANTIA XOI'EIS . Mr . W . II . Russell says : — - " As to Tantia Topeo , ho hns rendered himself Invisible . Our Generals are all waiting anxiously for his reappearance 1 , as eadx is sure of htm this time . ' Even these gallant ofl & cors' forrne are becoming indlstlnot to tho gnzeof

      Production Of Sugar In Australia.—In Sou...

      Production of Sugar in Australia . —In South Australia one of the species of sugar-producing plants has been cultivated with considerable success . The agriculturist who has turned his attention to this plant may hereafter be regarded as one of the best friends of the colony . The introduction of wheat into Spanish America was not more beneficial to that continent than the sugar plant may prove to be in Australia . We do not expect that in its present state , or for some years to come , Australia will over be regarded as an extensive sugar-producing colony , able to compete with the West India islands , or a part of the southern States of America . The scarcity and high price of labour constitute a difficulty which will not bo readily overcome ; but tho tact having been clearly demonstrated of the suitableness of the soil and climate of the country for the growth of suirar is . neverthelessone of considerable

      import-, ance to the future of these colonies . We learn Iron * one of our contemporaries at Adelaide that air . Duncan , who has had the advantage of a Wost . IntUa experience as , a sugar-planter , is of opinion that , tne plant will not at present pay for the purpose ot sugar manufacturing , in consequence of the high price pi labour . Tho " holcus" is not , however , niorciy useful as a plant from which to extract-sugar , w » t jc is of groat value as food for cattlcnnd horses , tiuuo are extremely fond of it , und they will cut plant , stn k , leaves , and flower without any preparation , and iiio plant is exceedingly nutritive and fattening to stoc c of all kinds . Tho result of tho experiments whcix have been mado show that the plant is about twice n » nrndnoklvo nn n linvmvm . that it ffl'O ' WS WHllOUC

      much troublo on a soil of moderately good < 1 "W » and very little scod in required ; tho grain from »" heads is said to bo sufficient to sow an aero ol lana . Tho climate of Australia , which is at certain soiwons of tho year hot and dry , is not well suited to Uic production of hoavy grass crops , or of those rich p »» - turagos which arc to bo mot with in many P ""* ?* this country . This peculiarity of tho elimuto docs not , however , appear to exercise any injurious cnu ^ upon tho holciw , or sugar V lv . nt . —A witralbin ««« JYcw Zealand Gazette .

      Tina Suez Canal . —Advicos liavo boon roooivoj from Alexandria , which announco thati tho y Itwoy has rejected tho written application of M . do Lcssopa for pormieslon to commence tho work oi tho di «« Canal , and that Mr . Licantbeg , tho onglnoor-in chief , has tonderod his resignation .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 2, 1859, page 24, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02041859/page/24/