India Office oversight in failing to inform Indian authorities of permission given to Red Sea Telegraph Company [or British Indian Submarine Telegraph Company] to land their cable at Bombay and to build their own offices there.
Sir Bartle Frere (ex-Governor of Bombay, member of Council of India, and sceptic on ability of Govt of India to build railways as rapidly as Guaranteed Companies) has urged that Rajputana line should be built by Company, arguing that it is an extension to existing Bombay-Baroda line, that Company...
Objects at length to clause in Irrigation Bill enabling Govt of India to tax irrigable, but not irrigated lands, which he believes may lead to injustice; eager to see 'reproductive' public works placed on sound footing, 'but we must not be tempted by the power of an arbitrary government to insure...
Reiterates objections to assessment clause in Irrigation Bill; also it is likely to lead to carelessness and extravagance on part of engineers; every civil, military, engineering and political authority at home is against it; strongly criticises system of varying water rate according to type of c...
Proposal to establish College to train Civil Engineers for India; class of engineers currently obtained is comparatively low; need to make civil engineering branch of civil service; possibility of also training men for Forest and Telegraph Depts; pressure from cotton interests not to stop Godavar...
Encloses proof copy of memorandum on narrow gauge railways by John Fowler, 'the eminent engineer', concluding that best narrow gauge for India is 3' 6"; great economy to have only one narrow gauge below general one.
Encloses letter from John Delane (editor of The Times) to Lord Granville containing plea that Viceroy's Bodyguard, commanded by his brother, should not be reduced; Cabinet very nervous about getting into scrape with Persia and Kalat; probably all that can be done is to indicate British concern wi...
Duke of Edinburgh should be guest of Govt of India which should pay his expenses; such expenditure justified by political importance of visit to India by Queen's son.