Requests instructions whether he should hold investiture to confer a GCSI on Duke of Edinburgh, which must be at Calcutta in view of abandonment of Durbar at Agra.
Govt management has reduced rather than increased cost of Port Canning line [Calcutta and South Eastern railway], though original decision to guarantee it an 'egregious folly'.
Important Duke of Edinburgh should visit Bombay; suggests he might visit Hyderabad which would be a well deserved compliment to Sir Salar Jung. (Prime Minister of Hyderabad).
Cost estimates for Lahore and Peshawar railway work out at about £10,000 or £11,000 per mile, including £600,000-£700,000 for bridges over the Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum: much lower than preliminary estimate of £21,000 per mile.