OCCASIONAL NOTE

Those who indulge in pleasing visions of a new heaven and a new earth as the result of the Indian reform scheme should read the letter which an Indian Christian has addressed to the Madras Mail. “The hardship we undergo on account of the social ostracism is simply appalling,” he says. “Generally we are not allowed dwellings in the Hindu quarters. No Hindu would come and work in our homes.” Recently a Christian sub-inspector of police spent a night in a chuttram at Madura which is managed by the Local Fund authorities, a proceeding which gave rise to a hot discussion by the managing committee as to whether it was right to admit Indian Christians to such hospitality. One infers that the right was tacitly admitted, but in spite of this “our Hindu brethren,” says this correspondent, “have allotted to our community a place lower than that of the depressed class.” One would have thought this hardly possible, but when one remembers that in certain parts of Southern India no low caste person must be seen in the street when the Raja passes by the disability referred to does not seem so farfetched after all. The correspondent professes to find a remedy in “a liberal representation in the Legislative Council and in all other departments of Government,” which rather reminds one of the French princess’s well-meant suggestion that, if there was not bread enough for the poor, they should supplement the deficiency by an extra quantum of chicken quenelle.

COMPANY ACT PROSECUTIONS

Mr. Swinhoe, Chief Presidency Magistrate, had before him yesterday the case in which Messrs. Spalding and Co., as managing agents of the Indian Drugs Products Ltd., Mr. P.E. Billinghurst and Mr. A.K. Augier directors of the said company and of the Indian Drugs Products Ltd. were charged separately under the Indian Companies Act, with having failed to file a prospectus of the last named company with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. The prosecution alleged that the accused published a prospectus in a local daily newspaper which differed in some material points from the prospectus of the company filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. The defence contention was that in the advertisement which was published in the newspapers, it was distinctly mentioned that was only the summary of the prospectus, and that the full prospectus might be had at the office of the Company. The Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs 25 in each case, or Rs 100 in all.

TRAIN COLLISION NEAR BALLYGUNGE

Shortly before 10 P.M. on Wednesday, a collision took place between a goods train and a passenger train near Ballygunge station, with the result that four wagons of the goods train were derailed, but fortunately no one was hurt. It appears that 123 Goods train from the Kidderpore Docks was standing at Ballygunge Station to allow 177 passenger train, coming in the same direction from Budge Budge for Belliaghatta station, to pass. Apparently some wagons of the goods train were fouling the points as the passenger train ran into them throwing them off the line. The engine though slightly damaged in front, never left the track but the carriages got a severe jolting. The collision caused a block in the Budge Budge line, which was not cleared till about 4 o’clock on Thursday morning. The usual enquiry will be held into the cause of the collision.

IMPORTATION OF DYESTUFFS INTO INDIA

SIMLA, SEPT 4

The Government of India have decided to prohibit, with effect from the 6th September, the importation, except under licence, of certain dyestuffs from all destinations other than the United Kingdom. In order, however, to safeguard the interests of the Indian dyeing industry the Government of India desire it to be clearly understood that licences will be freely granted for the import of these dyes from foreign countries in all cases in which the licensing authority is satisfied that it has been impossible to obtain the required dyes from the United Kingdom, either because the dyes are unobtainable there from or are unobtainable at a reasonable price.

NEPALESE COMMANDER

SIMLA, SEPT 4

On the conclusion of peace with Afghanistan General Sir Baber Sham Sher Jung, who has been in Simla for some weeks, left for Nepal under a salute of 13 guns. Among those who went to the station to see him off were Sir Charles Monro, with his Military Secretary and A.D.C.; Colonel Holland, Political Secretary; the Chief of the General Staff and the Quarter Master General. Before leaving, General Sir Baber presented Khan Bahadur Abdur Rahman, stationmaster of Simla, with a handsome Nepalese kukri