OCCASIONAL NOTE

Though some day the Punjab may be one of the richest of India’s provinces as judged by the possession of latent “power” she is today one of the poorest. Her coal resources are negligible, her petroleum supplies are still undetermined and the development of the power which could be derived from her waterfalls and watercourses is out of the question at present owing to considerations of distance. There remain her resources in wood fuel, and here again matters are unsatisfactory – so much so, that a committee was appointed recently to consider the steps which can be taken to develop arboriculture on scientific principles wherever land may be available along roadsides and canal banks. Hitherto work of this kind has been in the hands of the Irrigation and Buildings and Roads departments. The available space, however, has been but partially and imperfectly utilised, small attention has been paid to the species planted, and scant provision has been made whether for cutting the trees at their prime or replacing them when cut. It has now been decided that the Forest Department shall take over the work little by little as its personnel is strengthened, and a marked improvement should soon be visible. One of the glories of the Punjab’s canal and road systems should be their double avenues of fine trees, as already such avenues are in many parts of India the glory of the main roads.

CURIOUS SCENE IN NIMTOLLA

There was a curious scene in Nimtolla Street, near the Jorabagan Court, yesterday. In connection with a will case involving about eight lakhs of rupees now pending n the High Court, an application has been made before Mr. Keays. The will case mentioned concerns the will of Babu Athnu Nundan Tagore, a wealthy Bengali, married a young girl, Okoi Comari Debi. He died a few years ago, and the will, which the girl-widow’s mother is contesting, is in favour of certain relatives of the man. Mr. Sunanda Sen, who made the application, alleged that the girl was being confined and ill-treated by the relatives, and he asked that she should be made over to her mother to whom she was anxious to return. The magistrate granted a warrant of production. While the mother of the girl and the police were standing near the court gate the girl was seen to pass in a landau in company with some of her late husband’s relatives, and the driver was called upon to stop. Eventually the landau was overtaken and the parties were taken to the thana.

A GLORIOUS FUTURE FOR INDIA

BOMBAY, FEB 11

Speaking to the students of Poona Agricultural College at a farewell entertainment given to him, Dr. Harold Mann, late Principal of the College, and present Director of Agriculture, Bombay Presidency, said that in 1900, when he was working in Assam with a commercial body like the Tea Planters’ Association, he saw a vision of a glorious future for India, and he had realised the force of it in the last eleven years during his Principalship of that College. It was his firm belief that the condition of Indian agriculturists could be improved very rapidly, that the people now encumbered in debt could live a prosperous life, and that the soil of India could produce crops to compete with those of any other nation in the world. He urged the graduates of the Agricultural College to help him in its realisation, as in their hands lay the future agriculture of India.

THE CONGRESS DEPUTATION TO ENGLAND

DELHI, FEB 11

The Congress Deputation Committee met at Delhi on the 9th instant under the chairmanship of the Hon. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. It is understood that in all thirty-three have been elected. Of these sixteen among whom are included several prominent Congressmen and two ex-presidents, form the first batch which is to sail for England in April. The second batch will go at a later date if more passages become available, or will act as substitutes for any of those in the first list who may for any reason be unable to proceed.

INSURANCE COMPANY DIRECTORS APPEAL

COMILLA, FEB 11

The District and Sessions Judge today delivered judgment in the appeal preferred by J. Sircar and S. Sircar, who were convicted by the Sub-divisional Officer of Chandpur of cheating and conspiracy to cheat, and sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000. The appellants were the Directors of the Universal Assurance Company of Calcutta, and the allegations against them were that they as Directors refused to pay the complainant, a policy-holder, the money due on a policy. The Judge quashed the conviction and acquitted both the appellants.