OCCASIONAL NOTE

Sir William Meyer, like many another distinguished man, has fallen a victim to the American or rather the Canadian interviewer in the course of his journey Homewards through the United States, and he has incidentally taken advantage of the opportunity to let fall one or two plain facts for the benefit of the American public. British rule seems to have been so much on the defensive during the past few years that it is quite refreshing to find an ex- “bureaucrat” carrying the war into the enemy’s country, as it were. The exFinance Member pointed in the course of the interview to the ironical circumstance that the enlightened measures which Great Britain had applied to India had been the means of producing an “intelligentsia” which wants to get rid of the power under whose rule that class was made possible. “Had we been only anxious for the exploitation of the native races, we should not have set up our educational standards, but rather cultivated native ignorance; but, as you know, the policy of Britain, wherever she has had to govern native races, is to set them on their feet, to encourage wholesome manhood, and to introduce such measures of self rule as would be compatible with native genius.” The ex-Finance Member expressed himself as sympathetic to the reforms, and then the interviewer tempted him with the question “What would happen if Britain evacuated India?” His reply was brief, but decided. “The various races would fight one another, and utter disintegration would ensue.”

ENGINE BOILER EXPLODES

BOMBAY, JULY 18

A serious boiler explosion took place on Thursday on the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. A shunting engine on reaching a cabin at Kurla Station (within a few miles of Byculla station) suddenly exploded, as a result it is thought of the safety valves becoming jammed. The engine became a complete wreck. The explosion made a hole in the ground beneath the boiler about fifteen feet in diameter and three feet deep in the centre and the permanent way was badly damaged. The fireman was blown off the foot-plate and was found dead in the saloon opposite the cabin. The driver also received serious injuries and is not expected to recover. The boiler was thrown 25 feet into the air, and in its fall cut a large number of telegraph wires.

FILM FIRE NEAR NEW MARKET

Early on Wednesday morning, a fire broke out in the premises of the Artistic Cinema Co., Lindsay Mansions, the damage amounting to about Rs 5,000. It appears that at about 6-30 A.M. smoke was noticed coming out of the shopdoor, an alarm was raised, and a telephone message was sent from the office of the New Market Superintendent to the Central Fire Brigade. Shortly afterwards, station officers Jarrett and Myers arrived with two motors, but before starting operations, the Brigade were compelled to burst open the shop-door. The fire was put out in about half an hour. The shop contained a number of films, all of which were practically destroyed. The shop which is situated on the ground floor of Lindsay Mansions is not far from the New Market, and alongside is a dressmaker’s shop. The Brigade succeeded in preventing the fire from spreading. The owner of the business is a Bengali gentleman.

MADRAS PORT CHARGES

MADRAS, JULY 18

Wholesale grain and rice merchants of Madras, at the meeting on the 11th inst., passed a resolution requesting the chairman of the Madras Port Trust to cancel the heavy penalty of Rs 10 per ton, or part thereof, for cargo per S.S. War Leopard and S.S. Upada, per day, recently notified by him in view of the fact that wagons are not available for the speedy despatch of these goods and that such charges indirectly enhanced the already existing high cost of foodstuffs in the mofussil, and to restore the usual rate of Rs 2 per ton after the usual six free days, also requesting the Port Trust and Railway authorities to afford adequate facilities for the speedy conveyance of grain cargo lying in harbour.

LADY DOCTOR INJURED BY MOTOR

RANGOON, JULY 18

Miss A.J. Daniels, Sub-Assistant Surgeon at the Rangoon General Hospital, was knocked down in Merchant Street, yesterday, by a motor car said to have been driven by its owner, a native. The car is said to have passed over her, dislocating a shoulder and causing other injuries. The police have classed the case as one of causing grievous hurt by doing a rash and negligent act, pending further enquiry