OCCASIONAL NOTE

Lord Milner’s references at Oxford to the exploitation of colonial possessions is all the more piquant when we consider that another distinguished Balliol man has also discussed this question with special reference to India. It is true that when Lord Curzon, speaking in Calcutta some years ago, mentioned exploitation and administration as the two main facts of British activity in India, he was referring to a totally different kind of exploitation from that indicated by Lord Milner at Oxford. The ex-High Commissioner for South Africa was evidently thinking in the main of the exploitation which sacrifices the interests, the happiness, and even the lives of the indigenous population to the profit and greed of the conqueror. The exploitation referred to by Lord Curzon, in a speech which was delivered, by the way, to an audience composed largely of Calcutta merchants, was the legitimate exploitation which, without doing violence to any human being, develops the latent wealth of the country, and makes two bales of jute grow, as it were, where one grew before. “In the process,” to quote Lord Milner, “they inevitably enriched themselves,” but can any reasonable being doubt that they enrich still more the country and the people to whom this kind of “exploitation” is applied?

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER

POONA, AUG 6

Before Mr. Percival, Sessions Judge and a jury, Michael Conway, retired Registrar of the Bombay High Court, was charged today with an attempt to murder to Mr. Harrison Imrie, retired permanent way inspector. Mr. Bunter, Public Prosecutor, appeared for the Crown, accused being defended by Mr. Gadgil. The incident which gave rise to the charge occurred on the 1st December, 1918, at a house in North Petty Staff Lines, Poona and was the result of previous misunderstandings. It was alleged that Mr. Imrie and Mr. Conway had hard words regarding the part of the house in which both lived and which the first-named wanted Mr. Conway to vacate. There was a scuffle in the course of which Mr. Conway is alleged to have rushed back into the house and come out armed with a knife. Mr. Conway then went and reported the matter to the police, and while he was gone Mr. Imrie brought in some coolies, and locked up the premises. The police then intervened between the parties. The case is continuing.

DEFACED POSTAGE STAMPS

Santoki Singh, a peon at the Public Debt Office, Bank of Bengal, was prosecuted under Section 263 I.P.C., for having in his possession defaced postage stamps with a fraudulent intent. It appears that a few day ago, Anukul Lall, a High Court peon was sent by the Registrar of the Court with a parcel for despatch at the Parcel Office in Dalhousie Square. The clerk there noticed that a one-rupee stamp and two stamps for half-anna each affixed to the parcel, had been previously used. He reported the fact to Babu Rajani Kanto Bhattacharjee, an Inspector of Post Offices, who by questioning Anukul ascertained that the latter always bought whatever stamps he required from accused. By arrangement, Anukul was another day sent to purchase stamps from accused, who, without knowing that a trap had been laid for him. The Post Office Inspector and police placed him under arrest. The Magistrate after examining a few witnesses, framed a charge and adjourned the further hearing.

NEW STREET SCHEME

Details appeared in yesterday’s Calcutta Gazette of a scheme prepared by the Improvement Trust of a proposed public street in Ward No. 21 known as proposed Public Street No. 34 (area between Lansdowne Road and Ballygunge Circular Road). The plan provides for the continuation of Lower Rawdon Street southwards to meet the northern end of Chakrabere Road and for the connecting up of Rowland Road with Lansdowne Road, also for the lay-out of a system of new roads of a width of 40 feet running north and south and east and west and connecting Lower Circular Road on the north, Palit Street on the south, Ballygunge Circular Road and Ritchie Road on the east, and Lansdowne Road on the west.

GORAKHPUR BANK

ALLAHABAD, AUG 6

A settlement has been arrived at between the Official Liquidator and the manager and directors of the Gorakhpur Bank whereby depositors will get back their deposits in full with interest up to the 20th May, 1917, and the shareholders any surplus that may be left. The effect of the scheme will be the withdrawal of all civil proceedings pending in the High Court as well as in the court of the Subordinate Judge, Gorakhpur, in connection with the bank.