THE BENGAL FAMINE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 141, 15 June 1874, Page 2

THE BENGAL FAMINE.

[Home News ] The copy of a despatch has been forwarded by the last mail to the Marquis of Salisbury by Lord Northbrook, in which is embodied an elaborate statement of the policy and operations of the Viceroy's Government. It defends the non-interference of the Administration with private trade, recounts at length the measures of relief which have been adopted, and finally describes the actual condition of the people With regard to. the : supplies to meet the wantß of the famine districts the followiDg remarks are made :— "We anticipate that the area of severe distress will be confined to a truck of country having a population of about 15,000,000. Of these we estimate that at the worst period Government will have to provide food for about 2,663,000 people, or about 18 per cent of the wholo population. The total allotment of grain to these districts is about 327,500 tons. In the remaining districts, containing a population of about 10,000,000, detailed calculations have not bean made; but (or the most part the percentage of persons who will have to be fed is oxpected to be comparatively trifling. Allotments of grain amounting to about 60,000 tons have been made to these districts. The total amount of grain required according to the best estimate which we can frame is about 338,000 tons. We have arranged for a supply of about 465,000 tons, which will leave a reserve of about 127,000 tons. Of this about 385,000 will come from beyond sea. About 160,000 have already arrived, and ships are daily arriving as fast or even faster than the railways can convey the rice up country. We do not anticipate any difficuliyin making further purchases should they be required. We have from the first been of opinion that the greatest difficulty would be experienced, not in obtaining supplies, but in the proper organisation of the land transport, and the detailed arrangements for rendering food available at the right places to those who might be in want of if. The number of people for whom it is possible to provide by grain imported from without is limited by the carrying powers of the railways; and, again, the amount which can profitably be sent by rail to the famine-stricken districts is limited by the number of carts which can be procured, and which, when procured, can be loaded and despatched daily from the railway stations. Although some grain, both on account of Government and private traders, reaches the distressed districts by water-carriage, the chief reliance, both of Government and the trade, must be placed upon the railways. The East Indian Railway traverses Behar, and is throwing grain into that province both upwards from Calcutta and downwards from the North- Western provinces and the Punjab. The Eastern Bengal Railway takes supplies up from Calcutta to Kooshtea and Goalundo, whence they are distributed in the Rajshahye Division by means of steamers, boats, and carts. The amount of Government grain already sent up the East Indian railway is 117,000 tops, and the amount sent up the East Bengal : Railway is about 33,000 tons. The East ludiau Railway is now taking daily an avornge of 2000 tons of Government grain and 400 tons of private graiu up country, and tho East Bengttl Railway id mi nverngo of 800 tons of Government grain up to Kooshtea and Goalundo. At tho same time tho trade is eondiug large quantities of grain down from the Nor ih- Western provinces and tho Punjab into the famine districts. Wo nre informed that 23,5^0 tons of grain, or sufficient to load 118 irniue, nro awaiting despatch at Btutious ou the Scinde, Punjab, and Dolhi Railway. This accumulation is within the still ion premises only, and it is bolieved thnt the stocks lying in the bazaars adjoining the railway-stations are more than equal (thay are said to be four times as great) to the accumulation iuside the station yards, while it is certain that the supplies in tho country, independent of the present abundant crop, are scarcely yet affected by the heavy despatches that have been made to Bengal. The daily averago amount of grain which i 3 now being brought from the north and west into the famine districts is 1700 tons, of which some portion is fodder for cattle. Tour, lordship will, therefore, observe that, including what is being done by the Government and what is being imported by grain-dealers, grain to the amount of about 5000 tons per diem, or sufficient to provide a daily ration for nearly 8,000,000 people, is converging on the famine districts. Under these circumstances, should it become necessary to make further purchases on Government account, we propose to draw upon the abundant markets of the Punjab and North- Western Provinces, which, in so far as Government is concerned, are as yet almost untouched,*' At a. meeting of the executive com-

raittee of the fund recently formed at the Mausioo House for ibe relief of , the sufferers by the famine in Bengal, held on April 13, the Lord Mayor stated tbat at the last meeting of the committee, a fortnight ago. he reported (hat the subscriptions in all amounted to £66,815/ Since then, between £12,000 and £13000 had been received, making d total of £79,000. Of this £60,000 had been transmitted to India. In addition, £10,000 or more had been collected at Glasgow and Bent direct to Calcutta, and there was over £10,OCO bow in hand at Manchester. It might therefore be stated, in round unmberp, that over £100,0000 had been subscribed in this country.