The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-23 00:00:00

MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL.

The report of the directors of this company states that in
the early part of August last the whole of the works, canal,
and embankments on the first section, eighteen miles in
length, below Soenkasala, having been previously and
carefully examined by the consulting engineer of the
Government of Madras, water was gradually and safely
admitted into the canal from the Toombuddra, so that by
the 17th of that month it had reached to the further end of
the aqueduct constructed over the Hindry river, the water-
way of this structure being then completed to the ex-
tent of two-thirds of its width. The embankments
stood the test satisfacierily, The first admission of

COO
water into the canal was, in the locality,
dered of high importance, and worthy of public oeiebrsi
tion in a signal manner ; and, accordingly, the collector
the district of Kurnool (Mr Minchin) caused a notifiesd:
to be published in the local gazette that on the day 05131, m
(17th of August last) a public holiday would be granteu;
all Government officers and employes, and he invited
nor
whole of the surrounding community to attend at the v—ied
mony of opening a teroporary irrigation sluice conetril°
.
for supplying the town and suburbs of Kurnool. The ow'
sponses to this invitation were exceedingly gratifyingifcr.oo,
ceremony was attended by nearly the entire poPillati.oi
European and native, Mr. Minchin, as the representaio°-
Gavernment, presiding with much zeal and ability.
be Or' teD2
porary rate of four rupees per acre for the water to :
plied for the first crop of this year has been agreed to b:
tween the Government of Madras and the company, 'Olt ,4
the contract me,ie with the Secretary of State in Coull'
expressly provided that the price to be paid for water Enryr
plied from the company's works for irrigation should "Po
sent the fair value of such water to the persons nsingit'Lli
as four rupees by no means represented that value, all%
also the value of agricultural produce in the localities P't
tended to be irrigated had largely increased within thell:f
few years, and was still increasing, a higher charge tilau,llo
rupees per acre per crop would be the just right of the °0
pany, and might fairly and properly be assessed, and yetl,7o,
a liberal additional profit to the cultivators. As a precsoP.ll)
ary measure the Government of Madras had carefullyellt
pressly notified to the cultivators that they were not to 1:1
derstand the present rate of four rupees to be a perroalle;
charge, but one liable to increase. The progress mad,
the construction of the main canal from Soonkasala do
wards had during the last six months been satiefsotorl;
considering the period of the year embraced, and the etiPPst
of labour available. The anicut across the Toombuddile
Soonkasala was completed, with the exception a IP of
trifling finishing works, in June last. The first seoti°/101
the main canal, from the anicut to the Hindry aquedlic.o
the 18th mile, might be said also to be finished for lise'
the second section of the main canal, from the 18th t°
reo
32d mile, there was much difficult work, but good pogoe
had been made. The third section, from the 33d totog
43d mile, had made., good progress, and was dry de
near to completion. The fourth section of dr
main canal, from the 43d to the 61st mile' sir
sented no difficulties, and might be completed to
fore May next. The fifth section from the 61/1.11
the 74th mile, had been well and vigorously prosecutedl.7r
was fast approaching completion, some of the miles reoB
ing in August last only settlement and trimming °f tpo
bank. The sixth and seventh section., extending frool
75th to the 114th mile, would command for irrigetlol:o
large area of land. It was hoped that the main canal 11156,5,
be completed to the end of the 78th mile by June, lor
From the 78th mile the navigation was proposed to be toe
tied on by a still water canal dropping into the river Oslo
at the 92d mile, where an anicut would divert it ifitto
main irrigating channel intended to proceed thenooLie
the Koondair Valley. The engineer in charge of thei';gi.
dair Valley. The engineer in charge of the Koondair
sion, from the 114th to the 148th mile, reported in sued,
last that the works were proceeding very satisfaot°
The plans and estimates of the ninth section of the 1/I.iii
canal from the 146th to the 178th mile, were on the 21rly
Sept. last sanctioned by the Madras Government, alwrot
works were intended to be at once prosecuted vier° 01
This section would terminate at the river Pennell, #
complete the line between Soonkasala and the sea•
plans and estimates of the 10th section, embracing 10 lof
from the river Pennair towards Cuddapah, making the etir
length 188 miles, were some time placed before the G°lllol
ment..of Madras for approval. The survey of the iloP°
and promising district of Bellary had been regulea
tinned, The total receipts on capital account to the $
ult. amounted to £793,872, and the expendittil•
£623,404, leaving a balance of £167,468.