The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-23 00:00:00

MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL.

The report of the directors stated that the admis-
sion of water into the canal had been conducted
with great care and prudence, consolidation of the
embankments had consequently progressed satisfac-
torily, leakage had been prevented where possible,
and every means had been taken to regulate and
strengthen the banks and walls where subsidence
had taken place. The works, it was hoped, had
therefore, been rendered secure and trustworthy for
the extended supply of irrigation which might be
expected to arise during the season of 1866. The
first freshes of the river Zoombuddra commenced to
flow over the Anicut at Soonkasala in April last,
and continued to do so with intervals down to
the latest advices at varying depths, the maxi-

mum being six feet. So far as had been ascertained
the structure had received no damage. On the Ist
of July last water was readmitted into the
first section of the main canal ; that was from
mile one to the Hindry aqueduct, a distance of
17i miles, and it had since remained at a depth
of four feet. Water was permitted, to enter the
second section of the main canal, from the Hindry
aqueduct to the 33d mile on the 13th July, and by
the 20th of that month it had filled all the large
tanks as far as the 23d mile, where it was retained
by a temporary dam, to afford time for the prepa-
ration of the, Kadrabagh aqueduct. The embank-
ments of the canal having been thoroughly secured,
the water had been allowed to pass on beyond the
24th mile, and was cautiously proceeding to the end
of the 3d section or 44th mile. From the 44th to the
61st mile great energy had been put forth by the
executive engineer, and it was believed that water
might within a few weeks be allowed with safety to
pass on to the 56th mile at Puggydial ; but its pas-
sage through the entire length of the fourth division
to the 61st mile before June \ next, it was feared,
could not be looked for. The engineer in October
roported that the irrigation in the first section and in
the first range of the second section was making good
progress, and that the crops looked well. The works
and surveys on the remaining divisions were progress-
ing satisfactorily. The report explained the necessity
which existed for the completion of the entire scheme
of works undertaken by the contract with the Secre-
tary of State for India in Council by means of addi-
tional capital, and the advantages that would result.
Under no circumstances would the issue of further
capital for the cost of works affect in any degree the
guarantee of interest secured to the holders of the
50,000 shares, representing the presen't capital of
£1,000,000. The total receipts on account of capital
amounted on the Ist inst. to £935,033, of which
there had been expended in England £30,454, and
in India about £852,952, making a total expenditure
of about £883,406, leaving a balance of about
£51,627 in hand, and £64,967 yet receivable on
account of the present guaranteed capital of
£1,000,000.

The Cattle Plague.

CORNWALL

The rinderpest is making fearful ravages in Corn•
wall, more especially in the neighbourhood of Truro
where it has been allowed to spread and infect the
whole district without the slightest preventive mea-
sures being taken till the evil was irremediable.
There is now hardly a farmer or dairyman in the
neighbourhood without the plague among his herd.
On Thursday and Friday Mr. Williams, of Lam-
vissow-farm, lost 14 bullocks, making a total loss
of 17; Mr. Rodda, of Menadews, an adjoining farm,
lost 11 on the same days. So rapid is the progress
of the disease here that during the past week nearly
150 head of cattle have died, including the follow-
ing :—Mr. Ruddy, Nanceavallen, 17 ; Mr. Cardell,
Bosvigo, 13; Mr. Evans, Newham, 12; Mr. Oliver,
Park (the Hon. Capt. Vivian's estate), 12 ; Mr.
Johns, Tresillian, 12 ; Mr. Hodge, Truro, 7; Messrs.
Clarke, Waters, and Harding, Truro, 6 each ; Mr.
Michell, Newham, Mr. Ivey, Tresillian, Mr. Came,
Goosebean, and Mr. Cragoe, Kea, 5 each ; Messrs.
Roberts, Hawke, and Carus-Wilson, Truro, 4 each ;
besides several other persons who have lost smaller
numbers. At Padstow, on the north coast of
Cornwall, the plague has also 'broken out during
the past week in great violence, carrying off 21
bullocks, out of a herd of 50, belonging to Mr.
Williams, of Porthmizzen, who has also 12 more
affected ; and five belonging to Mr. Champion, of
Treator. Indeed there is scarcely a district in Cornwall
now free from the disease ; it is raging in the dis-
tricts of St. Austell, Lostwithiel, St. Ives, Penzance,
and Helston. In the latter place Mr. Hearle, Tre-
venas, lost 10 dozen during the past week, the disease
being communicated by a cow bought at Michell
fair, near Truro. Mr. R. Foster, of Castle, a large
landowner in the neighbourhood of Lostwithiel, pos-
sessing land and herds in Lanwithan, St. Winnow,
Colewith, and Lanlivery, has the disease among his
herds in each place, and on Sunday and Monday he
had six fine animals shot and buried. Great alarm
now exists in the neighbourhood of Truro, and on
Monday evening a crowded meeting of the members
of the Agricultural Exchange was held, when it was
unanimously resolved to obtain a thoroughly quali-
fied veterinary surgeon, familiar with the treatment
of cattle plague, from either London or Edinburgh,
and to offer him as an inducement to settle in the
town a salary of from £lOO to £l5O a year. The
farmers, however, strongly oppose the appointment
of a Government inspector, on account of the powers
conferred upon him to order cattle to be slaughtered.
A liberal subscription was commenced towards the
payment of the veterinary surgeon's salary.