The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-19 00:00:00

EASTERN BENGAL.

The directors state in their report that a train run through
all the way from Calcutta to Kooshtee on the 20th of August
last, and that a train with materials has been run through
every week since. On the 12th of September the Lieute-
nant-Governor of Bengal returned to Calcutta from a tour
in the provinces by a special train from liooshtee. He
alighted to inspect the iron bridge of about 1,000 feet in
length over the river Koomar (the heaviest work on the
railway), and the train stopped at the principal stations along
the line. Notwithstanding these delays, the journey was
accomplished in five hours and a half. It was subsequently
determined by the agent and chief engineer, with the sanc-
tion of the Government, to open the portion of the line be-
tween Calcutta and Itanaghat, a distance of 45 miles, for
passenger traffic. The first pas senger train commenced
running on the 29th of September last, and 1,553 passengers
were booked out of Calcutta on that day. During the week
immediately following the receipts for passengers amounted
to 4,000 rupees. The latest advices state that arrangements
were being made for opening the line throughout from Cal•
cutta to Kooshlee for general traffic on the Ist of November
inst. The agent stated that he had every reason to believe
that soon after the opening steam communication by the
rivers would be established between Kooshtee, the terminal
station on the Ganges, and Serajgunge, the great mart or
emporium of trade of Eastern Bengal, and that he expected
a large traffic by that means. The directors have every
reason to feel satisfied that the line was actually opened
throughout at the time above mentioned. The capital
account shows that £1,399,700 had been received, and
L 1,206,696 expended, leaving a balance of £193,003.

MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL.
The directors of this company state in their report that
the portion of the year corresponding with that which has
passed since their last report must always be, from natural
causes, the mostunfavourable for executive operations. The
south-west monsoon commences in May, producing disease
and consequent desertion of labourers, end this is followed
by the rains in June, which usually continue until October,
rendering a partial suspension of outdoor labour during
that time absolutely necessary ; nevertheless, and although
the floods of the current year in the locality of Kurnool and
the adjacent districts have been unusually heavy, the con-
struction of the anicut across the river Toombuddra at
Soonkasala, and of the aqueduct over the river Hindry at
Kurnool, has been carried on with commendable expedition.
The chief engineer remains firm in his previously expressed
conviction that his original estimate for the whole line of
works from Soonkasala to the coast will not be exceeded,
if his plans are carried out without further obstruction or
delay. The construction of the anicut at Soonkasala pro-
ceeded rapidly until June last, when the floods commenced
and prevented further progress. On the Ist of last month
(October) the river had so far subsided as to permit a resump-
tion of labour on the anicut itself, and then it was found that
the work previously executed had withstood the floods most
satisfactorily. The heavy masonry work of the head sluices
of the main channel had also, up to the last mentioned date,
progressed steadily. Tho main canal from the anicut just
mentioned to the Hindry aqueduct, a distance of 171
has been nearly completed, including the distributing sluices,
the culverts for drainage, and the calingulahs, or escapes,
although the greater portion has been cut through compact
rock, and for some time past this length of channel has been
ready to receive at least three feet depth of water. The
Ilindry aqueduct, a work of great extent and importance,
was completed to above the height of the floods before the
early freshes of the river came down at the end of April
last, and, though severely tested, it withstood those floods
without injury. The completion of this great work, ac-
cording to the statement of the chief engineer, will probably
be achieved in July next. The section of the main canal
from the Hindry aqueduct to Nagatoor, a length of 26 miles,
terminating at the 43d mile from Soonkasala, has been par-
tially excavated, and the chief engineer has expressed a hopeter
that he will be able to have the whole ready to receive water
in July next. From the 43d to the 72d mile, the excavationorkon
of the chief canal has also been commenced. Theetew
of the
this section has been seriously retarded by
the
er
acts
the
collector of the district, who, though an
Go-
vernmentwith
hwithheld
suchauthorising
rthe r transfer a
Aprilnsf e
August. Plans and estimates of thebc
rationse made for rapid
the whole of the land commanded y
far have been approved, and p lmanadinfocranthael
next
r untilhf
atnhnteoekres requiredbeginning
g al atinnodgi
from the 72d to the filst
portion of the main channel—
construction. The transfer of
mile—was at the end of Sop
t Last being promptly made'
and partial • g bean sanctioned. In this sec-
tionestimates of the whole having excavation had then commenced,. the plans and
forby locks, the
a
will be 120 ft. in length and 20ft. •
chambers whereof
cham
fall of 200 ft. has been provided.
breadth. From the 103 d to the 133 d mile plans and estimates
conviction. Working plans and estimates
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