The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-30 00:00:00

THE INDIAN OFFICERS' GRIEVANCE.

Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary of State for India
whether the Royal Commission to inquire into the griev-
ances of Indian officers had been appointed ; the names of
the commissioners ; when the commission was likely to
commence its labours ; and whether the 717 petitions pre-
sented to the House of Commons could be brought to the
consideration of the commission ?

Sir C. WOOD said he hoped he should have been en-
abled to have appointed this committee sooner, but great
difficulty had been experienced in obtaining a chairman.
That had been effected last week, and the commission had
been signed on Monday. The names would appear in the
Gazette to -morrow, and after that the sittings would
immediately commence.
IRISH RAILWAYS.

Mr. MONSELL asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether the evidence taken by the Railway Commissioners
on the Irish railway system would be laid before the house
before the end of the session.
INDIA.

Sir C. WOOD made his annual exposition of the financial
affairs of India. After tracing the progress of revenue and
expenditure during the last three years, and noting the
differences between the actual and ordinary estimates, he
observed that the gradual and steady improvement in the
income clearly proved the advance of general prosperity
from one end of the country to the other. On the other
hand, the charge had gone on increasing, especially for the
army, owing to the increased price of provisions, the half
batta, the Bhootan war, and the augmented pay to medical
officers. There had also been a large increased outlay for
public works, law and justice, education and superannua-
tions. Now although a considerable portion of the increase
could not be prevented, and seemed to be justified by the
extraordinary and satisfactory increase in the revenue
year after
.year, nevertheless he urged that it was neces-
sary that the strictest economy should be enforced ; for
upon that depended the safety of the finances of India.
Referring to the important subject of the encouragement
given to public works, Sir Charles stated that he believed
the people of India were ready to expend any amount of
money in that direction ; and he himself was prepared to
borrow money for the purpose whenever they supplied him
with any well-digested plan for the execution of really
necessary and useful works, but he certainly would not go
hand over head, and raise loans for every project that was
started. During the last six years there had been an enor-
mous expenditure on this account ; namely, out of public
funds £30,000,000, and from local funds £4,500,000 ; whilst
there had been expended for railways £38,500,000, making
a total for the six years of £73,000,000. Taking the last
two years only, the outlay for the same object was from
public funds upwards of £11,000,000, and from local funds
upwards of £2;ooo,ooo—together £13,200,000, and that
exclusive of the railroads constructed. With regard to the
cultivation of cotton in India, the increased price and the
measures adopted to stimulate this branch of industry had
been attended with great success; and he was informed
that capitalists at Bombay were introducing at the various
railway stations establishments and machinery for cleaning,
pressing, and packing cottoff, .and to a certain extent
weaving a class of goods that would not compete with
English manufactures, but displace the wasteful process of
hand-loom weaving, and so divert the persons so employed
to useful agricultural pursuits and the culture of the cotton
plant. The right hon. gentleman also adverted to the
questions lately in dispute with the talookda-rs of Oude,
and stated that the rights of this class of proprietors had
been established; that a very good feeling existed be-
tween them and the ryots, and that there had been no
necessity' for appealing to a judicial decision. After
stating the present position of the Bhootanese difficulty,
the right honourable gentleman moved a series of 'reso-
lutions setting forth that the total net revenues of the
several presidencies for the year ended the 30th day of
April, 1864, amounted to £35,636,898, and the charges
thereof to £26,018,388, leaving a surplus revenue of
£9,618,510. That the interest on the registered debt of
India, paid in the same period, amounted to £3,093,250, and
the charges defrayed in England, on account' of the Indian
territory, including interest on debt incurred in England
and guaranteed interest on the capital of railway andother
companies, after deducting lad traffic receipts of railways,