The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-03 00:00:00

A NEW INDIAN SCANDAL.

Two important official papers, deeply affecting the
Public Works Department, occupy the chief place in the
news from India. The Homeward Mail says that last
May a building, in course of erection at Allahabad,
intended for a gun-carriage factory, fell, killing several
labourers. A:committee of inquiry was appointed, and
its duties extended to an examination of the new barracks
at Allahabad, about which there had been many rumours,
The committee having made its report, the Government
passed two important resolutions which are now made
public. As regards the factory fifty-four paragraphs con-
vey the opinion of the Viceroy in Council in a manner
which must be keenly felt, not merely by those to
whom personal allusion is made, but by the whole
department. The superintending engineers in charge
of the circle whilst the various buildings for the
factory were in progress were—Lieutenant-Colonel C. D.
Newmarch, R.E., from January 6, 1868, to October 31,
1868 • Major F. H. Cobbe, R A., from November
1, 1868, to April 13, 1869 ; Lieutenant-Colonel
H. Rose, S.C., from April 13, 1869, to May
2, 1870 ; Lieutenant-Colonel F. Alexander, S.C. from
May 2, 1870, to the present time. The first-mentioned
officer died two years ago ; Major Cobbe's services
in the department are dispensed with ; Colonel Rose is
found to have signally failed to pay due regard to the
responsibilities of his office ; and notwithstanding long
service, two other instances of failure of duty having
come before the Government, his services are
also placed at the disposal of the Military
Department. Colonel Alexander is removed to a
lower grade ; Major J. Jackson's unfitness necessi-
tates his removal from the department ; and Mr.
R. J. Clarke is cautioned—not being held free
from blame. Colonel Hodgson, who occupied the
position of Chief Engineer and Secretary to the
Government of the North-Western, Provinces in
the Public Works Department, and whose "ability
zeal, method, untiring industry,. and devotion to this
work" during long service in the Public Works
Department are fully appreciated, still comes under
censure. The Government regrets that a sense
of duty renders it necessary to animadvert strongly
also on his conduct in relation to these unfortunate
public works. His Excellency in Council feels it impos-
sible, under the circumstances, to absolve the head of the
department from blame for a failure which has resulted in
the severe punishment of so many of the officers subordi-
nate to him."
The whole affair is described in the resolution as a " de-
plorable history of negligence, incapacity, and corruption—
negligence in the conduct of every superior officer who was
connected with the supervision of these buildings from the
beginning ; incapacity to a greater or less extent of almost
every subordinate concerned in the work of construction,
corruption on the part of those who supplied the worth-
less materials ' • and it is impossible to avoid the suspicion
that some of the inferior subordinates must also havebeen
aware of the organised system in the adulteration of the
lime which was practised throughout." This notifica-
tion has produced a great sensation in official ranks in

The Municipal Council of Moscow, having in their
congratulatory address to the Czar on the Black Sea
question asked for the liberty of the press and the tolera-
tian of all religions, besides other reforms, their address
has been returned to them with a reprimand.

The Right Hon. J. Stansfeld, M.P., Secretary to
the Treasury, has arranged to address his constituents, at
liplifax, on or about the 19th instant. in conjunction with
his colleague, Colonel Akroyd. Mr. Stansfeld is expected
also to preside at the annual soirée of the Halifax
Mechanics' Institute, to be held about the same date.
A SCHOOL BOARD FOR BRISTOL.—An order has
been received for the election of a school board which is
to consist of fifteen members. The two political parties
are engaged in negotiations to prevent a contest on the
basis of admitting eight Conservative Churchmen, and
seven Liberal-Dissenters. The working roan candidates,
if proposed, will stand no chance.
THE INFLUX, OF ORGAN-GRINDERS INTO THE
METROPOLIS.—At the Clerkenwell Police-court, several
padrones, the masters of Italian organ-grinders, were
summoned for " unlawfully 'reeeiving divers lodger's in a
common lodging-house" whichNird not been approved and
registered according to the Common Lodging-house
Act, 1851. Mr. Ricketts, wh) defended in all the cases,
contended that the defendants not come under the
Lodging-house Act. 'ltalians were called, who asserted,
on behalf of three of the defendants, that they gave all
their money, and no fixed sum, to their pads-ones. The
magistrate said he should take time to consider his judg-
ment in three of the cases, but, he had no doubt in one
case. He fined the defendani.2os. with costs.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN OFKICEII IN JAPAN.—
A deplorable accidert, which teannnated fatally, oc-
curred at the Camp Yokohama oh the 22nd of
October. Lieutenant Wedge, of her Majesty's Ist-10th
Regiment,. was examining the barrels of his pistol,
when one exploded, and the ball passed through his
body, piercing the panel of a neighbouring hut door,
and wounding a seijeant of the regiment on the head.
Medical assistance was at once rendered, but death ensued
within a few hours. The sergeant is doing well. An
inquest was held on the body at the camp, and a verdict
of Accidental Death returned. The funeral was per-
formed i
with full military honours, and in accordance with
the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, of which the de-
ceased was a member. It was gratifying to see that a
large number of French officers were in attendance.—
Japan Weekly Mail.