( ^iii ) • . . 



r 



under the consideration of Government for some time past, 

 a special officer, Mr. INicholson, bavingi" been deputed to 

 make inquiries concerning the constitution and working of 

 such banks on the continent of Europe and to report) to 

 Government upon the subject generally. Similarly as re- 

 garas Agricultural education, which has engaged the earnest 

 attention of the Madras Government for the last 30 years, 

 His Excellency the Governor in CQuncil hopes soon to be in 

 a position to determine what further steps should be taken 

 for its -extension, the- action of the Government having been 

 held in abeyance for some time past pending the disposal 

 by the Government of India of Dr. Voelcker's report. The 

 Educational Department will be requested to consider the 



observations and sus^^estions on the 



.* Sections 104 and 105. ,. , . p& . , 



subject or 'technical education. * it 

 may, however, be remarked that Government is at the pre- 

 sent time in communication with the Director of the Geo- 

 logical (Survey of India with a view to the deputation of a 

 special officer to inquire into the mineral resources of the 

 Presidency, and it is probable that work will be begun at an 

 early date in the district of Salem. Doubtless the fish- 

 curing industry is susceptible of development, but the author 

 is hardly correct in supposing that it is at present altogether 

 in the hands of the poorest classes. Having examined under 

 the head of " costliness of justice" the system under which 

 justice, civil and criminal,. is admiiiistered, the writer con- 

 cludes with a chapter upon "Local and Municipal adminis- 

 tration and Legislation affecting local usages." Although 

 the idea of combination for public purposes of persons 

 belonging to different castes and creeds is a new one in this 

 country, it must be admitted that considerable success has 

 attended the efforts made to introduce an efficient system of 

 self-government in local affairs by the constitution of District 

 and Taluk Boards and Municipal Councils. With a view to 

 the further development of the usefulness of these bodies 

 the author makes several suggestions which are worthy of 

 Consideration. The proposal that to secure for the office of 

 Chairman in Municipalities persons trained in public business 

 the Government should lend the services of Deputy Col- 

 lectors, Tahsildars, &c., to the Councils for employment in 

 that office, seems to His Excellency the Governor in Coun- 

 cil to be a step of a somewhat retrograde character, and, 

 although in exceptional nases, the suggestion might,, perhaps, 

 • be adopted, the Government is not disposed to accept it as a 

 general rule. On the other hand the. Government fully con- 

 curs with the author in considering that further advance in 



