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MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. XII. 



Recent 

 History. 



Government 

 Orders on 

 report. 



Europe where man's comfort and existence are so little endangered 

 by the pressure or vicissitudes of climate." In conclusion they 

 suggest that the Nilagiris should be committed to " the superin- 

 tendence and undivided control of one active officer/' who should 

 be placed under the immediate orders of the Military Board ; 

 also that all the Medical Officers should be under " the immediate 

 check and control of the Superintending Medical Officers." 



The recommendations of the Committee were mostly approved 

 by Government. The employment of convicts was sanctioned ; 

 also one Overseer and two Sub-Overseers and fifty workmen for 

 the Kaity Farm on 24, 12, and 8 rupees monthly respectively, the 

 last " with a cloth jacket once in two years." These employes 

 were to be chosen from the two companies of tent lascars employed 

 by Government on the Farm " if they wished it ;" a half-yearly 

 statement of the produce of the land and expense of culture was 

 to be submitted to Government. As regards grants of lands to 

 settlers, they raised no objection if care be taken " that the new 

 settlers have only land that has not been broken up, and that 

 they make to the Todawars, when there is a mand in the vicinity, 

 the same acknowledgments as the Burghers here also made to 

 the Todawars. This will, of course, not preclude voluntary 

 transfer and purchase of old lands from the Burghers in particular 

 cases ; but the general principle should be for the new settlers 

 to occupy new unbroken land." Space was always to be left 

 for public roads, an excellent provision, the neglect of which has 

 cost the State dear in this district. The borders of the lake were 

 to be reserved. The scheme for cattle-breeding was regarded 

 favorably, but to be left to private enterprise. The bazaars 

 were to be handed over to private persons. Government i-eserving 

 the right to resume at any time on payment of the estimated 

 value of the buildings. The works suggested in Ootacamand 

 were to be carried out by Pioneer agency under Major Crewe, the 

 special engineer establishment being dispensed with. The works 

 recommended in the several passes were to be executed. The 

 constitution of a sanitarium at Dimhatti was reserved for further 

 consideration. 



Major Crewe was appointed chief officer of the Hills as 

 suggested, Captain Eastment going to Ganjam. The establish- 

 ment on the Hills now consisted of eight officers costing 2,550 

 rupees monthly, of whom five were medical, the command- 

 ing officer drawing Rupees 400 staff allowance. In forwarding 

 their report to the Court of Directors, Mr. Lushington expressed 

 his confidence that the Home authorities would be gratified 

 in observing at how small an expense his Government had been 

 able " to open to the sick of all the Presidencies the use of the 

 blessings which have been bestowed upon us in the Nilgiris 

 in a temperate climate, a fertile soil, and a beauty of scenery not 



