On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (3)
-
... ; /iiff+t\ Cj| **+ iv (vfi/ 'ljv ^H- lJu * ^ .
-
which, he has been hitherto upheld, and ...
-
THEATRICAL NOTES. A Timioic-ACT drnma of...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Irrigation Ih Southern India. The Cauver...
tlic man . The deus ex machina was Colonel Arthur Cotton . " A natural genius for civil engineering , large acquired knowledge , singular professional daring , a strong will , and a perseverance that no obstacles could withstand , were combined in Colonel Cotton's character , and marked him out among his associates as the man best qualified for carrying into effect the novel plans that were now being entertained . " How far this high estimation was justifiable may be best shown by the nature of the success that was achieved . The area of irrigation dependent on the two streams is calculated at G 69 , 900 acres , of which 504 , 900 acres are watered by the Cauvery , and 165 , 000 by the Coleroon . A district of this extent requires a volume of water equal to 16 , 747 cubic feet per second . Above Seringhani , before the river branches o £ F , it discharges 1 6 , 875 cubic feet in that space of time , whenunaffected by floods . But below that point the distribution of the total volume of the river was by no means adapted to the exigencies of the case . While the Coleroon branch discharged 7500 cubic feet per second , the Cauvery exhibited only 9375 . The area of irrigation of tlie former required , however , no more than 4125 cubic feet , but that of the latter demanded at least 12 , 622 . Thus , the object to be effected was to throw into the bed of the deficient branch the excess that existed in the other . The skill and perseverance of Colonels Cotton and Sims have at last happily triumphed over all difficulties , and have reduced a river one mile in width to a state as manageable as a mill-dam . This is not the place to describe in detail the nature of the works—it must suffice to show the results . Prior to 1836 the average quantity of land annually watered from the Cauvery and Coleroon was 630 , 613 acres . In 1850 the annual average had increased to 716 , 524 , and it is still progressing . The annual increase of the gross Government revenue consequent thereupou amounts to 44 , OOOi ., while " the agricultural community have benefited by the works , from increase of irrigated area only , to the extent of 06 , 000 / . per annum . The entire expense of the maintenance of the works being borne by the State , this surn is a net addition to the resources of the people . " The previously irrigated district has also greatly benefited- —the increased produce due to constant and abundant irrigation being estimated at from one-eighth to one-fifth , of the gross produce ; thus adding at least 71 , 6 OOZ . to the value of the annual produce of the land . Formerly , too , the fluctuations in the return sometimes i * anged as high as 52 per cent-, causing intense misery to the labouring classes ; they do not now exceed four per cent . The general revenue of the province , which , prior to the improvements , was about 430 , 000 / ., has since risen to 490 , 000 £ . And as a proof that this additional revenue of 60 , 0007 . is not wrung from an oppressed and necessitous people , it is worthy of remark that the number of houses in the district has steadily increased from 145 , 192 in 1817 , and 211 , 588 in 1839 , to nearly 300 , 000 at the present ' ; - time . ¦ ' ¦ '•¦ . . . , : ; . ' ' ' , ' ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ - . ' . - ¦ ¦ "¦• ¦ ' •¦ " ' . . ' ' . If ow , the total expenditure for original works between 1836 and 1850 ¦ was 91 , 874 / . ; and of the ordinary repairs during the same period about ¦ S 9 , 872 J . The gross returns , however , amounted to 480 , 000 ^ . If from this be deducted the 89 , 372 / . for repairs , and 5 per cent , per annum interest on the 91 , 874 J . actually invested in the works , we shall find the net returns amount to 321 , 725 / . 10 s ., being a clear annual return of -21 , 448 Z . 6 s ., or nearly 23 ^ - per cent , on a . capital of 91 , 874 / . We now turn ' to the Kistnah . This river rises to the north of Sattara , and after flowing nearly 600 miles in a south-easterly direction , enters the sea about 35 miles S . W ; of Masulipatam . ' ¦ Its descent from the hill country into the plains takes place SO miles from its mouth , but the works commence at Bezwarah , 20 miles lower down . The river here flows in a manageable channel 1300 yards in width . In the summer season its depth averages about 7 feet , but in the freshes it rises from 24 to 30 feet . As it invariably happens with deltaic rivers , the bed of the Kistnah is a dorsal ridge , from the crest of which the country gradually slopes on cither side . On the left Lank is the district of Masulipatam ; on the . right'that of Guntoor . The latter comprises 4700 square miles , of which one-half is a rich alluvial soil , requiring , however , a regular supply of water—a blessing withheld by nature . In 1836 , the rains having almost totally failed , a terrible famine was the consequence , and 200 , 000 human beings perished of starvation , or of the virulent fever that ensued . Tlic Government revenue in the following year fell off one-half , and the total loss to the State since that period is estimated at 900 , OOOZ ., while the community are supposed to have suffered to the extent of 1 , 500 , 000 / . more . To prevent the recurrence of such a dire calamity is the design of the Kistnah works . They consist of an annicut , or dam , calculated "to supply nearly 290 miles of channel judiciously distributed on both banks of the river . " Wo find ( continues Colonel Smith ) that it is perhaps below its capabilities to say that it securoa , during tho season of cultivation , not less than 7000 cubic feet of water per second , which ia sufficient to bring to maturity 280 , 000 acres of rice cultivation , and probably 350 , 000 of mixed rice , sugar , and possibly cotton ; that a moderate estimate of the ultimate returns from this increased uron of irrigation 5 s GO , 0 ( W . por annum to the Government , and . 90 , 0 O 0 J . to the agricultural community ; that failure of tho monsoons -will hereafter cease to l > e a fearful calamity ; that -where neither man nor beaat can now oxiBt from tho want of water for the common purposes of life , there will , in all time to come , bo nn abundant supply for every want , domestic and agricultural ; and , finally , that the whole of these results , which , after all , aro only a portion of the benefits to be anticipated from tho works under review , will be executed without strain on tho resources of the State , tlio total estimated outlay amounting only to 150 , 000 / ., though it may possibly rise to 200 , 000 / . Of the Godavcry -works , -which were fully noticed in the leader of Juno 7 , \& . iS , it is needless to say move than that they were designed to afford sufficient irrigation to 780 , 000 acres of land , besides being subservient to purposes of drainage nnd navigation . Colonel Smith thus sums up the results obtained or expected from u the three central regions of agricultural improvement in the Madras Presidency ' : — Tho projects either actually executed or in progress of execution—these reports wore compiled in 1853—affect tracts of country containing , in tho aggregate , a total area of fully 20 , 000 square miles , or 12 , 250 , 000 acres , whereof one-half may bo considered as either cultivated or culturuble . This aggregate area is inhabited ut present by a population numbering rather more than 4 , 000 , 000 houIh , whoso material condition ranges from that of tho utmost comfort in Tanjore to that of tho utmost
depression in Guntoor ; but among -whom , one standard , and that tho highest , will ultimately prevail . Of the 6 , 000 , 000 acres adapted to irrigation ,, not less than . 2 , 000 ^ 00 . 0 will have a full supply provided for them , at a cost which , in its utmost extent , can- * not exceed half a million sterling in . the aggregate ; and the annual revenue obtained , by the State , on which this powerful stimulus -will operate , reaches at this moment to 1 , 250 , 000 ? ., and may be expected to advance progressively to rather nxora tliau 2 , 00 . 0 , 000 / . per annum .
... ; /Iiff+T\ Cj| **+ Iv (Vfi/ 'Ljv ^H- Lju * ^ .
MljtMs . — - ?—— ' .- ¦¦ ¦ .
March ! 21 , 1857 .. ] THE LE 1 BEE . 283
Which, He Has Been Hitherto Upheld, And ...
which , he has been hitherto upheld , and under which it is hoped still higher triumphs may be achieved than , were immediately attainable on the restoration of the Establishment . " He returns thanks for the cc hearty interest and genuine , appreciation , displayed : by the audiences" last year ; acknowledges his deep obligations to Mademoiselle Piccoloiuihi especially , and to all the other artistes who , by their " high , artistic feeling- and lionoui-able fidelity , " had " enabled the Direction to produce the entertainments promised for eaeli evening without a single change of performance—a fact without precedence in Operatic History . " Mr . LuMLE-v alludes to the unquestionable advantages of position and old . associations peculiar to Her Majesty ' s Theatxke , arid proniises to support its traditions by a Company " combining the prestige of acknowledged genius with the attraction of new candidates lor the higher rank of . " their profession . " We are very glad to hear of new appearances , for we mast confess that for some years we have had too much of the toujours bouiUi .
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE .. The Director of the Old House is first in the field this year . He has issued a very attractive programme for the present season , both as to the number and th . e novelty of the new engagements , aud the interest and variety of the , list of operas and ballets , announced for performance . Mr . Lumley refers " ¦ . with .-sincere gratitude to the success which attended his efforts under very trying circumstances in the season of 185 ( 5 /* aud acknowledges " the munificent assistance which enabled him to conquer the unprecedented difficulties of last year . " "To this , " he adds , " the success of the past season , is greatly owing , " aud from the " generous confidence ' displayed b y "the renewed subscriptions for the present year , without awaiting the publication of the Annual Programme , he very justly " derives the assurance that he has not altogether disappointed the patrons of the theatre , ' and that " he may rely oa the continuance of the cordial encouragement by
La opera , the great Alboni , who , by an execrable Irench pun , was said , to have unefoule de rossignols clans lc g osier , is coming back to us , and will appear in that part to . which' we believe onl y HVIadauie Yiardoi can do perfect justice , Azucena , in tlic Trovatore . At all events , Madame Alboni ' s singing of the part will be worth a pilgrimage to hear . ¥ e hear Mademoiselle Majlia Spezia highly spoken of as ^ prima , donna assolula , in the grand and energetic style ; while Mademoiselle Angiojda Ohtoia . ni ( most sweet and succulent of names !) while she sounds like an . ortolan is reported to sing like a nightingale . Among the " second ladies" we recognise the name of Mademoiselle Poma , whom M . Jujllien introduced to the public last winter , with all tho authority of his Olympian nod , but who did not strike us as remarkable for anything but singing inaudiblv . However , she mav be useful in the " silent
sorrow '' line . Last , not least , returns the delicious Piccolojuui to her old and constant enthusiasts , with all her freshness and sincerity unspoilt , we fondly hope , by the affected coldness of the Parisian critics . She will find a hearty welcome , and a grateful sense of delightful evenings to come . Signor Giuglini is the tenor of whom avc have heard so much , and everything that can make us anxious to hear ' him . He is young , and his voice is said to be one of singular , grace and ¦ sweetness , and his method Italian , of the good school . La IPaoorlta , in which he appears on tbc first night of the season , will at once test the truth of his reputation . Signor Luigi Bottardi is , we believe , a tenor of the forcible school , and ( we hope we have been correctly informed ) re 3 einbies Tambeulik in style . That excellent singer and careful and conscientious actor , Signor Bjsjcletit , we are glad to find engaged : his iinished and elegant singing is a good example to Sitmor "JJjbnevjswxano , whose
qualities we were unable to appreciate last year . Sigaor Nai'omsoke Rossi , a bass singer of the LabIiACije order , has been well regarded at the Italian Opera in Paris , especially as a buffo , and we have reason to think lie will be liked in London . Signor Corsi is a barytone of the Ron com school , and , like that great artist , we believe his voice is a little damaged : but he is considered un admirable actor ia . sonic of Uonconi ' s best parts . Signor Bonjstti again presides over the orchestra , and we trust , his forces will be less percussiunary than last year . The Ballet department ia particularly strong this season , reminding us pleasantly of old times . It i 3 true thai ., with tho exception of Mademoiselle Tagjuoni , Mademoiselle BosoiujTTi , and Madame Rosati ( who will come lute in the season ) , the names arc new to us : but Mademoiselle Carolina Pocchini , who brings a higli reputation from Vicuna , and who is to appear the first night in a revival
or the Jusmerulda , is not likely to disappoint expectation . Indeed , it may bo generally affirmed that the selection of tlunsenses seldom ( Iocs disappoint expectation . Therein less uillicnlly in deciding on the good ' points' of a dauber ' . than ou the good notes of a voice . M . 1 'AUJi Taglioni is an undeniable Ma ! I re de bullet ; and of Signor Uon / ani we know that lie haa enjoyed a distinguished chorcgraphie reputation at Turin . We think Mr . Lumlkv may be congratulated on his programme , and we cordially wish , him all the . success his energy so well deserves . «
Theatrical Notes. A Timioic-Act Drnma Of...
THEATRICAL NOTES . A Timioic-ACT drnma of the startling order from the practised band of Mr . Bayle IJkunahi ) wub brought out at the ILvymahiuct on Thursday ovoning . Thuro aro sonic strong > jtuiitionu iu tho piece , but tho plot is by no means new . Tho drama was Huceobuful , but the dinoununt aroused the dormant critical acn . se of ibo audience , and when tho villain relieved tho public ( and tho author ) of his presence by a poisoned pill , xhXa , sort of pocket expiation \ vo » received by tbo pit mul gallory with crios of liadjininh ! —a verdict borrowed from the TuWfr But tlifc . play and tho acting aro good enough to run for many nightc . ) \
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), March 21, 1857, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21031857/page/19/
-