Page 454 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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authorities, while he would bo in o position to communicate with them on all points relating
to his charge in which they were in any wav concerned. I 6cc no necebsity for hi* being *till
call' d Assistant to the Political Asront at Khclat. a bit m *ro than to Mus<-a', or the Resident
at Butdiirc; und considerin'? the turn events arc taking in Mekran and countries to the noith
and west of it. his duties in future will have qu-to a* much, if not more, to do with the general
politics and proceedings of those countries, aslo»king after the line of telegraph."
298. The Government of Bombay made no remarks on the foregoing
recommendation whou sending* it up to
• No 128, dated 6th April 1869. (Klrotrio
Tolofc'rupb Pioooodinga A. June I8c9, No. 4’Jj. the Government of India. The latter
howovor, in acknowledging the roeeipt of
the correspondence intimated that the Governor-General in Counoil could
koo no necessity for any change in
f No. 386. dstod 10th May l«fl9. (Klcctrlo
Telograph Prooeediocs A., Juno 1809, No. 45). Captain Ross’ designation, t
299. Thereupon the Government of Bombay statodf that Captain Boss
t No. 214, dated 2nd Juno 1869. (Potilical A., was nominally “ Assistant to the Political
September 1369, No. soj>. Agent at Maskat ” und that it appeared
desirable to give him the designation proposed,§ which was in accordance with
bis actual functions. And in a later
§ Political Agent on tho Mekran Coaat.
|| Political A., September lo69, No. 310. letter, dated 8tli June, No. 220,|j the
Government of Bombay lirgod compliance
with its recommendation, stating that Captain Ross had been at Gwadur
for nearly five years, had performed his dut'es satisfactorily, and that his
usefulness would be increased without bis dashing with other political officers
if he were designated “ Political Agent on the Mckran Coast.”
300. But meanwhile the question had been discussed in the Telegraph
Department, and certain information had been called for from the Govern­
ment of Bombay. Accordingly that Government was told in reply to letter
of the 2nd and 8th June 1869, that a reply to this call was awaited. 'J he call
had beeu made under the following oircuinstances.
301. In October 1868, Captain Russ on tho ground of the frequency and
extmt of his tours, applied for a fixed travelling allowance. Sir William Mere-
wether recommended the grant to him of an allowance of Rs. 200 per mensem.
Colonel Goldsmid, to whom the question was referred, supported the proposal
on political grounds, observing :—
Captain Boss his already made several interesting journeys in JMckrah since firBt appoint­
ment to (iwadur. He will now, no doubt, avail himself of the opportunity afforded by
extension of the telegraph westward to prosecute and enlarge the sphere of these useful
enquiries. But I am of opiniou tliat his duties, though material to the constiuction and
security of the telegraph, do not essentially relate to its maintenance.

These are rither the work of a Telegraph Inspector and the Telegraph Executive. The
payment of subsidies may, it is true, require occasional moving to ami fro, hut this disburse­
ment, chaigcd as it is to the telegraph, is hardly devoid of political signilication.
u In recording further, the opinion that Captain Ro*s, as Political Officer on the Mekran
Co-'st, with a range, say, from Jask to Soumeaoi for the siad frontier, might be a most valuable
Political Assistant to the Commissioner in Sind, 1 would simplv point to tho removal of au
He (Colonel Goldunid) wae Chief Director, an»maly which debits his appointment to the
I udo* European Telegraph. dep.<rtment under my charge.^ without in any way
constituting him au officer of that department."
302. The Bombay Government, however, without touching on the question of
Captain Ross’ duties, decided that a claim for a permanent travelling allowance
bad not been made out, no matter whether chargeable to the Political or Tele-
•• Elelrie Telegraph Proceeding. A., Juna 1869, S"Ph Department**. On this Captain
No. 68. Ross again pressedff the matter, pointing
ft To Comoihsioncr in Sind, No. 9. doted i«t out that the Government of India bad
February 1869. (Electrio Telegraph Proceedings
A., June 1869, No. 59.) political relations with the Jam of Beyla,
the Chief of Pusni, and the Naib of
Kedj; that it was desirable for tho Political Officer on the coast to keep up a
personal acquaintance with them; that it was his duty to decide disputes
which might arise betweon the natives and British subjects, and to hear suoh
claims as might come forward; that in the interests of Government ho should