1 3
2 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1902-1903.
3 tise of the Indus and scanty rainfall in 1902 there was local
4 scarcity in Rajanpur and the abundance of rich salt soil, offers
5 great temptation, to poor people to earn a living by shaking
6 salt. Illicit manufacture will diminish with improved agricul-
7 tural conditions, and in the meantime I have slightly strength-
8 ened the preventive establishment. The construction of an
9 ‘inundation canal through this country from the Indus which
10 is projected may help to wean the Baluchis from what is for
11 many of them an hereditary occupation.
12 84. There were three cases during the year in which
13 members of the establishment were implicated in criminal
14 offences and were punished by the Courts. In the czs-Indus
15 Mines Division a’peon was convicted of rioting and was im-
16 prisoned for two years ; a peon at the Pachbadra Salt Source
17 ausaulted .his Jemadar and was‘punished with six months’ im-
18 prisonment ; and an officiating peon of the Kohat Mines Divi-
19 sion was convicted of removing salt from an outcrop with intent
20 to steal it and was fined ten rupees. ,
21 85. ‘Two deaths occurred during the year among the offi«
22 cers of the Department. Mr. J. S. McGowan, Assistant Com-
23 missioner, died at Kohat, and Mr. G. H. McMullen, Superin-
24 tendent, at Sambhar. Two Superintendents, Messrs. F. F.
25 Skeaf and G. St. A. Sylvester, retired from the service on
26 pension. Messrs. C. H. Jeffery-Orchard and E. G. Winn,
27 Superintendents, who were deputed to Rajputana on famine
28 cuty towards the end of 1901-02, reverted to the Department
29 at the close of July 1902. ae
30 86. During my.absence on leave Mr. L. White-King offi-
31 ciated as Commissioner from the beginning of the year to the
32 roth November 1902, when he returned to the Punjab to take
33 _ up the appointment of Commissioner of Multan. The Deputy
34 Commissioner, Mr. F. Ashton, then held charge until my
35 return from leave. I resumed charge of the Department on
36 the 17th November 1902 and administered it to the close of
37 the year.
38 87. Mr. Ashton, the Deputy Commissioner, has worked to
39 my entire satisfaction since I resumed charge of the Depart-
40 ment. ,His important and useful services to Government were
41 rewarded during, the year by the grant on ist January 1903 of
42 a Kaisar-i-Hind medal of the tst Class. All the Assistant
43 Commissioners have worked to, my satisfaction. -Mr. Lyon
44 was on leave fot 6 months and 23 days and the administra-
45 tion of the important Sambhar Division was carried on in his
46 absence by Mr. Holford. Mr. Bolster, as usual, has adminis-
47 tered: the czs-Indus Mines Division with much ability and
48 success, and Mr. Bickley has done some very valuable work
49 in the Internal Branch. The control of this Department over
50 the saltpetre industry has hitherto lacked definiteness, and Mr.
51 Buckley has done and is doing much to assist me in making
52 the departmental instructions to officers more practical and
53 precise. Among Superintendents the following officers deserve
54 special notice: Messrs. Nunn, Browne, Lyon and Reid.
55 SIMLA; R. M. DANE,
56 Commissioner,
57 Northern India Salt Revenue.
58 The sgt August 1903.
59 ( 33 )
60 Criminal offences come
61 mitted by members of
62 ; the establishment,
63 Casualties and retire.
64 ments among officers.
65 ‘Return of officers from
66 famine duty.
67 The charge of the De- .
68 partment,
69 Notice of officers,.