The Times' correspondent in India, the only one as yet
recognised by the public, should be a little more minute in his detail of facts. He reports on Thursday a most important speech by the Viceroy on opening the Taptee Railway, a line one hundred and sixty-four miles long, and the first built in India with capital subscribed on the spot. Lord Elgin observed that the field for the construction of railways in India was practically unlimited, and that he himself and the Secretary of State were both friendly to a considerable exten- sion, but that while such railways were still "dependent on Government assistance " it was indispensable to proceed with caution. Very sensible, and very well worth the cost of the telegram, but what is the extent and kind of the " assistance" which the Government affords to the Taptee Railway ? Does it give the land, or a guarantee, or both ? Without those essential facts it is impossible to judge• what the "new departure" means, or whether the natives are or are not really investing their capital in railways. They may be taking up railway shares, but if those shares are guaranteed, that is simply lending money to the Government with the chance of a dividend in addition to the interest.
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