Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/167

 CHAPTER XII

Results of Administration. Return Home

Lord Hardinge had devoted much of his time during his stay at Simla to the consideration of certain civil measures of administration, which were either initiated or carried to completion before he left India.

Foremost among these was the question of continuing the great scheme of irrigation known as the Ganges Canal, which had been commenced many years before, and was not opened till 1856. Up to Lord Hardinge's time the project had encountered serious opposition, notably from Mr. Thomason, then Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces; it also met with but lukewarm support in other quarters. Major Cautley, who had originated the scheme, was in England; while his assistant-engineer. Captain Baker, had been detached on military duty. On the one side, it was urged that the construction of the canal would cause such interference with the natural drainage as to produce chronic malaria. On the other side, it was alleged that the people preferred to take their chance of fever if assured of a constant water-supply. Lord Hardinge decided that, however