proved financially unsuccessful, and the only remaining source of revenue being derivable from their landed estates, it was resolved, at a meeting of shareholders in May 1870, to appoint a committee for the purpose of preparing a scheme of voluntary liquidation and reconstruction of the Company. The head office was removed to Bombay, and the local expenditure was reduced to a limit of £400 per month; the working of the mills being stopped until such time as they could be leased out or worked profitably, and the operations of the Company confined to the improvement of their revenue from their landed estate. At a subsequent meeting of shareholders, held in August 1870, it was resolved to make further calls to pay off existing debts, and to transfer and sell, under certain conditions, the whole of the property and rights of the ‘Port Canning Land Investment, Reclamation, and Dock Company,’ to the new ‘Port Canning Land Company, Limited.’ These resolutions have since been carried out, the interest in the new Company being principally vested in the Bombay shareholders, who exercise the chief direction of affairs.
The Port Establishment has been a heavy and an unprofitable cost to Government. In 1869-70, the cost of the port amounted to, £15,709, while the receipts only amounted to £1134, 14s. 0d. This was exclusive of the charges for special survey and arsenal stores. Considering the position and prospects of the Company, and the hopelessness of the establishment of any trade which would justify the retention of a port on the Matlá, the Lieutenant-Governor in June 1871 recommended that the earliest opportunity should be taken of officially closing the port, and withdrawing the establishments, with the exception of the light vessel outside, which would be of use to ships from the eastward, and might occasionally guide a vessel to an anchorage in rough weather. These recommendations were adopted, and shortly afterwards the Government moorings, etc., were taken up, and the port officially declared closed. In 1870, the town contained 386 houses or huts, and a total population of 714 souls. At present, it is nearly deserted. The Commissioner of the Sundarbans, in a report to me dated the 10th April 1873, states that, ‘with the exception of the Agent and others employed by the new Port Canning Land Company, and a dák munshí or deputy Postmaster, no one lives at Canning.’
Baruipur, the headquarters of the Subdivision of the same name, situated about sixteen miles south of Calcutta, on the east
