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Personalities Lieutenant Horsely |
The Observatory in Trivandrum was built under the superintendence of Lieutenant
(later Colonel) Horsley, of the Madras Engineers. The construction of the
Sree Padam palce, during the former reign, on a plan drawn by a European
Engineer, had impressed Swathi Thirunal with a favourable opinion of European
engineering skill. The construction of the Observatory simply confirmed
this impressions. Swathi Thirunal desirous of introducing a knowledge of
European engineering art into Travancore, in consultation with the Resident
Colonel Fraser, sanctioned the organisation of an experimental engineering
department. An irrigation maramuth department was established at Nanjenaud
and a superintendent appointed. A few companies of pioneers were formed
for irrigation works at Nanjenaud, under the general supervision of the
visiting Engineer Lieutenant Horsely, who began to devote his unremitting
attention to the improvement of all the maramuth works in Travancore. This
very able Engineer’s literacy work “Memoiers of Travancore”
(If any visitor has information on this book, please let us know, email
to cdit@vsnl.com), written at the request of the Resident, Colonel Fraser,
shows his knowledge of the country, and how he exerted himself to be closely
acquainted with everything connected with travancore.
