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drawing supplies for the Colony on a basis that would considerably reduce expendi- ture-a chart dated the 15th August, showing the positions cargoes and samples were drawn from, also tabulated list showing analytical reports, are attached here- with and make an interesting study-positions from which cargoes were drawn are shown in red and samples in green, on the chart: these were mostly drawn by H.M. Tug "Cherub", M.V. "Fu Kwang" and by Capt. R. D. Thomas. It will be noted that it is possible to draw fresh water supplies direct from the river within 60 miles of this Colony and vessels with a draft of 25 feet can be worked, this means that ves- sels of 7,000/8,000 tons could be employed if necessary.
Various vessels were under offer to the Control Office, for charter, varying in size from 2,000 to 6,000 tons deadweight but the Consultative Committee and my- self realised that we had to delay until the last possible moment before fixing ton- nage as the heavy outgoings would then commence. The ordinary coasters required bulk-heading fore and aft and also thwart-ships. 8-inch/10-inch injection valves controlled from the deck were also to be fitted to each compartment for flooding pur- poses. From tenders received, it was found that the cost of fitting these wooden bulkheads and injection valves for a 2,000 tonner would be approximately $20,000 and for re-conditioning when the vessel was no longer required by Government $5,000, charter-hire for this type of vessel would be about $12,000 per month. When the time came, it was originally proposed to charter for 3 months with an option of a further 3 months this would mean in the case of a coaster, that we would be definitely committed for :-
3 Months' Charter-hire at $12,000 or Fitting out, Bulkheads and Valves Re-conditioning
TOTAL
$36,000
20,000
5,000
$61,000
After careful consideration it was decided that it would be more economical to go in for a much larger vessel of the tanker class which would not require further bulkheading. As such vessels are expensive to time-charter it was considered advis- able to make tentative arrangements for the purchase of a 6,000-ton tanker built in 1900 and in every way suitable for the carriage of water and which was available on the London market; when not further required this vessel could probably have been sold at a price which would have meant very little loss to Government. Authority was given by Government on the 11th July and a low firm-offer was made with the usual covering clauses. The vessel was available for August delivery in the Far East, this synchronised with the time the Tytam Scheme (i.e. suction dredger and floating pipe line) would have been in position, had conditions made this necessary. The position at this time was serious and arrangements were definitely in train; fortunately rain fell and with the continued improvement we were able to relax and eventually to abandon this scheme. From calculations made, we expected to be able to land West River water in the Sump at the Tytam Bay pumping station, at a cost of under .35 cents per ton.
The Dredge and Floating Pipe-line Scheme was put forward by Mr. A. Ander- son, Port Engineer. (Plans showing the position of the dredge and pipe-line and the Pumping arrangement, are enclosed).
Arrangements were definitely made with the Netherlands Harbour Works Co.,. for the use of one of their suction dredgers and also one of their 21-inch flexible floating pipe lines mounted on pontoons; the Suction Dredger was capable of dis- charging from the carrying vessels into the Sump at the rate of 1,500/2,000 tons per hour from this point, the Tytam Station pumps would have delivered it into the Colony's water system.
The following craft were operated by the Control Office :-
H. M. TUG "CHERUB"This tug made 16 trips to Wangmoon and carried 2249 tons of water, she was also employed on pumping as the enclosed abstract shows. The Master, Capt. E. B. Colesworthy, did a great deal in getting the maximum amount of work out of this vessel and was most willing to assist at all times.