N.50.
149
Surveyor General's Office
Victoria 30th March 1864.
I beg to report as follows on the subject of the despatch from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State N°11 of 23rd January last.
My Estimates for Iron Work to be supplied from England are necessarily based upon former Invoices received for Materials of a similar nature.
In this case my prices for Piping were taken from the Invoices of the Butterley Company, the firm who supplied the 10 inch pipes for the Main between Pokfolum and Victoria in 1860. The thickness of the pipes is 9/16 which will explain the difference between the prices quoted by me and those mentioned by Messrs Tyler Sons and Messrs Lambert Sons for supplying pipes 1/2 inch thick. With regard to the second point mentioned by his lordship, I may explain that Messrs Tyler Sons were recommended by me simply because they have lately supplied some Sluice Cocks for Victoria.
The Honorable Colonial Secretary.