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I have temporarily engaged the services of a Civil Engineer named Mr Newcombe to superintend the work of reconstructing the Praya Wall.
2. Mr. Newcombe, as the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. Price, the Surveyor General details, is a gentleman who has been recently employed by the Japanese Government and who brings with him a good reputation for steadiness and capability.
3. With the advice of my Council and at the suggestion of the Surveyor General, I have decided upon giving Mr Newcombe three hundred dollars a month to be paid from the $200,000 authorized by Your Lordship to be devoted to the Praya works.
4. The engagement of Mr. Newcombe obviates a great difficulty which had hitherto threatened to obstruct the Government at the outset - the absence of a professionally competent gentleman to supervise the works in their progress.
I am asking to be glad to be able to inform Your Lordship's approval of the step which I have taken.