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the soil and the violence of the rain. wash, there is no prospect of the dredger having an idle day after its arrival in the Colony.
Coincidentally with my enquiries at home, it appears that similar enquiries were being made in the direction of the Colony by His Excellency the Administrator into the price of a steam dredger, but beyond obtaining estimates of cost, I understand that no steps have been taken to procure the machine. As the requirement however is one that should be unquestionably fulfilled as early as possible, His Excellency may perhaps approve of the order being issued to the Crown Agents and its payment provided for in Finance Committee, without awaiting the preparation of the new Colonial Estimates for 1884, which would involve another year's delay before the dredger could be got to work.
6. In the enclosed requisition the first portion represents the order to the Crown Agents and the second portion the order to the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company. I consider the estimate of $12,500 furnished