520
: 2. The papers have been placed in the hands of Mr. Stanger, the Engineer who tests and inspects Portland cement for us and on whose certificates those particular shipments were accepted. I enclose a copy of his report in which he enters at considerable length into the question of the reliability of the tests made by Mr. Orange, the Resident Engineer of Tytam works. His conclusion is that "This cement has been improperly gauged, its strength has been deteriorated by mixing with too much water and the manipulation of the briquettes after gauging has not been in accordance with usual practice and the terms of your Specification." He also attaches to his report copies of the original test certificates of the various shipments of Robins cement, showing results differing from those obtained by Mr. Orange, to an extent which can only be accounted for by a method of testing entirely different. We venture to think that there can be no question as to the relative trustworthiness of the two sets of results, bearing in mind that many thousands of tons of cement have been tested.
720