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we had not, fortunately, large running contracts with other firms which have enabled us to divert to Song Sons cement manufactured for other Colonies, the Tytam works must have been stopped. We are now considering whether we must not cancel Messrs. White's contract.
6. I trust that Mr. Stanhope will consider that the explanations we have been able to furnish, place beyond doubt the excellence of the cement supplied by Messrs. Robins for these works, and it seems to us desirable that the Surveyor General of Hong Kong should be urged to satisfy himself that his Subordinate Officers are competent to undertake the somewhat delicate processes of cement testing, before he accepts the results of their experiments. In this instance, the cost of the work has been increased by the use of a larger proportion of cement than was necessary, and the reputation of a most respectable firm has been attacked on the faith of tests which were made in obvious ignorance.