of a
Ad
an
hulk to serve as Epidemic Hospital has now been signed, under which it is stipulated that the vessel shall be completed and handed over in October this year. The sum placed upon the Estimates for "hospital hulk" was, as Your Lordship is aware, $50,000. It has, however, been found that sum was insufficient, and none of the old hulks offered for sale were considered suitable by experts appointed to report on them.
The tender which has been accepted was for $58,500 and a vote for the additional $8,500 was accordingly agreed to at a recent meeting of the Finance Committee.
With reference to the last paragraph of Your Lordship's letter, it has been found impossible to obtain a new vessel for that purpose.