be carried out by Europe Contractors employing their own Agents and Engineers, or by native subcontractors. The Council having decided in favour of the latter course it results that the whole of the Engineering duties, including those which usually devolve on the Contractors' Staff, are thrown on the Engineering Staff of the Praya works.
I need not point out that these duties become far more difficult and onerous owing to the change which has been sanctioned in the form of construction, viz: instead of adhering to the method which has hitherto prevailed of building by Chinese methods, and virtually without Plant, the adoption of the concrete blocks involves the use of machinery on a large scale, and the work and responsibility of superintendence is thereby largely increased.
It follows in fact that the duties devolving on myself include those usually performed by the Contractors' Engineer and Agent, and those of Government Engineer. By dispensing with European Contractors it has, I submit, been demonstrated in the correspondence which has already taken place.