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His
Sir John Coode containing observations on the various questions raised by the Surveyor General.
2. As regards the system under which the work is to be executed, the Consulting Engineer concurs in the opinion expressed by the Executive Council that the work should be let to local Contractors. Although experience does not lead us to share Sir John Coode's anticipation that there would be difficulty in inducing good English Contractors to tender for these works without very special stipulations, it is now too late to adopt that course, unless the commencement of the work is delayed to an extent which is out of the question. It appears to us that there is now no alternative but to let the work out in sections to local Contractors, subject to the supervision of the Surveyor General, but, having regard to the general experience of contracts for large works under the departmental...