(May 12th).
In fact, it can be described as having no reason to be.
In the despatch with the Estimates, the S. of S. stated that he saw no objection to these votes, provided only that the large programme of works outlined in the Estimates can be carried out by the existing staff of the P.W.D., without its being necessary to increase the establishment in the course of the year.
In his reply (9682), the Governor ignored this paragraph.
The Acting Director of Public Works now writes to Sir Henry Blake, pointing out that the staff of the Department is larger than in 1892, and traverses Mr. Ormsby's assertion that the existing staff would be big enough for the work. It suggests that Mr. Hollingsworth, Engineer, who has been 4½ years in the Colony, shall be appointed Executive Engineer, and that two Assistant Engineers shall be sent out from home.
After consideration of Mr. Chatham's letter, Sir Henry Blake backs it wholeheartedly and recommends everything that Mr. Chatham does. It should be remembered that he is his own financial advisor. (Mr. Thousan has been replaced at the Treasury by a passed cadet.)
I have no doubt that the work is insufficient for the staff. It is indeed unlikely that the number of officers, who have lost the benefit of the experience gained by Messrs. Ormsby, Hay, Rowe, and Gibbs, would be able to carry out the actual work.
The question is whether such a proposal, which exceeds $300,000, should ever have been put forward. Whether a proposal of the same size will be put forward for 1902 depends on the Estimates, which we have not had. I do not object to his putting forward the proposals in the Estimates, and I would recommend that they be considered, and that until the Estimates and S. of S.'s sanction are received, Mr. Hollingsworth is not to be promoted.
Send copy to Mr. Ormsby (AF27/7) and ask him to be good enough to forward his views. We must refer to the correspondence.
As to the Principal Land Surveyor (CPL29), "at once".