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we may soon train natives to take alternate shifts.
The lining of Tunnel needs to be under constant control of a thorough practical Tunnel Foreman Bricklayer and with several faces going he would require at least 4 good leading Englishmen under him that is two at each end of Tunnel, one for night and one for day, and the sooner they are on the ground the better as the native Bricklayers have not the slightest knowledge of Tunnel bricklaying and up to now it is impossible to get proper work either for quantity or workmanship out of them, they have no idea of working so as to allow for removal of timber etc., or for leaving certain timber in and until they have had a proper insight into Tunnel work it cannot be expected that they can know. Therefore if time saving is the one consideration the more skilled supervision in reason the more rapid the progress will be and the more satisfactory the work.
(C). The system of petty contracts or piece work is usually the most satisfactory way of working for rapidity and economy when under sufficient practical inspection to prevent the petty contractors going wrong or shirking their responsibilities.
(D). The machinery is suitable and when a further supply of compressors arrive for ventilation and a few more drills as auxiliaries and which the Chief Resident Engineer informs me are coming out, we shall have sufficient for as far as I am at present able to judge. It is not yet all fully utilized but as we get further in to the Tunnel, more of the power will be brought into use.
(X). I may say that the Tunnel is a great deal wetter than I was given to understand it was, and of a much more dense and difficult material to mine. I was given to understand some of it was clay and shale but there is no sign of any yet. I have never experienced so wet a Tunnel before and of such material that was so unyielding to force, it seems to defy hammer, pick and ammunition alike. In the last granite
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Tunnel