10
240
¢:
ed halfge
.3
ander wo"!
4.
I may here say that the long time which has
elapsed since the receipt of the new Indent and the
as yet non-shipment of the order, has been caused by
oircumstances which have arisen in dealing with the
specification, with a view to safety, cost, and con-
nections; having special regard to the points of
weakness charged against the wrot iron defective main.
5. In the first place the sample piece of the
tube metal, a few square inches, sent from Hong Kong
for examination, was of no service, with a view to form-
ing a clear opinion as to the general quality of the
main; the piece was however subjected to analysis.
6.
Sample pieces of whole piping from the main
condemned were therefore asked for, and duly sent home
from Hong Kong. As soon as received here, they were put into the hands of Mr. R.H. Harry Stanger, of Broadway, Westminster, S.W., for examination, analysis
and report.
7. I personally investigated these pipe samples
on arrival, and saw the same subjected to pressure
testing by a machine press; and the result, so far ag could be seen, did not bear out the complaint that the
iron was deficient in quality.
8. Reverting now to the new order. It was con-
sidered that possibilities might intervene as between the pipe made, and the pipe laid, that might lead to a
repetition of complaints. Therefore, to secure safety,
the tubes were specified to be 6" and 5′ exact inter-
nally the diameters of the bores. Tenders were invited
2