411
subject"
viz.:- the expediting of the contract work. He
then describes the interview in which he repeatedly told
Mr. Orange that his arguments were "childish and absurd",
and "told him certain facts which reflected badly on his
professional ability", that I was prepared to turn him
out, and that "this sort of bluff was no good" &c. "Some
days after this (he adds) Mr. Orange asked for an official
letter on the subject and wrote him the enclosed." Thus
although only authorised to "sound" the Contractors he
delivered an ultimatum to them in my name,
and never in-
-formed me of the fact or of the interview.
Messrs. Leigh and Orange were not
unnaturally indignant contending that such an intimation
within the first 6 months of a 2 years' contract was un-
-justified and unprecedented. In the result the letter was
withdrawn, and I personally saw Messrs. Leigh and Orange
on the subject of the contract and informed them that the
letter had been sent without my knowledge and apologised
for it.
(c)
Another matter in which I have
been making full enquiry was as follows:- Shortly before my
arrival here the work at the Tunnel had progressed extreme-
-ly slowly, only a very few feet a week being added to
the