Conclosure.
COPY.
479
Honourable Colonial Secretary,
The letter in which the Consulting Engineers corrected the errors was their No.72 dated 26th September, 1907, I forward you a copy of same paragraph 2.
Paragraph 3 of His Excellency's minute requires explanation as follows. It is very difficult to compare the cost of heading driving the first year with that of the second year and give comparative figures. They must be considered in a general way. Suppose two works A and "B" are being carried out and that "B" is found to cost double what "A" does but that "B" can be assumed to be four times as difficult I think it is quite justifiable to say that "B" is being carried out much cheaper. This is what is happening in the tunnel.
How much more difficult the tunnel was in 1908 over 1907 is a matter of opinion and I claim that far more value was obtained for $1 in 1908 than in 1907 taking into account the different circumstances.
Besides the natural difficulties met with as the heading got further into the hill (such as hardness of rock) there were difficulties due to length of lead and the fact that the heading material had to run the gauntlet past other works such as break-ups. To put a numerical value on these difficulties would be impossible in order to compare with costs.
His Excellency is still of opinion that I should have foretold the increase sooner and more accurately after a year's experience. I have stated in more than one minute that the material passed through in the first year was no guide as to what was passed through