2
The actual work on the line has been seriously hampered by the exceptionally high state of the river during July and August, but it is hoped that considerable progress will be made with the earthworks during the next few months. Large supplies of material have arrived, but its transport up country has been delayed owing to the authorities having prohibited launches from running on the Grand Canal during the high-water season.
An order has recently been received from Peking that all indents and tenders are to be submitted for the approval of the director-general before being accepted.
as
The auditor, when investigating the accounts recently, discovered suspicious circumstances in connection with the working of the office for the purchase of land for the line. The expenditure for the year was returned as 700,000 taels, of which some 300,000 taels had been exponded on the purchase of land, the remainder being classed "office expenses.' An enquiry has been ordered, and in the meantime the manager has been suspended, Mr. Wang, the associate-director of the line, being placed in temporary charge. I should mention that this office is directly controlled from Peking, and that Mr. Low is in no way responsible for it.
I have, &c.
HERBERT GOFFE.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36690]
No. 1.
758
C. O.
| 34965 RECS
REC 25 OCT 09
[October 4.]
SECTION 3.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey. (Received October 4.) (No. 332.)
Peking, September 15, 1909. Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 275 of the 3rd ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from the acting consul-general at Canton reporting the improvement that has now taken place in the state of affairs as regards the construction of the Chinese section of the Canton -Kowloon Railway.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
(No. 98.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, August 30, 1909. REFERRING to my despatch No. 85 of the 30th ultimo on the subject of the difficulties experienced in the construction of the Chinese section of the Canton- Kowloon Railway, I am glad to be able to report that the display of military force las had the desired effect, and that during the past month work has been resumed throughout the second section.
At Siuchun and Shekten the buildings obstructing the line have been removed; at Namseh a satisfactory arrangement has been come to with regard to the purchase of land, and at Wanglat a slight deviation of route has been conceded, thus ending a dispute with a large village which at one time threatened to lead to bloodshed.
Mr. Grove and his staff will enter into their new quarters at Tungshan on or about the 1st October, when the railway offices will be removed from Shameen to the terminus at Tai-Sha-Tau.
I have, &c.
[2471 d-3]
H. H. FOX.