94
3.
Lord Crewe's approval was conveyed
"21
for. 30v 3808 by telegram dated August 22nd., 1908, previous telegrams
4r.29044/08 -33986/08
La
having sanctioned the commencement of work. The Plans and
Estimates had meantime been referred to the Consulting
Engineers, and since their telegraphic proposals seemed to
indicate an increase of cost I telegraphed on August 10th.
and wrote on 14th. August, 1908, (Despatch 205) - that any
modifications which would add to the estimate could not be
accepted. I was directed to send Mr. Boulton to England to
consult with Messrs. Coode, Son and Matthews, a procedure
which though considered necessary, involved of course a
considerable expense. In his Despatch of 7th. August, 1908,
27987/68 (No. 172) Lord Crewe commented on the large increase in the
mp 311447/08
anticipated cost of the scheme, but observed in his letter to
the Secretary to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Naviga-
-tion Company of 7th. September, 1908, that while regretting
the necessity of incurring so large an expenditure he did
not feel justified in rejecting the advice of the local
Government in a matter of such importance.
4.
The result of the consultation in
England was that the estimate was again increased to
81,813,000