CO882-6 — Page 87

17

3

2

732

2*

33

43

10

3

AIR

2

4

35

216.

37

No. 9.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to HIGH COMMISSIONER SIR C. B. h. Mitchell. (Native States. No. 24.)

SIR,

Downing Street, January 20, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir J. Swettenham's despatches, Nos. 169 of the 28th October last," and 171 of the 1st November last, relative to railway extension in the Federated Malay States, and to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, copy of a report by the Consulting Engineers on the subject of those railways. 2. I note that the former of the two despatches encloses a letter from Sir F. Swettenham, dated 19th June, 1897, containing observations upon points raised in my despatch, No. 57, of the 12th May, 1897.§ It would have been more convenient if this letter had been forwarded to me at an earlier date.

3. I now learn for the first time that Sir F. Swettenham was, in June, 1897, in favour of the appointment of a Chief Resident Engineer to supervise the construction of the new railways, and I should be glad to know whether he is still of the same opinion, and whether you think that such an officer should now be selected, or that Messrs. Watkins and Hanson should be left to complete the sections of railway already authorised and in hand.

4. In any case, when the time arrives for undertaking further extensions, especially the difficult section into Pahang, the question of appointing a thoroughly experienced Chief Resident Engineer will have to be considered.

5. The enclosed report by the Consulting Engineers shows that so far as the existing railways are concerned they might in several instances have been better laid out, and that defects exist both in the permanent way, in structures, and in rolling stock, and I am of opinion that some of these mistakes would have been avoided if the engineers in charge had been in regular communication with the Consulting Engineers, in accordance with the practice which has always been adopted in the building of railways in Ceylon and other Colonies, in cases where the services of eminent Consulting Engineers have been employed. 6. I have accordingly to request you to ask the Resident-General to instruct Messrs. Watkins and Hanson to keep the Consulting Engineers informed of the progress of the works, and of the manner in which it, is proposed to deal with any difficulties which they foresee, by means of reports addressed under flying seal to the Consulting Engineers, through the Crown Agents, at short intervals, probably by each mail.

7. At the same time I desire to express the pleasure with which I have noticed, from the Consulting Engineers' report, that Messrs. Watkins and Hanson have, on the whole, carried out the work entrusted to them in a satisfactory manner.

8. I notice with regret, from the Consulting Engineers' report, that instances have occurred of the purchase of inferior materials and structural ironwork, and even of loco- motives from local suppliers, which cannot be regarded as advantageous to the States. I regard as essential that the rule laid down in Colonial Regulation 275 should be followed, and that all materials, stores, structural work, machinery or other articles, which have to be imported from England, should be ordered through the Crown Agents, and not through local firms.

9. You will doubtless give careful attention to the other recommendations contained in the Consulting Engineers' report.

I have, &c..

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

• No. 7.

† 26771: not printed.

‡ No. 8. -

{ No. 6,

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

37

No. 9.

MBERLAIN to HIGH COMMISSIONER SIR C. B. H. MITCHELL.

M. No. 24.)

Downing Street, January 20, 1899. honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir J. Swettenham's despatches, 28th October last, and 171 of the 1st November last,† relative to railway Federated Malay States, and to transmit to you, for your information and a report by the Consulting Engineers on the subject of those railways. at the former of the two despatches encloses a letter from Sir F. Swettenham, , 1897, containing observations upon points raised in my despatch, No. 57, 1897.§ It would have been more convenient if this letter had been at an earlier date.

arn for the first time that Sir F. Swettenham was, in June, 1897, in favour nt of a Chief Resident Engineer to supervise the construction of the new should be glad to know whether he is still of the same opinion, and ak that such an officer should now be selected, or that Messrs. Watkins uld be left to complete the sections of railway already authorised and in

we, when the time arrives for undertaking further extensions, especially on into Pahang, the question of appointing a thoroughly experienced Chief

will have to be considered.

leed report by the Consulting Engineers shows that so far as the existing arned they might in several instances have been better laid out, and that

in the permanent way, in structures, and in rolling stock, and I am of of these mistakes would have been avoided if the engineers in charge ar communication with the Consulting Engineers, in accordance with the s always been adopted in the building of railways in Ceylon and other where the services of eminent Consulting Engineers have been employed. ordingly to request you to ask the Resident-General to instruct Messrs. son to keep the Consulting Engineers informed of the progress of the manner in which it is proposed to deal with any difficulties which they ▸ of reports addressed under flying seal to the Consulting Engineers, n Agents, at short intervals, probably by each mail.

ne time I desire to express the pleasure with which I have noticed, from gineers' report, that Messrs. Watkins and Hanson have, on the whole, rk entrusted to them in a satisfactory manner.

with regret, from the Consulting Engineers' report, that instances have rchase of inferior materials and structural ironwork, and even of loco-

suppliers, which cannot be regarded as advantageous to the States. I atial that the rule laid down in Colonial Regulation 275 should be all materials, stores, structural work, machinery or other articles, which d from England, should be ordered through the Crown Agents, and not oubtless give careful attention to the other recommendations contained Engineers' report.

1.

I have, &c..

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

+ 26771: not printed.

‡ No. 8.

f No. 6.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

། ?│ །

|| | || | || | || | ||]

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO