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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

'[ ༴། ། ] } l] C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

*34131

12

No. 17.

FIJI.

ADMINISTRATOR ALLARDYCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN..

(Received September 30, 1901.)

(No. 98.) SIR,.

Government House, Suva, Fiji, August 13, 1901. In reply to your circular despatch of the 1st June last, I have the honour to report that, during the last three years, the following cases have occurred in which there would appear to have been some mistake or neglect on the part of the Crown Agents in regard to commercial business entrusted to them:-

(1) Defective water pipes supplied for the Rewa water supply.

(2) Failure to accept the tender of the British India Company for the convey-

ance of coolies in 1900.

(3) Delay in forwarding Public Works' stores in 1900 and 1901.

(4) Inferior quality of anchor lights supplied for lightship “Barb.”

2. In regard to (1) I enclose copy of correspondence between the Assistant Colonial Secretary and the Crown Agents. In this instance, possibly, the Crown Agents themselves were not to blame in the matter, but I report it as a case in which it was necessary for this Government to call attention to the fact that material of an inferior quality had been supplied through the Crown Agents.

3. Case No. (2), of which full particulars are given in the enclosed correspond- ence, was the cause of considerable dissatisfaction amongst the introducers of Indian immigrants. The Colonial Sugar Refining Company, who are by far the largest em- ployers of labour, submitted a written complaint, a copy of which forms a portion of enclosure No. 2. I submit that the correspondence shows that the interests of introducers were not intelligently considered in this instance. In reference to the point raised by the Crown Agents in the 5th paragraph of their letter of 22nd June, 1900, I would call attention to the fact that there was no question of the steamers carrying a large number of immigrants. The Emigration Agent only guaranteed 680 for each ship, and that number would have been sufficient for the requirements of the Colony. The "Vadala in 1895 carried 720 statute adults with only one Surgeon Superintendent.

4. In regard to the third complaint I beg to refer you to Sir G. O'Brien's de- spatch, No. 73, of 20th September, 1900,* in which.mention is made of the delay in forwarding public works' stores for 1900. In regard to the supplies requisitioned for in the despatch above referred to I may mention that, though the paint and other supplies were received in March last, the tramline and piping were not invoiced till March, despatched in April, and reached the Colony in August, that is eleven months after they were ordered.

5. A copy of the correspondence in connection with the supply of two anchor lights for the lightship "Barb" is enclosed. The letter dated 11th July, 1899, to the Crown Agents asks that lamps may be "of the best quality and the largest size procurable." When the lamps were received the Harbour Master reported that they were of cheap construction, and that the lens of one was broken. The lens of the other cracked on the lamp being lit for the first time. The Crown Agents were accordingly communicated with on 16th February, 1900, and particularly asked to send out lenses of clear ground glass in two sections. Messrs. V. and R. Blakemore, in their letter of 5th April, 1900, quote a price for the article required, but the Crown Agents "ordered the replacement of the lenses as originally supplied." Messrs. Blakemore, in their letter, quote the inferior lenses supplied to this Government at 478. 6d. each, and no reason is given for their afterwards charging 55s. for the same article.

I have, &c.,

W. L. ALLARDYCE.

گو

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Enclosure 1 in No. 17.

Letter from the ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECRETARY, Fiji, to the Crown Agents FOR THE GENTLEMEN,

December 28, 1899.

COLONIES.

I AM directed to forward, for your information, and such action as you may see £t to take, the enclosed copy of a report by the Commissioner of Works of this Colony on the 6-inch piping supplied by you, as advised in your letters of 14th April and 19th May, 1899 (Requisition No. 29441), and to state that the number of faulty pipes with the faults covered up with composition amounts to sixteen, and that one of them had no less than three faults plugged up with tar and dirt.

The Governor observes that, while it may not be usual, or feasible, for your inspector to test every pipe shipped by you, the manufacturer of the pipes in question cannot fail to have been cognizant of their faulty condition.

I have, &c.,

W. L. ALLARDYCE, Assistant Colonial Secretary.

Letter from the ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECRETARY, Fiji, to the Crown Agents FOR THE COLONIES. (1394.) GENTLEMEN,

ADVERTING to my letter, No. 5780, of the 28th ultimo, on the subject of the

January 8, 1900. defective pipes for the Rewa water supply, I am directed to state that, since that letter was written, the attention of the Governor has been drawn to Section 10 of specification, which requires:-" After cleaning and fettling, but before coating, each pipe shall be proved, in the presence of the Inspecting Engineer, by hydraulic pres- sure, to the pressures laid down in the Schedule. During the time that the pressure is maintained, the pipe shall be repeatedly struck with a hammer weighing not less than 3 lbs., so as to set up a strong vibration in all its parts. The pressure is to be clearly and satisfactorily indicated by an approved pressure-gauge, to the satisfac- tion of the Inspecting Engineer. The proof pressure is to be maintained in the- pipe for a sufficient time to allow the Inspecting Engineer to make his inspection. Any pipe which leaks or in any way fails under this test shall be rejected."

I have, &c.,

W.L. ALLARDYCE, Assistant Colonial Secretary.

The Crown Agents for the Colonies,

London.

Minute from the COMMISSIONER OF WORKS to the ASSISTANT COLONIAL Secretary, Fiji. SIR,

DURING the past two weeks I have personally made close inspection of the

December 19, 1899. laying of the Rewa water supply main and Sub-mains. The contractor has done his work faithfully, but I am sorry to have to report defects in the 6-inch piping. I have had to compel him (the contractor) to take up a number of defective lengths, and to replace them with sounder ones. bursts had taken place. These defects could not be discovered until the pressure Others have had to be repaired, where of water was put on. They are all between the Nasinu and Rewa Rivers.

The piping is all from the Crown Agents. There are two brands. That branded F.W.S. (Fiji Water Supply) is perfect, but that branded R. M. and Co. (Eglinton Foundry, Glasgow, R. McLaren and Co.) is anything but so.

The person employed by the Crown Agents to test the piping is solely to blame, as some of the faulty lengths have been craftily plugged up with a composition, principally of tar, and therefore could not possibly have borne the trial, if tested.

It gives the contractor a large amount of extra work that is really not part of his contract; and places an additional weight of responsibility and vigilance on my shoulders, that, if the work of inspection at home had been properly done, I would not have had to carry.

GEORGE MOORE.

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• 35705: not printed.