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65

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

6

ساستسلا

116

NOTES Explanatory of the foregoing type form of Indent.

Notes in heavy type are for explanation only, and it is not suggested that they should appear on the Forms used by Colonies.

Owing to the varied conditions of the Colonies and Protectorates for which the Crown Agents act no single form of indent can be suitable to all. It is, however, requested that in all forms the general arrangement and order of sequence indicated in the at- tached type form may be as far as possible followed. The details must in each case depend upon circumstances.

The information to be given on the form is divided into four sections.

SECTION A contains all instructions to the Crown Agents which refer to the whole indent, as to shipping, insurance, and so on. Whether these are printed in, or left blank to be filled up on each occasion, will, of course, depend upon local circum-

.stances.

necessary

SECTION B contains any information which it may, for local

be purposes, to show on the indent, but which is not required by the Crown Agents; for instance, estimated amounts in local currency, detailed references to items of annual estimates, and so on.

SECTION C contains the necessary authority for the indent to be executed by the Crown Agents.

SECTION D contains the list of Articles to be supplied.

It is important that each page or sheet should bear the indent No. and should

be so numbered as to show if a sheet is missing.

It is requested that forms of indent may be printed on fairly substantial paper, on foolscap size, and that only one side of the paper may be used.

117

B.

ARTICLES for which it is not usual to invite competition.

Tools, ironmongery and hardware generally.

Drugs and chemicals.

Surgical instruments and sundries.

Disinfectants.

Paper, envelopes and stationery.

Flags and bunting.

Lubricating oils.

Munitions of war (chiefly obtained from the War Department).

Glass and china.

Miscellaneous materials.

Books,

Furniture.

Badges-metal or embroidered.

Safety Fuze.

Provisions and stimulants.

Postage stamps.

Bicycles and tricycles.

Kitchen utensils.

Live stock.

Enclosure C in No. 34.

CROWN AGENTS to COLONIAL OFFICE. Extracts.

September 17, 1896.

***

Reference :-

C.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Enclosure B in No. 34.

A.

ARTICLES for which it is usual to invite competition unless the order is of small amount.

Engineering materials and Railway stores.

Portland cement,

Cotton waste.

Paints and paint oils.

Axle grease.

Coal and Patent fuel.

Serge.

Khaki drill.

(Brown) Blankets of service pattern.

Leather accoutrements.

Made-up clothing.

Dynamite and blasting powder.

Saddlery and Harnem.

3. In paragraph 10 the stringency of the Board's specifications is referred to. We shall refer later on to the specification for cement. That for pipes is appended to the report, and read by itself appears satisfactory enough. But a specification to be useful should be adapted to the circumstances in which it is to be used, and in this respect the Barbados specification fails. It contains a number of clauses dealing with the patterns and moulds; with the process of casting; with the material to be used, and the tests to be applied to this material; and with the proof of the pipes by hydraulic pressure. But all these conditions, excellent as they are, depend for their enforcement upon inspection during manufacture, without which the main part of the pecification becomes almost valueless. Such inspection, however, the Board do not consider necessary, their opinion being recorded in paragraph 18, as follows:-

"In case of goods for export, inspection during manufacture is not much use, even when it is honestly carried out, and not something done in a perfunctory way. Our specification for pipes avoids all risks, the goods have to be delivered in good order in Barbados." It is true, as pointed out in paragraph 17 that " the Department preserve the right of inspection during manufacture," but they deliberately waive this right and trust to "a rigid inspection of each pipe" on delivery at Bridgetown. We are not told that the pipes were proved by hydraulic pressure after delivery, but if they were the test would not be wholly satisfactory as the pipes would then be coated with Dr. Angus Smith's composition, which fills up any small pinholes and prevents the leaks from declaring themselves. Afterwards the composition decays or becomes loose, and the pipes are left leaky. The clayse requiring the iron to be proved by means of test bars is, of course, a dead letter, in fact, inspection on delivery can do little more than ensure that the pipes are regular in form, and are not broken or badly flawed. Thus, for practical purposes, the stringent clauses might almost as well have been left out.

But before leaving the subject of materials we wish to record our emphatic dis- sent from the Board's opinion that inspection after delivery can in any sufficient degree