CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 345

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

I am much embarrassed and surprised by finding that, so far from carrying out the above instructions, the Crown Agents have contracted with another firm, whose tender, I doubt not, was lower, to construct machinery and boiler which will not fit in the space allotted.

On the contrary, it is contemplated to send out, instead of 2 convenient sized boilers, which is what I had anticipated, huge boilers more than eleven feet in height, which, with its casing, will not only project to a length of 9 feet above the deck, but will also be nearly a foot higher than the gunwale.

This will require so many beams to be cut away to make room for the boiler that the vessel will be thereby materially weakened in the very part where it is most desirable to increase her strength if possible.

I am advised that the plan is altogether unsuitable for so small a vessel and is contrary to the directions given and would involve great expense and inconvenience.

I have no time in requesting that your Lordship will interfere and prevent the Colony being put to this great loss.

I am advised that this Government is entitled to reject the Engines and boiler if they do arrive here, and to throw all expenses on the Crown Agents; and I therefore hope that no time will be lost in ordering suitable Engines to fit the space.

The only space which can be spared for the purpose is that pointed out in despatch No. 99.

I have the honor to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,

John MacDonnell

Page 342

3186-68.

592

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I am much embarrassed and surprised by finding that, so far from carrying out the above instructions, the Crown Agents have contracted with another firm, whose tender, I doubt not, was lower, to construct machinery and boiler which will not fit in the space allotted. On the contrary, it is contemplated to send out, instead of 2 convenient sized boilers, which is what I had anticipated, huge boilers more than eleven feet in height, which, with its casing, will not only project to a length of 9 feet above the deck, but will also be nearly a foot higher than the gunwale. This will require so many beams to be cut away to make room for the boiler that the vessel will be thereby materially weakened in the very part where it is most desirable to increase her strength if possible. I am advised that the plan is altogether unsuitable for so small a vessel and is contrary to the directions given and would involve great expense and inconvenience. I have no time in requesting that your Lordship will interfere and prevent the Colony being put to this great loss. I am advised that this Government is entitled to reject the Engines and boiler if they do arrive here, and to throw all expenses on the Crown Agents; and I therefore hope that no time will be lost in ordering suitable Engines to fit the space. The only space which can be spared for the purpose is that pointed out in despatch No. 99. I have the honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, John MacDonnell Page 342 3186-68. 592
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તું.. clearer than those instructions, which though they imposed few limits nevertheless defined these limits sharply, and the Crown Agents were suggestion recommended in conformity with the the Naval Auctiorities here to empley having a reputation Manderly Field & Co "for making Engines of the most compact form " which from the limited space in the Victoria of " is that as a matter of importance.. In any Ci word it does not appear to me discretion whation wns left to the certain bater and نفوسه Crown Agents to exceed a Engure space whilst they to suit these Engines the those hown if necessary. euver instructed ve to the space by reducing Ishave therefore been much embarraged and surprised by finding that so far from out the above instruction they have carrying contracted with another firm, whose tender. doubt lover to construct machinery was ND and biter which will not fit in the spare allotted. On the contrary it is contemplated to send out instead of 2 convement sized biler which is what I had anticipated are huge baiter more than eleven feet in height which with its casing will not only project to for a.length of 9 feet above the Duke, but will alove be nearly a foot higher than the gunwati require so many beans to be cut This will require so many, to make roo for the batter, that the reful will be therely materially weakened in the 592 .. 3186-68. 342 part where it is most desirable to increase her strength if possible. I am advised that the plan is altogether sunsuitable for 20 so small a repel and it is ^ contrary to the directions given and would involved great expuse & inconvenience destination of The Deck and removal of the trasha's present cabin, I love no time time in requesting that tar Lordship will interfer and prevent the Colom being funt to this great laf. Colony I am aduried that this Government is entitled to reject the Engines and boiler if they do arrive here, and to shrow all_ expenses on the Rawon Agents; and I therefor hope that no time will be lost in ordering evitable Engines to fit the space. The only space which can be spared for the purpose, and which panted art in despatch Ne $99. Leave my I have the hover to lus My Lord), Man Lordship's most obedient himblesurant; 1. dframes Mandinell (༣དང་ཟ་་་བས་
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તું..

clearer than those instructions, which though they imposed few limits nevertheless defined these limits sharply, and the Crown Agents were suggestion recommended in conformity with the

the Naval Auctiorities here to empley

having a reputation Manderly Field & Co "for making Engines of the most compact form " which from the limited space in the Victoria

of

" is

that

as

a matter of importance..

In

any

Ci

word it does not appear to me

discretion whation

wns

left to the

certain bater and

نفوسه

Crown Agents to exceed a Engure space whilst they to suit these Engines the those hown if necessary.

euver

instructed

ve to the space by reducing

Ishave therefore been much embarraged and surprised by finding that so far from

out the above instruction they have carrying contracted with another firm, whose tender. doubt lover to construct machinery

was

ND

and biter which will not fit in the spare allotted.

On the contrary it is contemplated to send out instead of 2 convement sized biler which is what I had anticipated are huge baiter more than eleven feet in height which with its casing will not only project to for a.length of 9 feet above the Duke, but will alove be nearly a foot higher than the gunwati

require so many beans to be cut

This will require so many,

to make

roo

for the batter, that the reful will be therely materially weakened in the

592

..

3186-68.

342

part where it is most desirable to increase her strength if possible.

I am advised that the plan is altogether sunsuitable

for

20

so small a repel and it is

^

contrary to the directions given and would involved great expuse & inconvenience

destination of

The Deck and removal of the trasha's present cabin, I love no time

time in requesting that tar Lordship will interfer and prevent the Colom being funt to this great laf.

Colony

I am aduried that this Government is entitled to reject the Engines and boiler if they do arrive here, and to shrow all_ expenses on the Rawon Agents; and I therefor hope that no time will be lost in ordering evitable Engines to fit the space. The only space which can be spared for the purpose, and which

panted art in despatch Ne $99.

Leave

my I have the hover to lus

My Lord),

Man Lordship's most obedient

himblesurant;

1.

dframes Mandinell

(༣དང་ཟ་་་བས་

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