759
17431
31 AUG 39)
No. 225.
MY LORD,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 15th July, 1889..
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's Despatch No. 128 of the 7th ultimo transmitting copy of a letter containing recommendations by Sir R. RAWLINSON "as to the carrying out of the works of distribution of the "water supply," together with a copy of a private letter from him on the same subject.
2. I observe that Sir R. RAWLINSON strongly recommends that these works should be executed under his control, in the same way as important public works in other Colonies have been executed by a Resident Engineer of special qualifi- cations selected by him to be appointed for the purpose, and that he suggests Mr. OSBERT CHADWICK, C.M.G., for the duty--and I observe also that Your Lordship in accepting this recommendation, suggests further that Mr. CHADWICK should, in addition to the duty in question, undertake the charge and execution of the proposed new drainage works of Victoria also under the supervision of Sir R. RAWLINSON.
3. In the last paragraph of the Despatch in question Your Lordship intimates that you would be glad to learn with as little delay as possible that I concur in these proposals, and suggests that I should communicate with you by telegraph.
4. Regarding the subject as one of very great importance, I brought Your Lordship's Despatch to the notice of the Executive Council (of which I may remark that Mr. BROWN, the Surveyor General, is not a member) at a meeting which was fortunately attended by Colonel STORER, Commanding Royal Engineer, acting in command of the Troops in the absence of Major-General EDWARDS.
5. After full consideration of the subject with the assistance of the Council, I with their concurrence, found myself unable to accept Sir R. RAWLINSON'S recom- mendations, and felt it my duty to forward to you by telegraph the following mes-
sage:-
"Referring to your Despatch No. 128 (I am) convinced that (there will be) "serious difficulties in proposition. Despatch follows by mail. May I suggest "consultation with (Mr.) PRICE (who is) in England. (I) am about to propose
considerable increase of Assistant Engineers."
6. It becomes, therefore, my duty to give Your Lordship my reasons for the
view thus indicated, and I now proceed to do so.
7. I may observe, in limine, that being somewhat surprised by the tone of Sir R. RAWLINSON's communications to the Crown Agents I made enquiries as to his
The Right Honourable
THE LORD KNUTSFORD, G.C.M.G.,
&c.,
&..
Se.
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