CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 517

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shortly although as we have not yet estimated it, it is

possible that the cost may be covered by this amount

of $15,000. Briefly it will be impossible to finish

the Kowloon Barracks item within any reasonable period

or to get on with them at all next year.

45

7.

If it should be considered that the War

Department expenditure on the Military Works Loan

should proceed pari passu with the Colonial contribu-

tion, similar hindrances to the progress of the works

will beset us in future years.

8.

Such long

delay will not only be most pre-

judicial to the service, but will also inevitably

result in increased expense both to the War Department

and to the Colony. Pot it is a well established princi-

ple of Engineering experience that hardly anything

conduces more to increased expense than the keeping

of works long in hand For economy it is necessary

that any work once started should be pushed through

from start to finish with all reasonable speed.

9.

I am therefore venture to submit that the

only way to finish these services within any reasonable

time or with any proper economy will be to push on

with them as fast as the plans &c: can be prepared,

charge