CO129-300 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [7-9] — Page 22

f.

1

COPY.

Enclosure ! 2019.

1.

20

1 AUG 00

Hongkong, 16th.May, 1900.

Sir,

Adverting to my letter of the 25th.August last,

I have the honour to inform you that, in consequence of the

excessive amount of the tenders received from Contractors as

compared with the Architects Estimate, it has been found impracticable to carry out the scheme for the construction

of the Hospital and Nursing Institute in its entirety.

When this unfortunate state of affairs became

obvious to the Jubilee Committee I considered it desirable

in view of the deqarture on a holiday of His Excellency the

Governor, Sir Henry Blake and the probability that his locum

tenens, Major-General Gascoigne,would feel unable to deal

with it to lay the matter before His Excellency.

Accordingly, Sir Thomas Jackson and myself

had an interview with Sir Henry Blake on the 2nd. April last

and submitted a statement showing that the Committee were in

a position to construct the Hospital and contingent Staff

Quarters on Barker Road but were unable for lack of funds

to carry out the Nursing Institute. Wing in High Street.

His Excellency agreed that under the circum-

stances the proper course for the Committee was to proceed at

once with the Hospital and Quarters on Barker Road and con-

tracts have since been entered into on behalf of the Com-

mittee for their erection.

The hope was further expressed that His Ex-

cellency would be good enough to recommend to the Secretary

HS HONOURABLE

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

of