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extent.
360
For such work skilled miners are an absolute necessity to timber the shafts and headings and to be always on the work. Up to date, I have had to trust to men picked up in the Colony in fact to beach-combers. I need not dilate on the character of such men. They came, got sick, or took to drink and went away again. More came and did the same; but a constant supply could not be kept up. The difficulty of keeping the shafts going under these circumstances can only be understood by the Engineers who are on the ground. At one time at the South Face, all three miners were in hospital at the one time, this face I tried to keep going in preference to the North Side,
5. At the North Side of the Hills, the fever was very bad, much worse than at the South Side, I tried here to keep Italian miners but these men could only be kept about a week at a time on the works, when they went into Hospital.
No hold could be kept on these beachcombers, as could be done on men coming out under an agreement from England, so each man after being in hospital twice used not to come back again.
6.
I have been in the tropics on Railway Construction for a good many years and never have I been asked to start work in the summer months as I have been done here. Being once started in the cold weather, I do not think there will be any difficulty in keeping the works going next summer. Starting as I consider, I have been forced to do in the summer months, has only resulted in giving the Railway works a bad name and will increase the difficulties in the future.
7. As I found local labour so bad and expensive, I managed to import 150 Tientsin coolies, but in a very short time, as many as fifty were down with malarial fever at once. This alone will prevent my importing from the North, as the bad report will very quickly reach Tientsin and no more will be persuaded to come.
8.
Another reason why work could not be started at once on the arrival of the Engineers was that there were no working plans, All I had to start with was a list of levels and a line drawn on a plan 8" to
A
#
extent.
360
For such work skilled miners are an absolute necessity to
timber the shafts and beadings and to be always on the work. Do to date,
I have had to trust to men oicked uo in the Colony in fact to beach-
combers. I need not dilate on the character of such men. They came, got
sick, or book to drink and went away again. Vore came and did the same;
but a constant supoly could not be kept uo. The difficulty of keeping
the shafts going under these circumstances can only be understood by
the Engineers who are on the ground. At one time at the South Face, all
three miners were in hosoitel at the one time, this face I tried to keep
going in oreference to the North Side,
5. At the North Side of the Hills, the fever was very bad, much
worse than at the South Side, I tried here to keep Itelian miners but
these ren could only be kept about a week at a time on the works, when
they went into Hospital.
No hold could be kept on these beachcombers, es could be done
on men coming out under an agreement from England, so each man after
being in hosoitei trice used not to come back again.
6.
I have been in the tropics on Railway Construction for a good
many years and never have I been asked to start work in the summer
months as I have been done here. Beving once started in the cold weather,
I do not think there will be any difficulty in keeping the works going
next summer. Starting as I consider, I have been forced to do in the
summer months, bas only resulted in eiving the Failway works a bad neme
end will increase the difficulties in the future.
7. As I found local labour so bad and expensive, I managed to
import 150 Tientsin coolies, but in a very short time, as many as Set
Bere down with malarial fever at once. This elone will prevent my imoort-
ing from the North, as the had report will very quickly reach Tientsin
End no more will be persuaded to come.
3.
3
Another reason why work could not be started at once on the
arrival of the dagineers was that there were no working olans, All I
had to start with was a list of levels and e line drawn on a plan 8" to
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