CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10] — Page 365

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

361

mile, which line had no tangent points of curves marked. This necessitated the line being set out again and re-levelled. The country was so hilly and rugged that it had all to be cross-sectioned before work could be started. The reasons for this can only be understood by an Engineer experienced in actual railway construction. Delay was caused in Kowloon by realignments rendered necessary on account of difficulties in the purchase of Land.

9. His Excellency has criticised my work very unfavourably at times of which I will give a few instances.

He said he did not see the necessity of sinking shafts. I did not decide to sink these shafts without due deliberation. I saw that with the labour in the Colony and the sickness which I was told was prevalent in the district, I would not be able to get and keep sufficient good coolies together to push the approach cutting through quick enough. I came to the conclusion that I could more easily keep a few shaft coolies together than a large gang of earthwork coolies. Events have proved that I was right, as the North Shaft was bottomed when the approach cutting had only about 75' excavated. The South shaft is not yet finished, quite...

but I hope to have it completed long before the cutting.

Another time he said I was not laying the metre gauge rails fast enough. I bought 1 1/4 miles in the Colony, which was only being delivered at the rate of about 300 yards at a time. To begin with, the plate layers had to be trained to the work and then if they laid the 300 yards before the arrival of the next lot, the men, who were on piece work, would get scattered and lost and I would have to collect and train another gang.

He is also very anxious to see bridge foundations excavated. This I never like to do till a good deal of material is on the ground and till I see that there is no chance of running short till the foundation is finished. I also am putting the actual excavation off till the thunderstorm season is over.

10. The above are a few instances and the fact that His Excellency has cabled that the work is not getting along quick enough shows me that he was not satisfied with my reasons.

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361 > mile, which line had no tangent points of curves marked. This necessitated the line being set out again and re-levelled. The country was so hilly and rugged that it had all to be cross-sectioned before work could be started. The reasons for this can only be understood by an Engineer experienced in actual railway construction. Delay was caused in Kowloon by realignments rendered necessary on account of difficulties in the purchase of Land. 9. His Excellency has criticised my work very unfavourably at times of which I will give a few instances. He said he did not see the necessity of sinking shafts. I did not decide to sink these shafts without due deliberation. I saw that with the labour in the Colony and the sickness which I was told was prevalent in the district, I would not be able to get and keep sufficient good coolies together to push the approach cutting through quick enough. I came to the conclusion that I could more easily keep a few shaft coolies together than a large gang of earthwork coolies. Events have proved that I was right, as the North Shaft was bottomed when the approach cutting had only about 75' excavated. The South shaft is not yet finished, quite... but I hope to have it completed long before the cutting. Another time he said I was not laying the metre gauge rails fast enough. I bought 1 1/4 miles in the Colony, which was only being delivered at the rate of about 300 yards at a time. To begin with, the plate layers had to be trained to the work and then if they laid the 300 yards before the arrival of the next lot, the men, who were on piece work, would get scattered and lost and I would have to collect and train another gang. He is also very anxious to see bridge foundations excavated. This I never like to do till a good deal of material is on the ground and till I see that there is no chance of running short till the foundation is finished. I also am putting the actual excavation off till the thunderstorm season is over. 10. The above are a few instances and the fact that His Excellency has cabled that the work is not getting along quick enough shows me that he was not satisfied with my reasons.

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361 > mile, which line had no tangent points of curves marked. This necessit- ated the line being set out again and re-levelled. The country was so hilly end rugged that it bed all to be cross sectioned before work could be started. The reasons for this can only be understood by an Engineer experienced in actual railway construction. Delay was caused in Kowloon by realignments rendered necessary on account of difficulties in the purchese of Land. 9. His Excellency hes criticised my work very unfavourably at tines of which I will give e few instances. He said he did not see the necessity of sinking shafts. I did not decide to sink these shefts without due deliberation. I saw that with the labour in the Colony and the sickness which I was told nas prevalent in the district, I would not be able to get and keep sufficient good coolies together to oush the coproach cutting through ouick enough. I came to the conclusion that I could more easily keep a few shaft coo- lies together then a large geng of earthwork coolies. Events have oro ved that I was right, as the North Shaft was bottomed when the aporoach cut- į ting nad only about 75' excavated. The South shaft is not yet finished, ouite but I hope to have it completed long before tae caiting. Another time he said I was not laying the metre guage rails fast enough. I bought 1 1/4 miles in the Colony, which was only being delivered at the rate of about 300 yards at a time. To begin with the olate layers had to be trained to the work and then if they laid the 300 yards before the arrival of the next lot, the men, who were on oiece Rork, would get scattered and lost end I would have to collect and trein another g805. de is also very anxious to see bridge foundations excavated. This I never like to do till a food deal of materiel is on the ground and till I see that there is no chance of running short till the foundation is finished. I also am putting the actual excavation off till the thunder! storm season is over, 10. The above are a few instances and the fact that is xcellency has cabled that the work is not getting alone ouick enough shows me that he was not satisfied with my reasons.

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361

mile, which line had no tangent points of curves marked. This necessit- ated the line being set out again and re-levelled. The country was so hilly end rugged that it bed all to be cross sectioned before work could be started. The reasons for this can only be understood by an Engineer experienced in actual railway construction. Delay was caused in Kowloon by realignments rendered necessary on account of difficulties in

the purchese of Land.

9. His Excellency hes criticised my work very unfavourably at tines of which I will give e few instances.

He said he did not see the necessity of sinking shafts. I did not decide to sink these shefts without due deliberation. I saw that

with the labour in the Colony and the sickness which I was told nas prevalent in the district, I would not be able to get and keep sufficient good coolies together to oush the coproach cutting through ouick enough. I came to the conclusion that I could more easily keep a few shaft coo- lies together then a large geng of earthwork coolies. Events have oro ved that I was right, as the North Shaft was bottomed when the aporoach cut- į ting nad only about 75' excavated. The South shaft is not yet finished,

ouite

but I hope to have it completed long before tae caiting.

Another time he said I was not laying the metre guage rails fast enough. I bought 1 1/4 miles in the Colony, which was only being delivered at the rate of about 300 yards at a time. To begin with the olate layers had to be trained to the work and then if they laid the 300 yards before the arrival of the next lot, the men, who were on oiece Rork, would get scattered and lost end I would have to collect and trein

another g805.

de is also very anxious to see bridge foundations excavated. This I never like to do till a food deal of materiel is on the ground and

till I see that there is no chance of running short till the foundation

is finished. I also am putting the actual excavation off till the thunder! storm season is over,

10. The above are a few instances and the fact that is xcellency has cabled that the work is not getting alone ouick enough shows me that he was not satisfied with my reasons.

CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10] — Page 365

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