CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12] — Page 343

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to, it is obvious that he estimated the cost of Earthwork

per cubic yard at considerably less than the Chief Resident

Engineer has found to be necessary.

With regard to the bridge work, Mr. Bruce had

apparently no idea that bridges of such a size as have been

asked for by the Public Works Department for the carrying out

of their scheme of developement, would be required, and

consequently in his estimate for bridges he allowed considerably

less than now has been provided in Mr. Eves' estimates.

Mr. Bruce also under estimated the cost of

administration, which will be a heavy item, chiefly owing to

the poor quality of the local labour which necessitates a very

large amount of European supervision.

In the case of the Beacon Hill Tunnel the two

estimates agree very closely.

Mr. Bruce in his estimate did not provide anything

for land, as he understood that all the land required would be

given free; but we find in Mr. Eves' estimate that a sum of

$129,700 has been provided, as land other than Government land has had to be purchased.

A large additional sum of money has already been

spent owing to the damage done by the very serious typhoon on

and

September 18th of last year, also in consequence of the late

severe epidemic of malaria and the measures necessary to cope

3.

Pas