CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3] — Page 418

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subject"

viz.:- the expediting of the contract work. He

then describes the interview in which he repeatedly told

Mr. Orange that his arguments were "childish and absurd",

and "told him certain facts which reflected badly on his

professional ability", that I was prepared to turn him

out, and that "this sort of bluff was no good" &c. "Some

days after this (he adds) Mr. Orange asked for an official

letter on the subject and wrote him the enclosed." Thus

although only authorised to "sound" the Contractors he

delivered an ultimatum to them in my name,

and never in-

-formed me of the fact or of the interview.

Messrs. Leigh and Orange were not

unnaturally indignant contending that such an intimation

within the first 6 months of a 2 years' contract was un-

-justified and unprecedented. In the result the letter was

withdrawn, and I personally saw Messrs. Leigh and Orange

on the subject of the contract and informed them that the

letter had been sent without my knowledge and apologised

for it.

(c)

Another matter in which I have

been making full enquiry was as follows:- Shortly before my

arrival here the work at the Tunnel had progressed extreme-

-ly slowly, only a very few feet a week being added to

the