CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 383

}

377

the bridges should eventually have to be reconstructed.

The report of the Committee was

confidential and has not been divulged.

It was common

knowledge in the Colony that the bridges had cracked,

the

i

local papers gave expression to the general concern and

dissatisfaction and in one case caustic comments by a

French engineer were reproduced and members of the Legis-

lative Council were anxious to know what was the actual

state of affairs.

They fore-bore to press questions

on this subject on my assurance that an investigation was

being made and that further information would be afforded

in due course. I regret that when informing them of the

action I have taken, I shall have to acknowledge that it

has not met with Your Lordship's approval. The Consult-

ing Engineers in their letter of 7th. October point out

that the subject of bridge foundations is "evidently one

that can only be dealt with on the spot*. It will be

with

dealt by Mr. A. J. Barry some 5-1/2 months after the date

A

on which I appointed the Committee (14. 7. 1908) nor was

I aware at that date that Mr. Barry intended visiting China

in any case.

I submit therefore to Your Lordship

that on the one hand I should not have been justified in

વર્ગ

suspending work on the bridges without an authoritative

outside opinion, and that on the other hand had I not done

30