CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 35

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chary of over-ruling, and even of amending without his

whole-hearted 'concurrence. There must be no room for

him to say that we have refused to give him what he

asked for.

The Crow Agents will occupy their normal position of agents, carrying out the instructions of

the High Commissioner, or of the Secretary of State- (acting on his behalf)

The Consulting Engineers will not have any

responsibility, except that of giving advice on such

specific points as may be referred to them, or recom-

mending candidates for appointments when they are

asked to do so.

We have practically said this already in

our letter to the Crow Agents and our despatch to Sir D. Girouard on Treasury/28160, of which prints

are attached.

I do not thir the S. of S.

be said to Ge on behalf of Governor.

R.

A

cluding the list of materialk Inclosed in this

letter.

+

say that a copy of their letter and our reply is being sent to the High Commissioner; and send the High Com- missioner a copy of the correspondence accordingly for

his information and guidance.

It is in the spirit of this minute that we

ז

have dealt with the indents already received (forwarding to the Crow Agents for compliance indents for nearly £200,000 worth of materials without criticism or com- ment) and that we should proceed to deal with the

demands for staff that are now rolling in.

(Intà) EG.A.B.

(Intd C.S.

Sept. 19 Sept.20

? Reply that the position of Messrs

Baker and Shelford with regard to the Baro-Kano

Railway will be as stated at A above, and that all in-

itiative in the matter both of materials and staff

will rest with the High Commissioner, and approve

of the Crom Agents asking Messrs Baker and Shelford to furnish the drawings referred to,and

/ and asking.

the C.A what they propose as to re

muneration.

I discussed the question of Consulting Engin- eers with Sir P.Girouard, and his views as to their position are in accordance with what is proposed in paragraph 2 of this letter.He did not endorse the view that Consulting Engineers are unnecessary, but he thought that they should be employed only to the extent suggested by the Crown Agents and (in other words) by Mr Butler; and he was anxious to make use of Mr Shelford's experience by employing him as the Consulting Engineers on that footing.

We may, therefore, write to the Crow Agents approving of what they say in paragraph 2 / and send a copy of the correspondence (including the list of materials) to the High Commissioner.

(Intd) R.L.A.Sept. 20

at once.

Bay