198
or 4 meetings had been missed since I had been here. It was absurd to say "obstacles were placed in the way of his facing me" personally if he had asked to do so.
163
Regarding the Director of Public Works Mr. Eves said his attitude had been in no way hostile or interfering, and that in the action he had taken relative to Colonial Works (roads &c.) which were involved with the Railway he was fully justified.
Mr. Barry gave it as his opinion that Mr. Eves had acted very foolishly in these matters, and that it was extremely difficult to get a clear statement of his wishes, and of facts out of him except by a system of cross-examination, that he was in fact a difficult and irritating man to deal with.
Incidentally Mr. Barry expressed the opinion that the Tunnel should be finished in June, 1910. That the Canton to Samshui section of the Canton line would be completed by the Spring of 1910, and the whole line in the Spring of 1911. We thought it advisable for this Government to begin negotiations re the Working Agreement at once, and suggested we should write direct to the Chairman of the Railway Board in Calcutta (T. R. Wynne) and ask him to nominate a traffic manager to advise. I asked his opinion of Mr. Pope and gathered that he was somewhat pro-Chinese and had a high opinion of himself.
Regarding the cracked bridges, he said Mr. Eves had proceeded on certain assumptions - viz.:- that the bridge foundations should be floated - but he had left out vital considerations in giving effect to them, even supposing them to be right of which he had grave doubts. I asked what justification Mr. Eves had for not informing the Consulting Engineers of the difficult conditions as to foundation, when he submitted designs. Mr. Barry said he had none and that had the Engineers had any idea that the nature of the subsoil it was they would never have approved the designs. I thought the Consulting Engineers had much cause for complaint that they had not been informed.
.:
**
198
or 4 meetings had been missed since I had been here. It was
absurd to say "obstacles were placed in the way of his. Bacing
me" personally if he had anked to do so.
163
Regarding the Director of Public Works Fr..
Evos said his attitude had been in no way hostile of interfar-
-ing, and that in the action he had taken relative to Colonial
Works (ronds &c.) which were involved with the Railway he was
fully justified.
Mr. Barry gave it as his opinion that Mr.
Ewes had acted very foolishly in these matters, and that it was
extremely difficult to get a clear statement of his wishes, and
of facts out of him except hy a system of cross-examination,
that he was in fact a difficult and irritating man to deal withi
Incidentally Mr. Barry expressed the opiniong
that the Tunnel should be finished in June, 1910. That the Canton to Sharichun section of the Can on line would be completad by the Spring of 1910, and the whole line in the Spring of !
1911. We thought it advisable for this Government to begin
negotiations re the Working Agreement at once, and surgeated. should write direct to the Chairman of the Railway Board in Caloutta (T. R. Wynne) and ask him to nominate a traffic hağager
to advise. I asked his opinion of Fr. Pope and gathered tast he
was somewhat pro-Chinean and had a high opinion of himself.
Regarding the cracked bridges, he said Mr. Eves had procesdød
on certain assumptions - viz.:- that the bridge foundations
should be floated - but he had left out vital considerations in
giving effect to them, even supposing them to be right of which
he had grave doubts. I asked what justification Dr. Twos Ind
for not informing the Consulting Engineers of the
difficult conditions as to foundation, when he suby
designs. Mr. Barry said he had none and that had {
Engineers had any idea that the nature of the sub
it was they would never have approved the designs
that I thought the Consulting Engineers had much
complaint that they had not been informed. Mr. ALM
है।
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.