CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 659

8

Inclosure 9 in No. 1.

Mr. F. Grove to Liang Shih Yi.

Your Excellency,

July 14, 1909. I HAVE to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your Excellency's despatch dated the 26th June, 1909. With regard to your Excelleney's remark that I have stated that I am not satisfied that vigorous efforts have been made to secure land for purposes of our railway by his Excellency Wei Han, managing director, I beg to state that there must be some error in attributing this statement to me. I have at various times, in accordance with my duty, recorded in reports the slow progress in certain portions of the line, though I have invariably recognised the great difficulties encountered, and have had no reason to doubt the vigorous and zealous action of the land department.

It is perhaps unnecessary that I should state the opinion, which I have always held, namely, that his Excellency Wei Han has been invariably deeply concerned in the best interests of our railway, and by personal influence with the Viceroy, and through his Weiyuens has constantly endeavoured to expedite land purchase and remove difficulties encountered in the districts. I believe I have been consistent in all reports and letters which I have written, that is, that I recognised that the slow progress and obstruction in certain districts was due to

1. The unfriendliness and ignorance of the native village people.

2. In some cases, I am sorry to say, the lack of adequate support from the district magistrates.

As your Excellency is doubtless aware, we have recently experienced what may be called a crisis as affecting certain portions of our line, especially Namseh in the Tung Kun district, and Shektan and Shek Ha in the Tsang Shing district. This crisis was brought about by the reasons already stated. It was further due no doubt to the following reasons:---

1. The continual pressure upon the natives by the land department for the sale of land and the right of entry of our work-people.

2. The honest endeavour of our engineers to do work and carry on railway con- struction in accordance with their duties.

For these reasons work was actually obstructed on many occasions, and our engineers and work-people were subjected to insult and assault, even the risk of being murdered, while carrying out their duties, and acting in perfect agreement with the managing director's instructions, and with the knowledge and support of our Weiyuens. After many months, during which it may be said that our engineers, Chinese and foreign, joined with the Weiyuens, each helping the other to confront and overcome the difficulties and opposition, the former by endeavouring to commence work, and the latter by negotiations and conciliation, a stage was reached when, principally owing to the fact that four murders occurred, due to the superstitious ignorance of the natives and the lack of support by local magistrates, of whom help was invariably sought by the managing director and by the engineer on the spot, a time arrived when the engineers were forced to tender their resignations rather than risk their lives and reputations in endeavouring to work under such unfair conditions.

I do not wish your Excellency to think that I fail to appreciate the progress already made on many parts of our line. I can assure your Excellency that much satisfactory progress is being made, and I believe his Excellency Wei Han is fully satisfied with such progress, both of land purchase and of works, and that he is also satisfied that our engineers and foreign overseers, without any exception, are working heart and soul for the interests of this Imperial railway of China, and doing so with kindness and full consideration for the natives of China, both villagers and work-people.

I shall shortly submit, through his Excellency Wei Han, a plan showing clearly the progress already made.

It is, however, specially in connection with the difficulties on No. 2 district which have been experienced by Mr. Boothby, district engineer, Mr. Warmington and Mr. H. C. Chang, assistant engineers, that I wish to explain to your Excellency, in view of your Excellency's letter addressed to me personally. I note that your Excellency points out that I am not held responsible for delay to the works through the failure to obtain land to work on, and this I have always recognised. But, apart from this delay to works, which is very regrettable, and will, I fear, add to the cost of our railway and delay the

$ €

9

opening to through traffic, is the fact that the engineers specially mentioned have been called upon to face great opposition and dangers, and thus the crisis was brought about which necessitated special measures.

One must recognise the fact that engineers living in loneliness on their districts, and among unfriendly and unruly people, are called upon to face great difficulties.

Measures have now been undertaken, owing to the cordial help of the Viceroy at the kind request of your Excellency, which the managing director and myself hope and believe will bring about speedily a better state of affairs in the district named, and thus the delays of the past may be compensated for by increased activity.

My only object in writing this letter is to explain the force of circumstances which has given rise to special measures, and to ask your Excellency to believe that my sense of duty towards your Excellency, the director-general, and to the managing director, has always prompted my action, such as seemed necessary for the harmonious and satisfactory working of the railway.

I have, &c.

0

FRANK GROVE, Engineer-in-chief.

657