CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4] — Page 99

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1,813,000, and the scope of the project was somewhat reduced

to keep it within a total of $1,663,000.

5.

The Secretary of State having

approved of the expenditure, and of an Ordinance to legalize

the construction, tenders were called for on the 21st. June,

1910: but, as home firms were invited to tender and their

principals in London had to be consulted, the time for

receiving tenders was extended to the 28th. September last,

the necessary dredging (commenced under telegraphic instruct-

-ions from the Secretary of State) having been already com-

-pleted at a nett cost of $146,700. The lowest tender amounted

to 82,018,002 and was accepted on October 21st. by the

Officer Administering the Government. On my return to the

Colony 10 days later I informed Sir Henry May that I should

have desired to see the papers before the contract was final-

-ly placed but he satisfied me that both he and the

Executive Council had strong reasons for considering it in-

-advisable to delay acceptance.

6.

In reply to paragraph 4 of your

despatch

}