CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 184

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The utmost value that the Government have receiv-

ed out of the timber transaction for which $31,676.26 was paid by Mr. Chatham can be put down at one half of the

$ 5.000.00 previously referred to, say, $ 2.500,00, 1.0. timber bought by the Contractor.

I would request the Government to consider the Contractor's first request, whereby he only asked for 75% of the value of wood required, this equalled say, a sum of say $ 3.750.00.

There can be no doubt that much loss was occasion- ed by theft, waste and loss of materials by careless work- men, particulars of which were reported by me, but I had no power or authority to interfere.

It scarcely seems necessary for me to state that, the object of security and retention money is to cover such cases as cited as well as to be a guarantee for the due performance of contracts, and when once this money is re- leased all hold over the Contractor is gone.

As regards these advances to the Contractor, I beg to refer you to my letter of the 20th July, 1911, to the Eon: Colonial Secretary of Hongkong, wherein will be found particulars of a request for an advance from the Con- tractor, dated 5th June, 1905, to Mr. Chatham.

The adverse comments of other officers (during my absence from the Colony) will shew what they thought of such an advance at that date.

It will be noted that this letter from the Con-

tractor was in the same tone as the numerous letters from him to Mr. Chatham during the years 1810 and 1911.