IHK Al'STRAl.IAN MI'SKl^M EAUl.Y IIISKO.'V ETH KIM 1><;K. 865 



The result of Messrs. Robertsun uiul Duel's iiive.stigiitioiis whs 

 briefly as follows : — 



•• Payments liy <^i'l"»iiil ''''''"i>^'"'.V ,£u,5()5 17 1 



Outstandintj; flaiins line"" l.fiJO 1 -^ 



XT, 145 18 I 



Work don.' and materials siippli.-d r),228ir) :< 



Surchai-e -^I'Ql? =^ 1 



or a sum actually overpaid by the Treasury .d 1-J77/1 1/TO, which "will 

 more than meet the expense of placing on the building a root' with sky 

 lights." 



The Committee then proceeded ti) pass very caustic remarks on the 

 uncertain, if not wilfully confused manner in which claims are made on 

 the Colonial Treasury ; the shortcomings of the respective Contractors ; 

 extra charge for materials over contract price ; mateinal totally un- 

 accounted for ; non-delivery of material charged for in accounts ; wages 

 expended on non-existent workmen, etc. 



In reading the minutes and documents of this period, the mind of 

 the reader cannot divest itself of (he othcial misunderstandings that seem 

 to have existed between the Museum Committee and the Colonial 

 Architect on the one hand, and between the latter and his official superiors 

 on the other hand. In fact, this is evident from the tone of a letter from 

 William Sharp Macleay, the Chairman of the aforementioned Board, 

 bearing date 26th October, 1849. The length and redundancy of this 

 document, and also the fact that it is in many ways a recapitulation of 

 what has gone before, renders its transcription here unnecessary. 



As if all these contrarieties were not sufficient, differences arose 

 between the Committee and their advising architects as to the matter of 

 payment of the latter's costs. An " Action of Debt " was entered in the 

 Supreme Court, the nominal defendants being the Rev. G. E. Turner and 

 W. Sharp Macleay^*^-. I have not been able to ascertain exactly how this 

 action ended, but apparently it was ultimately settled by arbitration, Mr. 

 W. M. Manning (His Honor Sir W. M. Manning) being the arbiter. 



On the 3rd June, 1850, the Rev. G. B. Turner wrote to the Colonial 

 Secretary asking that^os : — 



"The whole of the unoccupied land within the present enclosure on the south 

 and west sides of that portion which has been allotted for the erection of 

 the National School" [Yurong Street Public School now] 



might be added to the Museum grant. This was acceded to by His 

 Excellency, Sir C. A. Fitzroy, and the Committee informed accordingly 

 on 16th July, 1850io*. 



"" Distributed over four Contractors (Document 49/10513, :31st October, 1849; 

 Letter-book, i., p. 107.) 



i"-i Letter No. 50/525, i;Uli Au;4usl, 1850. 

 ii):i Letter-book, i., p. 113. 

 lu* Document, 50/5373. 



