§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, with reference to a letter he read from Messrs. Tangye alleging that the pumps for the Suakin-Berber water service could not be obtained for some months in England, Whether he is aware that the pumps for the Aldershot experimental service were ordered by Mr. Tweddle Messrs. S. Owens and Co. on the 20th May last, and were completed and sent to Aldershot on the 4th June, and that Messrs. S. Owens and Co. made all the oil line pumps required by Mr. Tweddle for the Caucasus; if he will state on what date the order for the pumps now making was given to Mr. Tweddle, and on what date they will be delivered in England; and, whether he will lay upon the Table a Copy of the Agreement with Messrs. Edwards and Tweddle?
§ MR. BRANDYes, Sir; the pumps for the Aldershot trial were ordered from Messrs. Owens and Co., and the orders were completed in about the time mentioned; but they were not duplex pumps. They were much smaller than those required for the Suakin route. Mr. Tweddle informs me that he ordered three sets of Blake's large duplex American pumps from Messrs. Owens for use in the Caucasus; but he considers that they are inferior to the Worthington pumps. The right hon. Gentleman will confer a personal favour upon me if he will make inquiries and inform the House as to the time occupied by Messrs. Owens in completing the order. I venture to say that the further he pursues his inquiry the more he will find that the action of the Depart- 875 ment was fully justified. The present pumps were ordered on the 25th of February. The first arrived on March 3. Mr. Tweddle having taken upon himself to anticipate the formal order, the second arrived on the 10th instant. The third is due to-morrow, and the last three were on board the Republican, due on Monday. It is not proposed to lay the contract upon the Table of the House.
MR. J. LOWTHERI should like to ask the hon. Gentleman whether other communications have been received by the Department from the trade, in addition to the testimonial he read the other day from Messrs. Tangye; and whether he will lay Messrs. Tangye's testimonial on the Table of the House?
§ MR. RITCHIEWhat is the date of the informal order to Mr. Tweddle?
§ MR. BRANDIn reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I have to say that one other communication has been received from a firm, the name of which I at present forget; but it must be taken cum grano. All I can say is that the specifications are now ready, and the tenders will shortly be issued for these pumps. I shall be very agreeably surprised if the orders can be completed in England by the time suggested by the Question of the right hon. Gentleman. As regards the letter of Messrs. Tangye which I read, I do not see that there is any objection to lay it on the Table if the right hon. Gentleman wishes it.