33054-000079

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[top of left margin] 2029 13 April

[right of page] Commissariat Department Sydney 13th April 1826.

Sir,

In answer to your enquiries - relative to a deficiency of Nails and Grain Tin, stated to have been received at Morton [sic] Bay, and sent from His Majesty's Lumber Yards by the Mermaid Cutter in November last during the short period Colonel Dumaresty acted as Engineer; ---

I beg leave to state that on the return of that Vessel the master reported that [underlined] ("all was well"), and at the time they were shipped, the number of Packages, Cases, Bales &c. &c. were -- found to be correct; they were as is usual with me prepared under my own Eye, and every attention that could possibly be paid, was given, until they were safe on board, and the

[on right] Masters

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A: Kinghorne Esq're

Civil Engineer

&c. ... &c. ... &c. }

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Masters [sic] receipt obtained, a copy of which together with the Invoice I enclose herewith: ---

I must here take the liberty to remark that about the same time a number of Stores were forwarded to the Settlement at Melville Island, and up to the present date, no complaint has reached me, altho' as I am told they were very minutely inspected on their being Landed from the "Philip Dundas." ---

I can only add that this is the first loss of any extent I have experienced, altho' I have been constantly sending Stores to the out Stations and Settlements, as Storekeeper to The Engineer Department for the last five Years, to the Amount of many Hundred Pous. ---

I am Sir Your most obedient Humble Ser't

[signed] T.W. Bowen

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Mr Plumer is requested to state what are the deficiencies which are referred to in the accompanying papers.

[underlined] (Answer).

I have applied at the Engineer's Office, and they cannot give me the least information on the subject; at the time I wrote to

[on right] Mr.

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Mr Kinghorne, being called on to do so, the Amount of deficiencies were stated verbally by Law: --

[signed] T.W. Bowen

Court: Office } 23 May 1826 }