To the Editor of the Times.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 725, 14 July 1852, Page 4

To the Editor of the Times.

Sir, — I am glad to see you have taken the " preserved meat" iD hand, I hope yoit will call on the Admiralty — ■ 1. For the date of the contract, and hy whom it was signed ; 2. For the terms of the contract, and whether it was specified what per centage of cases were to be opened on being received into store ; 3. Whose duty it was to open them, and if they performed it ; and 4. If any security was given, and what, for the due performance of the contract. It may, perhaps, be alleged that to open the cases would injure the meat, and that no contractor would submit to such terras. If this, sir, is the case, no contract ou^ht to /have been made at all, but if made, the security should have been so high that no loss would fall on the Government, which would have been some consolation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; b&t what consolation "will it ba ,to Sir John Franklin and his gallant crew, if when reduced to the last extremity, they found their reserve unfit for human food ? .1 remain, sir, your obedient servant, Charles Napier. Merchistoun, Jan. 8.