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me either to do the work or not to do it. If it was $50 it had to be tendered for; if it was not $50 he would tell me to put the work in hand. Then when the work was done I would measure it again to see that the quantity was right. Sometimes when you go into an old building there is more than you knew of to be done.
Q.-Does the Contractor send in his bill when it is finished, or do you measure it for him?
A.—He measures it and sends in his bill and I measure the work again.
Q.-Do you do it with the Contractor on the spot ?
A.—If there is much of it I would take the Contractor's foreman along with me, and measure it along with him; sometimes I would do it myself.
Q.-Then as a rule you do it with him?
A.-Not as a rule. Sometimes I do and sometimes not.
Q.-With regard to work done in that way, Mr. BOWDLER has told us, not that Overseers get paid for it, but that there is an opportunity for them to get paid for it. Have you ever had any fee offered you? I don't mean bribery, but a fee for doing the
work?
A.--No.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-Who estimated the cost of that conduit from Pok-fu Lam?
A. I don't know who estimated for that.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.--Do you say work is often after time?
A.-It mostly is.
Q-Mostly it is not finished at the date the contract provides?
A. Yes.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.--In summer I suppose it depends a good deal on the weather?
A.-Well, it is very seldom a contract is finished in time.
Q.-Why is that?
A.—I don't know whether it is that they don't give enough time for it or what.
Q.-How much are they generally over?
A.-It depends on the job. Sometimes they are five or six months over.
:
Q.-That would be a big job?
A.-The Police Station should have been finished last October.
Q.-Yes, I should like to know about that. What has kept that back?
A.-I don't know; they have been working at it all the time.
Q.-Have the proper number of men not been put on?
A. Yes.