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Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-Can you suggest any one who would look at the drafts and give that information to Mr. FRASER-SMITH; have you any reason to suspect any one?
A. I have not.
Q. Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Would the Chinese be able to read it?
A. Yes.
Q-Would they take sufficient interest to laugh over this letter, which was rather severely written?
A.—No, I am sure they would not.
Q.---The CHAIRMAN.--At the time the letter was written who were the coolies.
A. The same four that are there at the present time.
The Commission adjourns.
TWELFTH MEETING.
25th January, 1884.
Present: The Honourable E. L. O'MALLEY, Attorney General, (Chairman).
A. LISTER, Treasurer.
"
F. B. JOHNSON.
27
TSANG KING is examined. He states he has been a Contractor for 9 years. He enumerates the principal works he has performed. At Tai-tam he built the wooden houses, sunk the shaft, and altogether had about $18,000 worth of work. He built Mr. BOWDLER's house, which cost $5,500 including $1,000 for foundations. He does not consider it was a particularly cheap house. He gave a receipt for the money and Mr. BOWDLER paid him by a cheque on the Oriental Bank. It is usual to give small presents at Christmas.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-How long have you had Government contracts?
A.--Nine years.
Q.-You have always had Government work going on, I suppose?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you ever do any work for the Royal Engineers?
A. No. I have done a good deal of work for Mr. CHATER at Kowloon and at Lap-sap Wan.
Q.-Why do you not do work for the Royal Engineers ?
A.-My time is filled up. Sometimes I send in tenders but I have not had any work from them.