No. 5.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
at a Meeting held on the 27th August, 1901.
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PRESENT:
The Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.
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the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MOILVAINE MESSER). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.
Dr. Ho KAI.
JOHN THURBURN.
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1. Supervision of Building Operations in the Colony. (C.S.O. U!#).
The Chairman explained that this question, which had arisen out of the collapse of houses in Cochrane Street, had been referred to the Committee by direction of His Excellency the Governor in Council. He then read a report by Mr. ToOKER, dated 23rd July, on the subject of the recent collapse, and a lengthy minute by the Honourable Acting Attorney General on the same subject, which was contained in C.S.O. 2.
The following recommendations were unanimously adopted by the Committee:—
(1.) The duties of the Public Works Department to be confined to general supervision as regards the construction of new buildings, the staff being increased in order to render such general supervision effective.
(2.) In the case of alterations or additions to existing buildings, the duty of inspection in order to ascertain the structural capability of such buildings to undergo such alterations or additions to devolve upon the Public Works Department.
(3.) The Director of Public Works to have full discretion in the matter of sanctioning or refusing to sanction any alterations or additions to existing buildings. His decision shall, however, be subject to appeal to the Governor in Council as provided by Section 87 of Ordinance 15 of 1889.
(4.) The staff of the Public Works Department for the supervision of work under the Building Ordinances to consist of at least one Assistant Engineer at a commencing salary of £300 and travel- ling allowance of $360 per annum, and four thoroughly competent Overseers at commencing salaries of £200 each with travelling allowances of $270 each per annum.
(5.) All Architects or Engineers, in order to be admitted as competent to submit plans or proposals under the Building Ordinances, must hold the certificate of some Body or Incorporated Society, recognized by the Government, as a guarantee of their fitness to practise as Architects or Engineers. This stipulation to come into force upon the passing of the Ordinance.
(6.) All works carried out under the Building Ordinauces to be supervised until their completion. by an Architect or Engineer of the standing specified in clause (5.), who must have power to employ, at the expense of the party on whose behalf the work is being executed, such amount of skilled super- vision as he may consider necessary,
(7.) Any party not possessed of the qualification specified in clause (5.), who may attempt to submit plans or carry out work, falling within the scope of the Building Ordinances, to be punishable by law.
(8.) All buildings hereafter erected of the type known as Chinese tenement houses to have courses of hoop iron bond built into the walls at the level of the foundations, each floor and the caves of roof. The hoop iron to measure 11" wide by 34" thick and to consist of two bonds in each course in 14" walls and three bonds in each course in 18" walls and foundations. The bonds to be contin- uous, whenever practicable, and to be lap-jointed. Where continuous bonds are impracticable such bonds to be arranged as required by the Director of Public Works.
2. Surface Overcrowding. (C.S.O. 1881.)
The Chairman mentioned that this matter had also been referred to the Committee by His Excellency the Governor in Council. He then read a letter from the Secretary of the Sanitary Board, dated the 28th June, 1901, forwarding certain resolutions with regard to the height of buildings and other matters, and a minute by himself arising out of the letter referred to