With regard to the question of additional expenditure, the Chairman explained that the contractor had not yet agreed to the final statements prepared in connection with his con- tracts for the building and the fittings and the actual cost could not therefore be regarded as finally settled. The information, which he was able to lay before the Committee, was as follows:-
Amount of Original Estimate,
Amount of Revised Estimate arrived at by taking the amounts of
the various contracts let and adding the actual cost of fore- man's wages, &c., &C.,.................
Actual cost as ascertained by measurement, &c., but not yet finally
settled,
.$66,000.00
59,484.04
56.584.67
from which it will be seen that there has been no increase in cost over the estimate, but that, on the other hand, there has been a saving of about $2,900 on the revised estimate, which is fully $6,500 less than the original estimate.
The Committee however desire to point out that, owing to the Contract not being ful- filled, the Government suffered loss on account of the additional cost of foreman's wages and the fee to the arbitrator in connection with the defective construction of the roof and that there was also a loss of rent which would have been derived if the market had been opened sooner.
Jubilee Fountains. (C.S.O. 6162/1911.)
The Chairman explained that the opinion of the Committee was desired as to whether the Jubilee Fountains, of which six were presented to the Colony in 1887 by Mr. Dorabjee Nowrojee, should be entirely removed. None of the fountains were in working order and most of them were broken or dismantled.
It was agreed to recommend that the fountain in the Chinese Recreation Ground be restored to working order and have water laid on to it and that the one in the grounds of the Sailors' Home be allowed to remain,-water not being laid on to it. The remaining fountains to be removed with the exception of the pillars which act as lamp-posts.
W. CHATHAM, Chairman.
Laid before the Legislative Council this 27th day of February, 1912.
C. CLEMENTI,
Clerk of Councils.