October 3, 1908.]
Hang were the partners. Work was taken out of 8am Kee's hands in March, 1902. 88 they could not get him to complete. Witness did not know whether these firms were still carrying on business, Mr. Turner general. ly looked after this contract, bat Mr. Palmer and witness inspected it occasionally. He thought the foundation trenches were passed by Mr. Turner, No piles were put in. There was swampy ground farther along than this particular lot.
Mr. Bowley-Isn't it probable that this is reclaimed ground ?—Idon't think so,
If the ground is soft isn't it necessary to pile the foundation ?-It depends altogether cu the sort of building you are going to put up.
As a matter of practice you excavate until you get to something solid, don't you ? Until we consider we have got a good foundation.
The hearing was adjourned.
At the Magistracy on September 30th before Mr. J. H. Kemp and a jary, the inquiry.juto the death of six Chinese, ooc sioned by the collapse of No. 36, Portland Street, Yaumati, was continued.
The examination of Mr. H. W. Bird (of the firm of Messrs. Palmer and Turner) was con- tinued by Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, Crown Solicitor, Witness stated that portion of farm lot No. 1, on which the houses in question stood, was between the village of Mati and the sea.
That shows, does it not, that the site of these houses had not been cut down?-It does not follow at all. There's a farm lot close by that is almost entirely hillside.
Is it not usual to specify for piles, if necessary, when buildings are close to the sea ?-No, if piles are found necessary they are put in, and the extra charge paid.
Can you make a contractor put in piles under that contract?-Certainly, if pay extra.
Your contract does not provide for piles ?- No.
In the specification you specify for the mortar to be half lime and half red earth ?- That is so.
That is very much more lime than is usually specified for, is it not ?-No.
Do you know if the mortar was tested while the works were proceeding?—I don't suppose it was.
Had you a European foreman on the job?- We had.
You remember that five verandahs collapsed on this lot on May 14th, 1902 ?—Yes.
Do you know what caused that collapse ?- The heavy rain, I think.
Did you collapse ?—I did.
You've heard Mr. Haggard's report of 6th June. Did you observe the serious oraoke be mentions ?-Yes.
see the buildings after that
And did you have the whole block pulled dowu as he suggested ?--No.
Was Mr. Haggard's report communicated to you P-I believe so.
Did you report it to the owners?-That I don't know, but the collapse was reported to them.
Was any part of the building pulled down after that collapse P-The damaged portions of the verandahs in question. It didn't all collapse.
What steps did you take with regard to the very serious cracks in other parts of the build- ing ?-I don't know of any steps being taken. When you signed the application for inspes. tion did you satisfy yourself that these houses had been built in accordance with the Ordinance ? -Sufficiently in accordance with the Ordinance to be passed.
A report of Mr. Crisp stated that after inspection he found the whole block in a very unsound condition. Do you consider that report is correct ?-No, I don't consider the block was in an unsound condition.
Do you admit that the party walls were not bonded ?—No, I don't.
Do you admit the mortar was very poor ?- It was not first class.
It was not up to specification ?- No. Wasn't it the duty of your firm to see it was up to specification ?-It was the duty of the foreman.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I shall call upon the Court to ask you to answer that question.
Answer "yes" or *་ no
whether it was the duty of your firm ?-I shall not answer that question,
His Worship-You must answer. Witness-It was the duty of the foreman. Mr. Bowley-The answer is "No."
I
sions of the Building Ordinance-Pretty well, presume you are familiar with the provi- I think.
Aul your firth andertook the respon ibility under section 70 of 1889 by signing the notice? -They did.
You've admitted the walls were cracked in plices, the morlar inferior, and the bonding defective. Do you still say these buildings were in a soned condition ?-There was nothing seriously wrong with them.
Did you only build the houses in order that they might wriggle through the Building Inspector's inspection?
!
Mr. Bird-I don't wish to answer that question.
!
You think if a house passes the Building Inspector i is sufficient?
Mr. Bird did not wish to answer. His Worship-It is a fair question.
Mr. Bird-f & Building Inspector considers a building all right, it must be all right. He is a man put there by the Government to inspect and say whether a building is built in accordance.
What do you consider the life of houses of this class?—Its very difficult to ssy.
After five years would you have expected the houses to have deteriorated -Not to any appreciable extent. They would probably want repairs,
Did you firm build the Church Mission House near these buildings?-They did.
When was it built? - Somewhere about the same time as these houses,
Is that showing signs of collapsing-I don't know. I have not inspected it.
In reply to the Court with-as stated that the contract price for this 26 houses was $24,00 1, This was an average pric-.
His Worship-Is there any evidence you wish to add?
Witness-The theory I have is that the windows were blown in and the wall fell out That I think is praetically borne out by the way the wall is blown down.
Chinese are very
careless about the fastening of windows, The corner house was particularly exposed to the south east, the direction from which the wind was blowing.
Mr. C. W. J-ffries, Arst assistant at the Observatory, said he had made out the retara produced of the force and direction of the wind on 27th and 28th July. the wind blew with the greatest ralocity from the south, south east, travelling 81 miles between 130 and 230 This velocity was probably exceeded, but could not be recorded owing to damage to the records.
8.m.
The hearing was again adjourned
AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD.
CHINESE WOMAN SENT TO JAIL,
•
Before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy yesterday Sergeant Garrod
prosecuted woman named Chan Yea for obtaining by false pretense with intent to defraud, the sum of $50 from a pawnbroker in Queen's Road Cen- tral. There WIS also 8 second charge of faraisbiog the pawnbroker with a false name and address.
The evidence for the prosecution showel tha! the defendant went to the pawnbroker's and endeavoured to pawn bangles of base metal plated with gold as gold bangles, and als› farnished him with a false nime and address.
When asked if she had sny witnesses to call she replied in the negative, but made a state- ment in which she told hi Worship that if he were to chop her head off he could not make her say anything about the articles before the Court, as she knew nothing about them. A woman who had gone to Singapore owed her 20 taels, and handed over the bangles in liquida. tion of the debt. Defendant had no fixed employment, but took up any job she could get hold of as attendant or follower.
His Worship sentenced her to six months' imprisonment with hard labour,
IMPORTS.:-
COMMERCIAL.
RICE.
2:47
monthly circular dated Saigon 18th September, 841008.-Messrs. Wm. G. Hale & Co, in their
prices have in consequence gradually advanced. state-Arivals of paddy have been small and The quotations for October and November delivery are:-
No. 2 White sifted (trié) steam milled
round
No. 2 White unsifted (ordinaire) steam
milled round
$84.10
***
15% Cargo steam milled round 8.58 10 Cargo steam milled round 8.52 20% Cargo steam milled round 8.45
* Prices according to terms and conditions. The following is a statement of this year's Ex- ports of White Rice, Cargo Rice and Paddy:--
Destinationn.
Total pos.
Hongkong Shanghai Nidgpo Manila Hollo Cebu Japan
.2,675,000
76,400
45,800
885,500
124,000
881,300
1,699,500
Singaporo Batavia
684,700
125,900
Samarang
140,800
81,000
806,100
40,800
Paisoeran Sourabaya
Cheribon Noumea Reunion Europe
Total
Saune period of last year..
24,000
209,500
4.3,175,800
.11,062,000
14,872,100
Exports during the month of white rice can rice and paddy:-
Hongkong Manila
Japan Singapore
Cheribon Sourabaya.
Beanion Europe
Total.
OPIUM.
piculs
18,200
182,500
22,700
62,200
89,000
186,000
40,300
68,400
180,800
836,500
Hosazoso, Oct. 2nd-Since the 17th ultimo, movements in the various Opium markets have been as follows:-
Malea Patna. Benares. Persian Stacks on the 17th Sept. 1908 -2,383 1,745 866 1,004
17th Imports per G. dpear C. Apear Kutsang Fochoe Delta
23m
28th
With
3uch
@
M
Le Exporta to Shanghai
Im Exports to East and West Coast Ports including peal Consumption for the fortnight
Emated Storks this day
|
20
575
606
304
385
50
9:00
10
2,448 1,834 1,883
106 510 87
01
1,008
935
405 811
2,042 1,819 1,285 1,001 Bengal.-In sympathy with rise in all dee- criptions of Opium, including Chinese, and also oing to mtisfactory deliveries there has been a further spart and prices have advanced to $1205 for Paths and 1180. for New and Old
Benares.
Malwa -New drug has again risen largely and the last sale reported was at $1150. but higder price would now be offered in sympathy with the advance received from Shanghal 1/3 years drug is quoted at $1,250/1,300,
Persian.-Prices have slightly improved bat the local demand has been small and purely of speculative nature. Superion drug is quoted
at $920.
Axoy, 23rd Septembar.—The imports have boen light, riz-Benares, 66; Persian, 8'; Szochuan, 10 Yunnam, 12
FLOUR
FOOCHOW, 18th September.-During the week 9,470 bags were imported as compared with 9,793 for the same week last year.