AnnualReport-1923 — Page 545

Q 27

B. O. Work.

26. Notices and Permits.-The following is a tabulated statement of the notices served and permits issued during the year, the figures for 1922 being given in a parallel column for purposes of comparison:

1922. 1923. Increase. Decrease. Dangerous Structure Notices, 129 219 90 Miscellaneous Notices,.. 314 175 139 Private Street Improvement Notices in regard to Nuisances Notices in regard to Signboards.. ...... reported by Officers of the Sanitary Department, Notices, &c. including foot paths under verandahs and balconies, 300 305 5 New Permits issued, 976 1,051 75 Permits renewed, 2,721 2,687 34 1,632 1,656 24 1,985 2,687 ... Certificates issued under the Rents Restriction Ordinance in regard to new buildings. Fees charged for issue of new permits, $ 182 $ 310.45 $128.45 Fees charged for issue of plans for Theatrical sheds, Fees charged for issue of permits for stalls for sale of Joss Sticks,. $20 $20 Charges made for permission to obtain sand and stone from Crown land, $ 750 $1,310.45 $590.45 Charges made for damage to trees,... 350 504.50 154.50 -- 16 39 發 184 166 25 20

The decrease in the number of miscellaneous notices is accounted for by the increase in the number of works in progress in consequence of which Inspectors were able to devote less attention to matters of detail.

The decrease in the number of notices served in respect of signboards is due to the fact that most of the illegal ones were dealt with in 1922.

The following is a tabulated statement of cases in which legal proceedings were taken with regard to failure to obtain permits, the number of convictions obtained, and the amount of fines imposed :-

Nature of Offence. No. of Cases. No. of Convictions. Amount of Fines. Removal of stone, &c., from Crown land or foreshore without permission, 1 1 $ 25.00 Depositing materials on Crown land without permission, 11 11 $165.00 Erecting or maintaining matsheds without permission, 15 8 $435.00