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that No. 12, which was old and in a rotten condition, did not fall first. The jury added that the Authorities should adopt more stringent measures to prevent inferior building.
5.
On the same date and as a result of the
same typhoon, occurred the collapse of No. 45, Praya East. Thirteen persons were killed and three injured. The house had been erected as recently as February, 1901, by Messrs. Leigh and Orange. The jury brought in an amended verdict against the Architects and the Contractors, and added that though they could not fix the responsibility on any individual in the Public Works Department they considered that the Department had failed to do its duty. This verdict does not appear to have been entirely justifiable, for the evidence showed that the collapse had occurred at the time when the typhoon had reached its height, and was travelling at a velocity of 100 miles an hour. The house was substantially built of average materials, but the binding of the brickwork of the back-wall was faulty and may have contributed to the disaster. The Attorney-General considered that no prosecution for manslaughter
was justified, and the defendants were discharged.
6.
The enquiries into these collapses began
on the 19th. August, and owing to the large numbers of witness- es who had to be examined, were not completed till the begin- ning of last month. Having regard to the importance of these cases Sir William J. Gascoigne instructed the Acting Crown
Soliciter to undertake the duty, and in view of the time and
labour expended by him in the course of the enquiries I have authorised the payment to him of an honorarium of $500 out of
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