3 -
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT MR. PERKINS HAD, UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY,
THREE EUROPEAN ASSISTANTS (NOW TWO ONLY) FOUR CHINESE CLERKS AND ONE
DRAUGHTSMAN, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THIS SYSTEM UP TO DATE, BUT HE
MUST REQUISITION THE SERVICES OF THE FOUR OVERSEERS WHO ARE KEPT IN OFFICE
THE GREATER PART OF THE DAY AND DO NOT AVERAGE, SAY, THREE HOURS A DAY AT
THEIR LEGITAMATE DUTIES AS EACH INSPECTOR'S DAILY REPORT WILL SHOW SUCH
IT IS OF THE MOST MEAGRE.
REPORTS BEING SIGNED DAILY BY THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER OF HIS DEPARTMENT.
THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT MANY NEW BUILDINGS ARE ERECTED WITHOUT
IF ANY,
MANY ALTERATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT WHICH ARE NEVER BEEN UNTIL THE WORK HAS
BEEN LONG FINISHED, OWING TO THE AMOUNT OF OFFICE WORK THE INSPECTORS ARE O
PRACTICALLY ANY SUPERVISION WHATEVER;
CALLED UPON TO DO.
AS FOR INSPECTION OF OLD AND UNSAFE BUILDINGS, UNLESS NOTICE-
ABLE FROM THE STREET OR SPECIAL ATTENTION CALLED BY TENANTS OR OTHERSÁ
NOTHING IS DONE.
I AWAIT WITH CONSIDERABLE TREPEDATION THE NEXT TYPHOON OR HEAVY
DOWNPOUR OF RAIN, WHICH MUST BE ATTENDED WITH SERIOUS LESS OF LIFE,
WHICH, TO A GERTAIN EXTENT, COULD BE MODIFIED IF INSPECTORS WERE ALLOWED
TO CARRY OUT THEIR LEGITIMATE DUTIES, VIZ, THE PROPER SUPERVISION OF
ALL NEW BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND PERIODICAL INSPECTION
OF OLD BUILDINGS.
APOLOGISING FOR TAKING UP 80 MUCH OF YOUR VALUABLE TIME,
I HAVE THE HONOUR TO REJAIN,
YOUR MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT,
R. I Stowane
C O P Y.
Jonclosure 2.
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
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225
16 JUN 11
Mr. Howard applied for employment in this Department about the end of 1908 and, as there was a vacancy for an overseer for Buildings Ordinance work, he was appointed to it on a temporary footing in February 1909. It was arranged that he should take up his duties on the 1st. April. On the 5th." March, the Police Magistrate (Mr. Kemp) informed me that a case had been called on before him that morning in which the defendant had given the name and address Robert Howard, Inspector of Build- -ings, P.W.D., the charge being "Drunk and incapable". Defendant did not appear and his bail was forfeited.
I interviewed Mr. Howard, who had not then taken up his duties, and he admitted the occurrence and stated that, since suffering from smallpox, a small quantity of liquor was sufficient to upset him. He promised to give up liquor entire -ly and I informed him that, unless he did so, it was useless for him to take up his appointment and further that, if any- -thing of the sort occurred after he had entered the service of the Department, he would be instantly dismissed.
He commenced duty on the 1st. April and no report of any insobriety during the 22 months he was in the
service has reached me. I mention the incident however to show
that he was not a man of unimpeachable character.
When Mr. Longstaff, overseer, resigned his appointment on the 31st. Lay last year, at a month's notice, I
per parma ne o
was unable to arrange for the performefobis duties otherwise than by detailing one of the Buildings Ordinance Overseers to fill his place until his successor had been appointed.
Owing to the absence on leave of Mr. Thomas, Clerk of Works, Mr. Longstaff had been temporarily supervising both the Law Courts and Post Office and it was necessary for the one who filled his place to do the same.
The reason for selecting Mr. Howard was that, whilst believed to be capable of carrying on Mr. Longstaff's duties temporarily, he had been found to be the least useful of
the
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