1913-07-05 — Page 3

THE RECENT COLLAPSE OF small job to repair them.

HOUSES.

VERDICT AND, RIDERS,

the street..

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JULY 5гя 1913.

He was

instructed to do what was necessary, and his charge for the job was 820. Witness did not acs Chan Ui Tong about the matter. He did not know that Au Yeung" Bik had been complaining about the houses-all the information he had was in the letter from the tenants. He took no steps to ascertain what notices the Inspectors of the Sanitary Board had served. Witness thought if it had been anything serious it would have been notified by either the Sanitary or Build

The Crown Solicitor-But this letter state that notice was served by the Sanitary Board on the tenants-As a rulo we get exaggerated reports from the tenants. I felt that it the cracks had really come ander the notice of the Sanitary Board, as stated in that letser. and if they were really strious, we should certainly have heard direct from the Public Works Department.

The inquiry into the circumstances sur- rounding the collapse of Nos. 7 and 9, Upper Station Street, whereby 18 persons lost their lives, was concluded at the Magistracy yesterday before the Coroner, Mr. F. A. Hazeland, and the following jury:-Mesura, J. II. Backhouse (fore man), A. O. Lang, and James Hunter.

William Fincher, a first-class Sanitarying Authorities. Inspector, deposed that he was in charge. of No. 7 District, which included Upper Station Street. On the 19th April, witness was bous cleansing from Nos, 1 to 23 in Da inspecting Nos. 7 and 9. on that date is found in No. 7, ground Hot, three cubicles in excess, on the first floor two cubicles in excess. Witness caused a notice to be served on the tenants of each of these floors on the 23rd April to have them removed. On the 16th May He also the notice was complied with. found rat run on the ground floor of N., 9, and also on the first floor, near the stair landing. He applied for a legal notice enlling upon the responsible people to 61 up the runs, and the notice was served on Au Young Chiu, and was com plied with on the 31st May. He did not visit the houses after the latter date. Witness did not notice that the premises were in a dangerous condition, neither did he see any erneks in the party wall, but there were rat runs in the wall. He He only went to inspect the rat runs. did not think it was possible that there were cracks in the wall on the 10th April, when he was bouso cleansing, or b would have seen them. There might have been cracks in the wall on the 21st May, but net in the locality of the rat runs. He did not consider that the rune he saw tractor ---If it is serious then we send for werb dangerous to the stability of the four architect, not before, house. Witness did not notice, at any of

I am not talking about the Public Works Department or the Building am talking about the Authority. Sanitary Department-I thought I should

co direct have had some m

The Coroner-His point is that in a ease like this the matter should he reported.

The Crown Solicitor-1 quite sco his point. But, Mr. Tayler, you know per feetly Wolf that the Sanitary Department only serve rutices on the tenants-There have been occasions when notices have beag went to us direct.

The Foreman-You did not think it necessary to send your architects down in face of that letter?--I thought I would send the contractor up firal-

Do the China Provident Company have an overseer to look after their buildings, or do they rely entirely upon their con-

That is what I mean. And was the dis cussion confined to this block or to other property as well1-We decided to have the whole of our property inspccted,

I hope you have put that matter in hand, have you? (Laughter.)--Yes.

The Coroner questioned witness about the nature of the exaggerated reports, and witness said that frequently when serious complaints were made by the tenants in-. vestigation revealed the fact that the damages were very alight-a broken win- dow, or door, or something like that.

The Foreman-Is this contractor paid according to any particular job, or We should like to know how this amount by contract?--Is is paid separately.

THE COST OF LIVING IN HONGKONG.

Company, said that the last witness told him it would perhaps be advisable to see

The Naval and Military Record'» 'Hong- go and she the house, and witness spoke kong correspondent has the following to Mr. Tayler about getting an architect to in Mr. Tayler accordingly the followingy, regarding the cost of living in the

morning.

ste to it."

Colony':--

The Foreman-Wo should like to know

Apropos the increasing, cost of iving what Mr. Taylor said-He said, "I will at this port, recent inquiries have elicited the information that charming littlo houses, unfurnished, and built in Eure- The Coroner-Would you like to have penn style, can be obtained at the very Mr. Tayler re-endled!

The Foreman-Yes, we should. Mr. Taylor then again went into the box, and said that the last witness said, **Wing Hap brought his bill in last night to be passed for payment, and in the course of the conversation I had with him of 920 is arrived at Ho told me when I breached the subject of the two houses that the cracks were not serious. He had he reported on the condition of the build-in Upper Station Street. Wing Hop said inga that that was what it would cost,

repaired them, but as the buildings were very old perhaps it would be advisable in due course to get them inspected by An architect: This was 14 days after the contractor was first instructed to make the cessary repairs, emphasised the witness. The contracter did not go there purposely to make this report, but it came out in the course of a conversation started by the previous witness. Witness did not believe that an architect was necessary at the time because the con- tractor repeated that the cracks were not serious, and he did hot think there was any immediate necessity in view of that, and of the fact that the premises were to be thoroughly examined at the end of

Did anybody inspect the works to es if the figure was right or fair --Well, if there are a few cracks in a building it would amount to something like that.

There are various kinds of cracks. It may have been a very small crack, the copairing of which might only cost 10 cuts-This uni has worked for us for the last ten years. We have bad his prices compared with other tenders, and huis has always come out favourably.

Have you any one to see if the work is dono after it has been paid for We If the work is not have no overseera. done, wo generally get another complaint

The Foreman said he did not know if he could ask for the details as to the low on this property and the rate of interest.

The Coroner-How does that affect the matter?

The Foreman-1 suppose the China Provident Loan and Mortgage Company rock over this property because they could not help it. Have they had an offer for this property since? It is presumed they wanted to sell it..

Witness said that during the late boom there were several enquiries. Asked what The Crown Solicitor desired to ask a these offors were and what they paid for

June.

The Foreman said it seemed to the jury that if the contractor was sufficiently reliable to decide whether a party wall

to decide if an architect was necessary. was strong enough he was reliable enough

At the request of the jury, Dr. Clark,

evidence on the question of overcrowding. the Medical Officer, was called to give Comparing the legal figures with those adduced by the principal tenants in evidence, the witness said there were five

No.

moderato rent of $165 a month, exclusive of taxes and water, the total rent being therefore about $185 a month, which, at the present rate of oxchange at 2a. 1d., equals £19 39. 5d. a month, or £231 59. 6 year. These low rentals of course apply to the small property in Kowloon, the Peak district being reserved for tai- pans who draw fat salaries. The writer

per month, or in sterling, £34 79. 6d. per was recently offered a furnished houso

month. (5 rooms) on the Peak at a rental of 3330

"

There is a glimmer of consolation,

of living increase much more, DID can however, in knowing that, should the cost sampan,' "where the ex- adjourn to a ponse would be infinitely smaller than in immediately after work, one could go house or shore Proceding to his craft

shere he listeth. Of course, the post- man would have a little diffienity in delivering his missives, to the pseudo watermen, but, on the other hand, the inconsiderate and insistent shroffs who appear with their little packets of chita at inconvenient moments could easily be eluded. So there is much to be said in favour of living on a sampan, and the suggestion is heartily commended to these who are struggling to exist (save the nurk) at the present time on a Treasury dollar of 2s. id.

THE MANILA HEMP TRADE.

Renewed activity in the hemp market is probable at an early date, according

Governor. Cleneral Forbes last week, in to the tenor of a cabkgram received by response to a cablod. inquiry sont June 21 to the Bureau of Insular Affairs

situation. requesting information on the market

INTIMATIONS

WHY LOSE YOUR HAIR

CUTICURA

SOAP SHAMPOOS

And occasional light dressings of Cuticura Ointment will pre- vent it when all else fails.

Sample of each with 82-p. book free from nearest drpor: Newbery, 27. Charterhouse £q., Londad; R. Towns & Co, toy, K.S.W.; Lennon, 12d., Caps Town; Mullen, Maclean & Co., Gatutes and Bombay Potter Drug & Chom. Corn jets prope, Boston, U RA #Trader-faced men akure in compart with Cutl cura Mng Hhaving Ritek. Liter) emoplo tree.

his visits, that the party wall leaned to question arising out of these questions. the property originally, witness declined a: 7, three children in excess on the first laid in last year and on, account of high HOWARD

wards No. 7.

I

The Forema-Did not one of the wit- musses say she pointed-out-a-crack to you?]

Witness-She did no such thing. *ight' say that. I pointed out the rat runs

to her.

The Coroner-There is some confusion about the cruck and the rat ruas.

Clan Ui Tong, assistant compradore at Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Company,

He asked witness:-

The China Provident Company are the

to answer.

There is no harm in answering that 1 floor, and one adult and nine children in owners of a good deal of property, are cannot remember the figures at present, excess on the second floor. In No. v there they not-I mean they own a good many. I think the figure for the whole block was were ten children and one adult in excess or the ground floor, and eleven children in excess on the first floor. houses in the Colony ?-Quite a number.

fair a lakh of dollars. I cannot remember

the exact amount.

Do you seriously contend that the Building Authority should look after all your property, and so that your houses are kept in a safe condition?-Well, we to time, sometimes by our architects and

The Foreman-Could we know the in- toreat they received on the property

Witness said, in answer to further would rather not disclose that.

The Crown Solicitor said they had no

inhabitants of the second floor. accurate figures as to the number of the

In answer to the Crown Solicitor, Dr.

"New York brokers advise," states the cablegram, "that during the last six months manufacturers in the United been consuming large supplies of hemp States and in the United Kingdom have

have unwilling to purchase except to meet their urgent requirements. practically exhausted and renewed activi- the market probable at an early It is believed that supplies are now by in the market date.

A representative of a prominent hemp exporting concern was interviewed last week, and while apparently gratifed interesting itself along this line, yet he to know the insular government is could see nothing especially significant in the cablegram from a merchant's stand-

said i knew the two houses which col- have our property inspected from time questions, that the figure offered for the Clark said that there was a good deal of point, as we receive daily market reports.

lapsed. They were lot to Au: Yeung Sik,

cometimes

like sufficient for consideration.

property during the boom was nothing

Tu Foreman-Is it "ossible for us to

know how the monthly or yearly rent com

I mean you don't contend that you should" "de nothing to look after your

loan on the property 1-It is far below the properly until you hear from the Build-res with the original amount of the

from whom witness collected the rent on behalf of Messrs, Shewan. Tonics & Com pany. Witness did not arrange for any small repairs to these houses-ho merely informed the China Provident Loan and jing Authority 7-No. Mortgage Company, who made the Au Young Sik had come arrangements. to him and asked him about repairs to these houses. The last occasion of such a vixit was on or about the 5th May, when he brought a letter.

cracks in the wall.

interest.

bought

question of supply and demand," he said. at the present time.

"Last year the production was the The Coronet, addressing the jury, said

known," he continued, and pressure in Chinese houses in the Colony The matter resolves itself simply into a

largest they had to decide whether the death of buyers in the United States and Europe. manufacturers during 1919 was 868,700 negligence, or the result of an accident. largely. The total deliveries to the U.B Mr. Hodgen in his opening statement, bales, an average of 54,725 bales monthly. the deccus was the result of vriminal fearing the effects of the dreight,

Would you rather accept the rent than pointed out to them that in-face of the It is difficult to tell how much of this was evidence that would be adduced there actually consumed during the year and sell it at the best offer you received during could be nu verdict of criminal negligence. how much went into stock. Deliveries to the United Kingdom in 1912 were 894,000 the boom ?-The offers were so far below If they thought there were any grounds bales, a monthly average of 57,839. our, ideas we would not take them. A

for bringing in sich a verdict, he would Deliveries to the United States from Cheung Chuks, the master of the Wingsk them not to do so until they had January to May, 1913, were 201,700 bales, The Gorengr--Would they report on Hop firm, said he remembered being sent heard him on the law, Negligentice was and deliveries to the United Kingdom and

bales. structure?

for by Mesare. Shewan. Tomes & Company not eriminal unless it was of so gross a continent for the same period were 219,500 the

about the 25th or 26th May. A letter was

In answer to further questions, witness said the last time the premises were inspected by the Company's architect was in March last year, for valuation pur-

pose

of the condition Dit he, inform you that these houses the were in a dangerous condition -He did-1 believe they reported that not say "dangerous"; he said there were houses were in a fairly good state of given to witness saying that there were repair. I may add it was our intention cacks in the party wall at Nos. 7 and 9. to get the houses inspected after the Witness went to the houses the next day, like those present. half-year-at the end of Jane. and saw cracks in the wall, We intended that there should be in the wall there," pointing to one of the thorough inspection with a view to Court walls. general structural repairs.

-

these

was

If

Did he not tell you that unless houses were repaired at onee. hr afraid they would collapse ?--Yes. said the repairs must be effected because there were cracks in the wall, and it might come down.

Was the letter he handed you in

(hinese?--Yes.

Did you read it?-Yes.

Did you make a translation of it -Yes. And what did you do with it then?-1

handed it over to Mr. Young.

And what did Mr. Young say-He said, "All right, I will send someone to have the place repaired.*'

Did you have anything further to with that matter ?—No,

The Crown Solicitor-When did you last have your structural inspection, by any architects, or oversers, or anybody? We are merely mortgagees in possession I know you are, but you have been so

for some years, have you not Since 809. Since 1909 have you ever had any structural inspection of these very houses?

-I do not remember.

Do you keep an overseer to inspect your properly from a structural point of view t

We do not.

;

(Laughter.) They were about one-twelfth of an inch wide: They were a little wider than those on the Court wall, and there was no plaster on the party wall. He did not examine the wall properly to see how deep the

cracks were.

There were

five cracks

altogether, the widest being a sixth of an inch wido. He charged $20, but there were other jobs as well covered by that amount.

bricks.

The Crown Solicitor-In your bill you say, "To repsir cracks in the wall, $20." Unless you get notice from the Build-That seems to be an account for repairing Do you know the master of the Winging Authority or the Sanitary Depart cracked walls only-1 also filled in a Hop firm-No.

Witness further stated that the letterment you do not think it necessary to space close to the wall by the door with produced was the letter given to him by have these places inspected at all ?--If we get a notice from the tenants, if the Au Young Sik, and was written by a

repairs are necessary- tenant of No. 7, Upper Station Street It was dated the 20th May, 1013. It waN", The letter witness handed to Mr. Young, The Crown Solicitor read the letter, as follows:-

Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co..

DEAR SIRS, "I beg to inform you that one of the party walls adjoining house No. 9, Upper Station Street, is cracked,

I am afraid and in a dangerous condition, that in case of accident lives will be lost. Notice has been served by the officers

if not attended to in due course

I want my question answered-As f said before, our intention was to send a

Tan out in June,

In answer to the Coroner, witness said he discussed the matter two or three days before the collapse with one of his prin- cipals, when they decided on the structural inspection at the end of June.

The Crown Solicitor-You did es a mat- ter of fact consider this letter a little more

of the Sanitary Board complaining of important at this interview than when habitation will not be permitted. Hoping you were arranging to have a general "yor will kindly attend to the sama, Yours inspection I take it that the discussion truly,

Woxe CHAN." Henry Herbert Tayler, in charge of the China Provident Loan and Mortgage Company, doposed that on the 22nd May de received the tenants' letter from Mr. Young. He had no instructions besides the letter. Witness sent for the firm's contractor, Wing Hop, and instructed him to inspect the premises, and report on same. The contractor told witness a day or two afterwards that there were several slight cracks in the wall, that they were not serious, and that it would be only

was in view of this letter -The letter had nothing to do with it whatever. I was discussing the age of this block, and suggested that as they were very old we might have a general inspection at the end of June.

This letter originally was the cause of the discussion, was it not --No.

The Coroner-You did not mention the letter I--No.

The Crown Solicitor-You discussed this matter with your principal and you' Bay this latter never entered your head at all-It might have inäuenced me.

What did you fill the cracks up with 2- With cement and sand.

Witness further said he reported to Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Company as to the condition of the walls. He told Mr. Murray that the houses were old, and asked him to send an architect and have the house examined.

Patrick Robert Murray; an assistant ia the China. Provident Loan and Mortgage

439

nature as to amount to recklessness.

The Foreman said that as far as кая no necessity for the. Coroner to address them.

criminal negligence was concerned there

Last year in spite of record receipts no doubt that the present slump is on account of prices having been forced too of hemp prices went soaring, and there is The jury retired for about three-quar. high then. The whole situation conforms ters of an hour, and returned a verdict of itself to supply and demand, and if have to pay the price.Manna Cable Death by Misadventure, adding the manufacturers need the hemp they will following riders:-..

(1.) We are of the opinion that the Company in possession should have em ployed an architect or competent European overseer, especially in view of the coe- tractor's suggestion.

notice.

news.

NO CURE, NO PAY.

(2)- defects in party walls should | STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE SIAMESE DOCTORS. be reported by owners, to the Buildings

Dr. Charles S. Braddock, who has just Ordinance Office (under penalty for not so doing) within 24 hours after receiving returned home from a lengthened sojourn in Siam, has sute quaint stories to relate of the medical customs in that country, A medical which he has been relating at lectures to medical students at Home. man in Siam is known as a "Moh," but he has not the professional knowledge of The Moh knows his British confrére.

(3)We are of opinion that the Build- ings Ordinance Oflice should take steps as soon as possible to thoroughly examine alt houses in the Colony known to have been built at such time when sufficient supervi- sion was not given to their construction. The Coroner said he would undertake that the riders should be forwarded to the proper quarter. In discharging the jury, he said he was very much obliged to then

for their attendance.,

THE MARCO-POLO" ASHORE The Italian man-of-war Marco Polo reported by incoraing river steamers to be ashere below Pantzechi, some twenty- five rules above Waha At 4 a.m. on the standing by and at anchor. Local assist Te has been sought, owing to the vessel 230 June the CNS. Kling, was being so firmly embedded in the mud that, to be dug out.-N. C. Daily News, according to these reparts, she may have

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nothing of the circulation of the blood,

| elments-earth, wind, fire and water-of of physiology or chemistry, but ascribes which, he says, the body is composed. The body is divided into thirty-two parts, and all disease to an excess of one of the four

is subject to ninety-six diseases. Too much fire causes fover, too much water causes dropsy.

When a Moh is summoned to a house to attend a case of illness, he brings his

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remains in the house of the patient until portable dispensary wong with him, he recovers or dies. The system of "No THE

prevails, and the condition together with his sleeping unt, and he

cure, no pay

without putting any question, by the frame of mind of the doctor, for if the of the patient can always be ascertained, doctor appears cheerful, the patient is on the high road to recovery, and the Moh is looking forward to the receipt of a handsome fee. If hopes of the patient's recovery have been abandoned, be is correspondingly gloomy and dull.

his

In the home of every Sianese ductor is f an image of the founder of the medical profession in Siam, aid to have been Contemporaneous with Buddha, and

t-stretched palm is placed the e. always herbal, to receive his bless g before it is given to the patient. The herbs are then pounded in a large mortar, mixed with large quantities of water, and administered in big doses to tle pasient.

T

Dr. Braddock says:-"I have seen a poor sick man lying on his back with twelve jars of medicine arranged by the doctor around his bed, each jar holding about one gallon.

gallon of the lot,"

He had taken one

EYE

41

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48