Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 414

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The WITNESS goes for his cheque book, and on his return points out the counterfoils of the cheques paid on account of the building of his house. He states that the house has cost him $15,000, including the ground-speaking approximately. He asks-Will you tell me the

person who said this so that I may stop him.

Hon. A. LISTER.-As I tell you, I traced the thing. It was a Contractor, the man who is building the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, LAI YAU. I asked him for his authority, and he said the workmen said so.

WITNESS.-It is the first intimation I have had of it, and I can certify that I have paid more for the work than it is worth by fifteen or sixteen hundred dollars, because I failed to cut for overtime and so on, by which I might have laid myself open.

Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-It was much better to trace it as Mr. LISTER did.

Hon. A. LISTER.--It is quite clear, and I am sure we are all very glad it comes out so well.

Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-In these days when so much is said, as you told us, it must be very satisfactory to you to have this brought out.

WITNESS.-That was one reason why I was anxious the inquiry should be in public because then show what a man is.

you

Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-You see we should not have had that information in public.

Mr. DA SILVA, of the Audit Office, is examined,--

Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-In the course of this inquiry a good deal has been said about the difficulties which Contractors occasionally have in getting their money. Of course they make the most of it, and I think they make the most of the fact that at one time they were kept waiting considerable periods, some of them say as much as twelve months. That probably was while Mr. PRICE was in England; but can you tell us what is the average delay after the bill has reached your office?

A.-That depends on the nature of the bill. When the bill is for contract work, we can easily pass it. The moment such a bill comes into our office, if I see there is any balance available under that contract, I enter it in the contract and send down the bill for payment. That is when there is no checking or anything of that sort, but in some accounts, as you are well aware, there are many figures to be checked before the account is properly audited. We have suggested to the Surveyor General that the items should be numbered in his office according to the schedule price. For instance, in some cases 25 cents per foot is charged. That 25 cents is composed of two or three items in the schedule. For instance, paving or concreting a road, there is a price for picking up, a price for trimming, a price for concrete; there are three things which compose that 25 cents, and sometimes the Contractors say they must charge one cent more because the broken stone has to be brought from a distance. When the road is