Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 697

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Cochrane Street, on the 6th or 7th November, 1900. The purchase was completed on the 8th Nov- ember, 1900. When I agreed to purchase these two houses they had only three storeys. The price of 32. Cochrane Street, was $9,900, and the price of 34, Cochrane Street, was $9,800. I looked at the houses and found that another storey could be added and then I agreed to buy. Before I agreed to buy 32. Cochrane Street, I did not consult any one as to the feasibility of adding another storey. I have built 20 or 30 houses myself. I got a man to act as contractor for the building of these 20 or 30 houses. I have never built a house without employing a contractor. I never consulted Mr. Rain about 32 or 34, Cochrane Street. Last year I got Mr. Ram to do some work for me. I frequently went to the office. I never spoke to Mr. Ram or Mr. Gibbs about 32 and 34. Cochrane Street. The first architect I consulted about 32, Cochrane Street, was Mr. Hazeland. One or two days after the agree- ment to buy I consulted Mr. Hazeland. I told Mr. Hazeland I had bought No. 52, Cochrane Street, and I asked him to look at the house to see if the walls were strong so that I might add another storey. I asked Mr. Hazeland at his office. I did not ask him anything else. I told him if the floor could be added to make a plan for me. Mr. Hazeland then said he would go and look at it. After a few days I again went and saw Mr. Hazeland. Mr. Hazeland said-It could be done, the walls were strong.

He said he would make a plan for me and get permission. The alterations I wanted were to the back-yard. The back-yard ran across the house, the kitchen was behind it. There were bridges on the upper floors to the kitchens. As the house stood originally there were two internal cross walls. I wanted these two cross walls to be pulled down and a single cross wall put up instead. The kitchen was to be put on one side of the house and the back-yard on the other side. The new cross wall was not on the same line as the old cross walls. The new wall was to be be- tween the lines of the two old walls. The room in consequence would be slightly deeper. I also wanted a new storey added. Mr. Hazeland prepared the plans for the alterations. The plans were shown to me before they were sent. I signed the notice to the Director of Public Works that I intended to commence the work. This is a notice I sent in. [Notice put in and marked 4.] This is the plan which was sent in with Notice A. [Plan put in and marked B.] The addition of the new floor involved the addition of a new verandah. I have seen this plan before. Mr. Hazeland prepared it for me. [Plan put in and marked C.] Plan is a plan of the verandah in detail. There was already a verandah to the 1st and 2nd floors. Some time after I received a permit from the Public Works De- partment. The permit was handed to me by Mr. Hazeland. He handed me also plan B. [Permit put in and marked .] I had purchased No. 34, Cochrane Street, before I had received permit D. After I had completed the purchase of No. 34, Cochrane Street. I went and saw Mr. Hazeland. Mr. Hazeland said the alterations would be the same as No. 32, Cochrane Street. He prepared plans for me. is the plan of No. 31, Cochrane Street. [Plan put in and marked E.] I signed this notice. [Notice put in and marked ] Mr. Hazeland afterwards handed me a permit. [Permit put in and inarked G.] Plan E was also handed to me with Exhibit F. I do not remember if there was an enlarged verandah plan to No. 34, Cochrane Street. I believe Mr. Hazeland handed me a copy of Exhibit C. but I am not sure. After Mr. Hazeland had handed me these plans he had nothing further to do with the matter. The fee for each house was $40. I employed Pun Wo of the Wo Ki to do the work. I started work on both houses at the same time.

This

He was

The 1st floor and ground floor of 32, Cochrane Street, were let to the Tong Yik blacksmith shop. They were the tenants before I purchased the house. They paid me $50 a month for the two floors. When I purchased the house the 2nd floor was unoccupied. The blacksmith shop did not remove during the alterations. The blacksmith had a forge on his premises. The blacksmith made. verandah iron and made brackets like those on plan He also did other work. When I bought No. 34, Cochrane Street, the tenant of the ground floor was Wui On, building contractor. still there at the time of the accident. He paid $34 rent a month. There was a cockloft on the ground floor to store beams and planks. I do not know where the fokis slept. On the 1st floor when I bought it, the tenant was Ng Yau. It was used as a family house. The monthly rent was $24. Ng Yau was the tenant at the time of the accident. The 2nd floor was let to Yi Hing. It was used as a seamen's boarding-house. During the repairs the Yi Hing moved away. After the alteration the Yi Hing came back and occupied the 3rd floor. They paid $28 a month. At the time of the accident the 2nd floor was occupied by Ip Chuk Sang, It was a family house. ground floor and 1st floor remained during the alterations. During the accident the family houses At the time of the accident there were the following cubicles on each

were divided in cubicles.

The tenant of the

floor:

4 cubicles, 1 sitting room.

32, Cochrane Street.

2nd floor, 3rd

.4

34, Cochrane Street.

1st floor, 2nd 3rd

#

1

"

..5 cubicles.

4

??

1 sitting room.

.No cubicles.