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Q--You are in charge practically of the whole of the maintenance works, exclusive of water and drainage, are you not?
A--Yes, and exclusive of dredging foreshores.
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Q-And you are in charge of the Building Ordinance works?
A-Yes.
Q-And also of supervising private street improvements and of clearing stream courses with a view to the abatement of fever?
A-Yes.
Q-With regard to the maintenance of buildings and miscellaneous works, how many overseers have you got under you at present?
A-With reference to the maintenance of buildings, or including roads as well? Q-How many overseers have you under you for the maintenance of buildings and miscellaneous works only?
A-Three European overseers-Messrs. MUGFORD, COYLE, WOLFE, and one vacancy. Q-There is one appointment vacant, is there?
A-That is so.
Q---And what steps have been taken to fill up that vacancy?
A-I understand an application has been made to England to send out a man through the Colonial Office.
Q-You have two foremen, have you not?
A-Yes, Messrs. GRANT and HU KWAI.
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Q-Do you keep any books or records?
A-Yes.
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Q-What books do you keep?
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A--First, the contractor who is employed to carry out the work receives a written order for each work out of an order book. There is a register kept of the orders, and, as the work is measured up billed, that is recorded in the register, which is brought to me monthly. The overseer who measures up the work gives me the bill and I sign for it in the register.
Q-For instance, if I were to ask you what has been done in the case of my office during the past ten years, would your records show that exactly?
A-I could tell you for the last five years.
Q---And could you tell ine what has been done in my own room in which I sit ?
A-Yes.
Q-And does the record show the dimensions of the room ?
A-No.
Q-Has not that room been measured for various work frequently? Have you not the measurement of each room recorded ?
A-Yes, if it has been repaired to any large extent. If we had colour-washed the whole of the room or painted it we could give the measurements.
Q-Well, that room has been colour-washed, and you could give the measurements ?
A-Yes, we keep the measurements of every Government building.
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