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A-I daresay it would be a good deal washed out, nearly all along the Old Praya the lime concrete wore into holes and we had to pick it up and put down macadam instead.
Q-Still it prevented the Old Praya being washed away by waves as it used to be? A--The sea undermined the concrete and formed a shell of concrete and that used to break away suddenly leaving a tremendous cavity in the road.
Q-I would like to know the exact parts you have put foundations into?
A-Where Queen's Road was widened opposite Murray Barracks and opposite the Military Parade Ground on one side. We took the opportunity of pitching as is done in England.
Q-You had a good deal of experience in road-making at home?
A-Yes, I was for seven years on road-making before I came here.
Q--And it is necessary that in a place like this, the Engineer in charge should be a man of experience?
A-Yes. At home it is almost a special branch.
Q-At present you don't think you have staff enough?
A-No. Hongkong is a far more troublesome place to work than at home on account of the climatical conditions. In the summer time, the men can't do as much here as they could at home.
By Mr. SHEWAN.--Supposing concrete was to be put in, you would see how it was being made?
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A-Yes.
Q-And looking at it you could tell what quality it was ?
A-Yes.
Q-The information that the man in the street gives is that the proper material for concrete was never put into the roads?
A--That is absolutely untrue.
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Q--You yourself are sure ?
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A-Yes, but the macadam is not what it should be. It is soft stone.
Q-So that you must have bad roads ?
A-You must have bad roads if you use soft macadam and have no foundation.
Q--When you first came here were the roads better than they are now ?
A--I don't think so.
Q-They were made differently?
A-Just the same material-this soft granite.
Q-You tell us the roads were made of the same material. I thought Mr. ORMSBY introduced a new stone?
A-We have stopped using the hard stone. The material Mr. ORMSBY introduced has been stopped. During my time, the roads have been made differently, but now we have gone back to the old way.
stone.
Q-Mr. ORMSBY assured me that we would have much better roads with the blue
A-I think, Mr. Chairman, you will bear me out that that stone has been discarded.
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