Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 273

185 (13) -

97. The needless waste of money which owners have been called upon to expend has been quite unjustified and has cost many thousands of dollars, not taking into consideration the loss sustained through the resultant dislocation of business or the bribes which have been paid to Inspectors for the exemptions they had no power to lawfully grant, and which from the evidence adduced must amount in the aggregate to a considerable sum of money, the usual charge for such exemptions being apparently $25 for each yard or floor.

98. In many cases it would appear that not only were Inspectors guilty of receiving bribes for unlawful exemptions but that the notices themselves were illegal and unnecessary inasmuch as the law provides for surface yards being made good and not re-concreted as already stated.

99. The uselessness of having these three sections dealing practically with the same matter is apparent and the late Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer says it was oversight of draughtmanship.

100. The anomaly is remarkable that in sections 111 and 112 the material used shall be approved by the Board, and in section 140, it should be approved by the Building Authority. But us is pointed out in section 82 of this Report, the Building Authority having delegated his authority to Sanitary Inspectors, he knows little or nothing of it from personal knowledge,

101. One difficulty about lime concrete is the absence of stone lime in sufficient quantity procurable in the Colony to be generally available, and so it has to be made with shell or coral lime.

102. The component parts of lime concrete used are lime, red earth and granite. Experts vary slightly in their recommendation as to the respective quantities to be used of each of these materials, and also in the matter of laying the same, but from evidence adduced we would recominend the following definite specification should be laid down, subject of course to the Board having the right to approve of any other kind of flooring or materials, which in their opinion may be equally good or better :-

Lime concrete

6 inches thick.

1

Lime -

Red Earth

one inch mesh.

Broken granite to pass

4

the whole to be rammed before setting until the lime comes to the surface. This specification is the one required at present for encasing drains under the Drainage Bye-laws.

103. A similar course should be adopted with regard to cement concrete floors if preferred by the owner, which should be 4 inches thick, substituting cement for lime, but in view of the extra cost entailed we do not recommend its compulsory use.

104. We recommend the consolidation of sections Nos. 111, 112, and 140.

Also that the Building Inspector shall generally supervise the laying of the floors.

That a certificate be given that the work has been satisfactorily carried out. That such certificate should be held good as against all but surface repairs for eight years in the case of lime concrete and fifteen years in the case of cement

concrete.

This certificate should bear an endorsement that during the period such certificates are in force the owners shall not be called upon to open up the ground surfaces of their houses but only to repair broken surfaces.