Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 443

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123 to 134. Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, sworn :--

The Chairman. Have you got a memorandum of the papers we asked you to bring up?

A. Yes, the Tank Lane ones.

Mr. Shelton Hooper.-With regard to these papers, have you any explanation with regard to the irregularities?

A.

A

The plans were sent in to us with some drains shewn on them and they were re- ferred, as all plans are, to the Medical Officer of Health who passed them on to the Sanitary Surveyor, and he stated that no plans had been deposited with the Sanitary Board for the drainage. So, a letter was sent to the Architects asking for a drainage plan to be submitted. That went on the 13th August, and Messrs. Palmer and Turner submitted the plan accord- ing to those papers on the 5th September. That was passed on to Mr. Bryan, the Sanitary Surveyor, and on the 16th September, he minuted that he had acknowledged the drainage plan. Then, the Medical Officer of Health was asked whether the plan could not be approved.

Q.-What was the date of that, when was he asked ?

A. That was the 14th September.

Q. I think that is probably right. I dont dispute the date.

A.The papers then appear to have got into the hands of the Medical Officer of Health and there is nothing here to shew clearly what occurred.

Q. The papers or plans got into his hands?

A.-The papers. Well, presumably the papers with the plans attached, and he asked the Inspector whether the work shewn fulfilled the requirements of the notice. The In- spector minuted back-

Q. Who was the Inspector?

A.-P. T. Lamble, that it was not satisfactory on several grounds. Do you wish

Je to-

Q.-The date of that first?

A. On the 4th October.

Q.—I would like these grounds set out, if you please.

A. One is "the open spaces at the rear of Nos. 1, 5, 7, and 9 opened out one half as required by section 175.” The word "not" before "opened out" has been deleted. At least, it looks as if it were struck out. Perhaps it should stand. It is not perfectly clear.

The Chairman.-It is rather an important point, isn't it?

Mr. Shelton Hooper.-We will leave that for you to verify afterwards. (Witness puts in paper as exhibit,)

A.-The thing is meaningless, unless the word "not" is read in.

Mr. Shelton Hooper. We will take it that the word "not" is there. Now, on the 4th October, Inspector Lamble did not think the plans were in order because-?