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Mr. Shelton Hooper. Are you aware that proscentions take place in respect of certain nuisances, of which the owner or the tenant, as the case may be, have never had any notice to abate them? Is that with your approval?
A.—[ am not aware that that is sɔ. It would not be with my approval, if it were.
Q.-I would ask you, if you would give your attention to it, and if it is going on, to see that it should be put a stop to if possible.
A. They are always supposed to be in form. (continuing).
(continuing). I would like to amplify what I stated already. I did not mean to impute that the Secretary had not kept proper accounts. What I meant to state, was that the office records were improperly kept. I often had to refer to the office records, and I could not get a C. S. O. and it appears these were not properly indexed.
The Chairman. -You mean to say, that although the accounts were properly kept, at the same time, the office records were not properly kept ?
A. Yes.
Q. Well, that the secretarial work of the Department was such that when you wanted information, you could not lay your hand on it?
A. Yes, and the reason was that until I looked into the matter three or four years ago I found they were not indexed. I have had that done, but it has taken years to complete.
Q. And that is what you complain about?
A. Yes.
Q.—And that is what you referred to in your previous evidence?
A. Yes. (To Mr. Shelton Hooper) You wish to ask me about another matter, the limewashing contract and Sam lu.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.--Yes, as to the amount ?
A. The first contract was,-I have found out the details here, limewashing contract for 1903. It arose on a minute from the Medical Officer of Health on the 11th February, 1903, asking if there was any written contract for the limewashing of infected houses. appeared that there was none.
Q.-There was none?
It
A. Not up to that date. The quarterly inspecting Committee drew attention to this, and it was brought before the Board, and then the Board decided that it would be advisable for a contract to be entered into, tenders were called for and tenders received. There were 11 tenders received.
Q. What was the highest?
A. The cheapest was On Kee, $1:60 per floor, and the highest was Chan Kiu, $4.50 per floor.
Q-And whose tender was accepted?
A.-On Kee's, the cheapest, but it was found unsatisfactory, and the Board reconsidered the matter. If you remember, there was correspondence between the Public Works Depart- ment and the Board.
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