, 1876-12-02

AhSAO pawn
Ing OF the roof when requisite, could be done
before; but to make extensive repairs or alte.
ratlons, while the general opinion is that the
whole building is in q state that could not
warrant the necessary repairs, did not appear
advisable; at all events it should not be done
without a Money Bill.
The Presadsnt's meaning was, that only such
repairs as have been rendered necessary by the
hurricane should be carried out without s.
Money Bill but with regard to the Courthouse
the case Is different, and be intends bringing
10 a Money Bill for that expense In fact he
had already instructed the Inspector to submit
an estimate, which will then be lef! to the
Councils decision.
The Cbajrma" should after that e~xplana-
ton not urge the question further; still he
thought 1t natural that +. i. for the repairs
TO the School House, as they have been
deferred SO long, a Money Bill should have
been brought in but be could understand
that the Presidency has cIassed those repairs
under the head Of urgent repairs.
lat Member for Christiansted (LsmmingIs
His Excellenoy had stated that the damages
to the public buildings wers not to the extent
as originally supposed, and that they would not
reach more than a sum Of about So, 300; he had
also given the details OF the expenses incurred,
and with regard to the Government House lul-
ly explained, how it had happened, that
the damage had been done, but 10 re-
gard TO the other buildings nothing had been
stated as to how the damages had been caused.
lie would therefore beg to ask His ExcelIenoy
70 state how those damages have occurred, es.
pecially Ia the Instance of the SohoOlhOuSe
here 10 town, which is a large stone building,
and whether the injuries may be ascribed to
neglect on the part of any one concerned.
The Pres'dentt 1t would be quite impossi-
bic to answer the question as the honorable
Member bad put 1t. In general it must be
supposed that the doors and shutters Of the
different buildings were fastened to the best
extent possible, by those who had the buildings
under their charge. With regard to the School
house, the damages to it werc, be believed, not
to be asorlbed to anybody's fault, but to the
impOssibIlity Of getting the house fastened In
time. The house is used every day, and from
its size, il cannot be barred up every evening,
to be opened every morning, especially as there
Is but one man TO attend to the whole building.
From the Information be, the President, had
received, this man was Inside barring the shut.
ters on the night Of the gale but Il had been
Impossible for him to get through with it,
especially at night time and without the posi-
bility Of keeping q light bafore he was able
TO attend to the fastening Of the numerous
doors and Wlnd0ws, the wiRd burst in so vIo.
lently through those parts which he had not
yet fastened, that be had 10 leave. There has
been some difficulty In deciding on whom the
responsibility Of attending TO the buildings
should rest, and 1t will be the subject Of Discus
sion, what plan may be the best to guard
againaS accidents of this kind. In regard to
other public buildings, such parts as are noS
used may be kept closed, but the school house
%oannotI one man can not overcome the daily
shutting and barring up of the building. The
matter belongs more properly under the resort
of the School Commission, but one thing is
certain, there Is in this case no neglect
to be laid to the door Of any one.
end Crownmember (Wtlemoes) could as
next neighbour to the School. building, say, tbaS
the closing and securing Of the building was
commenced as the alarm gun was fred on the
night Of the hurricane.
9Th Member for Frederiksteds Country Disc
triot Moore would beg to enquire II the re-
pairs still to be made, are to be put up for
public lioitation, as was done in former times.
The President did not think the method of
l~ioitation would be quite advisable In 9 case
like this, where there is a question Of a consider
able number Of small items. In regard to the
general question of putting public work to lict.
tatlou, experience shows THAI it Is very little
use to attempt II in our circumstances 10 the
first place there are very few parties to compete
with one another; in fact the competition is so
limited that it could hardly be said to exist
then again, in past instances where lioitation
was adopted, and the work was given away for
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