Shanghai Architect's Action to Recover Building Commission At H. M. Supreme Court on Thursday, H. Fitfkau, architect, of Szechuen Road, brought an action against J. N. Hsu (trading as the Li Shan Trading Ca.), of 36 Nanking Road, to recover Ts. 1,723 for services rendered, and commission in connexion with the building of a tannery in Chapei.
Mr. P. W. Goldring appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. L. K. Kentwell for defendant.
In his opening statement Mr. Goldring used the phrase "peculiar way" in reference to the filing of a certain document by Mr. Kentwell, whereupon the latter objected.
His Lordship—Don't quarrel about a word on a hot day like this, gentlemen. Use another word. Say "unusual."
"Unusual"? was accordingly substituted for "peculiar" and, with the added assistance of the removal of wigs, suggested by his Lordship, the hearing proceeded with as much coolness as the temperature would permit.
Bap ror THE Cows ANp Fisues.
Plaintiff gave evidence that in August last he was introduced to defendant by Mr. Zerle, the architect originally engaged to do the work and who recommended (as he was about to leave for Europe) that witness should complete it. Zerle had been paid $500 in advance on his 2} per cent., and a cheque for Tls. 680 was paid to witness. The plans were completed and submitted to the Chapei authorities, and work was begun in September. The Chinese police stopped the work on October 5, residents near the site having complained that the chemical waste water from the tannery would poison the water of an adjacent creek; and they were afraid that, consequently, "cows and fishes would die." Construction work was accordingly stopped, but the carpenters continued to prepare doors and windows and witness made frequent supervisory visits.
When Mr. Hsu returned to Shanghai in December, witness made inquiries, discovered the rea son why the Chinese had suspended the work, and suggested that the difficulty could be overcome by the provision of filters. The Chinese Public Works Department accepted this suggestion and witness drew up a scheme. Whilst making the sketches, he found that alterations which would considerably improve the original plans were advisable, and according witness drew up an entirely new set of plans. They provided for buildings costing Tls. 42,971, as against Ts. 34,000, the estimated cost under the original plans. A permit to build was eventually issued by the Chinese authorities, on February 2, after witness had made many visits
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.